PETRARCH. PART I. POEMS DURING THE LIFE OF LAURA. SONNET. TWAS that dim day* the Sun's relenting rays, The day is recorded as being April 6th, 1327. This concetto is imitated at the opening of Milton's fine ode on Christmas day, and by no means rendered less of a concetto. Of Love, bright fair, and arms that oft prevail'd, Too late, the common doom, with vain amaze. SONNET TO STEPHEN COLONNA THE ELDER. O GLORIOUS Column,* by whose strength are stay'd Our ardent hopes, and Latium's name divine; That from thy path, and Conduct's certain line, Jove's rage ne'er daunted, nor his storms dismay'd; Alluding to the Italian word Colonna. No palace, theatre or porch's shade,* But in their stead, a fir, a beech, a pine, O'er the green turf, and heights, whose charms adjoin, And mounting, or descending, poets aid, From earth to heaven here lift the ravish'd mind: And the sweet nightingale, in thickest grove Petrarch, when this nobleman was at Avignon, had eagerly made inquiries of him, to which this alludes, concerning the remains of ancient magnificence at Rome, which his patriotism made so interesting to him. SONNET* ON PLANTING A LAUREL, NEAR A RIVULET, IN HONOUR OF LAURA, IN A SPOT WHICH SHE FREQUENTED. IF yet thou glow'st, Apollo, with that fire The resemblance, in their names, of the laurel tree and his mistress, had so struck the imagination of Petrarch, that, in his poems, Daphne, Laura, and the laurel, become synonymous terms. From this unhealthy moisture purge the air. BALLAD. I SEE the obtrusive veil (be it confess'd!) Obdurate fair one, carefully display'd, Prove, thou well know'st, the secrets of my breast. Ere yet the oppressive passion was reveal'd, That daily dooms me to Affliction's load, Relenting Pity soften'd in thy look; But, when thy power my agitation shew'd And glances interrupted from me took That from me, whether cold or heat assail, Hides the bright eyes that have so often bless'd. |