XVI. When I had thus spoken, this sonnet aroused in me a desire to speak yet other words, in which I should state yet four more facts concerning my condition, which, it seemed to me, I had not previously expressed. The first of these tells how oft I suffered when my memory stirred my fancy to consider that which Love was working in me; the second, how that owing to the frequent, sudden, and powerful assaults of Love I became, as it were, dead to all save one thought, that spoke to me of my lady; the third, how that being thus sore stricken in this combat with Love, I turned me, nigh wan as I was, to behold that lady, believing that the sight of her would uphold me in the fight, forgetful of what should befall me in so nearly approaching such nobility; the fourth, how that such a vision not only failed to shield me, but finally extinguished the last spark of life; hence I spoke this sonnet : E 2 Spesse fïate venemi alla mente L'oscura qualità ch' Amor mi dona; Io dico ahi lasso! avvien egli a per- Ch' Amor m'assale subitanamente empty Cure, Lo Questo sonetto si divide in quattro parti, secondo che quattro cose sono in esso narrate: e perocchè sono esse ragionate di sopra, non m'intrametto se non di distinguere le parti per li loro cominciamenti: onde dico che la seconda parte comincia quivi: Ch' Amor; la terza Deep in the silence of my heart I ponder Love's cruel doom, which leaves me thus to pine, Such direful anguish rends my soul asunder, I cry, "Alas! is any grief like mine?" For, sore assailed and pierced with Love's keen arrow, Strength fails within, life doth no more remain, Nought but my spirit lives to sing Thy praises The praise of those dear charms that me have slain. Yet, once more rousing me, new courage taking, All wan with grief and spent in Love's affray, Again I seek Thee, thinking thus to heal me: Then straightway lift mine eyes to gaze my fill, When, lo! at sight of Thee such tremblings seize me, That all my pulses suddenly are still. This sonnet may be divided into four parts, seeing that it narrates four things, and as these have been dealt with above, I will only now trouble myself to distinguish the respective parts by their opening words; hence I note that the second part commences, "For, sore as quivi: Poscia mi sforzo; la quarta: E se io levo. XVII. Poichè io dissi questi tre sonetti, ne' quali parlai a questa donna, però che furo narratorj di tutto quasi lo mio stato, credeimi tacere, perocchè mi parea avere di me assai manifestato. Avvegnachè sempre poi tacessi di dire a lei, a me convenne ripigliare materia nuova e più nobile che la passata. E perocchè la cagione della nuova materia è dilettevole a udire, la dirò quanto potrò più brevemente. XVIII. Conciossiacosachè per la vista mia molte persone avessero compreso lo segreto del mio cuore, certe donne, le quali adunate s'erano, dilettandosi l'una nella compagnia dell'altra, sapeano bene lo mio cuore, perchè ciascuna di loro era stata a molte mie sconfitte. Ed io passando presso di loro, siccome dalla fortuna menato, fui chiamato da una di queste gentili donne ; e quella, che m' avea chiamato, era donna di molto leggiadro parlare. Sicchè quando io fui giunto dinanzi da luro, e vidi bene che la mia gentilissima donna non era tra esse, rassicurandomi le salutai, e domandai che piacesse loro. Le donne erano molte, tra le quali n'avea certe che si rideano tra loro. Altre v'erano, che guardavanmi aspettando che io dovessi dire. Altre v'erano che parlavano tra loro, delle quali una volgendo gli occhi verso me, e chiamandomi per nome, disse queste parole: "A che fine ami sailed;" the third: "Yet, once more; and the fourth: "Then straightway." 99 XVII. After writing these three sonnets, in which I addressed this lady, I thought of keeping silent, having described in them my condition almost entirely and revealed enough about myself. And as I never afterwards addressed her, I was obliged to take up a new subject and of greater importance than the former. The origin of this new subject being an agreeable one to know, I shall relate it as briefly as I can. XVIII. My aspect had betrayed to many the secret of my heart, and certain women who had assembled together, delighting in each other's company, had well divined my feelings, each having often witnessed my discomfiture. Passing near to them, as if by fortune led, I was called by one of these gracious ladies, and she who called me was endowed with a most gracious gift of speech. Having reached them, and perceiving my gracious lady to be absent, I felt reassured, and, saluting, asked the ladies what might be their pleasure. Of them there were many, some laughing, some gazing at me in expectation of what I might be about to say. One lady, from a group engaged in talk, turned her eyes upon me, and, addressing me by name, uttered these words: "To what purpose |