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herself after the vision of her servant. And even if thou go about to consider her right name, it is also as one should say, 'She shall come first;' inasmuch as her name, Joan, is taken from that John who went before the True Light, saying: 'Ego vox clamantis in deserto: Parate viam Domini.'"[1] And also it seemed to me that he added other words, to wit: "He who should inquire delicately touching this matter, could not but call Beatrice by mine own name, which is to say, Love; beholding her so like unto me."
Then I, having thought of this, imagined to write it with rhymes and send it unto my chief friend; but setting aside certain words[2] which seemed