Part 2
Dreams bore my fancy to that region where She dwells whom here I seek, but cannot see. 'Mid those who in the loftiest heaven be I looked on her, less haughty and more fair. She took my hand, she said, "Within this sphere, If hope deceive not, thou shalt dwell with me: I filled thy life with war's wild agony; Mine own day closed ere evening could appear. My bliss no human thought can understand; I wait for thee alone, and that fair veil Of beauty thou dost love shall yet retain." Why was she silent then, why dropped my hand Ere those delicious tones could quite avail To bid my mortal soul in heaven remain?
X
Dolci durezze e placide repulse, Piene di casto amore e di pietate; Leggiadri sdegni, che le mie infiammate Voglie tempraro (or me n'accorgo) e 'nsulse; Gentil parlar, in cui chiaro refulse Con somma cortesia somma onestate; Fior di virtù, fontana di beltate, Ch'ogni basso pensier del cor m'avulse; Divino sguardo, da far l'uom felice, Or fiero in affrenar la mente ardita A quel che giustamente si disdice, Or presto a confortar mia frale vita; Questo bel variar fu la radice Di mia salute, che altramente era ita.
X
Gentle severity, repulses mild, Full of chaste love and pity sorrowing; Graceful rebukes, that had the power to bring Back to itself a heart by dreams beguiled; A tender voice, whose accents undefiled Held sweet restraints, all duty honoring; The bloom of virtue; purity's clear spring To cleanse away base thoughts and passions wild; Divinest eyes to make a lover's bliss, Whether to bridle in the wayward mind Lest its wild wanderings should the pathway miss, Or else its griefs to soothe, its wounds to bind; This sweet completeness of thy life it is Which saved my soul; no other peace I find.
XI
Gli angeli eletti e l'anime beate Cittadine del cielo, il primo giorno Che Madonna passò, le fur intorno Piene di maraviglia e di pietate. Che luce è questa, e qual nova beltate? Dicean tra lor; perch'abito sì adorno Dal mondo errante a quest'alto soggiorno Non salì mai in tutta questa etate. Ella contenta aver cangiato albergo, Si paragona pur coi più perfetti; E parte ad or ad or si volge a tergo Mirando s'io la seguo, e par ch'aspetti: Ond'io voglie e pensier tutti al ciel ergo; Perch'io l'odo pregar pur ch'i' m'affretti.
XI
The holy angels and the spirits blest, Celestial bands, upon that day serene When first my love went by in heavenly sheen, Came thronging, wondering at the gracious guest. "What light is here, in what new beauty drest?" They said among themselves; "for none has seen Within this age arrive so fair a mien From changing earth unto immortal rest." And she, contented with her new-found bliss, Ranks with the perfect in that upper sphere, Yet ever and anon looks back on this, To watch for me, as if for me she stayed. So strive my thoughts, lest that high heaven I miss. I hear her call, and must not be delayed.
XII
Dicemi spesso il mio fidato speglio, L'animo stanco e la cangiata scorza E la scemata mia destrezza e forza; Non ti nasconder più; tu se' pur veglio. Obbedir a Natura in tutto è il meglio; Ch'a contender con lei il tempo ne sforza. Subito allor, com'acqua il foco ammorza, D'un lungo e grave sonno mi risveglio: E veggio ben che 'l nostro viver vola, E ch'esser non si può più d'una volta; E 'n mezzo 'l cor mi sona una parola Di lei ch'è or dal suo bel nodo sciolta, Ma ne' suoi giorni al mondo fu sì sola, Ch'a tutte, s'i' non erro, fama ha tolta.
XII
Oft by my faithful mirror I am told, And by my mind outworn and altered brow, My earthly powers impaired and weakened now,-- "Deceive thyself no more, for thou art old!" Who strives with Nature's laws is over-bold, And Time to his commandment bids us bow. Like fire that waves have quenched, I calmly vow In life's long dream no more my sense to fold. And while I think, our swift existence flies, And none can live again earth's brief career,-- Then in my deepest heart the voice replies Of one who now has left this mortal sphere, But walked alone through earthly destinies, And of all women is to fame most dear.
XIII
Vago augelletto che cantando vai, Ovver piangendo il tuo tempo passato, Vedendoti la notte e 'l verno a lato, E 'l dì dopo le spalle e i mesi gai; Se come i tuoi gravosi affanni sai, Così sapessi il mio simile stato, Verresti in grembo a questo sconsolato A partir seco i dolorosi guai. I' non so se le parti sarian pari; Che quella cui tu piangi è forse in vita, Di ch'a me Morte e 'l Ciel son tanto avari: Ma la stagione e l'ora men gradita, Col membrar de' dolci anni e degli amari, A parlar teco con pietà m'invita.
