ABSTRACT
The 1829 translation of 'On Love' appeared in the short-lived Milanese journal L'eco: Giornale di scienze, lettere, arti, commercio e teatri. The translation of the fragment 'On Love', in particular, has been almost entirely neglected by scholars in the field. Pareto describes love as the ultimate inspiration for the English poet, as he remarks: 'nessuno forse dipinge con piu energia e verita quest'invisibile e immenso potere dell'amore'. The debate, which emerged after Madame de Stael's article, betrays a preoccupation with the notions of modern and classic, new and traditional; terms which, to a degree, encapsulate the querelle surrounding Romanticism in Italy. In the midst of such heated arguments, translating Shelley's work represented a significant challenge for both Romantics and Classicists alike, as — similar in some degree to Leopardi's case — critics faced a controversial author who resisted categorization.
