The poem explores the idea that if Virgil and Homer were alive to see the beauty of Francesco's beloved Laura, they would be inspired to write even more magnificent poetry than they did in ancient times. The speaker argues that Laura's beauty surpasses that of Helen of Troy, which sparked the Trojan War, and that her virtues are worthy of being celebrated by the greatest poets of antiquity.
By Francesco Petrarca · First published 1343 · Genre: Poetry, Elegy, Classical Literature