Secluded Port

In stanza 2, Petrarch introduces the curious image of the "secluded port":

then death would be less harsh
if I could bear this hope
unto that fearful crossing,
because the weary soul
could never in a more secluded port,
in a more tranquil grave,
flee from my poor belabored flesh and bones. (20-26)

This is the moment when Petrarch fantasizes about his own death, hoping to leave his struggles against his passion for Laura behind him. The metaphor of the secluded port is mysterious, as it was likely meant to be. But to what does it refer? It's possible that line 24 is in an appositive—or parallel—construction to line that follows it and refers to the same thing: the grave. The idea of a grave being compared with a secluded port is intriguing.

Or it could be referring to something even cooler and creepier: Petrarch's body. Since we have a "weary soul" docked in the "secluded port," we've got the suggestion of a soul-body combo. The overall idea here for both lines 24 and 25 is that death couldn't possibly find a more willing victim. Petrarch conveys that with the image of the "tranquil grave" (i.e., the tenant of the grave won't be tormented by dying early). The "secluded port" as body would support this reading too, since Petrarch is divided from society by his lovesickness and very willing to give up his fight.