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
Sí travïato è 'l folle mi' desio
a seguitar costei che 'n fuga è volta,
et de' lacci d'Amor leggiera et sciolta
vola dinanzi al lento correr mio,

che quanto richiamando piú l'envio
per la secura strada, men m'ascolta:
né mi vale spronarlo, o dargli volta,
ch'Amor per sua natura il fa restio.

Et poi che 'l fren per forza a sé raccoglie,
i' mi rimango in signoria di lui,
che mal mio grado a morte mi trasporta:

sol per venir al lauro onde si coglie
acerbo frutto, che le piaghe altrui
gustando afflige piú che non conforta.
My passion's folly is so led astray
by following what turns and flees,
and flies from Love's light supple noose
in front of my slow pace,

that the more I recall its steps
to the safe road, the less it hears me:
nor does spurring on help me, or turning about,
resisting what Love does by nature.

And then if the bit gathers me to him by force,
I remain in his sovereign power,
so that my state carries me sadly towards death:

only to come to the laurel from which is culled
bitter fruit, whose taste is a worse wound
for others, whom it does not solace.



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

A Merentha Entertainment Project


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