305. ‘Anima bella da quell nodo sciolta’

Lovely spirit freed from that knot

than which Nature made none lovelier,

turn your mind from heaven to my dark life,

whose happy thoughts have turned to weeping.

The false opinion of my heart that made

your glance bitter and harsh to me sometimes,

has vanished: now in utter safety turn

your eyes towards me, and hear my sighs.

Gaze at the great rock, where the Sorgue is born,

and see one there among the grass and streams,

who’s fed on memory of you, and grief, alone.

Abandon and ignore where your home lies,

and the place where our love was born,

so you do not see what would displease you.

Note: He wishes her not to see Avignon’s corruption.