Poet/poetic source: Anonymous poet
Poetic form/text type: madrigal
Music composer: Claudio Merulo (1533-1604)
Music source: Il Lauro Secco a5 voci (Baldini press, Ferrara, 1582)
| Original Italian | Translation |
|
Mentre il lauro gentil, dai rami d'oro col suo rezzo ristoro fece a me sol dal ciel gli impetrai vita, Ma poiché al caldo altrui porge anco aita, non più, non più stia in vita, ma gli lievi Aquilon freddo ogni aita. |
While the nobel laurel, from its branches of gold, with its shade, granted comfort to me, I pleaded to the sun in the heavens to give it life. But since in the heat it grants aid to another, no more, no more let it remain in life, but may the chill north winds [remove from it] every aid. |