Love

Sonnet LV (In Life): He is Never Weary of Praising the Eyes of Laura

by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) 1304–1374

Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life

Love

The bright eyes which so struck my fenceless side
That they alone which harm'd can heal the smart
Beyond or power of herbs or magic art,
Or stone which oceans from our shores divide,
The chance of other love have so denied
That one sweet thought alone contents my heart,
From following which if ne'er my tongue depart,
Pity the guided though you blame the guide.
These are the bright eyes which, in every land
But most in its own shrine, my heart, adored,
Have spread the triumphs of my conquering lord;
These are the same bright eyes which ever stand
Burning within me, e'en as vestal fires,
In singing which my fancy never tires.

MLA

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LV (In Life): He is Never Weary of Praising the Eyes of Laura.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/74/.

Chicago

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LV (In Life): He is Never Weary of Praising the Eyes of Laura.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/74/.

Read this poem with the Codex →

More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)