Works

Lassare il velo o per sole o per ombra.

PERCEIVING HIS PASSION, LAURA'S SEVERITY INCREASES.


Never thy veil, in sun or in the shade,
Lady, a moment I have seen...

Occhi miei lassi, mentre ch' io vi giro.

HE INVITES HIS EYES TO FEAST THEMSELVES ON LAURA.


My wearied eyes! while looking thus
On that fair fatal face to us,...

Quel foco, ch' io pensai che fosse spento.

HE THOUGHT HIMSELF FREE, BUT FINDS THAT HE IS MORE THAN EVER ENTHRALLED BY LOVE.


That fire for ever which I thought at rest,...

Perch' quel che mi trasse ad amar prima.

HE WILL ALWAYS LOVE HER, THOUGH DENIED THE SIGHT OF HER.


Though cruelty denies my view
Those charms which led me first to love;...

Volgendo gli occhi al mio novo colore.

HER KIND SALUTE SAVED HIM FROM DEATH.


Late as those eyes on my sunk cheek inclined,
Whose paleness to the world seems of the grave,...

Di tempo in tempo mi si fa men dura.

THOUGH SHE BE LESS SEVERE, HE IS STILL NOT CONTENTED AND TRANQUIL AT HEART.


From time to time more clemency for me...

Nel dolce tempo della prima etade.

HIS SUFFERINGS SINCE HE BECAME THE SLAVE OF LOVE.


In the sweet season when my life was new,
Which saw the birth, and still the being sees...

O aspettata in ciel, beata e bella.

IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CRUSADE AGAINST THE INFIDELS.


O spirit wish'd and waited for in heaven,
That wearest gracefully our human clay,...

Verdi panni, sanguigni, oscuri o persi.

WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD CEASE TO LOVE LAURA.


Green robes and red, purple, or brown, or gray
No lady ever wore,...

Si ' debile il filo a cui s' attene.

HE GRIEVES IN ABSENCE FROM LAURA.


The thread on which my weary life depends
So fragile is and weak,
If none kind succour lends,...

Gentil mia donna, i' veggio.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: THEY LEAD HIM TO CONTEMPLATE THE PATH OF LIFE.


Lady, in your bright eyes
Soft glancing round, I mark a holy light,...

Nella stagion che 'l ciel rapido inchina.

NIGHT BRINGS REPOSE TO OTHERS, BUT NOT TO HIM.


In that still season, when the rapid sun
Drives down the west, and daylight flies to greet...

Spirto gentil che quelle membra reggi.

TO RIENZI, BESEECHING HIM TO RESTORE TO ROME HER ANCIENT LIBERTY.


Spirit heroic! who with fire divine
Kindlest those limbs, awhile which pilgrim hold...

Lasso me, ch i' non so in qual parte pieghi.

HE WOULD CONSOLE HIMSELF WITH SONG, BUT IS CONSTRAINED TO WEEP.


Me wretched! for I know not whither tend...

Perch' la vita ' breve.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: THE DIFFICULTY OF HIS THEME.


Since human life is frail,
And genius trembles at the lofty theme,
I little confidence in either place;...

Poich' per mio destino.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: IN THEM HE FINDS EVERY GOOD, AND HE CAN NEVER CEASE TO PRAISE THEM.


Since then by destiny
I am compell'd to sing the strong desire,...

[R]

Mai non vo' pi' cantar, com' io soleva.

ENIGMAS.


Never more shall I sing, as I have sung:
For still she heeded not; and I was scorn'd:...

Una donna pi' bella assai che 'l sole.

GLORY AND VIRTUE.


A lady, lovelier, brighter than the sun,
Like him superior o'er all time and space,
Of rare resistless grace,...

Se 'l pensier che mi strugge.

HE SEEKS IN VAIN TO MITIGATE HIS WOE.


Oh! that my cheeks were taught
By the fond, wasting thought
To wear such hues as could its influence speak;...

Chiare, fresche e dolci acque.

TO THE FOUNTAIN OF VAUOLUSE--CONTEMPLATIONS OF DEATH.


Ye limpid brooks, by whose clear streams
My goddess laid her tender limbs!...