Explore "He Attempts to Paint her Beauties, but not her Virtues (Quella Per Cui Con Sorga Ho Cangiat' Arno)" by Francesco Petrarca on Textopian.
She, for whose sake fair Arno I resign, / And for free poverty court-affluence spurn, / Has known to sour the precious sweets to turn / On which I lived, for which I burn and pine.
Though since, the vain attempt has oft been mine / That future ages from my song should learn / Her heavenly beauties, and like me should burn, / My poor verse fails her sweet face to define.
The gifts, though all her own, which others share, / Which were but stars her bright sky scatter'd o'er, / Haply of these to sing e'en I might dare; / But when to the diviner part I soar, / To the dull world a brief and brilliant light, / Courage and wit and art are baffled quite.
MACGREGOR.