124. ‘Amore, Fortuna et la mia mente, schiva’

Love, Fortune and my mind, shy of what

it sees, turned to what is past, afflict me so,

that I am envious now and then

of those who have reached the other shore.

Love torments my heart: Fortune removes

all solace: so that my foolish mind

annoys itself and weeps: and so in deep pain

I often have to struggle with my life.

Nor do I hope to return to sweeter days,

but only to progress from bad to worse,

and already half my life is done.

I have seen all my hopes, not diamond,

alas, but glass, fall from my hand,

and all my thoughts shattered in two.