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Sept sonnets de Michel-Ange
Translations © by Guy Laffaille
Song Cycle by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976)
View original-language texts alone: Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo
Sì come nella penna e nell'inchiostro È l'alto e 'l basso e 'l mediocre stile, E ne' marmi l'immagin ricca e vile, Secondo che 'l sa trar l'ingegno nostro; Così, signor mie car, nel petto vostro, Quante l'orgoglio, è forse ogni atto umile: Ma io sol quel c'a me proprio è e simile Ne traggo, come fuor nel viso mostro. Chi semina sospir, lacrime e doglie, (L'umor dal ciel terreste, schietto e solo, A vari semi vario si converte), Però pianto e dolor ne miete e coglie; Chi mira alta beltà con sì gran duolo, Dubbie speranze, e pene acerbe e certe.
Authorship:
- by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 84
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Carl Johengen) , "Sonnet XVI", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (John Addington Symonds) , "Love and art", from The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tommaso Campanella now for the first time translated into rhymed English, first published 1878
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sonnet XVI", copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Sonetas XVI", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Tout comme dans la plume et l'encre Il existe un style élevé, bas et médiocre, Le marbre peut révéler des images riches et viles, Selon l'art avec lequel nous l'avons façonné ; Ainsi, mon cher seigneur, dans votre cœur Il peut y avoir autant d'orgueil que de pensées humbles : Mais je dessine donc seulement ce qui est propre pour moi, En accord avec ce que mes traits montrent. Celui qui verse des soupirs, des larmes et des lamentations, (La rosée du ciel sur la terre, pure et simple, Se transforme elle-même en des graines variées), Moissonnera et récoltera pleurs et tristesse. Celui qui regarde la beauté élevée avec une grande douleur, Aura des espoirs pleins de doute et des chagrins certains et amers.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2009 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 84
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2009-06-26
Line count: 14
Word count: 124
A che più debb'io mai l'intensa voglia Sfogar con pianti o con parole meste, Se di tal sorte 'l ciel, che l'alma veste, Tard' o per tempo, alcun mai non ne spoglia? A che 'l cor lass' a più [morir]1 m'invoglia, S'altri pur dee morir? Dunque per queste Luci l'ore del fin fian men moleste; Ch'ogn' altro ben val men ch'ogni mia doglia. Però se 'l colpo, ch'io ne rub' e 'nvolo, Schifar non poss'; almen, s'è destinato, Ch entrerà 'nfra la dolcezza e 'l duolo? Se vint' e pres' i' debb'esser beato, Maraviglia non è se nud' e solo, Resto prigion d'un Cavalier armato.
Authorship:
- by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 98
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Carl Johengen) , "Sonnet XXXI", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (John Addington Symonds) , "To Tommaso de' Cavalieri: Love's lordship", from The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tommaso Campanella now for the first time translated into rhymed English, first published 1878
- ENG English (Charles Hopkins) , "What point is there in still giving vent to my intense longing", written 2002, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sonnet XXXI", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 K. Sorabji: "languir"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
Pourquoi dois-je exprimer mon désir ardent Avec des larmes et des mots tristes, Si le ciel qui habille l'âme d'un tel sort, Jamais plus tard ou plus tôt ne la déshabille ? Pourquoi mon cœur las soupire après la mort, Puisque les autres doivent mourir ? Ainsi à ces Yeux l'heure de la fin sera moins douloureuse, Toute ma joie étant moindre que mes douleurs. Mais si le coup que de lui je prends et attrape, Je ne peux l'éviter ; puisque c'est mon sort, Qui se tiendra entre la joie et la douleur ? Si pour être heureux je dois être conquis, Ce n'est pas un miracle que moi, nu et seul, Je reste prisonnier d'un Chevalier armé.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2015 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 98
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 119
Veggio co' be' [vostr'occhi]1 un dolce lume che co' mie ciechi già veder non posso; porto co' vostri piedi un pondo addosso, che de' mie zoppi non è già costume. Volo con le vostr'ale senza piume; col [vostro ingegno]2 al ciel sempre son mosso; dal [vostro arbitrio]3 son pallido e rosso, freddo al sol, caldo alle più fredde brume. Nel voler vostro è sol la voglia mia, i miei pensier nel vostro cor si fanno, nel vostro fiato son le mie parole. Come luna da sé sol par ch'io sia, ché gli occhi nostri in ciel veder non sanno se non quel tanto che n'accende il sole.
