Love Poems

Di donne io vidi una gentile schiera

 

Di donne vidi io vidi una gentile schiera

questo Ognissanti prossimo passato,

e una ne venia quasi imprimiera,

veggendosi l’Amor dal destro lato.

 

De gli occhi suoi gittava una lumera,               5

la qual parea un spirito infiammato;

e i’ ebbi tanto ardir, ch’in la sua cera

guarda’, [e vidi] un angiol figurato.

 

A chi era degno donava salute

co gli atti suoi quella benigna e piana,           10

e ‘mpiva ‘l core a ciascun di vertute.

 

Credo che de lo ciel fosse soprana,

e venne in terra per nostra salute:

là ‘nd’è beata chi l’è prossimana.

Onde venite voi così pensose?

 

Onde venite voi così pensose?

Ditemel, s’a voi place, in cortesia,

ch’i’ ho dottanza che la donna mia

non vi faccia tornar così dogliose.

 

Deh, gentil donne, non siate sdegnose,          5

né di ristare alquanto in questa via

e dire al doloroso che disia

udir de la sua donna alquante cose,

 

avvegna che gravoso m’è l’udire:

sì m’ha in tutto Amor da sé scacciato,          10

ch’ogni suo atto mi trae a ferire.

 

Guardate bene s’i’ son consumato,

ch’ogni mio spirto comincia a fuggire,

se da voi, donne, non son confortato.

A Gentle Throng of Women Did I See

 

A gentle throng of women did I see

on this All Saint’s Day, not too long ago;

and one of them almost in front I saw,

with Love that seemed at her right side to be.

 

Such a true light did from her glances flee,                5

it seemed a spirit flaming and aglow;

I grew so bold that in her face I saw

the image of an angel verily.

 

By her sweet gestures, so benign and plain,

was every worthy soul most fortified,                       10

and every heart replete with sudden mirth.

 

Surely my lady was in heaven queen,

and came for our salvation on this earth:

oh, blessed she, now walking by her side!

Where Are You Coming From, Looking so Pensive

 

Where are you coming from, looking so pensive?

Oh, tell me, in the name of courtesy.

‘Tis from my lady (oh, the fear in me!)

that you are coming back, so apprehensive.

 

O gentle ladies, please, do not refuse                       5

to pause a fleeting moment in this street,

and speak to one who grieves, and only waits

to hear about his lady any news—

 

however painful it may prove to me!

Love has so fully chased me from his sight              10

that everything he does, now wounds me more.

 

That I am all consumed, well you can see:

my every spirit will depart, therefore,

if you, sweet ladies, do not comfort me.

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