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• Ode to Petrarch
• Introduction and Biography
• Love Songs of Petrarch
• Era Il Giorno Ch’al Sol Si Scoloraro
• Ballad I: Lassare Il Velo O Per Sole O Per Ombra
• Orso, E’ Non Furon Mai Fiumi Nè Stagni
• Mille Fiate, O Dolce Mia Guerrera
• Non Al Suo Amante Più Dïana Piacque
• Nova Angeletta Sovra L’ale Accorta
• Or Vedi, Amor, Che Giovenetta Donna
• Il Mio Adversario, In Cui Veder Solete
• Due Rose Fresche E Còlte In Paradiso
• In Mezzo Di Duo Amanti, Onesta, Altera
• Quando Fra L’altre Donne Ad Ora Ad Ora
• Sestine I: A Qualunque Animale Alberga In Terra
• E Perchè Un Poco Nel Parlar Mi Sfogo
• Già Fiammeggiava L’amorosa Stella
• Gentil Mia Donna, I’ Veggio
• La Donna Che ’l Mio Cor Nel Viso Porta
• L’aspetto Sacro De La Terra Vostra
• Padre Del Ciel; Dopo I Perduti Giorni
• La Bella Donna Che Cotanto Amavi
• Poi Che Voi Et Io Più Volte Abbiam Provato
• Io Son Sì Stanco Sotto Il Fascio Antico
• Passa La Nave Mia Colma D’oblio
• Per Ch’ Al Viso D’amor Portava Insegna
• Fuggendo La Pregionc Ove Amor M’ebbe
• Quando Giunse a Simon L’alto Concetto
• Volgendo Gli Occhi Al Mio Novo Colore
• Quel Vago Impallidir, Che ’l Dolce Riso
• Per Mezz’ I Boschi Inospiti E Selvaggi
• Di Pensier In Pensier, Di Monte In Monte
• Ovunque Gli Occhi Volgo
• Chiare, Fresche E Dolci Acque
• Pommi Ove ’l Sole Occide I Fiori E L’erba
• I’ Vidi In Terra Angelici Costumi
• In Qual Parte Del Ciel, In Quale Idea
• Amor Et Io Sì Pien’ Di Meraviglia
• Stiamo, Amor, a Veder La Gloria Nostra
• In Nobil Sangue Vita Umile E Queta
• Quanto Più M’avicino Al Giorno Extremo
• Pace Non Trovo, E Non Ho Da Far Guerra
• Erano I Capei D’oro a L’aura Sparsi
• Beato In Sogno, E Di Languir Contento
• Qual Paura Ho Quando Mi Torna a Mente
• Solea Lontana In Sonno Consolarme
• Oimè Il Bel Viso, Oimè Il Soave Sguardo
• Quanta Invidia Io Ti Porto, Avara Terra
• Occhi Miei, Oscurato è ’l Nostro Sole
• Rotta è L’alta Colonna E ’l Verde Lauro
• Zefiro Torna, E ’l Bel Tempo Rimena
• Nè Per Sereno Ciel Ir Vaghe Stelle
• Sento L’aura Mia Antica, E I Dolci Colli
• Tutta La Mia Fiorita E Verde Etade
• Amor, Se Vuo’ Ch’ I’ Torni Al Giogo Antico
• S’ Io Avesse Pensato Che Sì Care
• Solea Da La Fontana Di Mia Vita
• Il Dì Che Costei Nacque, Eran Le Stelle
• Quel Rosigniuol, Che Sì Soave Piagne
• Vago Augelletto Che Cantando Vai
• Ite, Rime Dolenti, Al Duro Sasso
• Ripensando a Quel Ch’ Oggi Il Cielo Onora
• Dolce Mio Caro E Precïoso Pegno
• Deh Qual Pietà, Qual Angel Fu Sì Presto
• Levommi Il Mio Penser In Parte Ov’ Era
• Li Angeli Eletti, E L’anime Beate
• I’ Vo Piangendo I Miei Passati Tempi
• Vergine Bella, Che Di Sol Vestita
• Voi Ch’ Ascoltate In Rime Sparse Il Suono
• Appendix I Laura
• Appendix Ii ‘epistle to Posterity’ 1
• Appendix Iii Catalogue of Petrarch’s Works
• Index of First Lines

