When from hour to hour among the other ladies

Quando fra l'altre donne ad ora ad ora

Love appears in her beautiful face,

Amor vien nel bel viso di costei,

by as much as their beauty is less than hers

quanto ciascuna è men bella di lei

by so much the desire that en-amours me grows.

tanto cresce ’l desio che m’innamora.

I bless the place, the time, and the hour

I’ benedico il loco e ’l tempo et l’ora

in which my eyes gazed to such a height,

che sí alto miraron gli occhi mei,

and I say: My spirit, give thanks enough

et dico: Anima, assai ringratiar dêi

that you were then found worthy of such honour.

che fosti a tanto honor degnata allora.

From her to you comes loving thought,

Da lei ti vèn l’amoroso pensero,

that leads to highest good, while you pursue it,

che mentre ’l segui al sommo ben t’invia,

counting as little what all men desire:

pocho prezando quel ch’ogni huom desia;

from her comes that spirit full of grace

da lei vien l’animosa leggiadria

that shows you heaven by the true way':

ch’al ciel ti scorge per destro sentero,

so that in hope I fly, already, to the heights.

sí ch’i’ vo già de la speranza altero.