Day: December 16, 2019

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) – Passa la nave mia colma d’oblio / My ship, full of oblivion

Théodore Géricault, The Raft of the Medusa, 1819 My ship, full of oblivion, sails on a bitter sea, at winter’s midnight, between Scylla and Charybdis: at the helm sits that Lord, or rather my enemy. At each oar there’s a cruel eager thought, that scorns the tempest and its end: the sail’s torn by an …

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) – Passa la nave mia colma d’oblio / My ship, full of oblivion Read More »

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) – Lassare il velo o per sole o per ombra / Lady, I have never seen you

Emile Lévy, Venus and Cupid, 1862 Lady, I have never seen you put aside your veil for sun or for shadow since you knew the great desire in me that lightens my heart of all other wishes. While I carried my lovely thoughts hidden (with desire they are bringing death into my heart) I saw …

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) – Lassare il velo o per sole o per ombra / Lady, I have never seen you Read More »

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) – Erano i capei d’oro a l’aura sparsi / Upon the breeze she spread her golden hair

Evelyn de Morgan, Flora, 1894 Upon the breeze she spread her golden hair that in a thousand gentle knots was turned and the sweet light beyond all radiance burned in eyes where now that radiance is rare; and in her face there seemed to come an air of pity, true or false, that I discerned: …

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch) – Erano i capei d’oro a l’aura sparsi / Upon the breeze she spread her golden hair Read More »

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)- Non al suo amante piú Diana piacque / Diana was never more pleasing

Andrea Schiavone, Diana and Actaeon, 1559 Diana was never more pleasing to her lover, when, by a stroke of fate, he saw her naked, shown in the deep pool of icy water, than I was by the mountain shepherdess, standing there to wash her delightful veil, that keeps blonde, lovely hair from the wind’s stress, …

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)- Non al suo amante piú Diana piacque / Diana was never more pleasing Read More »

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)- Zephyr returns / Zephiro torna, e ‘l bel tempo rimena

John William Waterhouse, Windswept, 1902 Zephyr returns and brings fair weather, and the flowers and herbs, his sweet family, and Procne singing and Philomela weeping, and the white springtime, and the vermilion. The meadows smile, and the skies grow clear: Jupiter is joyful gazing at his daughter: the air and earth and water are filled …

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)- Zephyr returns / Zephiro torna, e ‘l bel tempo rimena Read More »

Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch)- Alone and thoughtful / Solo et pensoso

Claude Lorrain, Villa In The Roman Campagna, 1653 Alone and thoughtful, through the most desolate fields, I go measuring out slow, hesitant paces, and keep my eyes intent on fleeing any place where human footsteps mark the sand. I find no other defence to protect me from other people’s open notice, since in my aspect, …

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