Works

Lassare il velo o per sole o per ombra.

PERCEIVING HIS PASSION, LAURA'S SEVERITY INCREASES.


Never thy veil, in sun or in the shade,
Lady, a moment I have seen...

Occhi miei lassi, mentre ch' io vi giro.

HE INVITES HIS EYES TO FEAST THEMSELVES ON LAURA.


My wearied eyes! while looking thus
On that fair fatal face to us,...

Quel foco, ch' io pensai che fosse spento.

HE THOUGHT HIMSELF FREE, BUT FINDS THAT HE IS MORE THAN EVER ENTHRALLED BY LOVE.


That fire for ever which I thought at rest,...

Perch' quel che mi trasse ad amar prima.

HE WILL ALWAYS LOVE HER, THOUGH DENIED THE SIGHT OF HER.


Though cruelty denies my view
Those charms which led me first to love;...

Nel dolce tempo della prima etade.

HIS SUFFERINGS SINCE HE BECAME THE SLAVE OF LOVE.


In the sweet season when my life was new,
Which saw the birth, and still the being sees...

O aspettata in ciel, beata e bella.

IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED CRUSADE AGAINST THE INFIDELS.


O spirit wish'd and waited for in heaven,
That wearest gracefully our human clay,...

Verdi panni, sanguigni, oscuri o persi.

WHETHER OR NOT HE SHOULD CEASE TO LOVE LAURA.


Green robes and red, purple, or brown, or gray
No lady ever wore,...

Si ' debile il filo a cui s' attene.

HE GRIEVES IN ABSENCE FROM LAURA.


The thread on which my weary life depends
So fragile is and weak,
If none kind succour lends,...

Gentil mia donna, i' veggio.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: THEY LEAD HIM TO CONTEMPLATE THE PATH OF LIFE.


Lady, in your bright eyes
Soft glancing round, I mark a holy light,...

Non al suo amante pi' Diana piacque.

ANYTHING THAT REMINDS HIM OF LAURA RENEWS HIS TORMENTS.


Not Dian to her lover was more dear,
When fortune 'mid the waters cold and clear,...

Perch' al viso d' Amor portava insegna.

A LOVE JOURNEY--DANGER IN THE PATH--HE TURNS BACK.


Bright in whose face Love's conquering ensign stream'd,
A foreign fair so won me, young and vain,...

Nova angeletta sovra l' ale accorta.

HE ALLEGORICALLY DESCRIBES THE ORIGIN OF HIS PASSION.


From heaven an angel upon radiant wings,
New lighted on that shore so fresh and fair,...

Or vedi, Amor, che giovinetta donna.

A PRAYER TO LOVE THAT HE WILL TAKE VENGEANCE ON THE SCORNFUL PRIDE OF LAURA.


Now, Love, at length behold a youthful fair,...

A qualunque animale alberga in terra.

NIGHT BRINGS HIM NO REST. HE IS THE PREY OF DESPAIR.


To every animal that dwells on earth,
Except to those which have in hate the sun,...

Giovane donna sott' un verde lauro.

THOUGH DESPAIRING OF PITY, HE VOWS TO LOVE HER UNTO DEATH.


A youthful lady 'neath a laurel green
Was seated, fairer, colder than the snow...

L' aere gravato, e l' importuna nebbia.

HE COMPARES LAURA TO WINTER, AND FORESEES THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME.


The overcharged air, the impending cloud,...

Chi ' fermato di menar sua vita.

HE PRAYS GOD TO GUIDE HIS FRAIL BARK TO A SAFE PORT.


Who is resolved to venture his vain life
On the deceitful wave and 'mid the rocks,...

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,...