Cecco d'Angiolieri, da Siena. “Sonnet. Of all he would do. ” - Collection Introduction

The original sonnet by Cecco Angiolieri is a famous burlesque work and DGR's version is worthy of the original. The management of the rhythm of the second quatrain is especially fine.

Ironizing as it does the voice of the poet in the poem, Cecco's sonnet is finally a parodic transformation of the poetic tradition it is drawing upon. The sonnet triumphs in its bold skill and panache exactly because it skirts so close to travesty. In DGR's corpus, a close equivalent and analogue is the splendid burlesque “Parted Love!”, which reflects upon and plays with DGR's serious love sonnet “Parted Love`”.

DGR's source text was Villaroso's Raccolta di Rime Antiche Toscane (II. 157). For further general information about Cecco and his work see the commentary for “Dante Alighieri, Cecco, your good friend”).