SONNET XIV.

AFTER LAURA's DEATH.

THOU vale! whose echoes answer to my woes; Thou river! whose clear stream my sorrows swell; Ye birds! who sing; ye beasts! who here repose; Ye finny tribes! between these banks that dwell; Fann'd by my sighs, ye balmy gales serene!

Thou path! so smiling once, but now forlorn; Thou cheerful hill! of anguish now the scene, Where I on Love's accustom'd wings am borne:

Ye are the same-your gales, as soft an air;
Fragrance, and strains as sweet, each grove supplies:
But I am chang'd—and haunted by despair!
Yet still I view the spot with ling'ring eyes,

Whence LAURA reach'd the mansions of the just,
Leaving her beauteous form to mix with dust!

SONETTO XV.

IN MORTE DI M. LAURA.

LEVOMMI il mio pensier in parte; ov'era

Quella, ch'io cerco, e non ritrovo in terra:
Ivi fra lor; che'l terzo cerchio serra;

La rividi piu bella, e meno altera:

Per man mi prese, e disse; in questa spera
Sarai anchor meco, se'l desir non erra:
Iso colei; che ti die tanta guerra,

E compie mia giornata inanzi sera:
Mio bennon cape in intelletto humano:

Te solo aspetto; e quel, che tanto amasti,
E la giuso è rimaso, il mio bel velo.
Deh perche tacque, & allargò la mano?
Ch'al suon d'e detti si pietosi, e casti
Poco mancò, ch'io non rimasi in cielo.

SONNET XV.

AFTER LAURA's DEATH.

HER, whom I seek, but find not, here below,
In thought pursuing to the realms above,
I there behold, with brighter beauty glow,
And soften into smiles of heav'nly love.

Taking my hand, she cry'd, "in this blest sphere,
"If rescu'd from the wand'rings of desire,
"Thou, who for me hast felt such pangs severe,
"To live with me for ever, may'st aspire!

" 'Tis not in mortals to conceive my joys! "O long-expected! join our sainted band— "The charms, thy love ador'd, the grave destroys.' She ceas'd. Ah! why? and why withdraw her hand?

For sure such sweetness to her voice was giv'n,

'Twas misery to be torn from her, and Heav'n.

SONETTO XVI.

IN MORTE DI M. LAURA.

ZEPHIRO torna; e'l bel tempo rimena,
Ei fiori, e l'herbe, sua dolce famiglia;
E garrir Progne; e pianger Philomena;
E primavera candida, e vermiglia:
Ridono i prati; e'l ciel si rasserena :

Giove s'allegra di mirar sua figlia:
L'aria, e l'acqua, e la terra è d'amor piena :
Ogni animal d'amar si riconsiglia.

Ma per me, lasso, tornano i piu gravi
Sospiri; che del cor profondo tragge
Quella, ch'al ciel se ne porto le chiavi:

E cantar augelleitti, e fiorir piagge,

E'n belle donne honeste atti soavi

Sono un deserto, e fere aspre, e selvagge.

SONNET XVI.

AFTER LAURA's DEATH.

RETURNING Zephyr the soft season brings,

With his sweet family of herbs and flowers; The swallow twitters, Philomela sings,

And Spring's vermilion-blush adorns the bowers.

The meadows smile-serene the balmy air-
And Venus* sheds her softness o'er the sky:
While heav'n, and earth, and water, all declare
Love's mighty pow'r, and with his pow'r comply.
But I, in this tumultuous scene of joys,

Can welcome no return, save tears and sighs; Which she, whose fatal loss my peace destroys, Draws from my struggling heart, and grief-swoln

eyes.

Thus Spring's gay charms, that bliss and life impart, Like Winter's icy touch, benumb my heart.

* The planet.