Works

Poich' per mio destino.

IN PRAISE OF LAURA'S EYES: IN THEM HE FINDS EVERY GOOD, AND HE CAN NEVER CEASE TO PRAISE THEM.


Since then by destiny
I am compell'd to sing the strong desire,...

[R]

Mai non vo' pi' cantar, com' io soleva.

ENIGMAS.


Never more shall I sing, as I have sung:
For still she heeded not; and I was scorn'd:...

Una donna pi' bella assai che 'l sole.

GLORY AND VIRTUE.


A lady, lovelier, brighter than the sun,
Like him superior o'er all time and space,
Of rare resistless grace,...

Se 'l pensier che mi strugge.

HE SEEKS IN VAIN TO MITIGATE HIS WOE.


Oh! that my cheeks were taught
By the fond, wasting thought
To wear such hues as could its influence speak;...

Chiare, fresche e dolci acque.

TO THE FOUNTAIN OF VAUOLUSE--CONTEMPLATIONS OF DEATH.


Ye limpid brooks, by whose clear streams
My goddess laid her tender limbs!...

S' il dissi mai, ch' i' venga in odio a quella.

HE VEHEMENTLY REBUTS THE CHARGE OF LOVING ANOTHER.


Perdie! I said it not,
Nor never thought to do:
As well as I, ye wot...

In quella parte dov' Amor mi sprona.

HE FINDS HER IMAGE EVERYWHERE.


When Love, fond Love, commands the strain,
The coyest muse must sure obey;
Love bids my wounded breast complain,...

Italia mia, bench' 'l parlar sia indarno.

TO THE PRINCES OF ITALY, EXHORTING THEM TO SET HER FREE.


O my own Italy! though words are vain
The mortal wounds to close,...

Di pensier in pensier, di monte in monte.

DISTANCE AND SOLITUDE.


From hill to hill I roam, from thought to thought,
With Love my guide; the beaten path I fly,...

Qual pi' diversa e nova.

HE COMPARES HIMSELF TO ALL THAT IS MOST STRANGE IN CREATION.


Whate'er most wild and new
Was ever found in any foreign land,
If viewed and valued true,...

Ben mi credea passar mio tempo omai.

HE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT SEEING HER, BUT WOULD NOT DIE THAT HE MAY STILL LOVE HER.


As pass'd the years which I have left behind,...

I' vo pensando, e nel pensier m' assale.

SELF-CONFLICT.


Ceaseless I think, and in each wasting thought
So strong a pity for myself appears,
That often it has brought...

Gloriosa Colonna, in cui s' appoggia.

TO STEFANO COLONNA THE ELDER, INVITING HIM TO THE COUNTRY.


Glorious Colonna! still the strength and stay
Of our best hopes, and the great Latin name...

Qui dove mezzo son, Sennuccio mio.

THE MERE SIGHT OF VAUCLUSE MAKES HIM FORGET ALL THE PERILS OF HIS JOURNEY.


Friend, on this spot, I life but half endure...

Dell' empia Babilonia, ond' ' fuggita.

LEAVING ROME, HE DESIRES ONLY PEACE WITH LAURA AND PROSPERITY TO COLONNA.


Yes, out of impious Babylon I'm flown,...

In mezzo di duo amanti onesta altera.

LAURA TURNING TO SALUTE HIM, THE SUN, THROUGH JEALOUSY, WITHDREW BEHIND A CLOUD.


'Tween two fond lovers I a lady spied,...

Pien di quella ineffabile dolcezza.

WHEREVER HE IS, HE SEES ONLY LAURA.


O'erflowing with the sweets ineffable,
Which from that lovely face my fond eyes drew,...

Se 'l sasso ond' ' pi' chiusa questa valle.

COULD HE BUT SEE THE HOUSE OF LAURA, HIS SIGHS MIGHT REACH HER MORE QUICKLY.


If, which our valley bars, this wall of stone,...

Amor, Fortuna, e la mia mente schiva.

THE CAUSES OF HIS WOE.


Love, Fortune, and my melancholy mind,
Sick of the present, lingering on the past,
Afflict me so, that envious thoughts I cast...

Rimansi addietro il sestodecim' anno.

THOUGH HE IS UNHAPPY, HIS LOVE REMAINS EVER UNCHANGED.


My sixteenth year of sighs its course has run,
I stand alone, already on the brow...