Vergine bella, che di sol vestita

• • O Virgin fair, who in the sun arrayed,
  • And crowned with stars, to a greater Sun did’st bring
  • Such joy that He in thee His light did hide!
  • Deep love impels me that of thee I sing.
  • But how shall I begin without thy aid,
  • Or that of Him who in thy womb did bide?
  • I call on one who answereth alway
  • When simple faith we show.
  • Virgin, if extreme woe
  • In things of earth thou wouldst with joy repay,
  • In my hard struggle be thy succour given!
  • O hear me while I pray,
  • Though I be clay,
  • And thou the queen of heaven!
• • O virgin sage and of the blessed number
  • Of those wise virgins honoured by their Lord,
  • Yea, thou the first with brightest lamp of all!
  • Thou shield of the afflicted from the sword
  • Of evil fortune and in death’s deep slumber,
  • Rescue and victory come at thy call;
  • Thou refuge from the passions, blind and dark,
  • Of frail mortality!
  • Virgin, in agony
  • Thy fair eyes saw each nail and cruel mark
  • Upon the body of thy precious Son.
  • Look on my desperate state!
  • Disconsolate
  • To thee for help I run.
• • O virgin pure, perfect in every part;
  • Daughter and mother of thy gentle Child,
  • Sunbeam on earth, bright gem in heaven’s array!
  • The Father’s Son and thine, O undefiled,
  • Through thee (window of heaven that thou art!)
  • Came to redeem us at the final day!
  • And God among all dwellings of the earth
  • Selected thee alone,
  • O virgin, who the moan
  • Of hapless Eve hast turned to joy and mirth;
  • O make me worthy His unending love,
  • Thou who in glory drest,
  • Honoured and blest,
  • Art crowned in heaven above.
• • O virgin holy, filled with every grace;
  • Who by thy deep and true humility
  • Didst rise to heaven, where thou my prayer dost hear!
  • Thou hast brought forth the Fount of Piety,
  • The Sun of Justice, by whose shining grace
  • An age in errors dark grows bright and clear.
  • Three precious names united are in thee:
  • Mother and wife and child!
  • O virgin undefiled,
  • Bride of the King whose love hath set us free
  • From all our bonds and our poor world hath blest;
  • By His wounds’ holy balm
  • O may He calm
  • My heart and give it rest!
• • Virgin, who wast in all the world unique
  • Enamouring heaven with thy comeliness,
  • No other near or like thy perfect state!
  • Pure thoughts and gracious deeds thy life did bless,
  • And thou thy fruitful maidenhood and meek
  • A living shrine to God didst consecrate!
  • By thee my sad life can with joy resound,
  • If thou but ask thy Child,
  • Virgin devout and mild,
  • Where sin abounded grace shall more abound;
  • My spirit’s knees in orisons I bend,
  • Be thou my guide, I pray;
  • My devious way
  • Bring to a happy end.
• • O shining virgin, steadfast evermore!
  • Thou radiant star above life’s stormy sea,
  • And every faithful mariner’s trusty guide!
  • In this wild tempest turn thy thoughts to me.
  • See how I am beset! No helm nor oar!
  • What shrieks of death are near on every side!
  • My soul despairing puts her trust in thee.
  • Sin will I not deny;
  • Virgin, to thee I cry,
  • Let not my pangs delight thine enemy!
  • ’Twas to redeem our sins, remember well,
  • That God took on afresh
  • Our human flesh
  • Within thy virgin cell.
• • Virgin, how many were the tears I shed,
  • How many years I prayed and longed and sighed!
  • What was my guerdon? Grief and sorrow vain.
  • Since I was born where Arno’s stream doth glide,
  • From land to land my restless feet have sped,
  • And life was naught but bitterness and pain.
  • For mortal charms and gracious ways and dear
  • Have clogged my heart and mind.
  • O virgin holy, kind,
  • Delay not. Haply ’tis my final year.
  • My days like flying arrows speed away!
  • In sin and misery
  • They swiftly flee
  • And death alone doth stay.
• • Virgin, I mourn for one that now is clay,
  • Who, living, filled mine eyes with many a tear,
  • Yet of my thousand woes not one could see!
  • And had she known them all, the griefs that were
  • Would still have been; since any other way
  • To me were death, to her were infamy.
  • Thou queen of heaven, O goddess virginal—
  • Thus may I name thee aright—
  • Virgin of clearer sight
  • Than ours, thou knowest all! Though others fail,
  • The task is easy for thy powers supreme;
  • End, then, my grief and woe,
  • Thy grace bestow,
  • And my poor soul redeem.
• • Virgin, my only hope doth rest in thee!
  • I know that thou wilt help my sad estate.
  • Forsake me not upon death’s dark defile!
  • Look not on me but Him who did create!
  • Though I be naught, His image lives in me,
  • And that must win thy care for one so vile!
  • My Gorgon sin hath turned me into stone.
  • Vain humours I distil.
  • Virgin, do thou but fill
  • With tears devout this aching heart and lone;
  • That at the end my love may holier be,
  • Without the taint of earth,
  • Which at its birth
  • Was wild idolatry.
• • O Virgin meek, and of all pride the foe;
  • Thy lowly birth win thee to hear my song;
  • Have pity on an humble contrite heart!
  • If with such constancy I could so long
  • On one frail mortal clod my love bestow,
  • What might I do for thee, God’s counterpart!
  • If by thy hand I now may rise again
  • From out my low estate,
  • Virgin, I consecrate
  • Unto thy service tongue and heart and brain,
  • My thoughts, my songs, my sighs and anxious fears!
  • Guide me in better ways
  • And crown with praise
  • These new desires and tears.
• • My hour draws on, it is not far away
  • (Thus fleeting time doth run);
  • Virgin, thou only one!
  • Upon my heart remorse and death do prey!
  • Unto thy Son, true man, true God, commend
  • My soul; to Him I cleave.
  • May He receive
  • My spirit at the end.
  ccclxvi

Macaulay says of this ode, ‘It is perhaps the finest hymn in the world. His devout veneration receives an exquisitely poetical character from the delicate perception of the sex and loveliness of his idol.’

In his very first sonnet, which he evidently wrote after all the rest and as an explanation of the whole, Petrarch thus speaks of the emptiness and vanity of his passion, but feels sure that those who have known love in their own experience will find pity and pardon for his changing moods.