Collected Poetical Works of Francesco Petrarch

by Francesco Petrarch

  From shore to shore my weary course to trace,

  Since God, and Love, and Nature deign for me

  Each virtue and each grace

  In those dear eyes where I rejoice to place.

  In life to them must I

  Turn as to founts whence peace and safety swell:

  And e’en were death, which else I fear not, nigh,

  Their sight alone would teach me to be well.

  As, vex’d by the fierce wind,

  The weary sailor lifts at night his gaze

  To the twin lights which still our pole displays,

  So, in the storms unkind

  Of Love which I sustain, in those bright eyes

  My guiding light and only solace lies:

  But e’en in this far more is due to theft,

  Which, taught by Love, from time to time, I make

  Of secret glances than their gracious gift:

  Yet that, though rare and slight,

  Makes me from them perpetual model take;

  Since first they blest my sight

  Nothing of good without them have I tried,

  Placing them over me to guard and guide,

  Because mine own worth held itself but light.

  Never the full effect

  Can I imagine, and describe it less

  Which o’er my heart those soft eyes still possess!

  As worthless I reject

  And mean all other joys that life confers,

  E’en as all other beauties yield to hers.

  A tranquil peace, alloy’d by no distress,

  Such as in heaven eternally abides,

  Moves from their lovely and bewitching smile.

  So could I gaze, the while

  Love, at his sweet will, governs them and guides,

  — E’en though the sun were nigh,

  Resting above us on his onward wheel —

  On her, intensely with undazzled eye,

  Nor of myself nor others think or feel.

  Ah! that I should desire

  Things that can never in this world be won,

  Living on wishes hopeless to acquire.

  Yet, were the knot undone,

  Wherewith my weak tongue Love is wont to bind,

  Checking its speech, when her sweet face puts on

  All its great charms, then would I courage find,

  Words on that point so apt and new to use,

  As should make weep whoe’er might hear the tale.

  But the old wounds I bear,

  Stamp’d on my tortured heart, such power refuse;

  Then grow I weak and pale,

  And my blood hides itself I know not where;

  Nor as I was remain I: hence I know

  Love dooms my death and this the fatal blow.

  Farewell, my song! already do I see

  Heavily in my hand the tired pen move

  From its long dear discourse with her I love;

  Not so my thoughts from communing with me.

  MACGREGOR.

  SONNET LIV.

  Io son già stanco di pensar siccome.

  HE WONDERS AT HIS LONG ENDURANCE OF SUCH TOIL AND SUFFERING.

  I weary me alway with questions keen

  How, why my thoughts ne’er turn from you away,

  Wherefore in life they still prefer to stay,

  When they might flee this sad and painful scene,

  And how of the fine hair, the lovely mien,

  Of the bright eyes which all my feelings sway,

  Calling on your dear name by night and day,

  My tongue ne’er silent in their praise has been,

  And how my feet not tender are, nor tired,

  Pursuing still with many a useless pace

  Of your fair footsteps the elastic trace;

  And whence the ink, the paper whence acquired,

  Fill’d with your memories: if in this I err,

  Not art’s defect but Love’s own fault it were.

  MACGREGOR.

  SONNET LV.

  I begli occhi, ond’ i’ fui percosso in guisa.

  HE IS NEVER WEARY OF PRAISING THE EYES OF LAURA.

  The bright eyes which so struck my fenceless side

  That they alone which harm’d can heal the smart

  Beyond or power of herbs or magic art,

  Or stone which oceans from our shores divide,

  The chance of other love have so denied

  That one sweet thought alone contents my heart,

  From following which if ne’er my tongue depart,

  Pity the guided though you blame the guide.

  These are the bright eyes which, in every land

  But most in its own shrine, my heart, adored,

  Have spread the triumphs of my conquering lord;

  These are the same bright eyes which ever stand

  Burning within me, e’en as vestal fires,

  In singing which my fancy never tires.

  MACGREGOR.

  Not all the spells of the magician’s art,

  Not potent herbs, nor travel o’er the main,

  But those sweet eyes alone can soothe my pain,

  And they which struck the blow must heal the smart;

  Those eyes from meaner love have kept my heart,

  Content one single image to retain,

  And censure but the medium wild and vain,

  If ill my words their honey’d sense impart;

  These are those beauteous eyes which never fail

  To prove Love’s conquest, wheresoe’er they shine,

  Although my breast hath oftenest felt their fire;

  These are those beauteous eyes which still assail

  And penetrate my soul with sparks divine,

  So that of singing them I cannot tire.

  WROTTESLEY.

  SONNET LVI.

  Amor con sue promesse lusingando.

  LOVE CHAINS ARE STILL DEAR TO HIM.

  By promise fair and artful flattery

  Me Love contrived in prison old to snare,

  And gave the keys to her my foe in care,

  Who in self-exile dooms me still to lie.

