SONNET XIX. LOVE makes me as the target for his dart, As snow in sunshine, or as wax in flame, Or gale-driv❜n cloud; and, Laura, on thy name I call, but thou no pity wilt impart. Thy radiant eyes first caus'd my bosom's smart ; No time, no place can shield me from their beam; From thee (but, ah, thou treat'st it as a dream!) Proceed the torments of my suff'ring heart. Each thought's an arrow, and thy face a sun, My passion's flame: and these doth Love employ To wound my breast, to dazzle, and destroy. Thy heav'nly song, thy speech with which I'm won, All thy sweet breathings of such strong controul, Form the dear gale that bears away my soul. SONETTO XX. 104. PACE non trovo, e non ho da far guerra ; E nulla stringo, e tutto 'l mondo abbraccio. Ed ho in odio me stesso, ed amo altrui: Pascomi di dolor; piangendo rido ; Egualmente mi spiace morte, e vita. In questo stato son, donna, per vui. SONNET XX. WARFARE I cannot wage, yet know not peace; I fear, I hope, I burn, I freeze again; Mount to the skies, then bow to earth my face; Grasp the whole world, yet nothing I obtain. His pris'ner Love nor frees, nor will detain ; In toils he holds me not, nor will release; He slays me not, nor yet will he unchain ; Nor joy allows, nor lets my sorrow cease. Sightless I see my fair; though mute, I mourn; I scorn existence, and yet court its stay; Detest myself, and for another burn'; By grief I'm nurtur'd; and, though tearful, gay; Death I despise, and life alike I hate : Such, lady, dost thou make my wayward state! SONETTO XXI. 105. FLAMMA dal ciel su le tue treccie piova, Quanto mal per lo mondo oggi si spande : SONNET XXI. MAY fire from heav'n rain down upon thy head, Nest of all treachery, in which is bred Whate'er of sin now through the world doth fly; Of wine the slave, of sloth, of gluttony; With sensuality's excesses fed! Old men, and harlots through thy chambers dance; Then in the midst see Belzebub advance With mirrors, and provocatives obscene. Erewhile thou wert not shelter'd, nurs'd on down; But naked, barefoot on the straw wert thrown: Now rank to Heav'n ascends thy life unclean. H |