"Eyes now" (I say) "rejoice, Heaven is not "Occhi," dico talhor, "orsù godete
"Eyes, now" (I say) "rejoice, Heaven is not
all cruelty and has been kind enough:
the rays from your soft living sun shine on us
so keep looking into his eyes.

And if for a very long time you cried
dry, comfortless, finding peace nowhere,
now be glad; from here on let go bitter crying
now look for nothing but joy to come.

If it's reasonable after long anguish
to dwell for an hour, briefly rest, gazing
steadily on a healing wound, on one's

divagations, repent of badly spent years:
try to make up for these" (I say),
for it's rare Heaven consents to be kind."

"Occhi," dico talhor, "orsù! godete,
Ché 'l ciel v'è pur nel mal benigno assai
Dal vostro vivo sol splendon que' rai,
Adunque il sguardo vostro in lor tenete.

E se stati gran tempo in pianto sete
Senza conforto alcun prender già mai,
Lieti, lassate il pianto amaro omai,
Nè ad altro ch'a gioir or attendete.

Se ragion è che doppo lunghi affanni
Qualche breve riposo un'ora senta
Col mirar sempre ristorate i danni;

E, pria che quella instabile si penta
Ricompensate," dico, "i mal spesi anni
Chè raro il Ciel al ben par che consenta."

Sources:

Costa 11:31; 1995 Bullock 18:75-76. For Key see A Note on the Italian texts

Comments:

Like Quando fia mai quel di felice tanto, this one comes from a Paduan manuscript found by Costa and was first printed in 1845 by Rampini. It is one of a series of poems to Gambara's husband expressive of deep joy in reaction (or remembering) the despair of her younger years; in these she focuses repeatedly on his or her eyes and his face. For commentary and paraphrase see 1995 Bullock p. 76n.
Home
Secret Sacred Woods
Contact Ellen Moody.
Pagemaster: Jim Moody.
Page Last Updated: 26 August 2003