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  giunsi sol con Amor, pensoso et tardo;

  ivi non donne ma fontane et sassi

  et l’imagine trovo di quel giorno

  che ’l pensier mio figura ovunque io sguardo.

  115

  Between two lovers I could see a lady,

  honest and proud, and with her was that lord

  who rules over mankind and all the gods;

  on one side was the sun, I on the other.

  When she saw herself closed in by the sphere

  of her more handsome friend, she turned all happy

  and looked into my eyes—how much I’d like her

  never to be hostile toward me again.

  Then suddenly there turned to happiness

  the jealousy that at first sight was born

  within my heart for such an adversary;

  around his face so tearful and so sad

  there formed a little cloud that covered it,

  so much was he displeased at having lost.

  116

  Full of that sweetness indescribable

  that my eyes drew from such a lovely face

  the day on which I gladly would have closed them

  to never look again at lesser beauty,

  I left what I want most; and so accustomed

  my mind is to the thought of her alone

  that it sees nothing else—what is not she

  out of old habit it still hates and scorns.

  Into a valley closed on every side,

  a place of comfort for my weary sighs,

  I came alone with Love, thoughtful and late;

  I found no ladies there, just springs and rocks

  together with the picture of that day

  which my thoughts draw no matter where I look.

  117

  Se ’l sasso ond’ è più chiusa questa valle

  (di che ’l suo proprio nome si deriva)

  tenesse vòlto per natura schiva

  a Roma il viso et a Babèl le spalle,

  i miei sospiri più benigno calle

  avrian per gire ove lor spene è viva;

  or vanno sparsi, et pur ciascuno arriva

  là dov’ io il mando, ché sol un non falle;

  et son di là si dolcemente accolti,

  com’ io m’accorgo, che nessun mai torna,

  con tal diletto in quelle parti stanno.

  De gli occhi è ’l duol, che tosto che s’aggiorna

  per gran desio de’ be’ luoghi a lor tolti

  dànno a me pianto et a’ pie’ lassi affanno.

  118

  Rimansi a dietro il sestodecimo anno

  de’ miei sospiri, et io trapasso inanzi

  verso l’estremo; et parmi che pur dianzi

  fosse ’l principio di cotanto affanno.

  L’amar m’è dolce, et util il mio danno,

  e ’l viver grave; et prego che gli avanzi

  l’empia fortuna; et temo no chiuda anzi

  Morte i begli occhi che parlar mi fanno.

  Or qui son, lasso, et voglio esser altrove,

  et vorrei più volere, et più non voglio,

  et per più non poter fo quant’ io posso;

  et d’antichi desir lagrime nove

  provan com’ io son pur quel ch’ i’ mi soglio,

  né per mille rivolte ancor son mosso.

  117

  If the mountain closing in this valley most,

  from which derives the very name it has,

  had its face turned by natural disgust

  in Rome’s direction and its back to Babel,

  then all my sighs would find a kinder road

  to travel to that place where their hope lives;

  now they go scattered, yet each one arrives

  where I send him—there is not one that fails;

  with so much sweetness they are welcomed there,

  as far as I can see, that none return—

  they are delighted to be in those parts.

  The pain comes from my eyes who, come the dawn,

  wish for the lovely places taken from them

  and make me weep and my feet weak from climbing.

  118

  And now behind me is the sixteenth year

  of all my sighs and I am moving forward

  toward the last, and yet it seems to me

  that all this suffering has just begun.

  The bitter’s sweet and all my losses useful,

  my living hard; I pray that life outlast

  cruel fortune, and I fear that Death before then

  may close the lovely eyes that make me speak.

  I’m here, alas, and wish that I were elsewhere,

  and wish that I wished more but wish no more,

  and unable to do more, do all I can;

  and new tears shed from old desires show

  that I am still what I have always been,

  not through a thousand turnings have I moved.

  119

  Una donna più bella assai che ’l sole

  et più lucente et d’altrettanta etade

  con famosa beltade

  acerbo ancor mi trasse a la sua schiera.

  Questa in penseri in opre et in parole,

  però ch’ è de le cose al mondo rade,

  questa per mille strade

  sempre inanzi mi fu leggiadra altera.

  Solo per lei tornai da quel ch’ i’ era;

  poi ch’ i’ soffersi gli occhi suoi da presso

  per suo amor m’er’ io messo

  a faticosa impresa assai per tempo,

  tal che s’ i’ arrivo al disiato porto

  spero per lei gran tempo

  viver, quand’ altri mi terrà per morto.

  Questa mia donna mi menò molt’anni

  pien di vaghezza giovenile ardendo,

  si come ora io comprendo,

  sol per aver di me più certa prova,

  mostrandomi pur l’ombra o ’l velo o’ panni

  talor di sé, ma ’l viso nascondendo;

  et io, lasso, credendo

  vederne assai, tutta l’età mia nova

  passai contento, e ’l rimembrar mi giova

  poi ch’ alquanto di lei veggi’ or più inanzi.

