University of Virginia Library



Sonnets.

O nightingale that on your bloomy spray
Warblest at eve when all the woods are still!
Donna leggiadra, il cui bel nome honora
L'herbosa val di Rheno, e il nobil varco,
Bene è colui d'ogni valore scarco
Qual tuo spirto gentil non innamora.
Fair lady whose harmonious name the Rhine
Thro' all her grassy vale delights to hear
But were indeed the wretch who could forbear
To love a spirit elegant as this.
Guardi ciascun a gli occhi, ed a gli orecchi
L'entrata, chi di te si truova indegno.
Ah then—turn each his eyes and ears away
Who feels himself unworthy of thy love
Amor lo volse, ed io a l'altrui peso
Seppi ch'Amor cosa mai volse indarno
So Love has will'd, and oftimes Love has shown
That what he wills he never wills in vain.
Questa e lingua di cui si vanta amore.
This is the language in which Love delights.
Parole adorne di lingua piu d'una,
E'l cantar che di mezzo l'hemispero
Traviar ben puo la faticosa Luna.
Words exquisite, of idioms more than one,
And song, whose fascinating power might find
and from her sphere draw down the laboring moon.
Madonna a voi del mio cuor l'humil dono
Faro divoto: io certo a prove tante
L'hebbi fedele, intrepido, costante
De pensieri leggiadro, accorto e buono.
To thee dear lady with an humble sigh
Let me devote my heart which I have found
By certain proofs not few, intrepid, sound
Good and addicted to conceptions high.
Quando rugge il gran mondo, e scocca il tuono,
S'arma di se, e d'intero diamante
When tempests shake the world & fire the sky
It rests in adamant self-wrapp'd around.


How soon hath Time, the subtle thief of youth
Stolen on his wing my 3 and 20th year!
Lift not thy spear against the Muses bower
The great Emathian conqueror bid spare.
The house of Pindarus when temple & tower
Went to the ground: And the repeated air
Of sad Electra's poet had the power
To save the Athenianwalls from ruin bare.
That would have made Quintillian stare & gasp
Rail'd at Latona's twin-born progeny
Which after held the sun and moon in fee.
Licence they mean when they cry "Liberty".
Dante shall give Fame leave to set thee higher
Than his Casella, whom he wooed to sing,
Met in the milder shades of Purgatory.
Meekly thou didst resign this earthly load
Of death called life.
But as Faith pointed with her golden rod
Followed thee up to joy and bliss forever.
Eve'n them who kept thy truth so pure of old.
Till Favonius re-inspire
The frozen Earth, and clothe in fresh attire
The lily and rose that neither sow'd nor spun
The better part with Mary & with Ruth,
Chosen thou hast.
The breaking of that parliamt:
Broke him—as that dishonest victory
At Cheronea fatal to liberty
Killed with report that old man eloquent.