How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #1
O, my own Italy, though words be useless
to heal the mortal wounds
I see covering all your lovely body,
I wish at least for my sighs to be one
with Tiber's hopes and Arno's
as well as Po's (1-6)
It's pretty amazing to see someone in medieval Italy write the phrase "Oh, my Italy." This is because the idea of Italy as a nation doesn't come along until many centuries later. But Petrarch is a unique guy, so it doesn't surprise us that he feels such affinity for the land and his cultural heritage.
Quote #2
what are the swords of strangers doing here? (20)
It may strike you that Petrarch is being a bit harsh on foreigners—and you'd be right. To be fair, he's got pretty good reason. German mercenary armies have been pillaging the land and spurring on the fighting between the noble houses of Italy—not cool, strangers.
Quote #3
Nature provided well for our condition
when she raised up the screen
of the Alps between us and the German rage (33-35)
This is the darker side of patriotism: xenophobia and isolationism. Petrarch can't understand why Italian princes had to go spoil the perfection of Italy by inviting those German barbarian warriors in.