Petrarch.
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Era il giorno ch’al sol si scoloraro
per la pietà del suo fattore i rai;
quando i’fui preso, e non me ne guardai,
ché I be’vostr’occhi, Donna, mi legaro.
Tempo non mi parea da far riparo
Contr’a’colpi d’Amor; però m’andai
Secur, senza sospetto; onde I miei guai
Nel comune dolor s’incominciaro.
Trovommi Amor del tutto disarmato,
Et aperta la via per gli occhi al core,
Che di lagrime son fatti uscio e varco.
Però, al mio parer, non li fu onore
Ferir me de saetta in quello stato,
A voi armata non monstrar pur l’arco.
Petrarch (1304-1374), from The Canzoniere
III. Era il giorno ch'al sol si scoloraro
It was the day when the sun's heavy rays
Grew pale in pity of his suffering Lord,
When I fell captive, lady, to the gaze
Of your fair eyes, fast bound in love's strong cord.
No time had I wherein to make defense
Or seek a shelter from Love's sudden blows;
I walked secure, no harm perceiving, whence
My griefs began amid the general woes.
Love found me all disarmed, and through my eyes
Where tears are wont to flow, he saw the way
Wide open to my heart. His arrow flies
And strikes the mark where it must ever stay.
Scant honor his to wound me thus, nor show
To you, well armed against him, even his bow!