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From An Anthology of Italian Poems 13th-19th Century selected and translated by Lorna de’ Lucchi, Alfred A. Knopf, New York; 1922; pp. 20-21, 348.
[For purists, the Italian text of the poems follows the English translation.]
COMPIUTA DONZELLA, XIIIth Century
Notes and translation by Lorna de’ Lucchi
348
Biographical Note
COMPIUTA DONZELLA, a Florentine, of whom nothing is known.
Poem
21
COMPIUTA DONZELLA, XIIIth Century
Sonnet
WHAT time the world doth put forth leaves and flowers
To all true lovers fuller joy belongs,
They go awandering then through garden bowers
Where little birds are warbling their sweet songs:
Then care-free folk their time in love employ
And every lad doth serve with eagerness,
And every lassie doth abide in joy,
But tears have I in plenty and distress,
Because my father doeth me great ill,
And causeth me full often bitterest rue,
Since he would marry me against my will
And I have neither heart nor mind thereto.
Thus in great misery I pass the hours,
Nor am I comforted by leaves and flowers.
20
COMPIUTA DONZELLA, Secolo XIII
Sonetto
A LA stagion che il mondo folgia e fiora
accresce gioia a tutt’ i fin’ amanti:
vanno insierne a li giardini allora
che gli augelletti fanno dolci canti:
la franca gente tutta s’ innamora,
ed in servir ciascun traggesi innanti,
ed ogni damigella in gioi’ dimora,
a me m’ abbondan marrimenti e pianti.
Chè lo mio padre m’ ha messa in errore,
e tenemi sovente in forte doglia:
donar mi vole, a mia forza signore:
ed io di ciò non ho disio nè voglia,
e ’n gran tormento vivo a tutte l’ ore:
però non mi rallegra fior nè foglia.
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