47. ‘Io sentia dentr’al cor già venir meno’

that receive their life from you:

and since every earthly creature

naturally protects itself from death,

loosed my desire, that now I rein in hard,

and sent it by a road that is almost lost:

so that it draws me there, day and night,

and I lead it, against its will, another way.

And it brought me, slowly and shamefully,

to look on those delightful eyes, that I

guard myself from so they may not grow cold.

Now I’ll live a while, since a mere glance of yours

has so much power to bring me to life:

then I’ll die, if I don’t follow my desire.

Notes