Works

S' il dissi mai, ch' i' venga in odio a quella.

HE VEHEMENTLY REBUTS THE CHARGE OF LOVING ANOTHER.


Perdie! I said it not,
Nor never thought to do:
As well as I, ye wot...

In quella parte dov' Amor mi sprona.

HE FINDS HER IMAGE EVERYWHERE.


When Love, fond Love, commands the strain,
The coyest muse must sure obey;
Love bids my wounded breast complain,...

Italia mia, bench' 'l parlar sia indarno.

TO THE PRINCES OF ITALY, EXHORTING THEM TO SET HER FREE.


O my own Italy! though words are vain
The mortal wounds to close,...

Di pensier in pensier, di monte in monte.

DISTANCE AND SOLITUDE.


From hill to hill I roam, from thought to thought,
With Love my guide; the beaten path I fly,...

Qual pi' diversa e nova.

HE COMPARES HIMSELF TO ALL THAT IS MOST STRANGE IN CREATION.


Whate'er most wild and new
Was ever found in any foreign land,
If viewed and valued true,...

Ben mi credea passar mio tempo omai.

HE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT SEEING HER, BUT WOULD NOT DIE THAT HE MAY STILL LOVE HER.


As pass'd the years which I have left behind,...

I' vo pensando, e nel pensier m' assale.

SELF-CONFLICT.


Ceaseless I think, and in each wasting thought
So strong a pity for myself appears,
That often it has brought...

Non al suo amante pi' Diana piacque.

ANYTHING THAT REMINDS HIM OF LAURA RENEWS HIS TORMENTS.


Not Dian to her lover was more dear,
When fortune 'mid the waters cold and clear,...

Perch' al viso d' Amor portava insegna.

A LOVE JOURNEY--DANGER IN THE PATH--HE TURNS BACK.


Bright in whose face Love's conquering ensign stream'd,
A foreign fair so won me, young and vain,...

Nova angeletta sovra l' ale accorta.

HE ALLEGORICALLY DESCRIBES THE ORIGIN OF HIS PASSION.


From heaven an angel upon radiant wings,
New lighted on that shore so fresh and fair,...

Or vedi, Amor, che giovinetta donna.

A PRAYER TO LOVE THAT HE WILL TAKE VENGEANCE ON THE SCORNFUL PRIDE OF LAURA.


Now, Love, at length behold a youthful fair,...

A qualunque animale alberga in terra.

NIGHT BRINGS HIM NO REST. HE IS THE PREY OF DESPAIR.


To every animal that dwells on earth,
Except to those which have in hate the sun,...

Giovane donna sott' un verde lauro.

THOUGH DESPAIRING OF PITY, HE VOWS TO LOVE HER UNTO DEATH.


A youthful lady 'neath a laurel green
Was seated, fairer, colder than the snow...

L' aere gravato, e l' importuna nebbia.

HE COMPARES LAURA TO WINTER, AND FORESEES THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME.


The overcharged air, the impending cloud,...

Chi ' fermato di menar sua vita.

HE PRAYS GOD TO GUIDE HIS FRAIL BARK TO A SAFE PORT.


Who is resolved to venture his vain life
On the deceitful wave and 'mid the rocks,...

Alia dolce ombra de le belle frondi.

HE TELLS THE STORY OF HIS LOVE, RESOLVING HENCEFORTH TO DEVOTE HIMSELF TO GOD.


Beneath the pleasant shade of beauteous leaves...

Anzi tre di creata era alma in parte.

THE HISTORY OF HIS LOVE; AND PRAYER FOR HELP.


Life's three first stages train'd my soul in part
To place its care on objects high and new,...

Non ha tanti animali il mar fra l' onde.

HE DESPAIRS OF ESCAPE FROM THE TORMENTS BY WHICH HE IS SURROUNDED.


Nor Ocean holds such swarms amid his waves,
Not overhead, where circles the pale moon,...

L' ver l' aurora, che s' dolce l' aura.

SHE IS MOVED NEITHER BY HIS VERSES NOR HIS TEARS.


When music warbles from each thorn,
And Zephyr's dewy wings...

Poi che 'l cammin m' ' chiuso di mercede.

THOUGH FAR FROM LAURA, SOLITARY AND UNHAPPY, ENVY STILL PURSUES HIM.


Since mercy's door is closed, alas! to me,
And hopeless paths my poor life separate...