O bella man, che mi destringi 'l core,
e 'n poco spatio la mia vita chiudi;
man ov'ogni arte et tutti i lor studi
poser Natura e 'l Ciel per farsi honore;
di cinque perle orïental' colore,
et sol ne le mie piaghe acerbi et crudi,
diti schietti soavi, a tempo ignudi
consente or voi, per arricchirme, Amore.
Candido leggiadretto et caro guanto,
che copria netto avorio et fresche rose,
chi vide al mondo mai sí dolci spoglie?
Cosí avess'io del bel velo altrettanto!
O incostantia de l'umane cose!
Pur questo è furto, et vien chi me ne spoglie.
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O beautiful hand that clutches my heart
shutting my life in so small a space,
hand on which Nature and Heaven lavished
all art, and all care, to do it honour,
with five pearls of orient colour,
and only to wound me bitterly and cruelly,
those long gentle fingers, that Love consents
to show me naked, now, for my enrichment.
White, graceful glove dear to me,
that hides polished ivory and fresh rose,
who ever saw such sweet spoils on earth?
If only I had as much of her lovely veil!
O the fickleness of human things!
But this is theft, and she comes whom I must not plunder.
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