Works

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...

Aspro core e selvaggio, e cruda voglia.

HOPE ALONE SUPPORTS HIM IN HIS MISERY.


Hard heart and cold, a stern will past belief,
In angel form of gentle sweet allure;...

Signor mio caro, ogni pensier mi tira.

HE LAMENTS HIS ABSENCE FROM LAURA AND COLONNA, THE ONLY OBJECTS OF HIS AFFECTION.


My lord and friend! thoughts, wishes, all inclined...

Io canterei d' Amor s' novamente.

REPLY TO A Sonnet OF JACOPO DA LENTINO.


Ways apt and new to sing of love I'd find,
Forcing from her hard heart full many a sigh,...

S' Amor non ', che dunque ' quel ch' i' sento?

THE CONTRADICTIONS OF LOVE.


If no love is, O God, what fele I so?
And if love is, what thing and which is he?...

Amor m' ha posto come segno a strale.

LOVE'S ARMOURY.


Love makes me as the target for his dart,
As snow in sunshine, or as wax in flame,
Or gale-driven cloud; and, Laura, on thy name...

Pace non trovo, e non ho da far guerra.

LOVE'S INCONSISTENCY.


I fynde no peace and all my warre is done,
I feare and hope, I bourne and freese lyke yse;...

Amor che nel pensier mio vive e regna.

THE COURAGE AND TIMIDITY OF LOVE.


The long Love that in my thought I harbour,
And in my heart doth keep his residence,...

Se 'l dolce sguardo di costei m' ancide.

HE IS CONTINUALLY IN FEAR OF DISPLEASING HER.


If thus the dear glance of my lady slay,
On her sweet sprightly speech if dangers wait,...

Amor, Natura, e la bell' alma umile.

DURING A SERIOUS ILLNESS OF LAURA.


Love, Nature, Laura's gentle self combines,
She where each lofty virtue dwells and reigns,...

Questa Fenice dell' aurata piuma.

HE COMPARES HER TO THE PHOENIX.


This wondrous Phoenix with the golden plumes
Forms without art so rare a ring to deck...

Se Virgilio ed Omero avessin visto.

THE MOST FAMOUS POETS OF ANTIQUITY WOULD HAVE SUNG HER ONLY, HAD THEY SEEN HER.


Had tuneful Maro seen, and Homer old,...

Giunto Alessandro alla famosa tomba.

HE FEARS THAT HE IS INCAPABLE OF WORTHILY CELEBRATING HER.


The son of Philip, when he saw the tomb
Of fierce Achilles, with a sigh, thus said:...

Stiamo, Amor, a veder la gloria nostra.

TO LOVE, ON LAURA WALKING ABROAD.


Here stand we, Love, our glory to behold--
How, passing Nature, lovely, high, and rare!...

Almo Sol, quella fronde ch' io sola amo.

TO THE SUN, WHOSE SETTING HID LAURA'S DWELLING FROM HIS VIEW.


O blessed Sun! that sole sweet leaf I love,
First loved by thee, in its fair seat, alone,...