Petrarch Laura Francesco Petrarch and Laura For a woman he would never know
For a woman he could never have
He should change the world forever
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Petrarch:The Canzoniere

Translated by: A.S.Kline
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Information on the sonnet is available here.
Looking for an analysis of a specific poem from the Canzoniere?
Read I go thinking an analysis of poem 264 by Holly Barbaccia.


ITALIAN ENGLISH
Io mi rivolgo indietro a ciascun passo
col corpo stancho ch'a gran pena porto,
et prendo allor del vostr'aere conforto
che 'l fa gir oltra dicendo: Oimè lasso!

Poi ripensando al dolce ben ch'io lasso,
al camin lungo et al mio viver corto,
fermo le piante sbigottito et smorto,
et gli occhi in terra lagrimando abasso.

Talor m'assale in mezzo a'tristi pianti
un dubbio: come posson queste membra
da lo spirito lor viver lontane?

Ma rispondemi Amor: Non ti rimembra
che questo è privilegio degli amanti,
sciolti da tutte qualitati humane?
I turn back at every step I take
with weary body that has borne great pain,
and take comfort then from your aspect
that make me go on, saying: Ah me!

Then thinking of the sweet good I leave,
of the long road, and of my brief life,
I halt my steps, dismayed and pale,
and lower my eyes weeping to the ground.

Sometimes a doubt assails me in the midst
of sad tears: how can these limbs
live separated from their spirit?

But Love replies: Do you not remember
that this is the privilege of lovers,
freed from every other human tie?


© Copyright 1999-2006
Peter Sadlon
Updated Sept 10th 2007

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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