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Non havea Febo ancora recato al mondo il dí, ch'una donzella fuora del proprio albergo uscí. Sul pallidetto volto scorgeasi il suo dolor, spesso gli venia sciolto un gran sospir dal cor. Sí calpestando fiori errava hor qua, hor là, i suoi perduti amori cosí piangendo va: "Amor", dicea, il ciel mirando, il piè fermo, "dove, dov'è la fè ch'el traditor giurò?" Miserella. "Fa' che ritorni il mio amor com'ei pur fu, o tu m'ancidi, ch'io non mi tormenti più." Miserella, ah più no, no, tanto gel soffrir non può. "Non vo' più ch'ei sospiri se non lontan da me, no, no che i suoi martiri più non dirammi1 affè. Perché di lui mi struggo, tutt'orgoglioso sta, che si, che si se'l fuggo ancor mi pregherà? Se ciglio ha più sereno colei, che'l mio non è, già non rinchiude in seno, Amor, sí bella fè. Ne mai sí dolci baci da quella bocca havrai, ne più soavi, ah taci, taci, che troppo il sai." Sí tra sdegnosi pianti spargea le voci al ciel; cosí ne' cori amanti mesce amor fiamma, e gel.
1 note: this is often published with a typo: "darammi"
Authorship:
- by Ottavio Rinuccini (1562 - 1621) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643), "Lamento della ninfa", 1638 [chorus], from Libro VIII: Madrigali guerrieri e amorosi, no. 18. [text verified 2 times]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Paolo Montanari) , title 1: "The nymph's lament", copyright © 2004, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "La plainte de la nymphe", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Paolo Montanari
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 43
Word count: 182
The Sun had not brought The day to the world yet, When a maiden Went out of her dwelling. On her pale face Grief could be seen, Often from her heart A deep sigh was drawn. Thus, treading upon flowers, She wandered, now here, now there, And lamented her lost loves Like this: - O Love - she said, Gazing at the sky, as she stood - Where's the fidelity That the deceiver promised? - Poor her! - Make my love come back As he used to be Or kill me, so that I will not suffer anymore. - Poor her! She cannot bear All this coldness! - I don't want him to sigh any longer But if he's far from me. No! He will not make me suffer Anymore, I swear! He's proud Because I languish for him. Perhaps if I fly away from him He will come to pray to me again. If her eyes are more serene Than mine, O Love, she does not hold in her heart A fidelity so pure as mine. And you will not receive from those lips Kisses as sweet as mine, Nor softer. Oh, don't speak! Don't speak! you know better than that! - So amidst disdainful tears, She spread her crying to the sky; Thus, in the lovers' hearts Love mixes fire and ice.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2004 by Paolo Montanari, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Ottavio Rinuccini (1562 - 1621)
This text was added to the website: 2004-12-04
Line count: 43
Word count: 224