Representative Poetry Online
Pagination
On this day: March 19th
Random Poem of the Day
4I am of them that farthest cometh behind.
5Yet may I by no means my wearied mind
7Fainting I follow. I leave off therefore,
9Who list her hunt, I put him out of doubt,
10As well as I may spend his time in vain.
11And graven with diamonds in letters plain
12There is written, her fair neck round about:
14And wild for to hold, though I seem tame.
Notes
1] The source of the poem is perhaps Petrarch's 190th (157th) sonnet (Mestica, 270), but referring to Anne Boleyn, thought to have been Wyatt's mistress before Henry VIII wed her.
hind: female deer. Back to Line
Una candida cerva sopra l' erbaWhoso list: whoever wishes.
Verde m' apparve, con duo corna d' oro,
Fra due riviere, a l' ombra d' un alloro,
Levando 'l sole, a la stagione acerba.
Era sua vista sí dolce superba,
Ch' i' lasciai, per seguirla, ogni lavoro;
Come l' avaro, che 'n cercar tesoro
Con diletto l' affanno disacerba.
"Nessun mi tocchi," al bel collo dintorno
Scritto avea di diamenti e di topazi;
"Libera farmi al mio Cesare parve."
Ed era 'l sol già vòlto al mezzo giorno,
Gli occhi miei stanchi di mirar, non sazi;
Quand' io caddi ne l' acqua, ed ella sparve.
hind: female deer. Back to Line
2] hélas: alas. Back to Line
3] vain travail: futile labour. Back to Line
6] deer: playing on the word "dear." Back to Line
8] Sithens: Since
in a net I seek to hold the wind: proverbial (Tilley W416). Back to Line
in a net I seek to hold the wind: proverbial (Tilley W416). Back to Line
13] Noli me tangere: "touch me not," a phrase from the Vulgate. See Christ's words to Mary Magdalene in the garden after his resurrection: "Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say Back to Line