Giordano Bruno's Last Testament

Much have I struggled,

I thought I would be able to conquer...

And both Fate and Nature

repressed my zeal and my strength.

Even to have come forth is something,

since I see that being able to conquer

is placed in the hands of Fate.

However, there was in me

whatever I was able to do,

which no future century will deny to be mine,

that which a victor could have for his own:

not to have feared to die, not to have yielded

to any equal in firmness of Nature,

and to have preferred a courageous death

to a non-combatant life.