147. ‘Quando ’l voler che con duo sproni ardenti’

When my passion, that leads and rules me,

with two fierce spurs and a harsh rein,

escapes its usual curbs from time to time

and raises my spirits to some degree,

it finds her who reads the fear and daring

of the heart’s depths in the face,

and sees Love, who corrects false actions,

flashing from her pained and troubled eyes.

Then, like one afraid of a blow

from angry Jove, it retreats once more:

since great fear restrains a great desire.

But cold fire and fearful hope

in my soul, transparent as glass,

sometimes clear her sweet face again.