Works

PART I.

Questa leggiadra e gloriosa Donna.


The glorious Maid, whose soul to heaven is gone
And left the rest cold earth, she who was grown
A pillar of true valour, and had gain'd...

Amor, quando fioria.

HIS GRIEF AT SURVIVING HER IS MITIGATED BY THE CONSCIOUSNESS THAT SHE NOW KNOWS HIS HEART.


Yes, Love, at that propitious time
When hope was in its bloomy prime,...

Che debb' io far? che mi consigli, Amore?

HE ASKS COUNSEL OF LOVE, WHETHER HE SHOULD FOLLOW LAURA, OR STILL ENDURE EXISTENCE.


What should I do? what, Love, dost thou advise?...

Amor, se vuoi ch' i' torni al giogo antico.

UNLESS LOVE CAN RESTORE HER TO LIFE, HE WILL NEVER AGAIN BE HIS SLAVE.


If thou wouldst have me, Love, thy slave again,...

Standomi un giorno solo alla finestra.

UNDER VARIOUS ALLEGORIES HE PAINTS THE VIRTUE, BEAUTY, AND UNTIMELY DEATH OF LAURA.


While at my window late I stood alone,...

Tacer non posso, e temo non adopre.

HE RECALLS HER MANY GRACES.


Fain would I speak--too long has silence seal'd
Lips that would gladly with my full heart move
With one consent, and yield...

Solea dalla fontana di mia vita.

MEMORY IS HIS ONLY SOLACE AND SUPPORT.


I who was wont from life's best fountain far
So long to wander, searching land and sea,...

Quando il suave mio fido conforto.

SHE APPEARS TO HIM, AND, WITH MORE THAN WONTED AFFECTION, ENDEAVOURS TO CONSOLE HIM.


When she, the faithful soother of my pain,...

Quell' antiquo mio dolce empio signore.

LOVE, SUMMONED BY THE POET TO THE TRIBUNAL OF REASON, PASSES A SPLENDID EULOGIUM ON LAURA.


Long had I suffer'd, till--to combat more...

Vergine bella che di sol vestita.

TO THE VIRGIN MARY.


Beautiful Virgin! clothed with the sun,
Crown'd with the stars, who so the Eternal Sun
Well pleasedst that in thine his light he hid;...

Mia benigna fortuna e 'l viver lieto.

IN HIS MISERY HE DESIRES DEATH THE MORE HE REMEMBERS HIS PAST CONTENTMENT AND COMFORT.


My favouring fortune and my life of joy,...

Oim' il bel viso! oim' il soave sguardo!

ON THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DEATH OF LAURA.


Woe for the 'witching look of that fair face!
The port where ease with dignity combined!...

Rotta ' l' alta Colonna, e 'l verde Lauro.

HE BEWAILS HIS DOUBLE LOSS IN THE DEATHS OF LAURA, AND OF COLONNA.


Fall'n that proud Column, fall'n that Laurel tree,...

L' ardente nodo ov' io fui, d' ora in ora.

ON THE DEATH OF ANOTHER LADY.


That burning toil, in which I once was caught,
While twice ten years and one I counted o'er,...

La vita fugge, e non s' arresta un' ora.

PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE ARE NOW ALIKE PAINFUL TO HIM.


Life passes quick, nor will a moment stay,
And death with hasty journeys still draws near;...

S' Amor novo consiglio non n' apporta.

HE DESCRIBES HIS SAD STATE.


If Love to give new counsel still delay,
My life must change to other scenes than these;...

Al cader d' una pianta che si svelse.

UNDER THE ALLEGORY OF A LAUREL HE AGAIN DEPLORES HER DEATH.


As a fair plant, uprooted by oft blows
Of trenchant spade, or which the blast upheaves,...

I d' miei pi' leggier che nessun cervo.

HIS PASSION FINDS ITS ONLY CONSOLATION IN CONTEMPLATING HER IN HEAVEN.


My days more swiftly than the forest hind...

Sente l' aura mia antica, e i dolci colli.

HE REVISITS VAUCLUSE.


I feel the well-known gale; the hills I spy
So pleasant, whence my fair her being drew,...

E questo 'l nido in che la mia Fenice.

THE SIGHT OF LAURA'S HOUSE REMINDS HIM OF HIS MISERY.


Is this the nest in which my phoenix first
Her plumage donn'd of purple and of gold,...