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
Questa anima gentil che si diparte,
anzi tempo chiamata a l'altra vita,
se lassuso è quanto esser dê gradita,
terrà del ciel la piú beata parte.

S'ella riman fra 'l terzo lume et Marte,
fia la vista del sole scolorita,
poi ch'a mirar sua bellezza infinita
l'anime degne intorno a lei fien sparte.

Se si posasse sotto al quarto nido,
ciascuna de le tre saria men bella,
et essa sola avria la fama e 'l grido;

nel quinto giro non habitrebbe ella;
ma se vola piú alto, assai mi fido
che con Giove sia vinta ogni altra stella.
That gentle spirit that departs,
called to the other life before its time,
will join the most blessed region of the sky
when it is welcomed as it is sure to be.

If it passed between Venus, the third light, and Mars,
it would lessen the brightness of the sun,
since noble spirits would gather round her
merely to gaze at her infinite beauty.

If it passed below the fourth, the Sun
all the lesser lights would seem less lovely,
and it alone would have the fame and glory:

it could not exist in Mars' fifth sphere:
but if it flies higher, I believe truly
Jupiter will be conquered and every star.


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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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