marco venier and veronica franco

Marco Venier to Veronica Franco
Capitolo 1

If I love you as much as my own life,
cruel lady, why do you offer no relief
for my suffering in such great love?

And if I ask in vain for grace and pity,
why do not you at least end with death
this pain I endure for love of you?

I know you are not right to reward
my faithfulness in this way; but a wrong
that rights a greater wrong is well received;
my suffering is more bitter than any death,
and to die by your hand in this condition
would be a boon I long for and cherished.

But how ever can it be, in the tenderest part
of your body, that your fair, fine white breast
can enclose a heart so hard and pitiless?

How can it be that such a gay appearance
conceals desires and thoughts so cruel
that they disdain my humble devotion?

To use the great beauty given you by heaven
for the death and grief of a man who loves you-
what deed worse than this could you commit?

Let your natural desire be freed from all this
and let compassion fitting to your beauty
make its way into your mind instead.......

Veronica Franco to Marco Venier
Franco's response to Capitolo 1

Certain qualities concealed within me,
I will reveal to you, infinitely sweetly,
which prose or verse has never shown another,
on this condition: that you prove your love to me
by other means than compliments, for I
take care not to be fooled by them;
please me more with deeds and praise me less,
and where your courtesy overflows into praise,
distribute it in some other way.

Does what I say seem right to you,
or do you instead perhaps think I am wrong,
lacking experience to choose the right path?
Sir, being mocked is a most painful thing,
especially in love; and let whoever
does not believe this show his reason why.

I am ready to walk in step with you,
and I will love you beyond any doubt,
just as your merit requires I should.

If in your breast you have love's burning fire
I'll feel it by your side, for it will have
the power to set my heart aflame, too;
it's not possible to escape its blows,
and whoever feels truly loved
is bound to love the lover in return;
but attempting to make white pass for black
is something that everybody dislikes,
even those whose judgment is weak.

So show me the fruits of your love for me,
for only foolish folk are deceived
by the lure of empty words.......