Love
Sonnet CCVI (In Life): To a Friend, in Love Like Himself, He Can Give No Advice but to Raise His Soul to God
Translated by Capel Lofft (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
Evil oppresses me and worse dismay,
To which a plain and ample way I find;
Driven like thee by frantic passion, blind,
Urged by harsh thoughts I bend like thee my way.
Nor know I if for war or peace to pray:
To war is ruin, shame to peace, assign'd.
But wherefore languish thus?--Rather, resign'd,
Whate'er the Will Supreme ordains, obey.
However ill that honour me beseem
By thee conferr'd, whom that affection cheats
Which many a perfect eye to error sways,
To raise thy spirit to that realm supreme
My counsel is, and win those blissful seats:
For short the time, and few the allotted days.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CCVI (In Life): To a Friend, in Love Like Himself, He Can Give No Advice but to Raise His Soul to God.” Translated by Capel Lofft. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/243/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CCVI (In Life): To a Friend, in Love Like Himself, He Can Give No Advice but to Raise His Soul to God.” Translated by Capel Lofft. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/243/.
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More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet XXIX (In Life): He Prays for Death, but in Vain
- Sonnet LXXXVI (In Life): When Love Disturbs Him, He Calms Himself by Thinking of the Eyes and Words of Laura
- Sonnet CXLIX (In Life): Love and Jealousy
- Sonnet CCXXI (In Life): Thinking Always of Laura, It Pains Him to Remember Where She is Left
- Sestina I (In Death): In His Misery He Desires Death the More He Remembers His Past Contentment and Comfort