Petrarch: “The Buried Heart”

Excerpt, "The Sonnets of Europe: A Volume of Translations." Selected and Arranged with Notes by Samuel Waddington. 1885.

Not skies serene, with glittering stars inlaid,
Nor gallant ships o’er tranquil ocean dancing,
Nor gay careering knights in arms advancing,
Nor wild herds bounding through
the forest glade,
Nor tidings new of happiness delayed,

Nor poesie, Love’s witchery enhancing,
Nor lady’s song beside clear fountain glancing,
In beauty’s pride, with chastity arrayed;
Nor aught of lovely, aught of gay in show,

Shall touch my heart now cold within her tomb
Who was erewhile my life and light below!
So heavy – tedious – sad – my days unblest,
That I, with strong desire,
invoke Death’s gloom,

Her to behold, whom ne’er to have
seen were best!