Stanza 9

Boccaccio:
(no analogue)


Petrarch:

collumque non liberum modo sed imperiosum legitimo subicias iugo, idque quam primum facias. Volant enim dies rapidi,

and bow your neck, free and imperious though it be, to the lawful yoke; and that you should do this as soon as possible. For the swift days fly by,


Chaucer:

Boweth youre nekke under that blisful yok
Of soveraynetee, noght of servyse,
115 Which that men clepeth spousaille or wedlock;
And thenketh, lord, among youre thoghtes wyse
How that oure dayes passe in sondry wyse,
For thogh we slepe, or wake, or rome, or ryde,
Ay fleeth the tyme, it nyl no man abyde.


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