Love
Sonnet XXVI (In Death): Since Her Death, Nothing is Left to Him but Grief
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
She stood within my heart, warm, young, alone,
As in a humble home a lady bright;
By her last flight not merely am I grown
Mortal, but dead, and she an angel quite.
A soul whence every bliss and hope is flown,
Love shorn and naked of its own glad light,
Might melt with pity e'en a heart of stone:
But none there is to tell their grief or write;
These plead within, where deaf is every ear
Except mine own, whose power its griefs so mar
That nought is left me save to suffer here.
Verily we but dust and shadows are!
Verily blind and evil is our will!
Verily human hopes deceive us still!
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXVI (In Death): Since Her Death, Nothing is Left to Him but Grief.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/293/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXVI (In Death): Since Her Death, Nothing is Left to Him but Grief.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/293/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet XXXIX (In Life): He Desires Again to Gaze on the Eyes of Laura
- Madrigale IV (In Life): A Prayer to Love That He Will Take Vengeance on the Scornful Pride of Laura
- Sonnet CLXI (In Life): Journeying to Visit Laura, He Feels Renewed Ardour as He Approaches
- Sonnet I (In Death): On the Announcement of the Death of Laura
- Sonnet LXX (In Death): His Prayer is Heard