The following translations of a madrigal, a quatrain, and a stanza by
Michael Angelo, may be worth insertion here for the additional light
they throw upon some of the preceding sonnets--especially upon Sonnets
I. and II. and Sonnets LXV.-LXXVII. In my version of the stanza I have
followed Michelangelo the younger's readings.
_DIALOGUE OF FLORENCE AND HER EXILES._
_Per molti, donna._
'Lady, for joy of lovers numberless
Thou wast created fair as angels are.
Sure God hath fallen asleep in heaven afar,
When one man calls the bliss of many his!
Give back to streaming eyes
The daylight of thy face that seems to shun
Those who must live defrauded of their bliss!'
'Vex not your pure desire with tears and sighs:
For he who robs you of my light, hath none.
Dwelling in fear, sin hath no happiness;
Since amid those who love, their joy is less,
Whose great desire great plenty still curtails,
Than theirs who, poor, have hope that never fails.'
_THE SPEECH OF NIGHT._
_Caro m' è'l sonno._
Sweet is my sleep, but more to be mere stone,
So long as ruin and dishonour reign;
To bear nought, to feel nought, is my great gain;
Then wake me not, speak in an undertone!