Love

Sonnet XLII (In Death): Returning Spring Brings to Him Only Increase of Grief

by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) 1304–1374

Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death

Love

Zephyr returns; and in his jocund train
Brings verdure, flowers, and days serenely clear;
Brings Progne's twitter, Philomel's lorn strain,
With every bloom that paints the vernal year;
Cloudless the skies, and smiling every plain;
With joyance flush'd, Jove views his daughter dear;
Love's genial power pervades earth, air, and main;
All beings join'd in fond accord appear.
But nought to me returns save sorrowing sighs,
Forced from my inmost heart by her who bore
Those keys which govern'd it unto the skies:
The blossom'd meads, the choristers of air,
Sweet courteous damsels can delight no more;
Each face looks savage, and each prospect drear.

MLA

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XLII (In Death): Returning Spring Brings to Him Only Increase of Grief.” Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/309/.

Chicago

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XLII (In Death): Returning Spring Brings to Him Only Increase of Grief.” Translated by Rev. Dr. Nott. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/309/.

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