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Passa la nave mia colma d' oblio.

UNDER THE FIGURE OF A TEMPEST-TOSSED VESSEL, HE DESCRIBES HIS OWN SAD STATE.


My bark, deep laden with oblivion, rides...

Una candida cerva sopra l' erba.

THE VISION OF THE FAWN.


Beneath a laurel, two fair streams between,
At early sunrise of the opening year,
A milk-white fawn upon the meadow green,...

Siccome eterna vita ' veder Dio.

ALL HIS HAPPINESS IS IN GAZING UPON HER.


As life eternal is with God to be,
No void left craving, there of all possess'd,...

Pasco la mente d' un s' nobil cibo.

TO SEE AND HEAR HER IS HIS GREATEST BLISS.


I feed my fancy on such noble food,
That Jove I envy not his godlike meal;...

L' aura gentil che rasserena i poggi.

JOURNEYING TO VISIT LAURA, HE FEELS RENEWED ARDOUR AS HE APPROACHES.


The gale, that o'er yon hills flings softer blue,...

Di d' in d' vo cangiando il viso e 'l pelo.

HIS WOUNDS CAN BE HEALED ONLY BY PITY OR DEATH.


I alter day by day in hair and mien,
Yet shun not the old dangerous baits and dear,...

L' aura serena che fra verdi fronde.

THE GENTLE BREEZE (L' AURA) RECALLS TO HIM THE TIME WHEN HE FIRST SAW HER.


The gentle gale, that plays my face around,...

L' aura celeste che 'n quel verde Lauro.

HER HAIR AND EYES.


The heavenly airs from yon green laurel roll'd,
Where Love to Phoebus whilom dealt his stroke,...

D' un bel, chiaro, polito e vivo ghiaccio.

THOUGH RACKED BY AGONY, HE DOES NOT COMPLAIN OF HER.


The flames that ever on my bosom prey
From living ice or cold fair marble pour,...

L' aura soave ch' al sol spiega e vibra.

HIS HEART LIES TANGLED IN HER HAIR.


The pleasant gale, that to the sun unplaits
And spreads the gold Love's fingers weave, and braid...

O bella man, che mi distringi 'l core.

THE STOLEN GLOVE.


O beauteous hand! that dost my heart subdue,
And in a little space my life confine;
Hand where their skill and utmost efforts join...

Non pur quell' una bella ignuda mano.

HE RETURNS THE GLOVE, BEWAILING THE EFFECT OF HER BEAUTY.


Not of one dear hand only I complain,
Which hides it, to my loss, again from view,...

Mia ventura ed Amor m' avean s' adorno.

HE REGRETS HAVING RETURNED HER GLOVE.


Me Love and Fortune then supremely bless'd!
Her glove which gold and silken broidery bore!...

Lasso, ch' i' ardo, ed altri non mel crede!

POSTERITY WILL ACCORD TO HIM THE PITY WHICH LAURA REFUSES.


Alas, with ardour past belief I glow!
None doubt this truth, except one only fair,...

Anima, che diverse cose tante.

HE REJOICES AT BEING ON EARTH WITH HER, AS HE IS THEREBY ENABLED BETTER TO IMITATE HER VIRTUES.


Soul! with such various faculties endued...

Dolci ire, dolci sdegni e dolci paci.

HE CONSOLES HIMSELF WITH THE THOUGHT THAT HE WILL BE ENVIED BY POSTERITY.


Sweet scorn, sweet anger, and sweet misery,...

Rapido fiume che d' alpestra vena.

JOURNEYING ALONG THE RHONE TO AVIGNON, PETRARCH BIDS THE RIVER KISS LAURA'S HAND, AS IT WILL ARRIVE AT HER DWELLING BEFORE HIM.

...

I' dolci colli ov' io lasciai me stesso.

HE LEAVES VAUCLUSE, BUT HIS SPIRIT REMAINS THERE WITH LAURA.


The loved hills where I left myself behind,
Whence ever 'twas so hard my steps to tear,...

In nobil sangue vita umile e queta.

SHE UNITES IN HERSELF THE HIGHEST EXCELLENCES OF VIRTUE AND BEAUTY.


High birth in humble life, reserved yet kind,...

Non dall' Ispano Ibero all' Indo Idaspe.

HIS WOES ARE UNEXAMPLED.


From Spanish Ebro to Hydaspes old,
Exploring ocean in its every nook,
From the Red Sea to the cold Caspian shore,...