32. ‘Quanto piú m’avicino al giorno extremo’

The closer I come to that last day

that puts an end to human misery

the more swiftly and lightly I see time go by,

and my hopes of it deceive and fade.

I say in thought: ‘No time is left now

to speak of love, for this hard and heavy

earthly burden has begun to melt

like fresh snow: so we’ll find peace:

since with the body hope too will vanish,

that made us rave for so many years,

with laughter and tears, fear and anger:

for so we see how it often happens

that through uncertain things we advance,

and often we sigh to no real purpose.’