Dallas Public Library

Francesco Petrarch, poetry, read by Anton Lesser

eng

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poetry

Francesco Petrarch, poetry

sound recording

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656273010

Recorded at Hats Off Studios, Oxford

read by Anton Lesser

The great poets

"This 14th-century Italian poet was a model for many who followed him. His passionate sonnets to Laura became the epitome for love poetry. Over some 40 years he wrote 366 sonnets to Laura, whom he probably never even spoke to, and they remain immediate and affecting even now. Called Rime Sparse (Scattered Rhymes), they influenced Chaucer and many others. This is an unusual addition to 'The Great Poets', but part of the intention of the series is to cover the major stepping stones of world poetry. Translated by Joseph Auslander"--Publisher's description

The Dawn of Love (1:09) -- If this should not be love (1:03) -- The pangs of love (1:02) -- If Laura were to die (1:01) -- Alone, thought-sick, I pace (0:55) -- Blest be the day (0:58) -- Golden upon the wind (1:04) -- The poet turns from other works to write again of love (1:03) -- Tears turn to joy (1:02) -- He tries to escape, but passion pursues (0:58) -- He is like a moth entering a flame (0:53) -- Alas! the seventeenth summer (1:07) -- The madness of desire (0:49) -- Laura confesses her sadness at their parting (0:57) -- I find no peace (1:05) -- In what bright realm (1:00) -- Love and I (0:58) -- It is the vigil (1:10) --Through forests harsh (0:54) -- Trapped in the net of love (1:05)My vessel, cargoed with oblivion (1:00) -- The vision of the fawn -- symbol of love liberated (1:03) -- Here stand we, Love (1:03) -- The soft wind (which is Laura's name) (1:04) -- The quiet wind recalls love's wound (1:07) -- From what source could Love (1:08) -- Memories of the birth of love (1:08) -- When in the sea sinks the sun's golden light (1:07) -- No savage beast (1:06) -- Her brilliant eyes (0:55) -- If it be destined (0:53) -- Breeze that with laughter moving (1:06) -- The day I left her (1:02) -- Foreboding in the night(0:51) -- Hearing of Laura's death (1:06) -- Remembering his last sight of Laura (1:09) -- Now that all hope is dead (1:09) -- Death pursues life (0:58) -- The soft winds of Vaucluse recall Laura (1:02) --The last of my bright days (1:06)The apparition of Laura (1:02) -- Love guides him, but to no avail (1:03 -- Love calls, but you are gone (0:54) -- The impact of Laura's death (0:58) -- Valley, familiar with my desperate song (1:04) -- The apotheosis of Laura (0:56) -- He anticipates reunion with Laura (1:02) -- She speaks to him from heaven (1:12) -- A vision of Laura in heaven (0:58) -- The spring returns (1:08) -- That nightingale who weeps so sweetly (1:03) -- O, swifter than the fawn (1:16) -- The ardour and the odour and dark wonder (1:06) -- Not skies serene (1:07) -- Go, grief-bewildered rhymes (0:55) -- For our own sake I seemed so cruel (1:12) -- Death has put out the burning of the sun (1:08) --Love kept me one and twenty years a slave (1:02) -- Sweet wandering bird (1:07)

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