40. ‘S’Amore o Morte non dà qualche stroppio’

to this new cloth that I now weave,

and if I can keep free of clinging lime,

while I twine the one truth with the other,

perhaps I will create a double work

in modern style but with ancient content,

so that, I’m fearful of saying it too boldly,

you’ll hear the noise even as far as Rome.

But since, to finish the labour, I lack

some of those sacred threads revealed

in those works of my beloved teacher,

why do you close your hand to me,

against your custom? I beg you to open it,

and you’ll see something beautiful appear.

Note: Augustine is the beloved teacher. Petrarch is presumably seeking copies of his works.

Notes