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
Qual mio destìn, qual forza o qual inganno,
mi riconduce disarmato al campo,
là 've sempre son vinto? e s'io ne scampo,
meraviglia n'avrò; s'i' moro, il danno.

Danno non già, ma pro; sí dolci stanno
nel mio cor le faville e 'l chiaro lampo
che l'abbaglia et lo strugge, e 'n ch'io m'avampo,
et son già ardendo nel vigesimo anno.

Sento i messi di Morte, ove apparire
veggio i belli occhi, et folgorar da lunge;
poi, s'avèn ch'appressando a me li gire,

Amor con tal dolcezza m'unge et punge,
ch'i' nol so ripensar, nonché ridire:
ché né 'ngegno né lingua al vero agiunge.

How did my fate, or force or deceit
bring me unarmed to the field again,
where I am always beaten? If I escape
it's a miracle: if I die, it's no loss.

No loss at all, but profit: so sweetly stands
the sparkle and clear light in my heart
that dazzles and consumes me, so I blaze,
and have already burned for twenty years.

I fear Death's messengers, when I see
her lovely eyes appear, and shine from afar:
then when they have neared me,

Love blesses and pierces me so sweetly
I can hardly recall it, far less repeat:
that no tongue or wit could express its truth.


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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