Of the Abbe de S A D E. 179 



In the 289th fonnet, or the 6ift of the fecond part, written 

 after the death of L a u R a , we find thefe ftrong exprefligns : 



S ' honejlo amor, pud merit ar mercede *, &c. 



" If honourable and virtuous love e'er merited a reward, and 

 " if companion can aught avail, I fhall obtain the recompence 

 " of a conflancy of afFedion, which, towards that dear objedl, 

 " and in the eyes of the world, was as pure as the light of 

 " heaven. Formerly fhe miftrufted that afFedion, and was un- 

 " certain of the end and objedl of my paffion. Now flie fees 

 " my heart and inmofl foul ; and thence I truft that in heaven 

 " fhe now compaflionates my fufFerings : for oft I behold her 

 " in my dreams, regarding me with looks full of tendernefs and 

 " pity ; and I fondly hope, that when 1 too fliall have laid afide 

 " this garb of mortality, (he will welcome me to thofe blefb a- 

 " bodes, where all true followers of Christ, and friends to virtue, 

 " fliall dwell for ever in happinefs." Can any perfon who reads 

 this remarkable paflage, believe that the love of Petrarch was 

 a criminal and adulterous affedion ? If he flill hefitates on that 



point, 



* S ' honejlo amor puo meritar mercede ; 

 E/e field anchor puo quant' ellafuole, 

 Mercede haniro ; che pili chiara che 'I file, 

 j4 madonna ed al mondo e la miafede. 



Gid di me paventofa, hor fa, not crede, 

 Che quellojiejpj, ch' or per me fi vuole, 

 Sempreji volfe ; e s' el/a iidia parole, 

 O vedea 7 volto, hor I ' animo, e V cor vedt. 



Ond' t'/pero che 'njin al del fi doglia- 

 Di miei tanti fofpiri ; e cost mojtra 

 Tornando a me il plena di pietate .• 



E/pero ch' al por giti di quejia fpoglia 

 Venga per me con quella gente nojlra 

 Vera arnica di Cristo, e d' honejlate. 