Authorship:
- by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), no title, appears in Rime, no. 89
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Carl Johengen) , "Sonnet XXX", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (John Addington Symonds) , "To Tommaso de' Cavalieri: Love the light-giver", appears in The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tommaso Campanella now for the first time translated into rhymed English, first published 1878
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sonnet XXX", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Hermann Friedrich Grimm) , "An Tommaso Cavalieri", from Michelangelo: Gedichte und Briefe, first published 1907
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (José Miguel Llata) , copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Britten: "vostri occhi"
2 Britten: "vostr'ingegno"
3 Britten: "vostr'arbitrio"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Je vois avec vos beaux yeux un douce lumière, Que pourtant avec mes yeux aveugles je ne peux voir ; Je porte avec vos pieds un poids sur mon dos, Ce dont je suis incapable avec les faibles miens. Je vole sans plumes avec vos ailes ; Avec votre esprit vers le ciel je suis toujours tourné, Par votre volonté, je pâlis ou je rougis, J'ai froid au soleil, j'ai chaud dans le temps le plus froid. Dans votre vouloir est seulement ma volonté, Mes pensées sont nées dans votre cœur, Dans votre souffle sont mes paroles. Comme la lune, je suis seul, Que nos yeux ne peuvent pas voir dans le ciel Sauf si elle est illuminée par le soleil.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2015 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), no title, appears in Rime, no. 89
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 121
Tu sa, ch'io so, signor mie, che tu sai Ch'i [veni]1 per goderti più da presso; E sai ch'i' so, che tu sa' c'i' son desso: A che più indugio a salutarci omai? Se vera è la speranza che mi dai, Se vero è 'l [buon]2 desio che m'è concesso, Rompasi il mur fra l'uno e l'altro messo; Chè doppia forza hann' i celati guai. S'i' amo sol di te, signor mie caro, Quel che di te più ami, non ti sdegni; Che l'un dell'altro spirto s'innamora, Quel che nel tuo bel volto bramo e 'mparo, E mal compres' è degli umani ingegni, Chi 'l vuol [veder]3, convien che prima mora.
Authorship:
- by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 60
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Carl Johengen) , "Sonnet LV", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (John Addington Symonds) , "Love's entreaty", appears in The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tommaso Campanella now for the first time translated into rhymed English, first published 1878
- ENG English (Charles Hopkins) , "You know that I know, my lord, that you know", written 2002, copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sonnet LV", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 K. Sorabji: "vengo"
2 K. Sorabji: "gran"
3 K. Sorabji: "saper"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit [Guest Editor]
Tu sais que je sais, mon seigneur, que tu sais Que je suis venu plus près pour te réjouir. Et tu sais que je sais que tu sais que je suis constant. Pourquoi alors hésité-je plus à te saluer ? Si l'espoir que tu me donnes est vrai, Si le grand désir qui m'est accordé est vrai, Que le mur entre l'un et l'autre soit brisé ; Car les chagrins secrets ont double force. Si j'aime seulement en toi, mon bien-aimé, Ce que tu aimes le plus, ne te fâche pas ; Car l'esprit de l'un est ainsi amoureux de l'autre. Ce que je cherche à saisir dans ton beau visage, Est mal compris par l'humanité, Et celui qui veut le voir doit d'abord mourir.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2015 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 60
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 125
Rendete agli occhi [mei]1, o fonte o fiume, L'onde della non vostra e salda vena, Che più v'innalza e cresce, e con più lena Che non è 'l vostro natural costume. E tu, folt'aïr, che 'l celeste lume Tempri a' [trist'occhi]2, de' sospir [mie]1 piena, Rendigli al cor [mie]3 lasso e rasserena Tua scura faccia al [mie]3 visivo acume. Renda la terra i passi alle mie piante, Ch'ancor l'erba germugli che gli è tolta, E 'l suono eco, già sorda a' [mie]1 lamenti; Gli sguardi agli occhi mie [tuo luce]4 sante, Ch'io possa altra bellezza un'altra volta Amar, po' che di me non ti contenti.
