Se la mia vita da l'aspro tormento

If my life of bitter torment and of tears

si può tanto schermire, et dagli affanni,

could be derided more, and made more troubled,

ch’i’ veggia per vertù de gli ultimi anni,

that I might see, by virtue of your later years,

donna, de’ be’ vostr’occhi il lume spento,

lady, the light quenched of your beautiful eyes,

e i cape’ d’oro fin farsi d’argento,

and the golden hair spun fine as silver,

et lassar le ghirlande e i verdi panni,

and the garland laid aside and the green clothes,

e ’l viso scolorir che ne’ miei danni

and the delicate face fade, that makes me

a·llamentar mi fa pauroso et lento:

fearful and slow to go weeping:

pur mi darà tanta baldanza Amore

then Love might grant me such confidence

ch’i’ vi discovrirò de’ mei martiri

that I'd reveal to you my sufferings

qua’ sono stati gli anni, e i giorni et l’ore;

the years lived through, and the days and hours:

et se ’l tempo è contrario ai be’ desiri,

and if time is opposed to true desire,

non fia ch’almen non giunga al mio dolore

it does not mean no food would nourish my grief:

alcun soccorso di tardi sospiri.

I might draw some from slow sighs.