Love
Sonnet CL (In Life): He is Continually in Fear of Displeasing Her
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
If thus the dear glance of my lady slay,
On her sweet sprightly speech if dangers wait,
If o'er me Love usurp a power so great,
Oft as she speaks, or when her sun-smiles play;
Alas! what were it if she put away,
Or for my fault, or by my luckless fate,
Her eyes from pity, and to death's full hate,
Which now she keeps aloof, should then betray.
Thus if at heart with terror I am cold,
When o'er her fair face doubtful shadows spring,
The feeling has its source in sufferings old.
Woman by nature is a fickle thing,
And female hearts--time makes the proverb sure--
Can never long one state of love endure.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CL (In Life): He is Continually in Fear of Displeasing Her.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/182/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CL (In Life): He is Continually in Fear of Displeasing Her.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/182/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet XX (In Life): To Stramazzo of Perugia, Who Invited Him to Write Poetry
- Sonnet LXXVI (In Life): He Deplores His Lost Liberty and the Unhappiness of His Present State
- Sonnet CXXXVII (In Life): Love Unmans His Resolution
- Sonnet CCVIII (In Life): He Prays That He May Die Before Laura
- Sonnet LII (In Death): He Revisits Vaucluse