Authorship:
- by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), no title, appears in Rime, no. 95
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Carl Johengen) , "Sonnet XXXVIII", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sonnet XXXVIII", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Sonetas XXXVIII", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
1 Britten: "miei"
2 Britten: "tristi occhi"
3 Britten: "mio"
4 Britten: "tue luci"
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Rendez à mes yeux, ô fontaines, ô rivières, L'onde de ces puissants courants qui ne sont pas vôtres, Qui vous font gonfler et croître avec plus de vigueur, Ce qui n'est pas votre habitude naturelle. Et toi, air lourd, par qui la lumière du ciel, Est obscurcie à mes yeux tristes, pleins de soupirs, Rends-les à mon cœur las, et rends sereine Ta face sombre à ma vue pénétrante. Que la terre me rende la trace de mes pas, Que l'herbe puisse pousser là où elle a été écrasée ; Écho, rends les sons déjà muets de mes lamentations ; Et vous, pupilles saintes, rendez à mes yeux leurs regards, Que je puisse une autre fois aimer une autre beauté Puisqu'avec moi, tu n'es pas satisfaite.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2015 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), no title, appears in Rime, no. 95
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 126
S'un casto amor, s'una pietà superna, S'una fortuna infra dua amanti equale, S'un'aspra sorte all'un dell'altro cale, S'un spirto, s'un voler duo cor governa; S'un'anima in duo corpi è fatta etterna, Ambo levando al cielo e con pari ale; S'amor c'un colpo e d'un dorato strale Le viscer di duo petti arda e discerna; S'amar l'un l'altro, e nessun se medesmo, D'un gusto e d'un diletto, a tal mercede, C'a un fin voglia l'uno e l'altro porre; Se mille e mille non sarien centesmo A tal nodo d'amore, a tanta fede; E sol l'isdegno il può rompere e sciorre.
Authorship:
- by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 59
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Carl Johengen) , "Sonnet XXXII", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (John Addington Symonds) , "Love's expostulation", appears in The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tommaso Campanella now for the first time translated into rhymed English, first published 1878
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sonnet XXXII", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- GER German (Deutsch) (Sophie Hasenclever) , "An Tommaso Cavalieri", from Michelangelo: Gedichte und Briefe, first published 1907
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Sonetas XXXII", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Si un chaste amour, une pitié céleste, Si une fortune égale entre deux amants, Si un sort amer sont partagés par les deux, Si un seul esprit et une volonté gouvernent deux cœurs, Si une âme dans deux corps est rendue éternelle, Élevant les deux jusqu'au ciel sur les mêmes ailes, Si l'amour d'un coup et d'une flèche dorée Embrase et perce deux cœurs jusqu'au tréfonds, Si chacun aime l'autre plus que lui-même, Avec un plaisir et un délice, en récompense, Qu'à la même fin tous les deux aspirent ; Si des milliers et des milliers ne font pas un centième D'un tel lien d'amour, d'une telle constance, Alors la colère les brisera et les dissoudra ?
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2015 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 59
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 117
Spirto ben nato, in cui si specchia e vede Nelle tuo belle membra oneste e care Quante natura e 'l ciel tra no' puo' fare, Quand'a null'altra suo bell'opra cede; Spirto leggiadro, in cui si spera e crede Dentro, come di fuor nel viso appare, Amor, pietà, mercè, cose sì rare Che mà furn'in beltà con tanta fede; L'amor mi prende, e la beltà mi lega; La pietà, la mercè con dolci sguardi Ferma speranz'al cor par che ne doni. Qual uso o qual governo al mondo niega, Qual crudeltà per tempo, o qual più tardi, C'a sì bel viso morte non perdoni?
Authorship:
- by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 41
Go to the single-text view
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Carl Johengen) , "Sonnet XXIV", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "Sonnet XXIV", copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- LIT Lithuanian (Lietuvių kalba) (Giedrius Prunskus) , "Sonetas XXIV", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Esprit bien né, en qui est réfléchi et vu Dans tes beaux membres, honnête et cher, Tout ce que la nature et le ciel peuvent créer, Surpassant toute autre œuvre de beauté ; Esprit gracieux, en qui on espère et on croit, Demeurent, comme ils apparaissent sur ton visage, Amour, pitié, miséricorde, choses si rares Et jamais trouvées dans la beauté avec une telle foi ; L'amour me prend, et la beauté me lie ; La pitié, la miséricorde avec de doux regards Avec une ferme espoir remplissent mon cœur. Quelle règle ou quel gouvernement du monde, Quelle cruauté de ce temps ou de plus tard, Pourrait empêcher la mort d'épargner un si beau visage ?
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2015 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564), appears in Rime, no. 41
Go to the single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2015-08-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 116