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
Non da l'hispano Hibero a l'indo Ydaspe
ricercando del mar ogni pendice,
né dal lito vermiglio a l'onde caspe,
né 'n ciel né 'n terra è piú d'una fenice.

Qual dextro corvo o qual mancha cornice
canti 'l mio fato, o qual Parca l'innaspe?
che sol trovo Pietà sorda com'aspe,
misero, onde sperava esser felice.

Ch'i' non vo' dir di lei: ma chi la scorge,
tutto 'l cor di dolcezza et d'amor gli empie,
tanto n'à seco, et tant'altrui ne porge;

et per far mie dolcezze amare et empie,
o s'infinge o non cura, o non s'accorge,
del fiorir queste inanzi tempo tempie.
Not from Spain's Ebro to India's Hydaspes,
searching every cliff above the seas,
not from the Red-Sea coast to the Caspian's waves,
is there another phoenix in earth or heaven.

What benign raven or ill-omened ox
spells my destiny, what Fate preserves me?
I've only found Pity deaf, wretchedly,
where I had hoped to be happy.

Who would not speak of her: he who sees her,
his whole heart's filled with love and sweetness,
she has so much, and grants it to so many:

and she makes my sweetness harsh and bitter,
or feigns she does not care or does not see
how my temples whiten before their time.


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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