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
Già desïai con sí giusta querela
e 'n sí fervide rime farmi udire,
ch'un foco di pietà fessi sentire
al duro cor ch'a mezza state gela;

et l'empia nube, che 'l rafredda et vela,
rompesse a l'aura del mi' ardente dire;
o fessi quell'altrui in odio venire,
che ' belli, onde mi strugge, occhi mi cela.

Or non odio per lei, per me pietate
cerco: ché quel non vo', questo non posso
(tal fu mia stella, et tal mia cruda sorte);

ma canto la divina sua beltate,
ché, quand'i' sia di questa carne scosso,
sappia 'l mondo che dolce è la mia morte.

Once I hoped, lamenting so justly
making such fervent verses heard,
that pity's warmth might be felt
in that hard heart that freezes in mid-summer:

and that the cruel cloud, that chills
and veils it, might disperse with the breeze
of my ardent voice, or others might hate her
for hiding those eyes that destroy me.

Yet I seek no pity for myself, nor hatred
for her: I do not wish it, nor is it possible
(such are my stars, and my cruel fate):

but I sing her heavenly beauty, so
that, when I'm free of this flesh, the world
will know the sweetness of my death.


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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