Francesco Petrarch Poems
A collection of select Francesco Petrarch famous poems that were written by Francesco Petrarch or written about the poet by other famous poets. PoetrySoup is a comprehensive educational resource of the greatest poems and poets on history.
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by
Francesco Petrarch
[Pg 190] SONNET CLXXIV. I' dolci colli ov' io lasciai me stesso. HE LEAVES VAUCLUSE, BUT HIS SPIRIT REMAINS THERE WITH LAURA. The loved hills where I left myself behind,Whence ever 'twas so hard my steps to tear,Before me rise; at each remove I bearThe dear load to my...Read more of this...
by
Francesco Petrarch
SONNET XXI. L' alma mia fiamma oltra le belle bella. HE ACKNOWLEDGES THE WISDOM OF HER PAST COLDNESS TO HIM. My noble flame—more fair than fairest areWhom kind Heaven here has e'er in favour shown—Before her time, alas for me! has flownTo her celestial home and parent star.[Pg 251]Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
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 raceShould let th' original enemy prevail.Once an Eternal...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
[Pg 225] SONNET CCXXIII. Qual donna attende a gloriosa fama. THE EYES OF LAURA ARE THE SCHOOL OF VIRTUE. Feels any fair the glorious wish to gainOf sense, of worth, of courtesy, the praise?On those bright eyes attentive let her gazeOf her miscall'd my love, but sure my foe.Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET XCIV. Se 'l sasso ond' è più chiusa questa valle. COULD HE BUT SEE THE HOUSE OF LAURA, HIS SIGHS MIGHT REACH HER MORE QUICKLY. If, which our valley bars, this wall of stone,From which its present name we closely trace,Were by disdainful nature rased, and thrownIts back to Babel and...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
[Pg 210] SESTINA VIII. Là ver l' aurora, che sì dolce l' aura. SHE IS MOVED NEITHER BY HIS VERSES NOR HIS TEARS. When music warbles from each thorn,And Zephyr's dewy wingsSweep the young flowers; what time the mornHer crimson radiance flings:Then, as the smiling year renews,I...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
CANZONE XIII. Se 'l pensier che mi strugge. HE SEEKS IN VAIN TO MITIGATE HIS WOE. Oh! that my cheeks were taughtBy the fond, wasting thoughtTo wear such hues as could its influence speak;Then the dear, scornful fairMight all my ardour share;And where Love slumbers now he might awake!Less...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET CLXXXIX. Dodici donne onestamente lasse. HAPPY WHO STEERED THE BOAT, OR DROVE THE CAR, WHEREIN SHE SAT AND SANG. Twelve ladies, their rare toil who lightly bore,Rather twelve stars encircling a bright sun,I saw, gay-seated a small bark upon,Whose like the waters never cleaved before:Not such took Jason to the...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET CXCVI. Vincitore Alessandro l' ira vinse. THE EVIL RESULTS OF UNRESTRAINED ANGER. What though the ablest artists of old timeLeft us the sculptured bust, the imaged formOf conq'ring Alexander, wrath o'ercameAnd made him for the while than Philip less?Wrath to such fury valiant Tydeus droveThat dying he devour'd his...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
CANZONE XX. Ben mi credea passar mio tempo omai. HE CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT SEEING HER, BUT WOULD NOT DIE THAT HE MAY STILL LOVE HER. As pass'd the years which I have left behind,To pass my future years I fondly thought,Amid old studies, with desires the same;But, from my lady since I...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET LXXXVI. Lasso! quante fiate Amor m' assale. WHEN LOVE DISTURBS HIM, HE CALMS HIMSELF BY THINKING OF THE EYES AND WORDS OF LAURA. Alas! how ceaselessly is urged Love's claim,By day, by night, a thousand times I turnWhere best I may behold the dear lights burnWhich have immortalized my bosom's flame.Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET CXXVIII. O passi sparsi, o pensier vaghi e pronti. EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF HIS PASSION IS A TORMENT TO HIM. O scatter'd steps! O vague and busy thoughts!O firm-set memory! O fierce desire!O passion powerful! O failing heart!O eyes of mine, not eyes, but fountains now!O leaf, which honourest illustrious brows,Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET LII. L' aspetto sacro della terra vostra. THE VIEW OF ROME PROMPTS HIM TO TEAR HIMSELF FROM LAURA, BUT LOVE WILL NOT ALLOW HIM. The solemn aspect of this sacred shoreWakes for the misspent past my bitter sighs;'Pause, wretched man! and turn,' as conscience cries,Pointing the heavenward way where I should...