If my life of bitter torment and of tears

Se la mia vita da l'aspro tormento

could be derided more, and made more troubled,

si può tanto schermire, et dagli affanni,

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

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

lady, the light quenched of your beautiful eyes,

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

and the golden hair spun fine as silver,

e i cape’ d’oro fin farsi d’argento,

and the garland laid aside and the green clothes,

et lassar le ghirlande e i verdi panni,

and the delicate face fade, that makes me

e ’l viso scolorir che ne’ miei danni

fearful and slow to go weeping:

a·llamentar mi fa pauroso et lento:

then Love might grant me such confidence

pur mi darà tanta baldanza Amore

that I'd reveal to you my sufferings

ch’i’ vi discovrirò de’ mei martiri

the years lived through, and the days and hours:

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

and if time is opposed to true desire,

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

it does not mean no food would nourish my grief:

non fia ch’almen non giunga al mio dolore

I might draw some from slow sighs.

alcun soccorso di tardi sospiri.