103. ‘Vinse Hannibàl, et non seppe usar poi’

Hannibal conquered, and yet did not know

how to make use of his victorious action:

so, my dear lord, I beg you to take care

the same thing doesn’t happen to you.

The she-bear raging for her cubs,

who found the fields bitter this May,

gnaws inwardly, and whets her teeth and claws

to revenge her hurt on us.

While she is attacked by this new grief,

don’t hang up your honoured sword,

but follow where your fortune calls,

straight by the road that can grant you

honour and fame in this world,

for thousands of years after your death.

Note: Addressed to Stefano Colonna after his victory in May 1333 over the Orsini (The ‘Bears’). The Colonna were Petrach’s patrons. Hannibal was unable to fully exploit his victories in Italy against the Romans, for example after Cannae in 216BC.