The poem describes the speaker's emotional turmoil caused by a beautiful woman's eyes, which have assaulted his heart and stirred up intense passion within him. The speaker is overwhelmed by the beauty of her eyes, which he believes are capable of conquering his soul. He feels helpless against their power and is torn between desire and despair.
By Francesco Petrarca · First published 1343 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Romanticism, Sonnet