SONNET XXIII.

YES, I beheld on earth angelick grace,
And charms divine which mortals rarely see,
Such as both glad, and pain the memory;

Vain, light, unreal is all else I trace:

Tears I saw shower'd from those fine eyes apace,

Of which the sun oftimes might envious be;
Accents I heard sigh'd forth so movingly,

As to stay floods, or mountains to displace.
Love, and good-sense, firmness, with pity join'd,

And wailful grief a sweeter concert made
Than ever yet was pour'd on human ear:

And heav'n unto the musick so inclin❜d,

That not a leaf was seen to stir the shade ;

Such melody had fraught the winds, the atmosphere.

1

SONETTO XXIV,

126.

IN

qual parte del ciel', in quale idea

Era l'esempio onde, Natura tolse

Quel bel viso leggiadro, in ch' ella `volse

Mostrar quaggiù, quanto lassù

potea? Qual ninfa in fonti, in selve mai qual dea

Chiome d'oro si fino all' aura sciolse?

Quand' un cor tante in sè virtuti accolse?

Benchè la somma è di mia morte rea.

Per divina bellezza indarno mira

Chi gli occhi di costei giàmmai non vide,

Come soavemente ella gli gira.

Non sa com' Amor sana, e come ancide,
Chi non sa come dolce ella sospira,

E come dolce parla, e dolce ride.

SONNET XXIV.

SAY from what part of heav'n 'twas Nature drew,
From what idea, that so perfect mould

To form such features, bidding us behold,

In charms below, what she above could do? What fountain-nymph, what dryad-maid e'er threw Upon the wind such tresses of pure gold? What heart such num'rous virtues can unfold?

Although the chiefest all my fond hopes slew.

He for celestial charms may look in vain,

Who has not seen my fair-one's radiant eyes,
And felt their glances pleasingly beguile.

How Love can heal his wounds, then wound again,
He only knows, who knows how sweet her sighs,
How sweet her converse, and how sweet her smile.

SONETTO XXV.

129.

LIETI fiori, e felici, e ben nate erbe,
Che Madonna passando premer sole ;
Piaggia, ch' ascolti sue dolci parole,
E del bel piede alcun vestigio serbe ;
Schietti arboscelli, e verdi frondi acerbe;
Amorosette, e pallide viole;

Ombrose selve, ove percote il sole,

Che vi fa co' suoi raggi alte, e superbe ;

O soave contrada; o puro fiume,

Che bagni 'l suo bel viso, e gli occhi chiari, E prendi qualità dal vivo lume;

Quanto v' invidio gli atti onesti, e cari:

Non fia in voi scoglio omai, che per costume

D'arder con la mia fiamma non impari.

SONNET XXV.

GAY joyous blooms, and herbage glad with show'rs

O'er which my pensive fair was wont to stray!
You plain, who listen her melodious lay,

As her fair feet imprint your waste of flow'rs!

Ye shrubs so spruce; ye green, unfolding bow'rs;
Ye violets clad in am'rous, pale array;

You shadowy grove, gilded by beauty's ray,
Whose top made proud majestically tow'rs!
O, pleasant country! O, translucent stream,
Bathing her lovely face, her eyes so clear,
While of their living light you catch the beam!
I envy ye her actions chaste, and dear:

No rock shall stud your soil, but what shall learn Henceforth with passion strong as mine to burn.