i’m sharing a translation from the Italian of one of my favourite sonnets by Petrarch: hope you enjoy it!
Blessed be the day, and the month, and the year,
And the season, the time, the hour, and the moment,
And the lovely country, the place where I was joined
By two fair eyes that now have bound me here.
And blessed be the first sweet agony
That I felt in becoming bound to Love,
And the bow and the arrows piercing me,
And the wounds in the depths of my heart to move
Blessed the many voices that I raised,
Calling my lady, to scatter her name,
And blessed be my signs, my tears, my heart;
Blessed may be all the paper where more fame
I earn for her, my every thought by which she is praised,
Only her own: of which no one else has a part.
Here’s the original:
Benedetto sia 'l giorno, e 'l mese, e l’anno,
E la stagione, e 'l tempo, e l’ora, e 'l punto,
E 'l bel paese, e ‘l loco ov’io fui giunto
Da’ duo begli occhi, che legato m’hanno;
E benedetto il primo dolce affanno
Ch’i’ ebbi ad esser con Amor congiunto,
E l’arco, e le saette ond’i’ fui punto
E le piaghe che 'n fin al cor mi vanno.
Benedette le voci tante ch’io
Chiamando il nome de mia donna ho sparte,
E i sospiri, e le lagrime, e 'l desio;
E benedette sian tutte le carte
Ov’io fama l’acquisto, e 'l pensier mio,
Ch’è sol di lei, sí ch’altra non v’ha parte.