Eu cantarei de amor tao docemente

(A Proëmium to the love-songs: Petrarch, No. 101.)

My song of Love I will so sweetly sing, In such fair concord of concerted phrase, That twice a thousand chances Love displays Shall breasts unmovèd with emotion wring.

I'll so do Love new Life to all shall bring, Limning nice secrets in a thousand ways, Soft angers, sighs that yearn for bygone days, Foolhardy daring, Absence and her sting.

Yet, Ladye, of that honest open scorn Shown by your aspect, rigorously bland, I must content me saying minim part:

To sing the graces which your gest adorn, Your lofty composition marvel-plan'd, Here lack me Genius, Lere, and Poet-art.