Vinse Hanibàl, et non seppe usar poi
ben la vittorïosa sua ventura:
però, signor mio caro, aggiate cura,
che similmente non avegna a voi.
L'orsa, rabbiosa per gli orsacchi suoi,
che trovaron di maggio aspra pastura,
rode sé dentro, e i denti et l'unghie endura
per vendicar suoi danni sopra noi.
Mentre 'l novo dolor dunque l'accora,
non riponete l'onorata spada,
anzi seguite là dove vi chiama
vostra fortuna dritto per la strada
che vi può dar, dopo la morte anchora
mille et mille anni, al mondo honor et fama.
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Hannibal conquered, and yet did not know
how to make use of his victorious action:
so, my dear lord, I beg you to take care
the same thing doesn't happen to you.
The she-bear raging for her cubs,
who found the fields bitter this May,
gnaws inwardly, and whets her teeth and claws
to revenge her hurt on us.
While she is attacked by this new grief,
don't hang up your honoured sword,
but follow where your fortune calls,
straight by the road that can grant you
honour and fame in this world,
for thousands of years after your death.
Note:
Addressed to Stefano Colonna after his victory
in May 1333 over the Orsini (The 'Bears').
The Colonna were Petrach's patrons. Hannibal
was unable to fully exploit his victories in Italy
against the Romans, for example after Cannae in 216BC.
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