It was on that day when the sun's ray

Era il giorno ch'al sol si scoloraro

was darkened in pity for its Maker,

per la pietà del suo factore i rai,

that I was captured, and did not defend myself,

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

because your lovely eyes had bound me, Lady.

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

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

Tempo non mi parea da far riparo

against Love's blows: so I went on

contra colpi d'Amor: però m'andai

confident, unsuspecting; from that, my troubles

secur, senza sospetto; onde i miei guai

started, amongst the public sorrows.

nel commune dolor s'incominciaro.

Love discovered me all weaponless,

Trovommi Amor del tutto disarmato

and opened the way to the heart through the eyes,

et aperta la via per gli occhi al core,

which are made the passageways and doors of tears:

che di lagrime son fatti uscio et varco:

so that it seems to me it does him little honour

però, al mio parer, non li fu honore

to wound me with his arrow, in that state,

ferir me de saetta in quello stato,

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

a voi armata non mostrar pur l'arco.