Guido Cavalcanti Poems

Light do I see within my Lady's eyes
And loving spirits in its plenisphere
Which bear in strange delight on my heart's care
Till Joy's awakened from that sepulchre.
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Fresh new rose
Delighting Spring,
By field and stream,
Singing gaily,
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As I’ve no hope of returning ever,
Little ballad, lightly, softly,
Go yourself, to Tuscany,
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Perch’i’ no spero di tornar giammai,
ballatetta, in Toscana,
va’ tu, leggera e piana,
dritt’ a la donna mia,
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0 SLUGGISH, hard, ingrate, what doest thou?
Poor sinner, folded round with heavy sin,
Whose life to find out joy alone is bent.
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Deep in thoughts of love, I came
On two young maids,
One sang: ‘It rains
On us, the joy of love.’
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You have, in you, the leaves and flowers
All that shines and all that’s sweet to see:
Greater than the sun your face in splendour,
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O, my lady, have you not seen One
Who laid his hand on my heart, when
I answered you so softly, tamely,
Because I feared his blows?
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Who is this that comes and all admire her,
And makes the air tremble with her brightness,
Brings Love with her, so that none who sees her
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A quick perceptiveness, a woman's charm,
a windless city white with falling snow,
the gallant courtesy of men-at-arms,
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