Love
Sonnet XXIII (In Death): Morn Renders His Grief More Poignant
Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
When from the heavens I see Aurora beam,
With rosy-tinctured cheek and golden hair,
Love bids my face the hue of sadness wear:
"There Laura dwells!" I with a sigh exclaim.
Thou knowest well the hour that shall redeem,
Happy Tithonus, thy much-valued fair;
But not to her I love can I repair,
Till death extinguishes this vital flame.
Yet need'st thou not thy separation mourn;
Certain at evening's close is the return
Of her, who doth not thy hoar locks despise;
But my nights sad, my days are render'd drear,
By her, who bore my thoughts to yonder skies,
And only a remember'd name left here.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXIII (In Death): Morn Renders His Grief More Poignant.” Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/290/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXIII (In Death): Morn Renders His Grief More Poignant.” Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/290/.
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More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet VII (In Life): To a Friend, Encouraging Him to Pursue Poetry
- Sestina IV (In Life): He Prays God to Guide His Frail Bark to a Safe Port
- Sonnet CXX (In Life): He Implores Mercy or Death
- Sonnet CXCI (In Life): He Envies the Breeze Which Sports with Her, the Stream That Flows Towards Her
- Sonnet XXXV (In Death): He Vents His Sorrow to All Who Witnessed His Former Felicity