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Fresco ambroso fiorito e verde colle.

HE CONGRATULATES HIS HEART ON ITS REMAINING WITH HER.


O hill with green o'erspread, with groves o'erhung!
Where musing now, now trilling her sweet lay,...

Il mal mi preme, e mi spaventa il peggio.

TO A FRIEND, IN LOVE LIKE HIMSELF, HE CAN GIVE NO ADVICE BUT TO RAISE HIS SOUL TO GOD.


Evil oppresses me and worse dismay,...

Due rose fresche, e colte in paradiso.

THE TWO ROSES.


Two brilliant roses, fresh from Paradise,
Which there, on May-day morn, in beauty sprung
Fair gift, and by a lover old and wise...

L' aura che 'l verde Lauro e l' aureo crine.

HE PRAYS THAT HE MAY DIE BEFORE LAURA.


The balmy gale, that, with its tender sigh,
Moves the green laurel and the golden hair,...

Chi vuol veder quantunque pu' Natura.

WHOEVER BEHOLDS HER MUST ADMIT THAT HIS PRAISES CANNOT REACH HER PERFECTION.


Who wishes to behold the utmost might...

Qual paura ho, quando mi torna a mente.

MELANCHOLY RECOLLECTIONS AND PRESAGES.


O Laura! when my tortured mind
The sad remembrance bears
Of that ill-omen'd day,...

Solea lontana in sonno consolarme.

SHE ANNOUNCES TO HIM, IN A VISION, THAT HE WILL NEVER SEE HER MORE.


To soothe me distant far, in days gone by,...

O misera ed orribil visione.

HE CANNOT BELIEVE IN HER DEATH, BUT IF TRUE, HE PRAYS GOD TO TAKE HIM ALSO FROM LIFE.


O misery! horror! can it, then, be true,...

In dubbio di mio stato, or piango, or canto.

TO HIS LONGING TO SEE HER AGAIN IS NOW ADDED THE FEAR OF SEEING HER NO MORE.


Uncertain of my state, I weep and sing,...

In quel bel viso, ch' i' sospiro e bramo.

ON LAURA PUTTING HER HAND BEFORE HER EYES WHILE HE WAS GAZING ON HER.


On the fair face for which I long and sigh...

O dolci sguardi, o parolette accorte.

HE SIGHS FOR THOSE GLANCES FROM WHICH, TO HIS GRIEF, FORTUNE EVER DELIGHTS TO WITHDRAW HIM.


O angel looks! O accents of the skies!...

I' pur ascolto, e non odo novella.

HEARING NO TIDINGS OF HER, HE BEGINS TO DESPAIR.


Still do I wait to hear, in vain still wait,
Of that sweet enemy I love so well:...

La sera desiar, odiar l' aurora.

CONTRARY TO THE WONT OF LOVERS, HE PREFERS MORN TO EVE.


Tranquil and happy loves in this agree,
The evening to desire and morning hate:...

Far potess' io vendetta di colei.

HIS SOUL VISITS HER IN SLEEP.


Oh! that from her some vengeance I could wrest
With words and glances who my peace destroys,...

Vive faville uscian de' duo bei lumi.

A SMILING WELCOME, WHICH LAURA GAVE HIM UNEXPECTEDLY, ALMOST KILLS HIM WITH JOY.


Live sparks were glistening from her twin bright eyes,...

Cercato ho sempre solitaria vita.

THINKING ALWAYS OF LAURA, IT PAINS HIM TO REMEMBER WHERE SHE IS LEFT.


Still have I sought a life of solitude;
The streams, the fields, the forests know my mind;...

In tale Stella duo begli occhi vidi.

THE BEAUTY OF LAURA IS PEERLESS.


In one fair star I saw two brilliant eyes,
With sweetness, modesty, so glistening o'er,...

Qual donna attende a gloriosa fama.

THE EYES OF LAURA ARE THE SCHOOL OF VIRTUE.


Feels any fair the glorious wish to gain
Of sense, of worth, of courtesy, the praise?...

Cara la vita, e dopo lei mi pare.

HONOUR TO BE PREFERRED TO LIFE.


Methinks that life in lovely woman first,
And after life true honour should be dear;...

Arbor vittoriosa e trionfale.

HE EXTOLS THE VIRTUE OF LAURA.


Tree, victory's bright guerdon, wont to crown
Heroes and bards with thy triumphal leaf,
How many days of mingled joy and grief...