Works

No more be griev'd at that which thou hast done:
Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud:
Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun,
And loathsome canker lives in sweetest bud....

When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:...

Ye sons of earth, prepare the plough,
Break up the fallow ground;
The sower is gone forth to sow,
And scatter blessings round.


The seed that finds a stony soil,
Shoots forth a hasty blade;...

Longing already to search in and round
The heavenly forest, dense and living green,
Which to the eyes tempered the new-born day,

Withouten more delay I left the bank,...

Nell' et' sua pi' bella e pi' fiorita.

HE DESIRES TO DIE, THAT HIS SOUL MAY BE WITH HER, AS HIS THOUGHTS ALREADY ARE.


E'en in youth's fairest flower, when Love's dear sway...

Vago augelletto che cantando vai.

THE PLAINTIVE SONG OF A BIRD RECALLS TO HIM HIS OWN KEENER SORROW.


Poor solitary bird, that pour'st thy lay;
Or haply mournest the sweet season gone:...

Se lamentar augelli, o Verdi fronde.

SHE IS EVER PRESENT TO HIM.


If the lorn bird complain, or rustling sweep
Soft summer airs o'er foliage waving slow,...

Mai non fu' in parte ove s' chiar' vedessi.

VAUCLUSE.


Nowhere before could I so well have seen
Her whom my soul most craves since lost to view;
Nowhere in so great freedom could have been...

Quante fiate al mio dolce ricetto.

HER FORM STILL HAUNTS HIM IN SOLITUDE.


How oft, all lonely, to my sweet retreat
From man and from myself I strive to fly,...

Alma felice, che sovente torni.

HE THANKS HER THAT FROM TIME TO TIME SHE RETURNS TO CONSOLE HIM WITH HER PRESENCE.


O blessed spirit! who dost oft return,
Ministering comfort to my nights of woe,...

Sennuccio mio, bench' doglioso e solo.

ON THE DEATH OF HIS FRIEND SENNUCCIO.


O friend! though left a wretched pilgrim here,
By thee though left in solitude to roam,...

Quella per cui con Sorga ho cangiat' Arno.

HE ATTEMPTS TO PAINT HER BEAUTIES, BUT NOT HER VIRTUES.


She, for whose sake fair Arno I resign,
And for free poverty court-affluence spurn,...

L' alto e novo miracol ch' a d' nostri.

IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO DESCRIBE HER EXCELLENCES.


The wonder, high and new, that, in our days,
Dawn'd on the world, yet would not there remain,...

Zefiro torna, e 'l bel tempo rimena.

RETURNING SPRING BRINGS TO HIM ONLY INCREASE OF GRIEF.


Zephyr returns; and in his jocund train
Brings verdure, flowers, and days serenely clear;...

Quel rosignuol che s' soave piagne.

THE SONG OF THE NIGHTINGALE REMINDS HIM OF HIS UNHAPPY LOT.


Yon nightingale, whose bursts of thrilling tone,
Pour'd in soft sorrow from her tuneful throat,...

N' per sereno cielo ir vaghe stelle.

NOTHING THAT NATURE OFFERS CAN AFFORD HIM CONSOLATION.


Not skies serene, with glittering stars inlaid,
Nor gallant ships o'er tranquil ocean dancing,...

Tranquillo porto avea mostrato Amore.

DEATH HAS ROBBED HIM IN ONE MOMENT OF THE FRUIT OF HIS LIFE.


From life's long storm of trouble and of tears
Love show'd a tranquil haven and fair end...

Passato ' 'l tempo omai, lasso! che tanto.

HIS ONLY DESIRE IS AGAIN TO BE WITH HER.


Fled--fled, alas! for ever--is the day,
Which to my flame some soothing whilom brought;...

Mente mia che presaga de' tuoi danni.

HE RECALLS WITH GRIEF THEIR LAST MEETING.


My mind! prophetic of my coming fate,
Pensive and gloomy while yet joy was lent,...

Tutta la mia fiorita e verde etade.

JUST WHEN HE MIGHT FAIRLY HOPE SOME RETURN OF AFFECTION, ENVIOUS DEATH CARRIES HER OFF.


All my green years and golden prime of man...