VIII
   
  Cavalcando l'altr'ier per un cammino, 
    pensoso de l'andar che mi sgradia, 
    trovai Amore in mezzo de la via 
    in abito leggier di peregrino. 
    Ne la sembianza mi parea meschino, 
    come avesse perduto segnoria; 
    e sospirando pensoso venia, 
    per non veder la gente, a capo chino. 
  Quando mi vide, mi chiamò per nome, 
    e disse: «Io vegno di lontana parte, 
    ov'era lo tuo cor per mio volere; 
    e recolo a servir novo piacere». 
    Allora presi di lui sì gran parte, 
    ch'elli disparve, e non m'accorsi come. 
   
   
  

 VIII

   Riding along a road the other day, 
and brooding over my journey 
which I disliked, I found Love 
in my path, meanly dressed like a pilgrim. 
In his looks he seemed downcast as though 
he had lost authority; and he came along 
pensive and sighing, with his head bowed 
so as not to see anyone. 
   Seeing me, he called me by name and said: 
'I come from far away, where your heart was, 
in accordance with my will; and I bring it 
with me to serve another beauty.'  Then, 
I took so much from him that 
he disappeared --I didn't see how.