My song! with fearless feet
    The field I keep, for death in flight were shame. 
    Myself I needs must blame
    For these laments; tears, sighs, and death to meet,
    Such fate for her is sweet. 
    Own, slave of Love, whose eyes these rhymes may catch,
    Earth has no good that with my grief can match.

    MACGREGOR.

[Illustration:  AVIGNON.]

SONNET CLXXIII.

Rapido fiume che d’ alpestra vena.

JOURNEYING ALONG THE RHONE TO AVIGNON, PETRARCH BIDS THE RIVER KISS
LAURA’S HAND, AS IT WILL ARRIVE AT HER DWELLING BEFORE HIM.

      Impetuous flood, that from the Alps’ rude head,
    Eating around thee, dost thy name obtain;[V]
    Anxious like me both night and day to gain
    Where thee pure nature, and me love doth lead;
    Pour on:  thy course nor sleep nor toils impede;
    Yet, ere thou pay’st thy tribute to the main,
    Oh, tarry where most verdant looks the plain,
    Where most serenity the skies doth spread! 
    There beams my radiant sun of cheering ray,
    Which deck thy left banks, and gems o’er with flowers;
    E’en now, vain thought! perhaps she chides my stay: 
    Kiss then her feet, her hand so beauteous fair;
    In place of language let thy kiss declare
    Strong is my will, though feeble are my powers.

    NOTT.

      O rapid flood! which from thy mountain bed
    Gnawest thy shores, whence (in my tongue) thy name;[V]
    Thou art my partner, night and day the same,
    Where I by love, thou art by nature led: 
    Precede me now; no weariness doth shed
    Its spell o’er thee, no sleep thy course can tame;
    Yet ere the ocean waves thy tribute claim,
    Pause, where the herb and air seem brighter fed. 
    There beams our sun of life, whose genial ray
    With brighter verdure thy left shore adorns;
    Perchance (vain hope!) e’en now my stay she mourns. 
    Kiss then her foot, her lovely hand, and may
    Thy kiss to her in place of language speak,
    The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

    WOLLASTON.

[Footnote V:  Deriving it from rodere, to gnaw.]

SONNET CLXXIV.

I’ dolci colli ov’ io lasciai me stesso.

HE LEAVES VAUCLUSE, BUT HIS SPIRIT REMAINS THERE WITH LAURA.

      The loved hills where I left myself behind,
    Whence ever ’twas so hard my steps to tear,
    Before me rise; at each remove I bear
    The dear load to my lot by Love consign’d. 
    Often I wonder inly in my mind,
    That still the fair yoke holds me, which despair
    Would vainly break, that yet I breathe this air;
    Though long the chain, its links but closer bind. 
    And as a stag, sore struck