Love
Sonnet XXV (In Life): He Consoles Himself That His Life is Advancing to Its Close
Translated by Rev. Francis Wrangham (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
Near and more near as life's last period draws,
Which oft is hurried on by human woe,
I see the passing hours more swiftly flow,
And all my hopes in disappointment close.
And to my heart I say, amidst its throes,
"Not long shall we discourse of love below;
For this my earthly load, like new-fall'n snow
Fast melting, soon shall leave us to repose.
With it will sink in dust each towering hope,
Cherish'd so long within my faithful breast;
No more shall we resent, fear, smile, complain:
Then shall we clearly trace why some are blest,
Through deepest misery raised to Fortune's top,
And why so many sighs so oft are heaved in vain."
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXV (In Life): He Consoles Himself That His Life is Advancing to Its Close.” Translated by Rev. Francis Wrangham. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/31/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXV (In Life): He Consoles Himself That His Life is Advancing to Its Close.” Translated by Rev. Francis Wrangham. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/31/.
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More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Canzone VI (In Life): To Rienzi, Beseeching Him to Restore to Rome Her Ancient Liberty
- Canzone XIV (In Life): To the Fountain of Vauoluse--Contemplations of Death
- Sonnet CLXVI (In Life): The Stolen Glove
- Sonnet V (In Death): He Encourages His Soul to Lift Itself to God, and to Abandon the Vanities of Earth
- Sonnet LXXIII (In Death): He Complains of His Sufferings, Which Admit of No Relief