Love
Sonnet CLV (In Life): To the Sun, Whose Setting Hid Laura's Dwelling from His View
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
O blessed Sun! that sole sweet leaf I love,
First loved by thee, in its fair seat, alone,
Bloometh without a peer, since from above
To Adam first our shining ill was shown.
Pause we to look on her! Although to stay
Thy course I pray thee, yet thy beams retire;
Their shades the mountains fling, and parting day
Parts me from all I most on earth desire.
The shadows from yon gentle heights that fall,
Where sparkles my sweet fire, where brightly grew
That stately laurel from a sucker small,
Increasing, as I speak, hide from my view
The beauteous landscape and the blessèd scene,
Where dwells my true heart with its only queen.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CLV (In Life): To the Sun, Whose Setting Hid Laura's Dwelling from His View.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/187/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CLV (In Life): To the Sun, Whose Setting Hid Laura's Dwelling from His View.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/187/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet XVI (In Life): He Flies, but Passion Pursues Him
- Sonnet LXX (In Life): To His Brother Gerardo, on the Death of a Lady to Whom He Was Attached
- Sonnet CXXXI (In Life): Night Brings Peace to All Save Him
- Sonnet CCII (In Life): He Pleads the Excess of His Passion in Palliation of His Fault
- Sonnet XLV (In Death): His Only Desire is Again to Be with Her