  I’ dico che pur dianzi

  qual io non l’avea vista infin allora

  mi si scoverse, onde mi nacque un ghiaccio

  nel core, et evvi ancora,

  et sarà sempre, fin ch’ i’ le sia in braccio.

  Ma non me ’l tolse la paura o ’l gelo

  che pur tanta baldanze al mio cor diedi

  ch’ i’ le mi strinsi a’ piedi

  per più dolcezza trar de gli occhi suoi;

  et ella, che remosso avea già il velo

  dinanzi a’ miei, mi disse: “Amico, or vedi

  com’ io son bella, et chiedi

  quanto par si convenga agli anni tuoi.”

  119

  A lady far more lovely than the sun,

  more brilliant than he is and just as old

  with beauty world-renowned,

  drew me at early age to join her ranks.

  She, in my thoughts, my work, and in my words,

  as one of those rare things in the world,

  along a thousand roads

  was always there to lead me proud and lovely.

  For her alone I turned from what I was;

  once able to look straight into her eyes,

  for love of her I put

  myself to doing hard work very early,

  so if I reach the port of my desire

  I hope through her to live

  long after people think that I am dead.

  This lady led me on for many years

  full of the burning of my youthful passion,

  as I now understand,

  only to have more certain proof from me,

  revealing just a shadow, veil, or garment

  of her true self, keeping her face well hidden;

  and I, alas, believing
r />   to have seen much, all of my youthful years

  I spent content—the memory makes me happy

  now that I see a little more of her;

  that is, just recently

  she showed herself to me, such as I’d never

  seen her before, and so born in my heart

  was ice that is still there

  and will be always till I’m in her arms.

  But still the fear and chill did not prevent

  my giving so much courage to my heart

  that I embraced her feet

  in order to draw from her eyes more sweetness;

  and she who had by now removed the veil

  before my eyes said: “Friend, now you can see

  how fair I am, and ask

  whatever is befitting to your years.”

  “Madonna,” dissi, “già gran tempo in voi

  posi ’l mio amor ch’ i’ sento or si infiammato,

  ond’ a me in questo stato

  altro volere o disvoler m’è tolto.”

  Con voce allor di sì mirabil tempre

  rispose, et con un volto

  che temer et sperar mi farà sempre:

  “Rado fu al mondo fra così gran turba

  ch’ udendo ragionar del mio valore

  non si sentisse al core

  per breve tempo almen qualche favilla;

  “ma l’ avversaria mia che ’l ben perturba

  tosto la spegne, ond’ ogni vertù more

  et regna altro signore

  che promette una vita più tranquilla.

  “De la tua mente Amor, che prima aprilla,

  mi dice cose veramente ond’ io

  veggio che ’l gran desio

  pur d’onorato fin ti farà degno;

  et come già se’ de’ miei rari amici,

  donna vedrai per segno

  che farà gli occhi tuoi via più felici.”

  I’ volea dir: “Quest’ è impossibil cosa,”

  quand’ ella: “Or mira (et leva gli occhi un poco

  in più riposto loco)

  donna ch’ a pochi si mostró giamai.”

  Ratto inchinai la fronte vergognosa,

  sentendo novo dentro maggior foco,

  et ella il prese in gioco,

  dicendo: “I’ veggio ben dove tu stai;

  “si come ’l sol con suoi possenti rai

  fa subito sparire ogni altra Stella,

  così par or men bella

  la vista mia cui maggior luce preme.

  Ma io però da’ miei non ti diparto

  ché questa et me d’un seme,

  lei davanti et me poi, produsse un parto.”

  Ruppesi intanto di vergogna il nodo

  ch’ a la mia lingua era distretto intorno

  “My lady,” I said, “I’ve placed my love in you

  for so long now, it burns so, I can feel it,

  and so in such a state,

  I cannot wish or unwish anything.”

  Then with a voice so marvelous in tone

  and with a look that will

  forever make me fear and hope she answered:

  “Rare in this world of such great throngs

  are those who having heard of my true worth

  have not felt in their hearts

  for a short time at least some sparks for me:

  but then my enemy who disturbs good

  soon puts them out, and so all virtue dies

  and another ruler reigns

  who promises a life that is more tranquil.

  About your mind Love, who first opened it,

  tells me such things that I

  can see your great desire

  will make you worthy of an honored goal;

  and since you are one of my rare friends now,

  as test you’ll see a lady

  who’ll make your eyes more fortunate by far.”

  I almost said, “This is not possible,”

  when she said: “Look now, raise your eyes a little,

  to that more hidden place,

  to a lady who has shown herself to few.”

  Immediately I bent my head in shame,

  feeling a new and greater flame inside me,

  and she made light of this,

  saying: “I see quite clearly where you stand.

  Just as the sun by means of its strong rays

  makes every other star vanish from sight,

  so now I seem less lovely

  to one who’s overcome by greater light.

