L’alto signor dinanzi a cui non vale
nasconder né fuggir, né far difesa,
di bel piacer m’avea la mente accesa
con un ardente et amoroso strale;
E benche’l primo colpo aspro e mortale
fossi da sé, per avanzar sua impresa
una saetta di pietate à presa,
e quince e quindi il cor punge et assale.
L’una piaga arde e versa foco e fiamma;
lagrime l’altra che’l dolor distilla,
per gli occhi miei, del vostro stato rio:
né per dui fonti sol una favilla
rallenta de l’incendio che m’infiamma,
anzi per la pietà, cresce’l desio.
English translation
The lord up high, before whom
There is no hiding, nor fleeing, nor arguing,
Had kindled sweet bliss in my mind
With a glowing arrow of love.
And though his first blow was bitter and deadly,
To pursue his onslaught,
He has taken an arrow made of compassion,
And stabs and assails all sides of my heart.
One wound burns and gushes fire and flame,
The other tears—which grief presses
Through my eyes for your wretched condition:
Neither spring can douse the least flicker
Of the blaze that inflames me:
Instead, desire grows from compassion.
Italian text
English translation