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Se 'l sasso ond' ' pi' chiusa questa valle.

COULD HE BUT SEE THE HOUSE OF LAURA, HIS SIGHS MIGHT REACH HER MORE QUICKLY.


If, which our valley bars, this wall of stone,...

Amor, Fortuna, e la mia mente schiva.

THE CAUSES OF HIS WOE.


Love, Fortune, and my melancholy mind,
Sick of the present, lingering on the past,
Afflict me so, that envious thoughts I cast...

Rimansi addietro il sestodecim' anno.

THOUGH HE IS UNHAPPY, HIS LOVE REMAINS EVER UNCHANGED.


My sixteenth year of sighs its course has run,
I stand alone, already on the brow...

Quelle pietose rime, in ch' io m' accorsi.

TO ANTONIO OF FERRARA, WHO, IN A POEM, HAD LAMENTED PETRARCH'S SUPPOSED DEATH.


Those pious lines wherein are finely met...

Dicesett' anni ha gi' rivolto il cielo.

E'EN IN OUR ASHES LIVE OUR WONTED FIRES.


The seventeenth summer now, alas! is gone,
And still with ardour unconsumed I glow;...

Quel vago impallidir che 'l dolce riso.

LEAVE-TAKING.


That witching paleness, which with cloud of love
Veil'd her sweet smile, majestically bright,...

Se la mia vita dall' aspro tormento.

HE HOPES THAT TIME WILL RENDER HER MORE MERCIFUL.


If o'er each bitter pang, each hidden throe
Sadly triumphant I my years drag on,...

Quando fra l' altre donne ad ora ad ora.

THE BEAUTY OF LAURA LEADS HIM TO THE CONTEMPLATION OF THE SUPREME GOOD.


Throned on her angel brow, when Love displays...

Io mi rivolgo indietro a ciascun passo.

ON QUITTING LAURA.


With weary frame which painfully I bear,
I look behind me at each onward pace,
And then take comfort from your native air,...

Movesi 'l vecchierel canuto e bianco.

HE COMPARES HIMSELF TO A PILGRIM.


The palmer bent, with locks of silver gray,
Quits the sweet spot where he has pass'd his years,...

Mille fiate, o dolce mia guerrera.

HIS HEART, REJECTED BY LAURA, WILL PERISH, UNLESS SHE RELENT.


A thousand times, sweet warrior, have I tried,
Proffering my heart to thee, some peace to gain...

Se mai foco per foco non si spense.

HIS HEART IS ALL IN FLAMES, BUT HIS TONGUE IS MUTE, IN HER PRESENCE.


If fire was never yet by fire subdued,
If never flood fell dry by frequent rain,...

Perch' io t' abbia guardato di menzogna.

IN HER PRESENCE HE CAN NEITHER SPEAK, WEEP, NOR SIGH.


Although from falsehood I did thee restrain
With all my power, and paid thee honour due,...

Poco era ad appressarsi agli occhi miei.

SUCH ARE HIS SUFFERINGS THAT HE ENVIES THE INSENSIBILITY OF MARBLE.


Had but the light which dazzled them afar
Drawn but a little nearer to mine eyes,...

Se col cieco desir che 'l cor distrugge.

BLIGHTED HOPE.


Either that blind desire, which life destroys
Counting the hours, deceives my misery,
Or, even while yet I speak, the moment flies,...

Mie venture al venir son tarde e pigre.

FEW ARE THE SWEETS, BUT MANY THE BITTERS OF LOVE.


Ever my hap is slack and slow in coming,
Desire increasing, ay my hope uncertain...

Se voi poteste per turbati segni.

HE ENTREATS LAURA NOT TO HATE THE HEART FROM WHICH SHE CAN NEVER BE ABSENT.


If, but by angry and disdainful sign,
By the averted head and downcast sight,...

La guancia che fu gi' piangendo stanca.

TO HIS FRIEND AGAPITO, WITH A PRESENT.


Thy weary cheek that channell'd sorrow shows,
My much loved lord, upon the one repose;...

L' arbor gentil che forte amai molt' anni.

IMPRECATION AGAINST THE LAUREL.


The graceful tree I loved so long and well,
Ere its fair boughs in scorn my flame declined,...

Benedetto sia 'l giorno e 'l mese e l' anno.

HE BLESSES ALL THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS PASSION.


Blest be the day, and blest the month, the year,
The spring, the hour, the very moment blest,...