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
Mai non fui in parte ove sí chiar vedessi
quel che veder vorrei poi ch'io nol vidi,
né dove in tanta libertà mi stessi,
né 'mpiessi il ciel de sí amorosi stridi;

né già mai vidi valle aver sí spessi
luoghi da sospirar riposti et fidi;
né credo già ch'Amor in Cipro avessi,
o in altra riva, sí soavi nidi.

L'acque parlan d'amore, et l'òra e i rami
et gli augelletti et i pesci e i fiori et l'erba,
tutti inseme pregando ch'i' sempre ami.

Ma tu, ben nata, che dal ciel mi chiami,
per la memoria di tua morte acerba
preghi ch'i' sprezzi 'l mondo e i suoi dolci hami.
There is nowhere where I see so clearly
her whom I wish to see now, and cannot,
nor where I have such freedom for myself,
or can fill the sky with so much grieving:

nor did I ever see a valley so blessed
with places to sigh in and so secret:
nor do I think Love had so sweet a nest
in Cyprus or any other country.

The waters speak of love, the air, the branches,
the little birds, the fish, the flowers, the grass,
all begging me together to love for ever.

But you, true born, that call me from the sky,
with the memory of your bitter death,
pray that I scorn the world, and its sweet bait.


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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