Sonnet 140

Love, who rules my thinking as his empire and in my heart has placed his principal throne, like a warrior storms into my forehead's dome, sets up his flag and makes his outpost there. She who teaches me to love and suffer and who wishes reason, modesty and reverence would tame my great desire and wild exuberance, casts aside and denigrates our ardor. So, terror-stricken, Love flees to my heart, abandoning his war-plans and his tents, and lays there hopeless, trembling, and laments. When my lord is afraid, what is my part but to stay with him until the final knell? For his end is good, who dies by loving well.

Amor, che nel penser mio vive et regna e 'l suo seggio maggior nel mio cor tene, talor armato ne la fronte vene; ivi si loca et ivi pon sua insegna. Quella ch' amare et sofferir ne 'nsegna e vol che 'l gran desio, l'accesa spene ragion, vergogna, et reverenza affrene, di nostro ardir fra se stessa si sdegna. Onde Amor paventoso fugge al core, lasciando ogni sua impresa, et piange et trema; ivi s'asconde et non appar più fore. Che poss' io far, temendo il mio signore, se non star seco infin a l'ora estrema? ché bel fin fa chi ben amando more.