Love
Sonnet CXCIV (In Life): At Her Return, His Sorrows Vanish
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
I wept, but now I sing; its heavenly light
That living sun conceals not from my view,
But virtuous love therein revealeth true
His holy purposes and precious might;
Whence, as his wont, such flood of sorrow springs
To shorten of my life the friendless course,
Nor bridge, nor ford, nor oar, nor sails have force
To forward mine escape, nor even wings.
But so profound and of so full a vein
My suff'ring is, so far its shore appears,
Scarcely to reach it can e'en thought contrive:
Nor palm, nor laurel pity prompts to gain,
But tranquil olive, and the dark sky clears,
And checks my grief and wills me to survive.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CXCIV (In Life): At Her Return, His Sorrows Vanish.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/229/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CXCIV (In Life): At Her Return, His Sorrows Vanish.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/229/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet LII (In Life): The View of Rome Prompts Him to Tear Himself from Laura, but Love Will Not Allow Him
- Sonnet CX (In Life): He Likens Himself to the Insect Which, Flying into One's Eyes, Meets Its Death
- Sestina VI (In Life): The History of His Love; and Prayer for Help
- Sonnet XXIII (In Death): Morn Renders His Grief More Poignant
- Sonnet LXXXIX (In Death): He Begs Love to Assist Him, That He May Worthily Celebrate Her