XIII
Sweet wandering bird that singest on thy way, Or mournest yet the time for ever past, Watching night come and spring receding fast, Day's bliss behind thee and the seasons gay,-- If thou my griefs against thine own couldst weigh, Thou couldst not guess how long my sorrows last; Yet thou mightst hide thee from the wintry blast Within my breast, and thus my pains allay. Yet may not all thy woes be named with mine, Since she whom thou dost mourn may live, yet live, But death and heaven still hold my spirit's bride; And all those long past days of sad decline With all the joys remembered years can give Still bid me ask "Sweet bird! with me abide!"
XIV
La gola e 'l sonno e l'oziose piume Hanno del mondo ogni vertù sbandita, Ond'è dal corso suo quasi smarrita Nostra natura, vinta dal costume; Ed è sì spento ogni benigno lume Del ciel, per cui s'informa umana vita, Che per cosa mirabile s'addita Chi vuol far d'Elicona nascer fiume. Qual vaghezza di lauro? qual di mirto? Povera e nuda vai, filosofia, Dice la turba al vil guadagno intesa. Pochi compagni avrai per l'altra via: Tanto ti prego più, gentile spirto, Non lassar la magnanima tua impresa.
XIV
Lust and dull slumber and the lazy hours Have well nigh banished virtue from mankind. Hence have man's nature and his treacherous mind Left their free course, enmeshed in sin's soft bowers. The very light of heaven hath lost its powers Mid fading ways our loftiest dreams to find; Men jeer at him whose footsteps are inclined Where Helicon from dewy fountains showers. Who seeks the laurel? who the myrtle twines? "Wisdom, thou goest a beggar and unclad," So scoffs the crowd, intent on worthless gain. Few are the hearts that prize the poet's lines: Yet, friend, the more I hail thy spirit glad! Let not the glory of thy purpose wane!
XV
Voi ch'ascoltate in rime sparse il suono Di quei sospiri ond'io nudriva il core In sul mio primo giovenile errore, Quand' era in parte altr'uom da quel ch'i' sono; Del vario stile, in ch'io piango e ragiono Fra le vane speranze e 'l van dolore, Ove sia chi per prova intenda amore, Spero trovar pietà, non che perdono. Ma ben veggi' or, sì come al popol tutto Favola fui gran tempo: onde sovente Di me medesmo meco mi vergogno: E del mio vaneggiar vergogna è 'l frutto, E 'l pentirsi, e 'l conoscer chiaramente Che quanto piace al mondo è breve sogno.
XV
O ye who trace through scattered verse the sound Of those long sighs wherewith I fed my heart Amid youth's errors, when in greater part That man unlike this present man was found; For the mixed strain which here I do compound Of empty hopes and pains that vainly start, Whatever soul hath truly felt love's smart, With pity and with pardon will abound. But now I see full well how long I earned All men's reproof; and oftentimes my soul Lies crushed by its own grief; and it doth seem For such misdeed shame is the fruitage whole, And wild repentance and the knowledge learned That worldly joy is still a short, short dream.
FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY COPIES PRINTED AT THE RIVERSIDE PRESS CAMBRIDGE, IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, MDCCCCIII. NUMBER 426
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[Transcriber's Note: Below is a list of printer errors that have been corrected in the Italian sonnets, by reference to the 1964 critical edition of _Il Canzoniere_ edited by Gianfranco Contini, available at Liber Liber, www.liberliber.it. The translator of this book probably used as his source an edition in which spelling and punctuation were somewhat modernized; these modernizations have not been altered in this e-book. Spacing of elisions (such as "ch'ascolti") has been normalized. The original book was printed almost entirely in italics, which are not marked as such in this e-text. Printer errors in the English portions of this book have been corrected without note.
Sonnet Line Error Correction II 10 a'udendo d'udendo III 14 Che Ché IV 13 che ché VI 4 Che Ché VI 12 si sì VII 9 doglia doglio VIII 9 Che Ché
The sonnets in this book correspond to the following numbers in _Il Canzoniere_:
This book _Il Canzoniere_ 1. 162 Lieti fiori 2. 167 Quando Amor 3. 227 Aura che quelle chiome 4. 261 Qual donna attende 5. 161 O passi sparsi 6. 156 I' vidi in terra 7. 292 Gli occhi di ch'io parlai 8. 294 Soleasi nel mio cor 9. 302 Levommi il mio pensier 10. 351 Dolci durezze 11. 346 Gli angeli eletti 12. 361 Dicemi spesso 13. 353 Vago augelletto 14. 7 La gola e 'l sonno 15. 1 Voi ch'ascoltate]
End of Project Gutenberg's Fifteen sonnets of Petrarch, by Francesco Petrarca