Poet/poetic source: Giovanni Battista Guarini (1538-1612)
Poetic form/text type: madrigal
Music composer: Luca Marenzio (c.1553-1599)
Music source: Il quinto libro de madrigali a 5 voci (Scotto press, Venice, 1585)
| Original Italian | Translation |
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Ohimè, l'antica fiamma ch'era sopita all'aura d'una sola dolcissima parola si desta, e nel mio cor arde e sfavilla. Lasso, che incontro Amore, quando le prime sue dolcezze stilla in un tenero core, né sdegno, né dolore, né tempo, né ragion, né morte vale. Chi spegne antico incendio il fa immortale. |
Woe! ancient flame that had slept, by the breath of a single oh so sweet word awakens, and in my heart burns and sparks. Alas, facing Love, when its first sweetness drips into a tender heart, neither scorn, nor pain, nor time, nor reason, nor death may prevale. He who quenches an old fire makes it immortal. |