Explore "Da Poi Che Sotto 'L Ciel Cosa Non Vidi" by Francesco Petrarca on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
When all beneath the ample cope of heaven / I saw, like clouds before the tempest driven, / In sad vicissitude's eternal round, / Awhile I stood in holy horror bound; / And thus at last with self-exploring mind, / Musing, I ask'd, "What basis I could find / To fix my trust? " An inward voice replied, / "Trust to the Almighty: He thy steps shall guide; / He never fails to hear the faithful prayer, / But worldly hope must end in dark despair. " / Now, what I am, and what I was, I know; / I see the seasons in procession go / With still increasing speed; while things to come, / Unknown, unthought, amid the growing gloom / Of long futurity, perplex my soul, / While life is posting to its final goal.
Mine is the crime, who ought with clearer light / To watch the winged years' incessant flight; / And not to slumber on in dull delay / Till circling seasons bring the doomful day.