Love
Sonnet CXCIII (In Life): Though in the Midst of Pain, He Deems Himself the Happiest of Men
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
I sang, who now lament; nor less delight
Than in my song I found, in tears I find;
For on the cause and not effect inclined,
My senses still desire to scale that height:
Whence, mildly if she smile or hardly smite,
Cruel and cold her acts, or meek and kind,
All I endure, nor care what weights they bind,
E'en though her rage would break my armour quite.
Let Love and Laura, world and fortune join,
And still pursue their usual course for me,
I care not, if unblest, in life to be.
Let me or burn to death or living pine,
No gentler state than mine beneath the sun,
Since from a source so sweet my bitters run.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CXCIII (In Life): Though in the Midst of Pain, He Deems Himself the Happiest of Men.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/228/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CXCIII (In Life): Though in the Midst of Pain, He Deems Himself the Happiest of Men.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/228/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Ballata III (In Life): He Thought Himself Free, but Finds That He is More Than Ever Enthralled by Love
- Canzone XVI (In Life): To the Princes of Italy, Exhorting Them to Set Her Free
- Sonnet CLXVIII (In Life): He Regrets Having Returned Her Glove
- Sonnet IX (In Death): He Describes His Sad State
- Sonnet LXXVII (In Death): His Only Comfort is the Expectation of Meeting Her Again in Heaven