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Chi nol sa di chi vivo, e vissi sempre,
dal di che prima que belli occhi vidi,
che mi fecer cangiar vita e costume?
Per cercar terra e mar da tutti i lidi,
chi puo saper tutte l'humane tempre?
L'un vive, ecco, d'odor, là sul gran fiume;
io qui di foco e lume
queto i frali e famelici miei spirti.
Amor, (e vo ben dirti),
disconviensi a signor l'esser si parco.
Tu hai li strali e l'arco:
fa di tua man, non pur bramand'io mora,
ch'un bel morir tutta la vita honora. Petrarca, Canzoniere 207, Stanza 5
English translation
Who does not know how I’ve lived, and always lived,
from that day I first saw her lovely eyes,
which made me change my life and habits?
By searching earth and sea and every shore
who can discover all of human nature?
See, one lives on perfumes by the great river:
I, living here supply
fire and light and feed my spirit.
Love, I say to you truly,
it’s unworthy of a lord to be so mean.
You have your arrows and bow:
send death by your hand, and not because I yearn,
since dying well honours a life complete. Translation A.S.Kline