Rime Sparse 44

[lnhammer]

Caesar, with hands so ready to shed
on Thessaly the red of civil war,
still wept for Pompey, son-in-law no more,
when he recognized his severed head;

and the shepherd who broke Goliath's head
wept for Absalom, his rebellious son,
and even cried to hear good Saul was gone
and cursed in grief the wild hill where he bled;

but you, whom pity never has made pale,
who always has defenses up and ready
against Love's bow, which he draws in vain,

you've seen me die a thousand deaths already
but nevertheless no tears ever trail
from your eyes -- only anger and disdain.

—12-15 June + 3 August 2008

Again from Petrarch using Robert Durling's prose pony, checked against a couple other translations. The original is here, but since the site seems to be down, also here:


Que'che 'n Tesaglia ebbe le man' sí pronte
a farla del civil sangue vermiglia,
pianse morto il marito di sua figlia,
raffigurato a le fatezze conte;

e 'l pastor ch'a Golia ruppe la fronte,
pianse la ribellante sua famiglia,
et sopra 'l buon Saúl cangiò le ciglia,
ond'assai può dolersi il fiero monte.

Ma voi che mai pietà non discolora,
et ch'avete gli schermi sempre accorti
contra l'arco d'Amor che 'ndarno tira,

mi vedete straziare a mille morti:
né lagrima però discese anchora
da' be' vostr'occhi, ma disdegno et ira.

---L.