273. ‘Che fai? che pensi? che pur dietro guardi’

Disconsolate spirit what can you think or do?

Why do you look behind at those times

that cannot come again? Why do you go

adding wood to the fire where you burn?

The gentle words and the sweet glances

that you described and painted one by one,

have gone from earth: and you know

it’s too late, untimely, to search for them.

Ah do not renew what only kills, don’t follow

longing thoughts in error, but those sure

and solid ones that lead to a good end.

Look to the heavens, since nothing here pleases:

that beauty that we saw was fatal for us,

if living or dead it did not bring us peace.