Sonetto 104 del Petrarca, S. 161, No. 5 (Années de pèlerinage, deuxième année: Italie) A piece for solo piano by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt (1811-1886) from his second "Années de pèlerinage" (Years of Pilgrimage) suite, which was composed between 1839 and 1846. This piece was inspired by a sonnet by the Italian humanist writer and poet Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), also known as Petrarch. Pianist: André Laplante Italian text of the sonnet: Pace non trovo, e non ho da far guerra ; E temo e spero, ed ardor e son un ghiaccio ; E volo sopra'l cielo e giaccio in terra ; E nullo stringo, e tutto il mondo abraccio. Tal m'ha in prigion, che non m'apre, nè serra ; Nè per suo mi riten, nè scioglie il laccio ; E non m'ancide Amor, e non mi sferra ; Nè mi vuol vivo, nè mi trae d'impaccio. Veggio senz'occhi ; e non ho lingua e grido, E bramo di perir, e cheggio aita ; Ed ho in odio me stesso ed amo altrui : Pascomo di dolor, piangendo rido ; Equalmente mi spiace morte e vita : In questo stato son, Donna, per Vui. English translation: Warfare I cannot wage, yet know not peace; I fear, I hope, I burn, I freeze again; Mount to the skies, then bow to earth my face; Grasp the whole world, yet nothing can obtain. Pris'ner of one who deigns not to detain, I am not made his own, nor giv'n release. Love slays me not, nor yet will he unchain; Nor life allot, nor stop my harm's increase. Sightless I see my fair; though mute, I mourn; I scorn existence, yet I court its stay; Detest myself, and for another burn; By grief I'm nurtured; and, though tearful, gay; Death I despise, and life alike I hate: Such, lady, do you make my wretched state!