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
Le stelle, il cielo et gli elementi a prova
tutte lor arti et ogni extrema cura
poser nel vivo lume, in cui Natura
si specchia, e 'l Sol ch'altrove par non trova.

L'opra è sí altera, sí leggiadra et nova
che mortal guardo in lei non s'assecura:
tanta negli occhi bei for di misura
par ch'Amore et dolcezza et gratia piova.

L'aere percosso da' lor dolci rai
s'infiamma d'onestate, et tal diventa,
che 'l dir nostro e 'l penser vince d'assai.

Basso desir non è ch'ivi si senta,
ma d'onor, di vertute: or quando mai
fu per somma beltà vil voglia spenta?

The stars, the sky, the elements employed
all their art, and all their deepest care,
to set in place this living light, where Nature
is mirrored, and a Sun without compare.

The work, so noble, graceful and rare
is such that mortal gaze cannot grasp it:
such is the measure of beauty in her eyes
that Love rains down in grace and sweetness.

The air struck by those sweet rays
is inflamed with virtue, and becomes
such as to conquer all our speech and thought.

There no unworthy desire can be felt,
but honour and virtue: now where
was ill will ever so quenched by noble beauty?


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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