The Sonnets, Triumphs, and Other Poems of Petrarch Part 46

_Amor che nel pensier mio vive e regna._

THE COURAGE AND TIMIDITY OF LOVE.

The long Love that in my thought I harbour, And in my heart doth keep his residence, Into my face presseth with bold pretence, And there campeth displaying his banner.

She that me learns to love and to suffer, And wills that my trust, and l.u.s.t's negligence Be rein'd by reason, shame, and reverence, With his hardiness takes displeasure.

Wherewith Love to the heart's forest he fleeth, Leaving his enterprise with pain and cry, And there him hideth, and not appeareth.

What may I do, when my master feareth, But in the field with him to live and die?

For good is the life, ending faithfully.

WYATT.

Love, that liveth and reigneth in my thought, That built its seat within my captive breast; Clad in the arms wherein with me he fought, Oft in my face he doth his banner rest.

She, that me taught to love, and suffer pain; My doubtful hope, and eke my hot desire With shamefaced cloak to shadow and restrain, Her smiling grace converteth straight to ire.

And coward love then to the heart apace Taketh his flight; whereas he lurks, and plains His purpose lost, and dare not show his face.

For my lord's guilt thus faultless bide I pains.

Yet from my lord shall not my foot remove: Sweet is his death, that takes his end by love.

SURREY.

Love in my thought who ever lives and reigns, And in my heart still holds the upper place, At times come forward boldly in my face, There plants his ensign and his post maintains: She, who in love instructs us and its pains, Would fain that reason, shame, respect should chase Presumptuous hope and high desire abase, And at our daring scarce herself restrains, Love thereon to my heart retires dismay'd, Abandons his attempt, and weeps and fears, And hiding there, no more my friend appears.

What can the liege whose lord is thus afraid, More than with him, till life's last gasp, to dwell?

For who well loving dies at least dies well.

MACGREGOR.

SONNET CX.

_Come talora al caldo tempo suole._

HE LIKENS HIMSELF TO THE INSECT WHICH, FLYING INTO ONE'S EYES, MEETS ITS DEATH.

As when at times in summer's scorching heats.

Lured by the light, the simple insect flies, As a charm'd thing, into the pa.s.ser's eyes, Whence death the one and pain the other meets, Thus ever I, my fatal sun to greet, Rush to those eyes where so much sweetness lies That reason's guiding hand fierce Love defies, And by strong will is better judgment beat.

I clearly see they value me but ill, And, for against their torture fails my strength.

That I am doom'd my life to lose at length: But Love so dazzles and deludes me still, My heart their pain and not my loss laments, And blind, to its own death my soul consents.

MACGREGOR.

SESTINA V.

_Alia dolce ombra de le belle frondi._

HE TELLS THE STORY OF HIS LOVE, RESOLVING HENCEFORTH TO DEVOTE HIMSELF TO G.o.d.

Beneath the pleasant shade of beauteous leaves I ran for shelter from a cruel light, E'en here below that burnt me from high heaven, When the last snow had ceased upon the hills, And amorous airs renew'd the sweet spring time, And on the upland flourish'd herbs and boughs.

Ne'er did the world behold such graceful boughs, Nor ever wind rustled so verdant leaves, As were by me beheld in that young time: So that, though fearful of the ardent light, I sought not refuge from the shadowing hills, But of the plant accepted most in heaven.

A laurel then protected from that heaven: Whence, oft enamour'd with its lovely boughs, A roamer I have been through woods, o'er hills, But never found I other trunk, nor leaves Like these, so honour'd with supernal light, Which changed not qualities with changing time.

Wherefore each hour more firm, from time to time Following where I heard my call from heaven, And guided ever by a soft clear light, I turn'd, devoted still, to those first boughs, Or when on earth are scatter'd the sere leaves, Or when the sun restored makes green the hills.

The woods, the rocks, the fields, the floods, and hills, All that is made, are conquer'd, changed by time: And therefore ask I pardon of those leaves, If after many years, revolving heaven Sway'd me to flee from those entangling boughs, When I begun to see its better light.

So dear to me at first was the sweet light, That willingly I pa.s.s'd o'er difficult hills, But to be nearer those beloved boughs; Now shortening life, the apt place and full time Show me another path to mount to heaven, And to make fruit not merely flowers and leaves.

Other love, other leaves, and other light, Other ascent to heaven by other hills I seek--in sooth 'tis time--and other boughs.

MACGREGOR.

SONNET CXI.

_Quand' io v' odo parlar si dolcemente._

TO ONE WHO SPOKE TO HIM OF LAURA.

Whene'er you speak of her in that soft tone Which Love himself his votaries surely taught, My ardent pa.s.sion to such fire is wrought, That e'en the dead reviving warmth might own: Where'er to me she, dear or kind, was known There the bright lady is to mind now brought, In the same bearing which, to waken thought, Needed no sound but of my sighs alone.

Half-turn'd I see her looking, on the breeze Her light hair flung; so true her memories roll On my fond heart of which she keeps the keys; But the surpa.s.sing bliss which floods my soul So checks my tongue, to tell how, queen-like, there, She sits as on her throne, I never dare.

MACGREGOR.

SONNET CXII.

_Ne cos bello il sol giammai levarsi._

THE CHARMS OF LAURA WHEN SHE FIRST MET HIS SIGHT.

Ne'er can the sun such radiance soft display, Piercing some cloud that would its light impair; Ne'er tinged some showery arch the humid air, With variegated l.u.s.tre half so gay, As when, sweet-smiling my fond heart away, All-beauteous shone my captivating fair; For charms what mortal can with her compare!

But truth, impartial truth! much more might say.

I saw young Cupid, saw his laughing eyes With such bewitching, am'rous sweetness roll, That every human glance I since despise.