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
Po, ben puo' tu portartene la scorza
di me con tue possenti et rapide onde,
ma lo spirto ch'iv'entro si nasconde
non cura né di tua né d'altrui forza;

lo qual senz'alternar poggia con orza
dritto perl'aure suo desir seconde,
battendo l'ali verso l'aurea fronde,
l'acqua e 'l vento e la vela e i remi sforza.

Re degli altri, superbo altero fiume,
che 'ncontri 'l sol quando e'ne mena 'l giorno,
e 'n ponente abandoni un piú bel lume,

tu te ne vai col mio mortal sul corno;
l'altro coverto d'amorose piume
torna volando al suo dolce soggiorno.
River Po, you are quick to carry my body
along with your powerful, swift stream,
but my spirit that is hidden here within
cares neither for your force, nor any other:

without the need to tack from side to side
its desire heads straight towards the breeze,
beating its wings towards her golden hair,
despite the waves, the wind, and sail, and oars.

King of the rivers, proud and noble flood,
meeting the sun when he leads on the dawn,
leaving behind you a much lovelier light,

you bear only my mortal part on your crest:
the other, clothed in lover's plumage,
goes flying on towards its sweet home.


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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