Petrach

THE WOES OF PETRACH

•One day as a priest, Petrarch saw the Lady Laura. He instantly left the priesthood because of her beauty

•She refused his hand in marriage because she was already married.

•He channeled his feeling for her into 366 sonnets

•She died of the plague in 1348 and grief was just as unbearable to him as living without her

Rules of an Italian Sonnet:

The 14 lines of the Italian Sonnet are divided into two parts: an octave (the first 8 lines ) and

the sestet (the last six lines). The usual rhyme scheme for the octave is abbaabba. The rhyme

scheme for the sestet may be cdecde, cdccdc, or a similar variation. The octave generally

presents a problem or raises a question and the sestet resolves or comments on the question.

Spenser Sonnet

Rapt* in the one fond thought that makes me stay

from other men and walk this world alone,

sometimes I have escaped myself and flown

to seek the very one that I should flee;

so fair and fell* I see her passing by

that the soul trembles to take flight again,

so many armed sighs are in her train*

this lovely foe to Love himself and me!

And yet, upon that high and clouded brow

I seem to see a ray of pity shine,

Shedding some light across the grieving heart;

so I call back my soul, and when I vow

at last to tell her of my hidden pain,

I have so much to say I dare not start.

Translate the poem into modern terms.