Love
Sonnet XXXV (In Life): The Grief of Phoebus at the Loss of His Love
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
Nine times already had Latona's son
Look'd from the highest balcony of heaven
For her, who whilom waked his sighs in vain,
And sighs as vain now wakes in other breasts;
Then seeking wearily, nor knowing where
She dwelt, or far or near, and why delay'd,
He show'd himself to us as one, insane
For grief, who cannot find some loved lost thing:
And thus, for clouds of sorrow held aloof,
Saw not the fair face turn, which, if I live,
In many a page shall praised and honour'd be,
The misery of her loss so changed her mien
That her bright eyes were dimm'd, for once, with tears,
Thereon its former gloom the air resumed.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXXV (In Life): The Grief of Phoebus at the Loss of His Love.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/42/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet XXXV (In Life): The Grief of Phoebus at the Loss of His Love.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/42/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Madrigale II (In Life): A Love Journey--Danger in the Path--He Turns Back
- Canzone XV (In Life): He Finds Her Image Everywhere
- Sonnet CLXVII (In Life): He Returns the Glove, Bewailing the Effect of Her Beauty
- Sonnet VI (In Death): He Compares Himself to a Besieged City, and Accuses His Own Heart of Treason
- Sonnet LXXIV (In Death): Reflecting That Laura is in Heaven, He Repents His Excessive Grief, and is Consoled