Love
Sonnet XXX (In Death): The Remembrance of the Past Enhances His Misery
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
When I look back upon the many years
Which in their flight my best thoughts have entomb'd,
And spent the fire, that, spite her ice, consumed,
And finish'd the repose so full of tears,
Broken the faith which Love's young dream endears,
And the two parts of all my blessing doom'd,
This low in earth, while heaven has that resumed,
And lost the guerdon of my pains and fears,
I wake, and feel me to the bitter wind
So bare, I envy the worst lot I see;
Self-terror and heart-grief on me so wait.
O Death, O Fate, O Fortune, stars unkind!
O day for ever dark and drear to me!
How have ye sunk me in this abject state!
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXX (In Death): The Remembrance of the Past Enhances His Misery.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/297/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXX (In Death): The Remembrance of the Past Enhances His Misery.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/297/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Canzone II (In Life): In Support of the Proposed Crusade Against the Infidels
- Sonnet LXXX (In Life): Though for Fourteen Years He Has Struggled Unsuccessfully, He Still Hopes to Conquer His Passion
- Sonnet CXLI (In Life): To Pine for Her is Better Than to Enjoy Happiness with Any Other
- Sonnet CCIX (In Life): He Invites Those to Whom His Praises Seem Excessive to Behold the Object of Them
- Canzone III (In Death): Under Various Allegories He Paints the Virtue, Beauty, and Untimely Death of Laura