316. ‘Tempo era omai da trovar pace o triegua’

It was time now after such a war, to make

a peace or truce: perhaps it was in the making,

if he, who renders equal all that’s unequal,

had not turned back my happy footsteps:

as a mist is scattered by the wind,

so her life suddenly was past,

she who’d guided me with her lovely eyes,

whom I must follow now in thought alone.

Peace would have happened soon, I, altering

my manner with the years and my hair: and then

no suspicion for her when I spoke of my pain.

I’d have talked with true sighs of my

long trouble, that I’m certain now she

sees from heaven, grieving with me still!