To each love en-captured soul, noble heart thereof,
nel cui cospetto ven lo dir presente,
Into whose ken is now coming this present write:
in ciò che mi rescrivan suo parvente,
Of what this seems to be, may return me each wight
salute in lor segnor, cioè Amore.
A greeting in their lord's name, their lord who is Love.
Già eran quasi che atterzate l'ore
Now hath passed near a third of the night sky above,
del tempo che onne stella n'è lucente,
At that time in which ev'ry star is shining bright,
quando m'apparve Amor subitamente,
When then appeared Love a-sudden before my sight,
cui essenza membrar mi dà orrore.
Whose very self rememb'ring am terrified of!
Allegro mi sembrava Amor tenendo
For cheerful to me did seem Love, who while holding
meo core in mano, e ne le braccia avea
Mine own heart in his hand, had into his arm led
madonna involta in un drappo dormendo.
My lady asleep, wrapped in her veil enfolding.
Poi la svegliava, e d'esto core ardendo
Waking her, while me my flaming heart beholding,
lei paventosa umilmente pascea:
Then it to my fearful lady he humbly fed --
appresso gir lo ne vedea piangendo.
Then him I saw leave, with none his tears withholding.
-Dante, La Vita Nuova. Trans. is my own.
Vedeste, al mio parere, onne valore.
Thou didst see, as to my seeming, all of love's worth,
e tutto gioco e quanto bene om sente,
And ev'ry joy, and each good a man doth afford,
se foste in prova del segnor valente.
If thou were tested by thy courageous lord,
che segnoreggia il mondo de l’onore,
Who as lord doth rule o'er the court of virtue's mirth.
poi vive in parte dove noia more,
Since liveth there Love in where lies vexation's dearth,
e tien ragion nel cassar de la mente;
And in the mind's void keepeth there his reason stored;
sì va soave per sonno a la gente,
Yea, now gentle hath he through mankind's slumbers soared,
che ’l cor ne porta senza far dolore.
And taketh without pain the hearts of all on earth.
Di voi lo core ne portò, veggendo.
As for thee, when took he thy heart, full in knowing
che vostra donna alla morte cadea:
That be it thy lady would to her own death fall,
nodriala dello cor, di ciò temendo.
Fed her thy heart, the fear of her death bemoaning.
Quando v’apparve che se ’n gia dolendo,
When to thee seemeth he to take leave while groaning,
fu ’l dolce sonno ch’allor si compiea,
Was the sweet dream at that time ending in all,
ché ’l su’ contraro lo venìa vincendo.
Would come its opposite, his triumph intoning.
-Guido Cavalcanti, Soneto XXII. Trans. is my own.
