Love
Sonnet II (In Death): He Bewails His Double Loss in the Deaths of Laura, and of Colonna
Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
Fall'n that proud Column, fall'n that Laurel tree,
Whose shelter once relieved my wearied mind;
I'm reft of what I ne'er again shall find,
Though ransack'd every shore and every sea:
Double the treasure death has torn from me,
In which life's pride was with its pleasure join'd;
Not eastern gems, nor the world's wealth combined,
Can give it back, nor land, nor royalty.
But, if so fate decrees, what can I more,
Than with unceasing tears these eyes bedew,
Abase my visage, and my lot deplore?
Ah, what is life, so lovely to the view!
How quickly in one little morn is lost
What years have won with labour and with cost!
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet II (In Death): He Bewails His Double Loss in the Deaths of Laura, and of Colonna.” Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/268/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet II (In Death): He Bewails His Double Loss in the Deaths of Laura, and of Colonna.” Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/268/.
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More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet V (In Life): He Plays upon the Name Laureta or Laura
- Sonnet LVIII (In Life): He Desires Only That Memmi Had Been Able to Impart Speech to His Portrait of Laura
- Sonnet CXVIII (In Life): He is Led by Love to Reason
- Sonnet CLXXXIX (In Life): Happy Who Steered the Boat, or Drove the Car, Wherein She Sat and Sang
- Sonnet XXXIII (In Death): On His Return to Vaucluse After Laura's Death