Love

Sonnet CCI (In Life): On the Kiss of Honour Given by Charles of Luxemburg to Laura at a Banquet

by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) 1304–1374

Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life

Love

A kingly nature, an angelic mind,
A spotless soul, prompt aspect and keen eye,
Quick penetration, contemplation high
And truly worthy of the breast which shrined:
In bright assembly lovely ladies join'd
To grace that festival with gratulant joy,
Amid so many and fair faces nigh
Soon his good judgment did the fairest find.
Of riper age and higher rank the rest
Gently he beckon'd with his hand aside,
And lovingly drew near the perfect ONE:
So courteously her eyes and brow he press'd,
All at his choice in fond approval vied--
Envy through my sole veins at that sweet freedom run.

MLA

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CCI (In Life): On the Kiss of Honour Given by Charles of Luxemburg to Laura at a Banquet.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/238/.

Chicago

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CCI (In Life): On the Kiss of Honour Given by Charles of Luxemburg to Laura at a Banquet.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/238/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)