Petrarca, Francesco: Translation of Petrarch's Sonnetto in Vita, 95 (Sonetto XCV (Ponmi ove ’l Sol occide i fiori e l’erba) in English)

In qualunque luogo o stato ei si trovi, vivrà

sempre sospirando per Laura.

Ponmi ove ’l Sol occide i fiori e l’erba,

O dove vince lui ’l ghiaccio e la neve;

Ponmi ov’è ’l carro suo temprato e leve,

Ed ov’è chi cel rende o chi cel serba;

Ponmi in umil fortuna od in superba,

Al dolce aere sereno, al fosco e greve;

Ponmi a la notte, al dì lungo ed al breve,

A la matura etate od a l’acerba;

Ponm’in cielo od in terra od in abisso,

In alto poggio, in valle ima e palustre,

Libero spirto od a’ suoi membri affisso;

Ponmi con fama oscura o con illustre:

Sarò qual fui, vivrò com’io son visso,

Continüando il mio sospir trilustre.

Set me whereas the sun doth parch the green

Set me whereas the sun doth parch the green,

Or where his beams may not dissolve the ice,

In temperate heat, where he is felt and seen;

With proud people, in presence sad and wise,

Set me in base, or yet in high degree;

In the long night, or in the shortest day;

In clear weather, or where mists thickest be;

In lusty youth, or when my hairs be gray;

Set me in earth, in heaven, or yet in hell;

In hill, in dale, or in the foaming flood;

Thrall, or at large, – alive whereso I dwell;

Sick or in health, in ill fame or in good;

Yours I will be, and with that only thought

Comfort myself when that my hap is naught.