  But I do not exclude you from my friends,

  for she and I—she first,

  then I—were products of one seed, one birth.”

  With that the knot of all my shame was broken

  that had been tightly wound around my tongue

  su nel primiero scorno,

  allor quand’ io del suo accorger m’accorsi,

  e ’ncominciai: “S’ egli è ver quel ch’ i’ odo,

  beato il padre et benedetto il giorno

  ch’ à di voi il mondo adorno

  et tutto ’l tempo ch’ a vedervi io corsi!

  “Et se mai da la via dritta mi torsi

  duolmene forte assai più ch’ i’ non mostro;

  ma se de l’esser vostro

  fossi degno udir più, del desir ardo.”

  Pensosa mi rispose et così fiso

  tenne il suo dolce sguardo

  ch’ al cor mando co le parole il viso:

  “Sì come piacque al nostro eterno padre,

  ciascuna di noi due nacque immortale.

  Miseri, a voi che vale?

  Me’ v’era che da noi fosse il defetto.

  “Amate, belle, gioveni, et leggiadre

  fummo alcun tempo; et or siam giunte a tale

  che costei batte l’aie

  per tornar a l’antico suo ricetto;

  “i’ per me sono un’ombra. Et or t’ò detto

  quanto per te sì breve intender puossi.”

  Poi che i pie’ suoi fur mossi,

  dicendo: “Non temer ch’ i’ mi allontani,”

  di verde lauro una ghirlanda colse,

  la qual co le sue mani

  intorno intorno a le mie tempie avolse.

  Canzon, chi tua ragion chiamasse oscura,

  di’: “Non ò cura, perché tosto spero

  ch’ altro messaggio il vero

  farà in più chiara voce manifesto;

  i’ venni sol per isvegliare altrui,

  se chi m’impose questo

  non m’ingannò quand’ io parti’ da lui.”

  at the first sense of scorn,

  when I took notice that she noticed me,

  and I began: “If what I hear is true,

  blessèd the father and blessèd the day

  that have adorned the world with you

  and all the times I ran to see you there!

  And if I ever strayed from the straight path,

  it pains me greatly, much more than I show;

  but if I should be worthy

  to know more what you’re like, I burn to know.”

  Then full of thought she answered, and she held

  her gaze so fixed on me

  that to my heart she sent her face with words:

  “Just as it pleased our everlasting father,

  the two of us were born to be immortal.

  What good did it do you?

  Better for you had we possessed the defect.

  Beloved and lovely, young and full of charm

  we were at one time; now we’ve reached the point

  that this one beats her wings

  in order to return to her old home.

  I on my own am shadow. And now I’ve told you

  as much as you can understand in brief.”

  And as she moved to go

  saying: “Don’t be afraid that I am going,”

  she gathered up a garland of green laurel

  which with her own two hands

  she started winding round
and round my temples.

  My song, to those who call your words obscure

  say: “I don’t care, because I’m hoping soon

  another messenger

  with clearer voice will clarify the truth;

  I came only to wake up other men,

  if he who ordered this

  did not deceive me when I left his presence.”

  120

  Quelle pietose rime in ch’ io m’accorsi

  di vostro ingegno e del cortese affetto,

  ebben tanto vigor nel mio conspetto

  che ratto a questa penna la man porsi,

  per far voi certo che gli estremi morsi

  di quella ch’ io con tutto ’l mondo aspetto

  mai non senti’, ma pur senza sospetto

  infin a l’uscio del suo albergo corsi;

  poi tornai indietro, perch’ io vidi scritto

  di sopra ’l limitar che ’l tempo ancora

  non era giunto al mio viver prescritto,

  ben ch’ io non vi legessi il di né l’ora.

  Dunque s’acqueti omai ’l cor vostro afflitto,

  et cerchi uom degno quando sì l’onora.

  121

  Or vedi, Amor, che giovenetta donna

  tuo regno sprezza et del mio mal non cura,

  et tra duo ta’ nemici è si secura.

  Tu se’ armato, et ella in treccie e ’n gonna

  si siede et scalza in mezzo i fiori et l’erba,

  ver me spietata, e ’ncontr’ a te superba.

  I’ son pregion, ma se pietà ancor serba

  l’arco tuo saldo, et qualcuna saetta,

  fa di te et di me, signor, vendetta.

  120

  Those rhymes of pity which made me aware

  of all your talent and your kind affection

  had so much power when I took them in

  that quickly I picked up this pen to write

  and reassure you that those final bites

  from her whom I and all the world awaits

  I’ve not yet felt, though I did without fear

  once rush up to the threshold of her home;

  then I came back, because I saw engraved

  above it that the limit of the time

  prescribed for me to live had not yet come,

  although I could not read the day or hour.

  And so now calm your heart that is afflicted

  and find a man worthy to be so honored.

  121

  Now, Love, just look how that young lady there

  disdains your rule and cares not for my harm