  Alas! his wiles I knew not until I

  Was in their power, so sharp yet sweet to bear,

  (Man scarce will credit it although I swear)

  That I regain my freedom with a sigh,

  And, as true suffering captives ever do,

  Carry of my sore chains the greater part,

  And on my brow and eyes so writ my heart

  That when she witnesseth my cheek’s wan hue

  A sigh shall own: if right I read his face,

  Between him and his tomb but small the space!

  MACGREGOR.

  SONNET LVII.

  Per mirar Policleto a prova fiso.

  ON THE PORTRAIT OF LAURA PAINTED BY SIMON MEMMI.

  Had Policletus seen her, or the rest

  Who, in past time, won honour in this art,

  A thousand years had but the meaner part

  Shown of the beauty which o’ercame my breast.

  But Simon sure, in Paradise the blest,

  Whence came this noble lady of my heart,

  Saw her, and took this wond’rous counterpart

  Which should on earth her lovely face attest.

  The work, indeed, was one, in heaven alone

  To be conceived, not wrought by fellow-men,

  Over whose souls the body’s veil is thrown:

  ’Twas done of grace: and fail’d his pencil when

  To earth he turn’d our cold and heat to bear,

  And felt that his own eyes but mortal were.

  MACGREGOR.

  Had Polycletus in proud rivalry

  On her his model gazed a thousand years,

  Not half the beauty to my soul appears,

  In fatal conquest, e’er could he descry.

  But, Simon, thou wast then in heaven’s blest sky,

  Ere she, my fair one, left her native spheres,
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  To trace a loveliness this world reveres

  Was thus thy task, from heaven’s reality.

  Yes — thine the portrait heaven alone could wake,

  This clime, nor earth, such beauty could conceive,

  Where droops the spirit ‘neath its earthly shrine:

  The soul’s reflected grace was thine to take,

  Which not on earth thy painting could achieve,

  Where mortal limits all the powers confine.

  WOLLASTON.

  SONNET LVIII.

  Quando giunse a Simon l’ alto concetto.

  HE DESIRES ONLY THAT MEMMI HAD BEEN ABLE TO IMPART SPEECH TO HIS PORTRAIT OF LAURA.

  When, at my word, the high thought fired his mind,

  Within that master-hand which placed the pen,

  Had but the painter, in his fair work, then

  Language and intellect to beauty join’d,

  Less ‘neath its care my spirit since had pined,

  Which worthless held what still pleased other men;

  And yet so mild she seems that my fond ken

  Of peace sees promise in that aspect kind.

  When further communing I hold with her

  Benignantly she smiles, as if she heard

  And well could answer to mine every word:

  But far o’er mine thy pride and pleasure were,

  Bright, warm and young, Pygmalion, to have press’d

  Thine image long and oft, while mine not once has blest.

  MACGREGOR.

  When Simon at my wish the proud design

  Conceived, which in his hand the pencil placed,

  Had he, while loveliness his picture graced,

  But added speech and mind to charms divine;

  What sighs he then had spared this breast of mine:

  That bliss had given to higher bliss distaste:

  For, when such meekness in her look was traced,

  ’Twould seem she soon to kindness might incline.

  But, urging converse with the portray’d fair,

  Methinks she deigns attention to my prayer,

  Though wanting to reply the power of voice.

  What praise thyself, Pygmalion, hast thou gain’d;

  Forming that image, whence thou hast obtain’d

  A thousand times what, once obtain’d, would me rejoice.

  NOTT.

  SONNET LIX.

  Se al principio risponde il fine e ‘l mezzo.

  IF HIS PASSION STILL INCREASE, HE MUST SOON DIE.

  If, of this fourteenth year wherein I sigh,

  The end and middle with its opening vie,

  Nor air nor shade can give me now release,

  I feel mine ardent passion so increase:

  For Love, with whom my thought no medium knows,

  Beneath whose yoke I never find repose,

  So rules me through these eyes, on mine own ill

  Too often turn’d, but half remains to kill.

  Thus, day by day, I feel me sink apace,

  And yet so secretly none else may trace,

  Save she whose glances my fond bosom tear.

  Scarcely till now this load of life I bear

  Nor know how long with me will be her stay,

  For death draws near, and hastens life away.

  MACGREGOR.

  SESTINA IV.

  Chi è fermato di menar sua vita.

  HE PRAYS GOD TO GUIDE HIS FRAIL BARK TO A SAFE PORT.

  Who is resolved to venture his vain life

  On the deceitful wave and ‘mid the rocks,

  Alone, unfearing death, in little bark,

  Can never be far distant from his end:

  Therefore betimes he should return to port

  While to the helm yet answers his true sail.

  The gentle breezes to which helm and sail

  I trusted, entering on this amorous life,

  And hoping soon to make some better port,

  Have led me since amid a thousand rocks,

  And the sure causes of my mournful end

  Are not alone without, but in my bark.

  Long cabin’d and confined in this blind bark,

  I wander’d, looking never at the sail,

  Which, prematurely, bore me to my end;

  Till He was pleased who brought me into life

  So far to call me back from those sharp rocks,

  That, distantly, at last was seen my port.

