XXXVI.
Some time afterwards, happening to be in a place where I was reminded of the past time, I stood deep in thought, and with such doleful thoughts that they made me exhibit an appearance of terrible distress. Wherefore I, becoming aware of my woe-begone look, lifted up my eyes to see if any one saw me; and I saw a gentle lady, young and very beautiful, who was looking at me from a window with a face full of compassion, so that all pity seemed gathered in it. Wherefore, since the wretched, when they see the compassion of others for them, are the more readily moved to weep, as if taking pity on themselves, I then felt my eyes begin to desire to weep; and therefore, fearing lest I might display my abject life, I departed from before the eyes of this gentle one; and I said then within me: “It cannot be but that with that compassionate lady should be a most noble love.” And therefore I resolved to devise a sonnet in which I would speak to her, and would include all that is narrated in this account. And since this account is manifest enough, I will not divide it.
Mine eyes beheld how you were wont to show
Great pity on your face, what time your sight
Fell on the actions and the wretched plight
To which I ofttimes was reduced by woe.
Then was I ware that you did meditate
Upon the nature of my darkened years,
So that within my heart were wakened fears
Lest that mine eyes should show my low estate.
And then I took myself from you, perceiving
That tears from out my heart began to move,
Which by your look had been thus deeply stirred.
Thereon in my sad soul I said this word:
”Ah! surely with that lady is that love
Which maketh me to go about thus grieving.’