Sonnets, Songs, and Triumphs

...two such partridges arrived. And Messer Leonardo Aretino Leonardo Bruni (c. 1370–1444), a famous humanist and historian of Florence, a most learned man, used to call Niccolò Niccoli of Pistoia and Poggio "Bambalione" A nickname for Poggio Bracciolini, possibly meaning "stutterer" or "babbler" of Terranuova "the old partridges." This seemed all the more likely in those two because, both being equally ill-spoken, reckless, and eccentric toward every excellent and virtuous man, they could never have persevered in such great and continued familiarity if they had not been bound together by some very great vice. It was a matter of great infamy about those two that was publicly spoken of throughout all Florence.

Antonio

AT the foot of the hills where the beautiful garment A reference to Laura’s birthplace or her physical presence in the landscape... it is a common opinion that Messer Francesco, having taken two partridges or pheasants near the place where Lady Laura was born, perhaps sent them to Cardinal Colonna with this sonnet around their necks. Without those birds speaking, the construction remains thus: "To live in peace." The partridges say they have only one comfort regarding their death: that he who has thus bound them remains bound by a greater snare meaning Petrarch is more trapped by love than the birds are by his nets.

SONNET IX.

Francesco O.

When the planet that marks the hours,
Returns to dwell with the Bull,
Virtue falls from the flaming horns,
Clothing the world in a new color:
And not only that which opens to us outwardly,
Adorning the banks and hills with small flowers,
But within, where the light of day never reaches,
It makes the terrestrial moisture pregnant with itself:
So that such fruit, and similar, may be gathered.
Thus she, who is a sun among women,
Moving the rays of her beautiful eyes toward me,
creates the

Creates thoughts, acts, and words of love;
But however she governs or turns them,
For me, it is nonetheless never Spring.

WHEN THE planet—quite clearly shown in the preceding sonnet and explained by me as to what chain our poet was bound by, and how great the violence of lust is—in the present ninth sonnet, the process of love is declared with a beautiful similitude. This process only rests when it has achieved its desired end, which is not in words, but in deeds. He says, therefore, that it happens naturally: that in the month of April, by the warming rays of the sun, the moist earth, as if pregnant, produces and puts forth new color with various small flowers among the green grasses and diverse young trees. And it further appears as if she were pregnant and ready to give birth to such fruits as she has conceived within her depths. He shows that the same happens through the likeness

of his wandering beloved who, shining among other most beautiful women no differently than the sun does among the stars, directs the most splendid rays toward him with the sweet gaze of her lovely eyes. This wages war in his heart, producing thoughts, acts, and words of love. In this part, he shares a likeness with the beautiful color and joyful flowers of Spring. But regarding the fruit and the final effect of these amorous practices, he says that she is entirely unlike the Spring. Let us examine the beautiful comparison. WHEN THE sun, which is AND THE planet P that marks the hours: dividing them with equal distance according to its continuous and firm movements. The first inventor of the clock original: horologio, according to the common opinion of the Gentiles, was Anaximander of Miletus A pre-Socratic philosopher (c. 610–546 BC), but according to the true Christian philosophers, it was Ahaz Refers to the "Sundial of Ahaz" mentioned in the Bible (2 Kings 20:11). RETURNS according to its usual annual course. TO DWELL WITH THE BULL: in the time of Spring The sun enters the zodiac sign of Taurus in April. VIRTUE: a certain power through the vigor of drying heat. FALLS: reaches the earth through the solar rays FROM THE FLAMING HORNS of the said Bull: which clearly signifies the month of April, when the sun already rises toward the head of Taurus, when the weather is all beautiful and cheerful. Therefore, although the Romans say Spring begins in Pisces—which would be past mid-February—this must be understood because at that time the cold has lost its vehemence and harshness. The sun, being closer, has already begun to boil with the enclosed moisture produced by winter, and even to sprout somewhat with its buds. But...