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Quell' antiquo mio dolce empio signore.

LOVE, SUMMONED BY THE POET TO THE TRIBUNAL OF REASON, PASSES A SPLENDID EULOGIUM ON LAURA.


Long had I suffer'd, till--to combat more...

Vergine bella che di sol vestita.

TO THE VIRGIN MARY.


Beautiful Virgin! clothed with the sun,
Crown'd with the stars, who so the Eternal Sun
Well pleasedst that in thine his light he hid;...

Mia benigna fortuna e 'l viver lieto.

IN HIS MISERY HE DESIRES DEATH THE MORE HE REMEMBERS HIS PAST CONTENTMENT AND COMFORT.


My favouring fortune and my life of joy,...

Oim' il bel viso! oim' il soave sguardo!

ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF LAURA.


Woe for the 'witching look of that fair face!
The port where ease with dignity combined!...

Rotta ' l' alta Colonna, e 'l verde Lauro.

HE BEWAILS HIS DOUBLE LOSS IN THE DEATHS OF LAURA, AND OF COLONNA.


Fall'n that proud Column, fall'n that Laurel tree,...

L' ardente nodo ov' io fui, d' ora in ora.

ON THE DEATH OF ANOTHER LADY.


That burning toil, in which I once was caught,
While twice ten years and one I counted o'er,...

La vita fugge, e non s' arresta un' ora.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE ARE NOW ALIKE PAINFUL TO HIM.


Life passes quick, nor will a moment stay,
And death with hasty journeys still draws near;...

S' Amor novo consiglio non n' apporta.

HE DESCRIBES HIS SAD STATE.


If Love to give new counsel still delay,
My life must change to other scenes than these;...

Al cader d' una pianta che si svelse.

UNDER THE ALLEGORY OF A LAUREL HE AGAIN DEPLORES HER DEATH.


As a fair plant, uprooted by oft blows
Of trenchant spade, or which the blast upheaves,...

I d' miei pi' leggier che nessun cervo.

HIS PASSION FINDS ITS ONLY CONSOLATION IN CONTEMPLATING HER IN HEAVEN.


My days more swiftly than the forest hind...

Sente l' aura mia antica, e i dolci colli.

HE REVISITS VAUCLUSE.


I feel the well-known gale; the hills I spy
So pleasant, whence my fair her being drew,...

E questo 'l nido in che la mia Fenice.

THE SIGHT OF LAURA'S HOUSE REMINDS HIM OF HIS MISERY.


Is this the nest in which my phoenix first
Her plumage donn'd of purple and of gold,...

Mai non vedranno le mie luci asciutte.

TO THE MEMORY OF GIACOMO COLONNA, WHO DIED BEFORE PETRARCH COULD REPLY TO A LETTER OF HIS.


Ne'er shall I see again with eyes unwet,...

Quel vago, dolce, caro, onesto sguardo.

HE SHOULD HAVE FORESEEN HIS LOSS IN THE UNUSUAL LUSTRE OF HER EYES.


That glance of hers, pure, tender, clear, and sweet,...

Or hai fatto l' estremo di tua possa.

DEATH MAY DEPRIVE HIM OF THE SIGHT OF HER BEAUTIES, BUT NOT OF THE MEMORY OF HER VIRTUES.


Now hast thou shown, fell Death! thine utmost might....

L' aura e l' odore e 'l refrigerio e l' ombra.

HER OWN VIRTUES IMMORTALISE HER IN HEAVEN, AND HIS PRAISES ON EARTH.


The air and scent, the comfort and the shade...

L' ultimo, lasso! de' miei giorni allegri.

HE REVERTS TO THEIR LAST MEETING.


The last, alas! of my bright days and glad
--Few have been mine in this brief life below--...

O giorno, o ora, o ultimo momento.

HE MOURNS HIS WANT OF PERCEPTION AT THAT MEETING.


O Day, O hour, O moment sweetest, last,
O stars conspired to make me poor indeed!...

Ite, rime dolenti, al duro sasso.

HE PRAYS THAT SHE WILL BE NEAR HIM AT HIS DEATH, WHICH HE FEELS APPROACHING.


Go, plaintive verse, to the cold marble go,...

S' onesto amor pu' meritar mercede.

HE PRAYS THAT, IN REWARD FOR HIS LONG AND VIRTUOUS ATTACHMENT, SHE WILL VISIT HIM IN DEATH.


If Mercy e'er rewardeth virtuous love,...