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The Gods were my Apollo's enemies, and would not let you know one another, thus, his merit could not inspire you to poetry so bright his name would have been praised to the end of time: your golden style--which makes us scorn the ancients, envy you--would have preserved him from this second death--he would never have been forgotten. Could I at least penetrate your heart with my burning passion, or your genius stir mine to make winged poetry worthy him--ah, I'm afraid the gods will laugh at us: you, for having sung of something else, me, for having dared to sing of the Sun |
An image of the Italian text from Visconti's 1840 edition |
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Notes: From V LXIX:69 ("So v'accendeva il mio bel sole amato"). See also B A1:71:38; R XI:38. Translations: Roscoe, 339; Lawley, 64-5; Lefèvre-Deumier, 27; McAuliffe, 125. The first to Pietro Bembo; either in response to or inspiring his "Cingi le costei tempie dell'amato" ("Let her poetry for her beloved/crown her brow ..."), Dionisotti 1960 Rime, 609 No. 125 ( printed by V, p. 400, Saltini, p. 362; Guerrini, pp. 173-74). Written 1530-31, refers to Asolani. Key |
