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Po, ben puo' tu portartene la scorza.

TO THE RIVER PO, ON QUITTING LAURA.


Thou Po to distant realms this frame mayst bear,
On thy all-powerful, thy impetuous tide;...

Amor fra l' orbe una leggiadra rete.

HE COMPARES HIMSELF TO A BIRD CAUGHT IN A NET.


Love 'mid the grass beneath a laurel green--
The plant divine which long my flame has fed,...

Quando 'l voler, che con duo sproni ardenti.

HER LOOKS BOTH COMFORT AND CHECK HIM.


When, with two ardent spurs and a hard rein,
Passion, my daily life who rules and leads,...

Non Tesin, Po, Varo, Arno, Adige e Tebro.

HE EXTOLS THE LAUREL AND ITS FAVOURITE STREAM.


Not all the streams that water the bright earth,
Not all the trees to which its breast gives birth,...

Che fai, alma? che pensi? avrem mai pace?

DIALOGUE OF THE POET WITH HIS HEART.


P. What actions fire thee, and what musings fill?
Soul! is it peace, or truce, or war eterne?...

Nom d' atra e tempestosa onda marina.

HE IS LED BY LOVE TO REASON.


No wearied mariner to port e'er fled
From the dark billow, when some tempest's nigh,...

Ite, caldi sospiri, al freddo core.

HE IMPLORES MERCY OR DEATH.


Go, my warm sighs, go to that frozen breast,
Burst the firm ice, that charity denies;...

Le stelle e 'l cielo e gli elementi a prova.

LAURA'S UNPARALLELED BEAUTY AND VIRTUE.


The stars, the elements, and Heaven have made
With blended powers a work beyond compare;...

Non fur mai Giove e Cesare s' mossi.

LAURA IN TEARS.


High Jove to thunder ne'er was so intent,
So resolute great C'sar ne'er to strike,
That pity had not quench'd the ire of both,...

I' vidi in terra angelici costumi.

THE EFFECTS OF HER GRIEF.


On earth reveal'd the beauties of the skies,
Angelic features, it was mine to hail;...

Quel sempre acerbo ed onorato giorno.

HE RECALLS HER AS HE SAW HER WHEN IN TEARS.


That ever-painful, ever-honour'd day
So left her living image on my heart...

Lieti flori e felici, e ben nate erbe.

HE ENVIES EVERY SPOT THAT SHE FREQUENTS.


Gay, joyous blooms, and herbage glad with showers,
O'er which my pensive fair is wont to stray!...

Ove ch' i' posi gli occhi lassi o giri.

HER IMAGE IS EVER IN HIS HEART.


Where'er I rest or turn my weary eyes,
To ease the longings which allure them still,...

In qual parte del cielo, in quale idea.

HE EXTOLS THE BEAUTY AND VIRTUE OF LAURA.


Say from what part of heaven 'twas Nature drew,
From what idea, that so perfect mould...

Amor ed io s' pien di maraviglia.

HER EVERY ACTION IS DIVINE.


As one who sees a thing incredible,
In mutual marvel Love and I combine,
Confessing, when she speaks or smiles divine,...

O passi sparsi, o pensier vaghi e pronti.

EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF HIS PASSION IS A TORMENT TO HIM.


O scatter'd steps! O vague and busy thoughts!
O firm-set memory! O fierce desire!...

Amor, che vedi ogni pensiero aperto.

HE CARES NOT FOR SUFFERINGS, SO THAT HE DISPLEASE NOT LAURA.


Love, thou who seest each secret thought display'd,...

Or che 'l ciel e la terra e 'l vento tace.

NIGHT BRINGS PEACE TO ALL SAVE HIM.


O'er earth and sky her lone watch silence keeps,
And bird and beast in stirless slumber lie,...

Come 'l candido pi' per l' erba fresca.

HER WALK, LOOKS, WORDS, AND AIR.


As o'er the fresh grass her fair form its sweet
And graceful passage makes at evening hours,...

S' io fossi stato fermo alla spelunca.

TO ONE WHO DESIRED LATIN VERSE OF HIM.


Still had I sojourn'd in that Delphic cave
Where young Apollo prophet first became,...