A Daily Countdown to 700 Years with the “colpi d’Amor”
“Benedetto sia ‘l giorno, et ‘l mese, et l’anno, / et la stagione, e’l tempo, et l’ora, e ‘l punto…” — Rvf 61
“Blessed be the day, and the month, and the year, and the season, and the time, and the hour, and the moment…”(Kline).
Io amai sempre, et amo forte anchora,
et son per amar piú di giorno in giorno
quel dolce loco, ove piangendo torno
spesse fïate, quando Amor m’accora.
Et son fermo d’amare il tempo et l’ora
ch’ogni vil cura mi levâr d’intorno;
et più colei, lo cui bel viso adorno
di ben far co’ suoi exempli m’innamora.
Ma chi pensò veder mai tutti insieme
per assalirmi il core, or quindi or quinci,
questi dolci nemici, ch’i’ tant’amo?
Amor, con quanto sforzo oggi mi vinci!
Et se non ch’al desio cresce la speme,
i’ cadrei morto, ove più viver bramo.
I’ve always loved, and I love deeply still,
and love that sweet place more, from day
to day, where I’m often forced to return
weeping, whenever Love deceives me.
And I’m deep in love with that day and hour
when all base cares were swept from round me:
and love her more, whom a lovely face adorns,
loving to do good following her example.
But who’d think to see those sweet enemies
I love so much, combined together to attack
my heart, on this side and on that?
Love, with what forces now you conquer me!
And had not my hope grown with my desire,
I’d drop down dead where I most wish to live.