Love
Sonnet LV (In Death): Death May Deprive Him of the Sight of Her Beauties, but Not of the Memory of Her Virtues
Translated by Lady Dacre (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
Now hast thou shown, fell Death! thine utmost might.
Through Love's bright realm hast want and darkness spread,
Hast now cropp'd beauty's flower, its heavenly light
Quench'd, and enclosed in the grave's narrow bed;
Now hast thou life despoil'd of all delight,
Its ornament and sovereign honour shed:
But fame and worth it is not thine to blight;
These mock thy power, and sleep not with the dead.
Be thine the mortal part; heaven holds the best,
And, glorying in its brightness, brighter glows,
While memory still records the great and good.
O thou, in thine high triumph, angel blest!
Let thy heart yield to pity of my woes,
E'en as thy beauty here my soul subdued.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LV (In Death): Death May Deprive Him of the Sight of Her Beauties, but Not of the Memory of Her Virtues.” Translated by Lady Dacre. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/325/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LV (In Death): Death May Deprive Him of the Sight of Her Beauties, but Not of the Memory of Her Virtues.” Translated by Lady Dacre. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/325/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Canzone IV (In Life): He Grieves in Absence from Laura
- Sonnet LXXXVII (In Life): He is Bewildered at the Unexpected Arrival of Laura
- Sonnet CL (In Life): He is Continually in Fear of Displeasing Her
- Sonnet CCXVIII (In Life): His Soul Visits Her in Sleep
- Sonnet LX (In Death): He Prays That She Will Be Near Him at His Death, Which He Feels Approaching