Relevant information is at:-
http://www.waywyrd.com/midhnott_sol/public/05italian.html
(Song And Legend From The Middle Ages - Page 5)
where it is stated that:-
"Petrarch was a very industrious writer. He produced many letters and
treatises in Latin, besides a long Latin epic Africa. But his great and
deserved fame rests upon his Italian lyric poetry---the Canzoniere. The
Canzoniere is divided into three parts: the poems to Laura in life; to
Laura in death; and the Triumphs. The Triumphs are inferior in merit to the
other two parts. He had studied closely the Provencal poets, and had
something of their spirit.
I. To Laura in Life.
SONNET III.
He blames love for wounding him on a holy day (good
Friday).
'Twas on the morn, when heaven its blessed ray
In pity to its suffering master veil'd,
First did I, Lady, to your beauty yield,
Of your victorious eyes th' unguarded prey.
Ah! little reck'd I that, on such a day,
Needed against Love's arrow any shield;
And trod, securely trod, the fatal field:
Whence, with the world's, began my heart's dismay.
On every side Love found his victim bare,
And through mine eyes transfix'd my throbbing heart;
Those eyes, which now with constant sorrows flow:
But poor the triumph of his boasted art,
Who thus could piece a naked youth not dare
To you in armour mail'd even to display his bow !"
I hope that this answers your query.
Ronald S Huttner LL.B.(Hons)
Barrister And Solicitor
Consultant And Trainer In Computer-Assisted Legal Research
Lecturer In Computerised Legal Research (02.10.95 to 02.10.98)
Internet Sites For Lawyers - http://www.viclf.asn.au/research.html
Personal Home Page - http://www.viclf.asn.au/pers1.html
Martha Goldman wrote:-
>Latin Scholars and Afficionados: we are incredibly stumped. A citation in
>a document reads Petrarch, "To Laura in Life". Canon 11 (13th century). I
>know who Petratch was, but that is about all the information I can provide.
>In addition, our Internet server is down so I can't try that angle. Would
>anyone be able to help? Thanks ! Regards, Martha
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