Works

Nel dolce tempo della prima etade.

HIS SUFFERINGS SINCE HE BECAME THE SLAVE OF LOVE.


In the sweet season when my life was new,
Which saw the birth, and still the being sees...

O aspettata in ciel, beata e bella.

IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CRUSADE AGAINST THE INFIDELS.


O spirit wish'd and waited for in heaven,
That wearest gracefully our human clay,...

Verdi panni, sanguigni, oscuri o persi.

WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD CEASE TO LOVE LAURA.


Green robes and red, purple, or brown, or gray
No lady ever wore,...

Si ' debile il filo a cui s' attene.

HE GRIEVES IN ABSENCE FROM LAURA.


The thread on which my weary life depends
So fragile is and weak,
If none kind succour lends,...

Gentil mia donna, i' veggio.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: THEY LEAD HIM TO CONTEMPLATE THE PATH OF LIFE.


Lady, in your bright eyes
Soft glancing round, I mark a holy light,...

I have no store
Of gryphon-guarded gold;
Now, as before,
Bare is the shepherd's fold.
Rubies nor pearls
Have I to gem thy throat;
Yet woodland girls
Have loved the shepherd's note.
...

Nella stagion che 'l ciel rapido inchina.

NIGHT BRINGS REPOSE TO OTHERS, BUT NOT TO HIM.


In that still season, when the rapid sun
Drives down the west, and daylight flies to greet...

Spirto gentil che quelle membra reggi.

TO RIENZI, BESEECHING HIM TO RESTORE TO ROME HER ANCIENT LIBERTY.


Spirit heroic! who with fire divine
Kindlest those limbs, awhile which pilgrim hold...

Lasso me, ch i' non so in qual parte pieghi.

HE WOULD CONSOLE HIMSELF WITH SONG, BUT IS CONSTRAINED TO WEEP.


Me wretched! for I know not whither tend...

Perch' la vita ' breve.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: THE DIFFICULTY OF HIS THEME.


Since human life is frail,
And genius trembles at the lofty theme,
I little confidence in either place;...

Poich' per mio destino.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: IN THEM HE FINDS EVERY GOOD, AND HE CAN NEVER CEASE TO PRAISE THEM.


Since then by destiny
I am compell'd to sing the strong desire,...

[R]

Mai non vo' pi' cantar, com' io soleva.

ENIGMAS.


Never more shall I sing, as I have sung:
For still she heeded not; and I was scorn'd:...

Una donna pi' bella assai che 'l sole.

GLORY AND VIRTUE.


A lady, lovelier, brighter than the sun,
Like him superior o'er all time and space,
Of rare resistless grace,...

Se 'l pensier che mi strugge.

HE SEEKS IN VAIN TO MITIGATE HIS WOE.


Oh! that my cheeks were taught
By the fond, wasting thought
To wear such hues as could its influence speak;...

Chiare, fresche e dolci acque.

TO THE FOUNTAIN OF VAUOLUSE--CONTEMPLATIONS OF DEATH.


Ye limpid brooks, by whose clear streams
My goddess laid her tender limbs!...

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,...