Era il giorno ch'al sol si scoloraro

It was on that day when the sun's ray

per la pietà del suo factore i rai,

was darkened in pity for its Maker,

quando i' fui preso, et non me ne guardai,

that I was captured, and did not defend myself,

ché i be' vostr'occhi, donna, mi legaro.

because your lovely eyes had bound me, Lady.

Tempo non mi parea da far riparo

It did not seem to me to be a time to guard myself

contra colpi d'Amor: però m'andai

against Love's blows: so I went on

secur, senza sospetto; onde i miei guai

confident, unsuspecting; from that, my troubles

nel commune dolor s'incominciaro.

started, amongst the public sorrows.

Trovommi Amor del tutto disarmato

Love discovered me all weaponless,

et aperta la via per gli occhi al core,

and opened the way to the heart through the eyes,

che di lagrime son fatti uscio et varco:

which are made the passageways and doors of tears:

però, al mio parer, non li fu honore

so that it seems to me it does him little honour

ferir me de saetta in quello stato,

to wound me with his arrow, in that state,

a voi armata non mostrar pur l'arco.

he not showing his bow at all to you who are armed.