Isaiah Valdez – You who in scattered rhymes hear the sound

Isaiah Valdez – Program Assistant – IE School of Science and Technology. IE University.

Reading:

You who in scattered rhymes hear the sound (Voi ch’ascoltate in rime sparse il suono) by Petrarca (1304 – 1374).

You who in scattered rhymes hear the sound
of those sighs with which I nourished my heart
in my first youthful error,
when in part I was another man than the one I am,

of the varied style in which I weep and reason
between vain hopes and vain sorrow,
wherever there is one who through experience understands love,
I hope to find compassion, if not forgiveness.

But I now see well how to the whole people
I was for a long time a tale, wherefore often
I am ashamed of myself within myself;

and from my wandering the fruit is shame,
and repentance, and the clear recognition
that all which pleases the world is a brief dream.

—

Voi ch’ascoltate in rime sparse il suono
di quei sospiri ond’io nudriva ’l core
in sul mio primo giovenile errore
quand’era in parte altr’uom da quel ch’i’ sono,

del vario stile in ch’io piango et ragiono
fra le vane speranze e ’l van dolore,
ove sia chi per prova intenda amore,
spero trovar pietà, nonché perdono.

Ma ben veggio or sì come al popol tutto
favola fui gran tempo, onde sovente
di me medesmo meco mi vergogno;

et del mio vaneggiar vergogna è ’l frutto,
e ’l pentersi, e ’l conoscer chiaramente
che quanto piace al mondo è breve sogno.