240. ‘I’ ò pregato Amor, e ’l ne riprego,’

I have prayed to Love, and I pray again

that he’ll make you pardon me, my sweet hurt,

my bitter joy, if in perfect loyalty

I stray at all from the straight way.

I cannot deny, lady, and don’t deny

that reason, that restrains all good souls,

is overcome by passion: so he leads me

at times to places where I unwillingly follow.

You, with that heart that heaven illumines

with such clear wit, and such noble virtue,

as ever rained down from a fortunate star,

should say, with pity and without disdain:

‘What else can he do? My looks consume him:

why does he long so, why am I so beautiful?’