Discendi, amor santo

Discendi, amor santo. Bianco da Siena* (d. 1434). For details of the English translation and its use, see ‘Come down, O Love divine’*. The Italian text was published by Telesforo Bini in Laudi Spirituali del Bianco da Siena, Povero Gesuato del Secolo XIV (Lucca, 1851). It contained a first verse of four lines: Discendi, amor santo, Visita la mie mente Del tuo amore ardente, Si che di te m’infiammi tutto quanto. Followed by seven verses of eight lines. The final lines of the verses rhyme throughout (Italian is an easier language than English for rhyming). Richard Frederick Littledale* translated the first verse and then verse 2 lines 1-4 (‘O Comforter, draw near’): Vienne, consolatore Nel...