Molza, if when far from Rome you thirst for Molza, se ben dal vago aer sereno
Molza, if when far from Rome you thirst for
her lovely serene ever-changing air
and open shores, so suggestive for dreams,
that one's soul seems diminished without her;

you still should not shut your heart to your home
in childhood or its remembered sweetness,
that longed for secure haven. After all
life's many troubles, a place in which to rest.

At peace at last, enjoy your wife, children,
and old friends, be happy, joyous and thus
temper the sorrow which must arise inside us.

And I who concede that heaven gave you
rare celestial gifts, will ever respect your name,
I pray you love me as you have loved others.

Molza: se ben dal vago aer sereno
lontano sete, e da le piagge apriche
di Roma, tanto a' pensier vostri amiche
che senza par che 'l cor vi venga meno,

non vogliate però chiudere il seno
a le dolcezze de la patria antiche,
sicuro porto alfin de le fatiche
vostre sì gravi e di riposo pieno.

La moglie, i figli, i dolci amici cari
lieto godete, e col gioir di loro
temprate il suol, se pur dentro vi preme;

ed io, che i doni a voi celesti e rari
dal Ciel concessi e 'l vostro nome adoro,
prego che me con gfli altri amiate insieme.

Sources:

Rizzardi 39:53; Chiapetti 35:55; 1995 Bullock 62:163. For Key see A Note on the Italian texts

Comments:

See 1995 Bullock pp. 163-64n. for variants, commentary, and paraphrase.Colonna wrote sonnets to Molza too: see "Quant'invidia al mio cor, felici e rare" (How my heart envies you, rare happy souls); "Molza, ch'al Ciel quest'altra tua Beatrice" (Molza, this it is to beat death, to be).
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