278. ‘Ne l’età sua piú bella et piú fiorita,’

In the lovely flowering season of her life,

when Love has the greatest power in us,

she left her earthly veil behind on earth

and my breath of life departed from me,

living, lovely and naked she leapt to heaven:

from where she reigns over me, and controls me.

Ah, why can’t I reach my last mortal day,

that is the first day of a nobler life?

So that, as I my thought runs after her,

my soul might follow, quick, light and joyful,

and I might be far from all this trouble.

All that delays me is truly harm to me,

making a greater burden for the self.

Oh how sweet to have died three years ago today!