Explore "Amor Con La Man Destra Il Lato Manco" by Francesco Petrarca on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
UNDER THE FIGURE OF A LAUREL, HE RELATES THE GROWTH OF HIS LOVE.
My poor heart op'ning with his puissant hand, / Love planted there, as in its home, to dwell / A Laurel, green and bright, whose hues might well / In rivalry with proudest emeralds stand: / Plough'd by my pen and by my heart-sighs fann'd, / Cool'd by the soft rain from mine eyes that fell, / It grew in grace, upbreathing a sweet smell, / Unparallel'd in any age or land.
Fair fame, bright honour, virtue firm, rare grace, / The chastest beauty in celestial frame, -- / These be the roots whence birth so noble came.
Such ever in my mind her form I trace, / A happy burden and a holy thing, / To which on rev'rent knee with loving prayer I cling.
MACGREGOR.