The Ascent of Mont Ventoux

What I used to love, I love no longer. But I lie: I love it still, but less passionately. Again have I lied: I love it, but more timidly, more sadly. 

~Petrarca

The Divine Comedy: Inferno

I was from the city that took the Baptist

in exchange for her first patron, who, for this,

swears by his art she will have endless sorrow;

and were it not that on the Arno's bridge

some vestige of his image still remains,

those citizens who built anew the city

on the ashes that Attila left behind

would have accomplished such a task in vain;

I turned my home into my hanging place.

~Dante