Se muove a giurar fede Al Tribunal d’amore E non stemprarsi, e non versar dolore Un amator si crede Ei non fa con qual legge Amore i servi suoi govern’e regge.
I suoi regni e I governa Con lo scoccar d’un arco Che s’altri giunge disarmato al varco L’empie di pena eternal Sperar ben può dilletto Chiamato ad alloggiar nell’altrui petto.
Ma s’altrui ‘l passo serra, Et ei rimansi ‘n bando Allor dolente ardento, e sospirando Sostiene orribil guerra Né trovar può ferita, Ch’almeno in tanto duol tronchi la vita.
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If he decides to swear allegiance To the Court of Love, And he believes that He will not lose his temper and weep from pain, A lover does not know by what law Love governs and manipulates his subjects.
His dominions he [Love] governs With the discharge of his bow, So that if someone comes unarmed to their gate He fills his quarry with eternal suffering; One can well hope for pleasure Once called to dwell in someone else’s breast.
But if the other bars passage, And he remains in exile, Then, burning with pain, and sighing, He fights a horrible war, And cannot find a wound That, amid such pain, might at least cut his life short.