91 ‘La bella donna che cotanto amavi’

The lovely lady who you loved so dearly

has suddenly departed from us,

and has climbed to Heaven, I trust,

since every act of hers was sweet and gentle.

It is time to recover both the keys

of your heart, that in life she possessed,

and follow her on the swift true road:

no earthly charge should prevent you.

Now you are free from the greater burden,

the others may be easily laid down,

while you climb like a free pilgrim.

You know truly now how all creatures

run towards death, and how the soul

must be lightened for the perilous gate.

Note: Possibly addressed to Petrarch’s brother Gherardo who became a Carthusian in 1343.