111. ‘La donna che ’l mio cor nel viso porta’

The lady whose looks are always in my mind,

appeared to me where I was sitting thinking

deeply of love: and I, to do her honour,

approached her with a pale and reverent face.

As soon as she was aware of my state,

she turned towards me with such fresh colour

as would have disarmed Jove

in all his fury, and quenched his anger.

I gathered myself together: and she walked on,

speaking, so that I could not endure her words,

nor the sweet sparks from her eyes.

Now I find myself full of such varied

pleasures, thinking of that greeting,

I feel no grief, nor have done since then.