Love
Sonnet LXIV (In Life): He Loves, and Will Always Love, the Spot and the Hour in Which He First Became Enamoured of Laura
Translated by Major Macgregor (in Bohn, 1879) · From To Laura in Life
I always loved, I love sincerely yet,
And to love more from day to day shall learn,
The charming spot where oft in grief I turn
When Love's severities my bosom fret:
My mind to love the time and hour is set
Which taught it each low care aside to spurn;
She too, of loveliest face, for whom I burn
Bids me her fair life love and sin forget.
Who ever thought to see in friendship join'd,
On all sides with my suffering heart to cope,
The gentle enemies I love so well?
Love now is paramount my heart to bind,
And, save that with desire increases hope,
Dead should I lie alive where I would dwell.
Cite this poem
MLA
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LXIV (In Life): He Loves, and Will Always Love, the Spot and the Hour in Which He First Became Enamoured of Laura.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/84/.
Chicago
Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch). “Sonnet LXIV (In Life): He Loves, and Will Always Love, the Spot and the Hour in Which He First Became Enamoured of Laura.” Translated by Major Macgregor. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/petrarch/84/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)
- Canzone II (In Life): In Support of the Proposed Crusade Against the Infidels
- Sonnet LXXXIII (In Life): To Paudolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini
- Sonnet CXLV (In Life): He Hears the Voice of Reason, but Cannot Obey
- Sonnet CCXIII (In Life): He Cannot Believe in Her Death, but If True, He Prays God to Take Him Also from Life
- Ballata I (In Death): His Grief at Surviving Her is Mitigated by the Consciousness That She Now Knows His Heart