Works

Quando Amor i begli occhi a terra inchina.

LAURA SINGS.


If Love her beauteous eyes to earth incline,
And all her soul concentring in a sigh,
Then breathe it in her voice of melody,...

O Invidia, nemica di virtute.

ENVY MAY DISTURB, BUT CANNOT DESTROY HIS HOPE.


O deadly Envy, virtue's constant foe,
With good and lovely eager to contest!...

Amor mi manda quel dolce pensero.

LIFE WILL FAIL HIM BEFORE HOPE.


Love to my mind recalling that sweet thought,
The ancient confidant our lives between,...

Pien d' un vago pensier, che me desvia.

HIS TONGUE IS TIED BY EXCESS OF PASSION.


Such vain thought as wonted to mislead me
In desert hope, by well-assur'd moan,...

Pi' volte gi' dal bel sembiante umano.

LOVE UNMANS HIS RESOLUTION.


Oft as her angel face compassion wore,
With tears whose eloquence scarce fails to move,...

Giunto m' ha Amor fra belle e crude braccia.

HE CANNOT END HER CRUELTY, NOR SHE HIS HOPE.


Me Love has left in fair cold arms to lie,
Which kill me wrongfully: if I complain,...

Qui reposan quei caste e felice ossa.


Here peaceful sleeps the chaste, the happy shade
Of that pure spirit, which adorn'd this earth:
Pure fame, true beauty, and transcendent worth,...

Per far una leggiadra sua vendetta.

HOW HE BECAME THE VICTIM OF LOVE.


For many a crime at once to make me smart,
And a delicious vengeance to obtain,
Love secretly took up his bow again,...

Era 'l giorno ch' al sol si scoloraro.

HE BLAMES LOVE FOR WOUNDING HIM ON A HOLY DAY (GOOD FRIDAY).


'Twas on the morn, when heaven its blessed ray
In pity to its suffering master veil'd,...

Quel ch' infinita providenza ed arte.

HE CELEBRATES THE BIRTHPLACE OF LAURA.


He that with wisdom, goodness, power divine,
Did ample Nature's perfect book design,...

Quando 'l pianeta che distingue l' ore.

WITH A PRESENT OF FRUIT IN SPRING.


When the great planet which directs the hours
To dwell with Taurus from the North is borne,...

Lasso, che mal accorto fui da prima.

HE PRAYS LOVE TO KINDLE ALSO IN HER THE FLAME BY WHICH HE IS UNCEASINGLY TORMENTED.


Alas! this heart by me was little known...

Del mar Tirreno alla sinistra riva.

THE FALL.


Upon the left shore of the Tyrrhene sea,
Where, broken by the winds, the waves complain,
Sudden I saw that honour'd green again,...

L' aspetto sacro della terra vostra.

THE VIEW OF ROME PROMPTS HIM TO TEAR HIMSELF FROM LAURA, BUT LOVE WILL NOT ALLOW HIM.


The solemn aspect of this sacred shore...

Ben sapev' io che natural consiglio.

FLEEING FROM LOVE, HE FALLS INTO THE HANDS OF HIS MINISTERS.


Full well I know that natural wisdom nought,
Love, 'gainst thy power, in any age prevail'd,...

Io son gi' stanco di pensar siccome.

HE WONDERS AT HIS LONG ENDURANCE OF SUCH TOIL AND SUFFERING.


I weary me alway with questions keen
How, why my thoughts ne'er turn from you away,...

Se al principio risponde il fine e 'l mezzo.

IF HIS PASSION STILL INCREASE, HE MUST SOON DIE.


If, of this fourteenth year wherein I sigh,
The end and middle with its opening vie,...

I begli occhi, ond' i' fui percosso in guisa.

HE IS NEVER WEARY OF PRAISING THE EYES OF LAURA.


The bright eyes which so struck my fenceless side
That they alone which harm'd can heal the smart...

Amor con sue promesse lusingando.

LOVE CHAINS ARE STILL DEAR TO HIM.


By promise fair and artful flattery
Me Love contrived in prison old to snare,
And gave the keys to her my foe in care,...

Per mirar Policleto a prova fiso.

ON THE PORTRAIT OF LAURA PAINTED BY SIMON MEMMI.


Had Policletus seen her, or the rest
Who, in past time, won honour in this art,...