Love

Sonnet CCXX (In Life): A Smiling Welcome, Which Laura Gave Him Unexpectedly, Almost Kills Him with Joy

by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) 1304–1374

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

Love

Live sparks were glistening from her twin bright eyes,
So sweet on me whose lightning flashes beam'd,
And softly from a feeling heart and wise,
Of lofty eloquence a rich flood stream'd:
Even the memory serves to wake my sighs
When I recall that day so glad esteem'd,
And in my heart its sinking spirit dies
As some late grace her colder wont redeem'd.
My soul in pain and grief that most has been
(How great the power of constant habit is!)
Seems weakly 'neath its double joy to lean:
For at the sole taste of unusual bliss,
Trembling with fear, or thrill'd by idle hope,
Oft on the point I've been life's door to ope.

MLA

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CCXX (In Life): A Smiling Welcome, Which Laura Gave Him Unexpectedly, Almost Kills Him with Joy.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/257/.

Chicago

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet CCXX (In Life): A Smiling Welcome, Which Laura Gave Him Unexpectedly, Almost Kills Him with Joy.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/257/.

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