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET CXXXVII. Più volte già dal bel sembiante umano. LOVE UNMANS HIS RESOLUTION. Oft as her angel face compassion wore,With tears whose eloquence scarce fails to move,With bland and courteous speech, I boldly stroveTo soothe my foe, and in meek guise implore:But soon her eyes inspire vain hopes no more;For...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET LXI. S' onesto amor può meritar mercede. HE PRAYS THAT, IN REWARD FOR HIS LONG AND VIRTUOUS ATTACHMENT, SHE WILL VISIT HIM IN DEATH. If Mercy e'er rewardeth virtuous love,If Pity still can do, as she has done,I shall have rest, for clearer than the sunMy lady and the world my...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET XXXV. Amor che meco al buon tempo ti stavi. HE VENTS HIS SORROW TO ALL WHO WITNESSED HIS FORMER FELICITY. Love, that in happier days wouldst meet me hereAlong these meads that nursed our kindred strains;And that old debt to clear which still remains,Sweet converse with the stream and me wouldst...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET XXXV. Il figliuol di Latona avea già nove. THE GRIEF OF PHŒBUS AT THE LOSS OF HIS LOVE. Nine times already had Latona's sonLook'd from the highest balcony of heavenFor her, who whilom waked his sighs in vain,And sighs as vain now wakes in other breasts;Then seeking wearily, nor knowing...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET CLVIII. Siccome eterna vita è veder Dio. ALL HIS HAPPINESS IS IN GAZING UPON HER. As life eternal is with God to be,No void left craving, there of all possess'd,So, lady mine, to be with you makes blest,This brief frail span of mortal life to me.So fair as now ne'er...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
[Pg 124] CANZONE XVI. Italia mia, benchè 'l parlar sia indarno. TO THE PRINCES OF ITALY, EXHORTING THEM TO SET HER FREE. O my own Italy! though words are vainThe mortal wounds to close,Unnumber'd, that thy beauteous bosom stain,Yet may it soothe my painTo sigh forth Tyber's woes,Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET CXXXII. Come 'l candido piè per l' erba fresca. HER WALK, LOOKS, WORDS, AND AIR. As o'er the fresh grass her fair form its sweetAnd graceful passage makes at evening hours,Seems as around the newly-wakening flowersFound virtue issue from her delicate feet.Love, which in true hearts only has his seat,Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET XXXVIII. Quel sol che mi mostrava il cammin destro. LOVE AND HE SEEK LAURA, BUT FIND NO TRACES OF HER EXCEPT IN THE SKY. That sun, which ever signall'd the right road,Where flash'd her own bright feet, to heaven to fly,Returning to the Eternal Sun on high,Has quench'd my light, and...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET LXV. Io avrò sempre in odio la fenestra. BETTER IS IT TO DIE HAPPY THAN TO LIVE IN PAIN. Always in hate the window shall I bear,Whence Love has shot on me his shafts at will,Because not one of them sufficed to kill:For death is good when life is bright and...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
[Pg 81] 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,...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET I. Voi, ch' ascoltate in rime sparse il suono. HE CONFESSES THE VANITY OF HIS PASSION Ye who in rhymes dispersed the echoes hearOf those sad sighs with which my heart I fedWhen early youth my mazy wanderings led,Fondly diverse from what I now appear,Fluttering 'twixt frantic hope and frantic...Read more of this...
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Francesco Petrarch
SONNET XLI. L' alto e novo miracol ch' a dì nostri. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM TO DESCRIBE HER EXCELLENCES. The wonder, high and new, that, in our days,Dawn'd on the world, yet would not there remain,Which heaven but show'd to us to snatch againBetter to blazon its own starry ways;That...Read more of this...