Baretti: A dictionary of the English and Italian languages
Speráre, v. a.
1. to hope, expect confidently; 2. to look through. — un uovo, to look through an egg against the light. — un panno, to look through cloth, examine the texture; v. n. 1. to be so very thin as to be transparent; 2. (fig.)to fear, to be afraid. Più si sperava della sua morte che della sua vita, they were more afraid that he would die than live.
Florio: a worlde of wordes, or most copious, dictionarie in Italian and English
sperare: to hope, to trust vnto. Also to expect or looke for. Also to looke into the Spheare or in the aire.