Part 26 (2/2)

The following translations of a madrigal, a quatrain, and a stanza by Michael Angelo, may be worth insertion here for the additional light they throw upon some of the preceding sonnets--especially upon Sonnets I. and II. and Sonnets LXV.-LXXVII. In my version of the stanza I have followed Michelangelo the younger's readings.

_DIALOGUE OF FLORENCE AND HER EXILES._

_Per molti, donna._

'Lady, for joy of lovers numberless Thou wast created fair as angels are.

Sure G.o.d hath fallen asleep in heaven afar, When one man calls the bliss of many his!

Give back to streaming eyes The daylight of thy face that seems to shun Those who must live defrauded of their bliss!'

'Vex not your pure desire with tears and sighs: For he who robs you of my light, hath none.

Dwelling in fear, sin hath no happiness; Since amid those who love, their joy is less, Whose great desire great plenty still curtails, Than theirs who, poor, have hope that never fails.'

_THE SPEECH OF NIGHT._

_Caro m' e'l sonno._

Sweet is my sleep, but more to be mere stone, So long as ruin and dishonour reign; To bear nought, to feel nought, is my great gain; Then wake me not, speak in an undertone!

LAMENT FOR LIFE WASTED.

_Ohime, ohime_!

Ah me! Ah me! whene'er I think Of my past years, I find that none Among those many years, alas, was mine; False hopes and longings vain have made me pine, With tears, sighs, pa.s.sions, fires, upon life's brink.

Of mortal loves I have known every one.

Full well I feel it now; lost and undone, From truth and goodness banished far away, I dwindle day by day.

Longer the shade, more short the sunbeams grow; While I am near to falling, faint and low.

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