Read "L' Aspetto Sacro Della Terra Vostra" by Francesco Petrarca online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
THE VIEW OF ROME PROMPTS HIM TO TEAR HIMSELF FROM LAURA, BUT LOVE WILL / NOT ALLOW HIM.
The solemn aspect of this sacred shore / Wakes for the misspent past my bitter sighs; / 'Pause, wretched man! and turn,' as conscience cries, / Pointing the heavenward way where I should soar.
But soon another thought gets mastery o'er / The first, that so to palter were unwise; / E'en now the time, if memory err not, flies, / When we should wait our lady-love before.
I, for his aim then well I apprehend, / Within me freeze, as one who, sudden, hears / News unexpected which his soul offend.
Returns my first thought then, that disappears; / Nor know I which shall conquer, but till now / Within me they contend, nor hope of rest allow!
MACGREGOR.