The poem describes the poet's longing for a noble and virtuous lady who has rejected him. He praises her beauty, honor, and virtue, acknowledging that she has rightly judged him unworthy of her love. The poet accepts his fate, recognizing that he cannot attain her love, but continues to admire and reverence her from afar.
By Francesco Petrarca · First published 1343 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Elegy, Humanism