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
Persequendomi Amor al luogo usato,
ristretto in guisa d'uom ch'aspetta guerra,
che si provede, e i passi intorno serra,
de' miei antichi pensier' mi stava armato.

Volsimi, et vidi un'ombra che da lato
stampava il sole, et riconobbi in terra
quella che, se 'l giudicio mio non erra,
era piú degna d'immortale stato.

I' dicea fra mio cor: Perché paventi?
Ma non fu prima dentro il penser giunto
che i raggi, ov'io mi struggo, eran presenti.

Come col balenar tona in un punto,
cosí fu' io de' begli occhi lucenti
et d'un dolce saluto inseme aggiunto.
Love pursuing me to my old haunts,
I armed myself with my former thoughts.
hemmed in like a man in a battle,
who protects himself, and shuts the passes,

I turned and saw a shadow sunlight made
at my side, and recognised, on earth,
her who, if my judgement does not err,
is more worthy of an immortal state.

I said in my heart: 'Why be afraid?
But the thought was hardly formed inside
when the light appeared, by which I am destroyed.

Like thunder and lightning both together,
so I saw her lovely shining eyes
joined as one with her sweet greeting.


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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