Explore "Love, Summoned by the Poet to the Tribunal of Reason, Passes a Splendid Eulogium on Laura (Quell' Antiquo Mio Dolce Empio Signore)" on Textopian.
Long had I suffer'd, till -- to combat more / In strength, in hope too sunk -- at last before / Impartial Reason's seat, / Whence she presides our nobler nature o'er, / I summon'd my old tyrant, stern and sweet; / There, groaning 'neath a weary weight of grief, / With fear and horror stung, / Like one who dreads to die and prays relief, / My plea I open'd thus: "When life was young, / I, weakly, placed my peace within his power, / And nothing from that hour / Save wrong I've met; so many and so great / The torments I have borne, / That my once infinite patience is outworn, / And my life worthless grown is held in very hate!
"Thus sadly has my time till now dragg'd by / In flames and anguish: I have left each way / Of honour, use, and joy, / This my most cruel flatterer to obey.