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
Download them all in English or Italian
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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
Rapido fiume che d'alpestra vena
rodendo intorno, onde 'l tuo nome prendi,
notte et dí meco disïoso scendi
ov'Amor me, te sol Natura mena,

vattene innanzi: il tuo corso non frena
né stanchezza né sonno; et pria che rendi
suo dritto al mar, fiso u' si mostri attendi
l'erba piú verde, et l'aria piú serena.

Ivi è quel nostro vivo et dolce sole,
ch'addorna e 'nfiora la tua riva manca:
forse (o che spero?) e 'l mio tardar le dole.

Basciale 'l piede, o la man bella et bianca;
dille, e 'l basciar sie 'nvece di parole:
Lo spirto è pronto, ma la carne è stanca.
Rapid river flowing from the mountains,
rushing on from where you take your name,
carrying me downwards, night and day,
to where Love leads me, and you Nature alone,

run on ahead: neither sleep nor tiredness
can restrain your course: and before
you meet the sea, directly, look clearly
where the grass is greener, air more serene.

There you'll see our sweet living sun
that adorns and flowers your eastern bank;
perhaps (why hope?) lingering in grief for me.

Kiss her feet, or her lovely white hands:
say, and by kissing explain these words:
'The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.'


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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