Love
Sonnet L (In Death): Under the Allegory of a Laurel He Again Deplores Her Death
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
As a fair plant, uprooted by oft blows
Of trenchant spade, or which the blast upheaves,
Scatters on earth its green and lofty leaves,
And its bare roots to the broad sunlight shows;
Love such another for my object chose,
Of whom for me the Muse a subject weaves,
Who in my captured heart her home achieves,
As on some wall or tree the ivy grows
That living laurel--where their chosen nest
My high thoughts made, where sigh'd mine ardent grief,
Yet never stirr'd of its fair boughs a leaf--
To heaven translated, in my heart, her rest,
Left deep its roots, whence ever with sad cry
I call on her, who ne'er vouchsafes reply.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet L (In Death): Under the Allegory of a Laurel He Again Deplores Her Death.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/317/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet L (In Death): Under the Allegory of a Laurel He Again Deplores Her Death.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/317/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet III (In Life): He Blames Love for Wounding Him on a Holy Day (Good Friday)
- Sonnet LVI (In Life): Love Chains Are Still Dear to Him
- Ballata VI (In Life): Though She Be Less Severe, He is Still Not Contented and Tranquil at Heart
- Sonnet CLXXXVI (In Life): Not Finding Her with Her Friends, He Asks Them Why She is Absent
- Sonnet XXVIII (In Death): He Glories in His Love