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Il cantar novo e 'l pianger degli augelli.

MORNING.


The birds' sweet wail, their renovated song,
At break of morn, make all the vales resound;
With lapse of crystal waters pouring round,...

Onde tolse Amor l' oro e di qual vena.

THE CHARMS OF HER COUNTENANCE AND VOICE.


Whence could Love take the gold, and from what vein,
To form those bright twin locks? What thorn could grow...

Dodici donne onestamente lasse.

HAPPY WHO STEERED THE BOAT, OR DROVE THE CAR, WHEREIN SHE SAT AND SANG.


Twelve ladies, their rare toil who lightly bore,...

Qual mio destin, qual forza o qual inganno.

THOUGH HER EYES DESTROY HIM, HE CANNOT TEAR HIMSELF AWAY.


What destiny of mine, what fraud or force,
Unarm'd again conducts me to the field,...

Liete e pensose, accompagnate e sole.

NOT FINDING HER WITH HER FRIENDS, HE ASKS THEM WHY SHE IS ABSENT.


P. Pensive and glad, accompanied, alone,
Ladies who cheat the time with converse gay,...

Quando 'l sol bagna in mur l' aurato carro.

HIS NIGHTS ARE, LIKE HIS DAYS, PASSED IN TORMENT.


When in the sea sinks the sun's golden light,
And on my mind and nature darkness lies,...

Fiamma dal ciel su le tue treccie piova.

HE INVEIGHS AGAINST THE COURT OF ROME.


Vengeaunce must fall on thee, thow filthie whore
Of Babilon, thow breaker of Christ's fold,...

L' avara Babilonia ha colmo 'l sacco.

HE PREDICTS TO ROME THE ARRIVAL OF SOME GREAT PERSONAGE WHO WILL BRING HER BACK TO HER OLD VIRTUE.


Covetous Babylon of wrath divine...

Fontana di dolore, albergo d' ira.

HE ATTRIBUTES THE WICKEDNESS OF THE COURT OF ROME TO ITS GREAT WEALTH.


Spring of all woe, O den of curssed ire,
Scoole of errour, temple of heresye;...

Quanto pi' desiose l' ali spando.

FAR FROM HIS FRIENDS, HE FLIES TO THEM IN THOUGHT.


The more my own fond wishes would impel
My steps to you, sweet company of friends!...

Lyre of the Sonnet, that full many a time
Amus'd my lassitude, and sooth'd my pains,
When graver cares forbade the lengthen'd strains,
To thy brief bound, and oft-returning chime...

Come talora al caldo tempo suole.

HE LIKENS HIMSELF TO THE INSECT WHICH, FLYING INTO ONE'S EYES, MEETS ITS DEATH.


As when at times in summer's scorching heats....

Passer mai solitario in alcun tetto.

FAR FROM HIS BELOVED, LIFE IS MISERABLE BY NIGHT AS BY DAY.


Never was bird, spoil'd of its young, more sad,
Or wild beast in his lair more lone than me,...

Aura, che quelle chiome bionde e crespe.

HE ENVIES THE BREEZE WHICH SPORTS WITH HER, THE STREAM THAT FLOWS TOWARDS HER.


Ye laughing gales, that sporting with my fair,...

Amor con la man destra il lato manco.

UNDER THE FIGURE OF A LAUREL, HE RELATES THE GROWTH OF HIS LOVE.


My poor heart op'ning with his puissant hand,
Love planted there, as in its home, to dwell...

Cantai, or piango; e non men di dolcezza.

THOUGH IN THE MIDST OF PAIN, HE DEEMS HIMSELF THE HAPPIEST OF MEN.


I sang, who now lament; nor less delight
Than in my song I found, in tears I find;...

I' piansi, or canto; che 'l celeste lume.

AT HER RETURN, HIS SORROWS VANISH.


I wept, but now I sing; its heavenly light
That living sun conceals not from my view,...

Lasso! Amor mi trasporta ov' io non voglio.

HE EXCUSES HIMSELF FOR VISITING LAURA TOO OFTEN, AND LOVING HER TOO MUCH.


Alas! Love bears me where I would not go,...

I' mi vivea di mia sorte contento.

HE FEARS THAT AN ILLNESS WHICH HAS ATTACKED THE EYES OF LAURA MAY DEPRIVE HIM OF THEIR SIGHT.


I lived so tranquil, with my lot content,...

Vincitore Alessandro l' ira vinse.

THE EVIL RESULTS OF UNRESTRAINED ANGER.


What though the ablest artists of old time
Left us the sculptured bust, the imaged form...