Love
Sonnet XXXII (In Life): He Asks from a Friend the Loan of the Works of St. Augustin
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
If Love or Death no obstacle entwine
With the new web which here my fingers fold,
And if I 'scape from beauty's tyrant hold
While natural truth with truth reveal'd I join,
Perchance a work so double will be mine
Between our modern style and language old,
That (timidly I speak, with hope though bold)
Even to Rome its growing fame may shine:
But, since, our labour to perfèct at last
Some of the blessed threads are absent yet
Which our dear father plentifully met,
Wherefore to me thy hands so close and fast
Against their use? Be prompt of aid and free,
And rich our harvest of fair things shall be.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXXII (In Life): He Asks from a Friend the Loan of the Works of St. Augustin.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/39/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXXII (In Life): He Asks from a Friend the Loan of the Works of St. Augustin.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/39/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Ballata I (In Life): Perceiving His Passion, Laura's Severity Increases
- Sonnet LXVI (In Life): He Calls the Eyes of Laura Foes, Because They Keep Him in Life Only to Torment Him
- Sonnet CXXVII (In Life): Her Every Action is Divine
- Sonnet CXCVII (In Life): He Rejoices at Participating in Her Sufferings
- Sonnet XXXIX (In Death): Unworthy to Have Looked upon Her, He is Still More So to Attempt Her Praises