  As lights at midnight seen in any port,

  Sometimes from the main sea by passing bark,

  Save when their ray is lost ‘mid storms or rocks;

  So I too from above the swollen sail

  Saw the sure colours of that other life,

  And could not help but sigh to reach my end.

  Not that I yet am certain of that end,

  For wishing with the dawn to be in port,

  Is a long voyage for so short a life:

  And then I fear to find me in frail bark,

  Beyond my wishes full its every sail

  With the strong wind which drove me on those rocks.

  Escape I living from these doubtful rocks,

  Or if my exile have but a fair end,

  How happy shall I be to furl my sail,

  And my last anchor cast in some sure port;

  But, ah! I burn, and, as some blazing bark,

  So hard to me to leave my wonted life.

  Lord of my end and master of my life,

  Before I lose my bark amid the rocks,

  Direct to a good port its harass’d sail!

  MACGREGOR.

  SONNET LX.

  Io son sì stanco sotto ‘l fascio antico.

  HE CONFESSES HIS ERRORS, AND THROWS HIMSELF ON THE MERCY OF GOD.

  Evil by custom, as by nature frail,

  I am so wearied with the long disgrace,

  That much I dread my fainting in the race

  Should let th’ original enemy prevail.

  Once an Eternal Friend, that heard my cries,

  Came to my rescue, glorious in his might,

  Arm’d with all-conquering love, then took his flight,

  That I in vain pursued Him with my eyes.

  But his dear words, yet sounding, sweetly say,

  “O ye that faint with travel, see the way!

  Hopeless of other refuge, come to me.”

  What grace, what kindness, or what destiny

  Will give me wings, as the fair-feather’d dove,

  To raise me hence and seek my rest above?

  BASIL KENNET.

  So weary am I ‘neath the constant thrall

  Of mine own vile heart, and the false world’s taint,

  That much I fear while on the way to faint,

  And in the hands of my worst foe to fall.

  Well came, ineffably, supremely kind,

  A friend to free me from the guilty bond,

  But too soon upward flew my sight beyond,

  So that in vain I strive his track to find;

  But still his words stamp’d on my heart remain,

  All ye who labour, lo! the way in me;

  Come unto me, nor let the world detain!

  Oh! that to me, by grace divine, were given

  Wings like a dove, then I away would flee,

  And be at rest, up, up from earth to heaven!

  MACGREGOR.

  SONNET LXI.

  Io non fu’ d’ amar voi lassato unquanco.

  UNLESS LAURA RELENT, HE IS RESOLVED TO ABANDON HER.

  Yet was I never of your love aggrieved,

  Nor never shall while that my life doth last:

  But of hating myself, that date is past;

  And tears continual sore have me wearied:

  I will not yet in my grave be buried;

  Nor on my tomb your name have fixèd fast,

  As cruel cause, that did the spirit soon haste

  From the unhappy bones, by great sighs stirr’d.

  Then if a heart of amorous faith and
will

  Content your mind withouten doing grief;

  Please it you so to this to do relief:

  If otherwise you seek for to fulfil

  Your wrath, you err, and shall not as you ween;

  And you yourself the cause thereof have been.

  WYATT.

  Weary I never was, nor can be e’er,

  Lady, while life shall last, of loving you,

  But brought, alas! myself in hate to view,

  Perpetual tears have bred a blank despair:

  I wish a tomb, whose marble fine and fair,

  When this tired spirit and frail flesh are two,

  May show your name, to which my death is due,

  If e’en our names at last one stone may share;

  Wherefore, if full of faith and love, a heart

  Can, of worst torture short, suffice your hate,

  Mercy at length may visit e’en my smart.

  If otherwise your wrath itself would sate,

  It is deceived: and none will credit show;

  To Love and to myself my thanks for this I owe.

  MACGREGOR.

  SONNET LXII.

  Se bianche non son prima ambe le tempie.

  THOUGH NOT SECURE AGAINST THE WILES OF LOVE, HE FEELS STRENGTH ENOUGH TO RESIST THEM.

  Till silver’d o’er by age my temples grow,

  Where Time by slow degrees now plants his grey,

  Safe shall I never be, in danger’s way

  While Love still points and plies his fatal bow

  I fear no more his tortures and his tricks,

  That he will keep me further to ensnare

  Nor ope my heart, that, from without, he there

  His poisonous and ruthless shafts may fix.

  No tears can now find issue from mine eyes,

  But the way there so well they know to win,

  That nothing now the pass to them denies.

  Though the fierce ray rekindle me within,

  It burns not all: her cruel and severe

  Form may disturb, not break my slumbers here.

  MACGREGOR.

  SONNET LXIII.

  Occhi, piangete; accompagnate il core.

  DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE POET AND HIS EYES.

  Playne ye, myne eyes, accompanye my harte,

  For, by your fault, lo, here is death at hand!

  Ye brought hym first into this bitter band,