Love
Sonnet XXXIII (In Life): When Laura Departs, the Heavens Grow Dark with Storms
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
When from its proper soil the tree is moved
Which Phoebus loved erewhile in human form,
Grim Vulcan at his labour sighs and sweats,
Renewing ever the dread bolts of Jove,
Who thunders now, now speaks in snow and rain,
Nor Julius honoureth than Janus more:
Earth moans, and far from us the sun retires
Since his dear mistress here no more is seen.
Then Mars and Saturn, cruel stars, resume
Their hostile rage: Orion arm'd with clouds
The helm and sails of storm-tost seamen breaks.
To Neptune and to Juno and to us
Vext Æolus proves his power, and makes us feel
How parts the fair face angels long expect.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXXIII (In Life): When Laura Departs, the Heavens Grow Dark with Storms.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/40/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXXIII (In Life): When Laura Departs, the Heavens Grow Dark with Storms.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/40/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Sonnet XX (In Life): To Stramazzo of Perugia, Who Invited Him to Write Poetry
- Sonnet LXXIX (In Life): Recollections of Love
- Sonnet CXLI (In Life): To Pine for Her is Better Than to Enjoy Happiness with Any Other
- Sonnet CCIX (In Life): He Invites Those to Whom His Praises Seem Excessive to Behold the Object of Them
- Sonnet LII (In Death): He Revisits Vaucluse