191. ‘Sí come eterna vita è veder Dio,’

longing for nothing greater, no longer longing,

so I’m made happy, my lady, by seeing you

in this brief and fragile life of mine.

I never saw you as lovely as today,

if my eyes truly reflect my heart:

sweet in my thought the hour, and blessed,

overcoming every other hope and wish.

And if it’s flight were not so fast,

I’d ask no more: if there are creatures

that live only on air, and such things believed,

others on water or fire, their taste and touch

sated by things deprived of sweetness,

then why not I on the dear sight of you?

Notes