Petrarch

I was re-reading some of Mark Musa's and Barbara Manfredi's translations of Petrarch's The Canzoniere, or Rerum vulgarium fragmenta . This translation with copious notes is a delight and I recommend it.

Two passages struck me as I was reading them. I stopped at the end of each and re-read them, and they've hung with me for days now, foregrounding in my mind multiple times. I leave it at that, and now simply share these passages:

Lines from Petrarch 118:

Or qui son, lasso, et voglio esser altrove,
et vorrei più volere, et più non voglio,
et per più non poter fo quant' io posso.

I'm here, alas, and wish that I were elsewhere,
And wish that I wished more but wish no more,
And unable to do more, do all I can.

From 119:

Questa in penseri in opre et in parole,
però ch' è de le cose al mondo rade,
questa per mille strade
sempre inanzi mi fu leggiadra altera.
Solo per lei tornai da quel ch' i' era;
poi ch' i' soffersi gli occhi suoi da presso
per suo amor m'er' io messo
a faticosa impresa assai per tempo,
tal che s' i' arrivo al disiato porto
sper per lei gran tempo
viver, quand' altri mi terrà per morto.

She, in my thoughts, my work, and in my words,
As one of those rare things in the world,
Along a thousand roads
Was always there to lead me proud and lovely.
For her alone I turned from what I was;
Once able to look straight into her eyes,
For love of her I put
Myself to doing hard work very early,
So if I reach the port of my desire
I hope through her to live
Long after people think that I am dead.