51. ‘Poco era ad appressarsi agli occhi mei’

If the light had neared my eyes a little

that dazzles me even when far away,

then, as she changed her form in Thessaly,

I would have changed my form completely.

And since I could not be transformed to be

more hers than I am already (not that it gains me pity),

I think my aspect today would be

carved from whatever stone is hardest,

from diamond, or from a fine marble, white

perhaps through fear, or from rock-crystal,

praised by the greedy and foolish crowd:

and be free of this savage and heavy yoke,

because of which I even envy that old man,

Atlas, whose shoulders shadow Morocco.