When from hour to hour among the other ladies Poem by Francesco Petrarch

‘Quando fra l'altre donne ad ora ad ora'

When from hour to hour among the other ladies
Love appears in her beautiful face,
by as much as their beauty is less than hers
by so much the desire that en-amours me grows.
I bless the place, the time, and the hour
in which my eyes gazed to such a height,
and I say: My spirit, give thanks enough
that you were then found worthy of such honour.
From her to you comes loving thought,
that leads to highest good, while you pursue it,
counting as little what all men desire:
from her comes that spirit full of grace
that shows you heaven by the true way':
so that in hope I fly, already, to the heights.

Translated by: A. S. Kline