PETRARCA - Rime in vita e morta di Madonna Laura

Rime in vita e morta di Madonna Laura (after 1327), translated into English as Petrarch's Sonnets, were inspired by Petrarch's passion for Laura,probably Laure de Noves, a young woman Petrarca first saw in church.


Era il giorno ch'al sol si scoloraro
per la pietà del suo factore i rai,
quando ì fui preso, et non me ne guardai,
chè i bè vostr'occhi, donna, mi legaro.

Tempo non mi parea da far riparo
contra colpi d'Amor: però m'andai
secur, senza sospetto; onde i miei guai
nel commune dolor s'incominciaro.


Trovommi Amor del tutto disarmato
et aperta la via per gli occhi al core,
che di lagrime son fatti uscio et varco:

Però al mio parer non li fu honore
ferir me de saetta in quello stato,
a voi armata non mostrar pur l'arco.

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It was the day the sun's ray had turned pale

with pity for the suffering of his Maker

when I was caught, and I put up no fight,

my lady, for your lovely eyes had bound me.

It seemed no time to be on guard against

Love's blows; therefore, I went my way

secure and fearless-so, all my misfortunes

began in midst of universal woe.



Love found me all disarmed and found the way

was clear to reach my heart down through the eyes

which have become the halls and doors of tears.



It seems to me it did him little honour

to wound me with his arrow in my state

and to you, armed, not show his bow at all.