If constancy in Love, if a brave heart,
the honeys of longing and courteous
desire, if passion built a gentle fire
somewhere in its winding labyrinth;

if my every thought was etched upon
my face, understood in broken words
or shattered by fear or shame, or if a
pallor , like a violet's, stained by love...

if love is to be altruistic,
if repeated sighs and weeping tears
feed equally on sorrow and rage;

if to burn at a distance or freeze
nearby, if love should dismantle me,
the blame is yours,Love, the loss with me.

Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374)      back