O You Who Pass by the Way of Love, Dante, La Vita Nuova, VII

O you who pass by the way of Love,

wait and watch!
and if you think your grief is as hard as mine,
I pray only that you hear me out,
and then decide
if I own the key to every hostile torment.

Love, not for my small dessert.
but from Their own nobility,
first placed me in such a sweet and gentle life
that I’ve heard it said behind the wall:
"Lord, through what worthiness
is this man’s heart so rich with joy?”

But now I have lost all my boldness
when moved by Love’s treasure,
and I have become so poor
that in place of speech comes insecurity.

I want to be one of those
who cover up their poverty for shame,
and while I wear a happy dress,
in the depths of my heart beseech and pine.

La Vita Nuova, VII

O voi che per la via d’Amor passate,
Attendete e guardate
S’elli è dolore alcun, quanto ‘I mio, grave;
E prego sol ch’audir mi sofferiate,
E poi imaginate
S’io son d’ogni tormento ostale e chiave.
Amor, non già per maia poca bontate.
Ma per sua nobiltate,
Mi pose in vita si dolce e soave
Ch’io mi sentia dir dietro spesse fiate:
“Deo, per qual dignitate
Così leggiadro questi lo core have?”

Or ho perduta tutta mia baldanza,
Che si movea d’amoroso tesoro;
Ond’io pover dimoro,
la guisa che di dir mi ven dottanza.
Sì che volendo far come coloro
Che per vergogna celan lor mancanza,
Di fuor mostro allegranza,
E dentro da lo core struggo e ploro.