Love
Sonnet LXXIX (In Death): He Tells Her in Sleep of His Sufferings, and, Overcome by Her Sympathy, Awakes
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Death
On my oft-troubled sleep my sacred air
So softly breathes, at last I courage take,
To tell her of my past and present ache,
Which never in her life my heart did dare.
I first that glance so full of love declare
Which served my lifelong torment to awake,
Next, how, content and wretched for her sake,
Love day by day my tost heart knew to tear.
She speaks not, but, with pity's dewy trace,
Intently looks on me, and gently sighs,
While pure and lustrous tears begem her face;
My spirit, which her sorrow fiercely tries,
So to behold her weep with anger burns,
And freed from slumber to itself returns.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LXXIX (In Death): He Tells Her in Sleep of His Sufferings, and, Overcome by Her Sympathy, Awakes.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/351/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LXXIX (In Death): He Tells Her in Sleep of His Sufferings, and, Overcome by Her Sympathy, Awakes.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/351/.
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More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet XVII (In Life): He Compares Himself to a Moth
- Sonnet LXXI (In Life): On the Death of Cino Da Pistoia
- Sonnet CXXXIII (In Life): To One Who Desired Latin Verse of Him
- Sonnet CCI (In Life): On the Kiss of Honour Given by Charles of Luxemburg to Laura at a Banquet
- Sonnet XLIV (In Death): Nothing That Nature Offers Can Afford Him Consolation