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Io sentia dentr' al cor gi' venir meno.

HE DESIRES AGAIN TO GAZE ON THE EYES Of LAURA.


I now perceived that from within me fled
Those spirits to which you their being lend;...

Il figliuol di Latona avea gi' nove.

THE GRIEF OF PHOEBUS AT THE LOSS OF HIS LOVE.


Nine times already had Latona's son
Look'd from the highest balcony of heaven...

Quel che 'n Tessaglia ebbe le man s' pronte.

SOME HAVE WEPT FOR THEIR WORST ENEMIES, BUT LAURA DEIGNS HIM NOT A SINGLE TEAR.


He who for empire at Pharsalia threw,...

Il mio avversario, in cui veder solete.

LAURA AT HER LOOKING-GLASS.


My foe, in whom you see your own bright eyes,
Adored by Love and Heaven with honour due,...

L' oro e le perle, e i fior vermigli e i bianchi.

HE INVEIGHS AGAINST LAURA'S MIRROR, BECAUSE IT MAKES HER FORGET HIM.


Those golden tresses, teeth of pearly white,...

When gods and men I saw in Cupid's chain
Promiscuous led, a long uncounted train,
By sad example taught, I learn'd at last
Wisdom's best rule--to profit from the past
Some solace in the numbers too I found,...

PART I.


The fatal morning dawn'd that brought again
The sad memorial of my ancient pain;
That day, the source of long-protracted woe,
When I began the plagues of Love to know,...

Quando ad un giogo ed in Un tempo quivi.


When to one yoke at once I saw the height
Of gods and men subdued by Cupid's might,
I took example from their cruel fate,...

PART I.

Questa leggiadra e gloriosa Donna.


The glorious Maid, whose soul to heaven is gone
And left the rest cold earth, she who was grown
A pillar of true valour, and had gain'd...

Da poi che sotto 'l ciel cosa non vidi.


When all beneath the ample cope of heaven
I saw, like clouds before the tempest driven,
In sad vicissitude's eternal round,...

PART I.

Da poi che Morte trionf' nel volto.


When cruel Death his paly ensign spread
Over that face, which oft in triumph led
My subject thoughts; and beauty's sovereign light,...

PART I.

Nel tempo che rinova i miei sospiri.


It was the time when I do sadly pay
My sighs, in tribute to that sweet-sour day,
Which first gave being to my tedious woes;...

Dell' aureo albergo con l' Aurora innanzi.


Behind Aurora's wheels the rising sun
His voyage from his golden shrine begun,
With such ethereal speed, as if the Hours...

Amor, quando fioria.

HIS GRIEF AT SURVIVING HER IS MITIGATED BY THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT SHE NOW KNOWS HIS HEART.


Yes, Love, at that propitious time
When hope was in its bloomy prime,...

Che debb' io far? che mi consigli, Amore?

HE ASKS COUNSEL OF LOVE, WHETHER HE SHOULD FOLLOW LAURA, OR STILL ENDURE EXISTENCE.


What should I do? what, Love, dost thou advise?...

Amor, se vuoi ch' i' torni al giogo antico.

UNLESS LOVE CAN RESTORE HER TO LIFE, HE WILL NEVER AGAIN BE HIS SLAVE.


If thou wouldst have me, Love, thy slave again,...

Standomi un giorno solo alla finestra.

UNDER VARIOUS ALLEGORIES HE PAINTS THE VIRTUE, BEAUTY, AND UNTIMELY DEATH OF LAURA.


While at my window late I stood alone,...

Tacer non posso, e temo non adopre.

HE RECALLS HER MANY GRACES.


Fain would I speak--too long has silence seal'd
Lips that would gladly with my full heart move
With one consent, and yield...

Solea dalla fontana di mia vita.

MEMORY IS HIS ONLY SOLACE AND SUPPORT.


I who was wont from life's best fountain far
So long to wander, searching land and sea,...

Quando il suave mio fido conforto.

SHE APPEARS TO HIM, AND, WITH MORE THAN WONTED AFFECTION, ENDEAVOURS TO CONSOLE HIM.


When she, the faithful soother of my pain,...