| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | Appendix | II. Unacknowledged and Uncollected Translations.
Sicilian Canzonet |
| | | WHAT shall I do, sweet Nici, tell me, | |
| I burn,—I burn—I can no more! | |
| I know not how the thing befell me, | |
| But I ’m in love, and all is o’er. | |
| One look,—alas! one glance of thine, | 5 |
| One single glance my death shall be; | |
| Even this poor heart no more is mine, | |
| For, Nici, it belongs to thee. | |
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| How shall I then my grief repress, | |
| How shall this soul in anguish live? | 10 |
| I fear a no,—desire a yes,— | |
| But which the answer thou wilt give? | |
| No,—Love,—not so deceived am I; | |
| Soft pity dwells in those bright eyes, | |
| And no tyrannic cruelty | 15 |
| Within that gentle bosom lies. | |
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| Then, fairest Nici, speak and say | |
| If I must know thy love or hate; | |
| Oh, do not leave me thus, I pray, | |
| But speak,—be quick,—I cannot wait. | 20 |
| Quick,—I entreat thee;—if not so, | |
| This weary soul no more shall sigh;— | |
| So tell me quickly,—yes or no, | |
| Which,—which shall be my destiny. | | | | |
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