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Io son sì stanco sotto'l fascio antico,
De le mie colpe, e de l'usanza ria,
Ch'io temo forte di mancar tra via,
E di cader in man del mio nemico.
Ben venne a delivrarmi un grande amico,
Per somma et ineffabil cortesia,
Poi volò fuor de la veduta mia,
Si ch'a mirarlo indarno m'affatico.
Ma la sua voce ancor qua giu rimbomba,
O voi che travagliate ecco'l camino,
Venite a me s'el passo altri non serra.
Qual gratia qual amore o qual destino,
Mi dara penne in guisa di colomba,
Ch'i mi riposi e levimi da terra. Sonetto 81
English translation
I’m so wearied by the ancient burden,
of these faults of mine, and my sinful ways,
that I’ve a deep fear of erring on the road,
and falling into my enemy’s hands.
A great friend came to rescue me,
with noble and ineffable courtesy:
then flew away, far from my sight,
so that I strive to see him, but in vain.
But his voice still echoes down here:
‘Come unto me: all you that labour
behold the path, if no one blocks the way.’
What grace, what love, O what destiny
will grant me the wings of a dove,
to lift from the earth, and be at rest? Translation A.S.Kline
Italian text
English translation