Poet/poetic source: Anonymous poet
Poetic form/text type: cantata
Music composer: Giovanni Felice Sances (c.1600-1679)
Music source: Cantade a 1 e 2 voci, libro secondo (Magni press, Venice, 1633)
| Original Italian | Translation |
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Lagrimosa beltà, per cui già notte e dì cotanto sospirai, come sei tu divenuta così? Il barbaro chi fu? Qual cor pien d'impietà potuto ha incrudelir contro di te? Misero, ben io so— né puoi negarlo a fé— il tempo fu, l'età che tanto vale e può in languidito ha'l sen, ha scolorito l'or del tuo bel crin. Mirate, donne, il fin— mirate che vien men ogni cosa mortal! Col tempo, arte non val: questo è colpo comun, schermir nol puote alcun. La pioggia vien talor dopo il seren, e dopo il lampo il tuon. Chi si mostrò crudel non merita perdon, e l'esser infedel agli amanti è di turca empio rigor. Aspeta' col simil: rendete, donne, il cor tutto pietoso e umil; imparate a lasciar quel fasto alter, raddolcite il pensier. Il bello non risplende in costei più, né si può dir: «qui fu.» Dunque chi brama aver lunga beltà, usi pietà. |
Tearful beauty, for which once, night and day, I sighed so much, how did you become like this? Who was this barbarian? What heart, so pitiless, could have been so cruel toward you? Wretch, I know well— nor by faith can you deny it— it was time, [and] age that, so strong, could have weakened your breast, dulled the gold of your fair hair. Behold, ladies, at the end— Behold how every mortal thing fades away! With time, art does not prevail: this is a common blow that no one can parry. Rain sometimes comes after serene weather, and after lightning, thunder. Whoever showed such cruelty does not merit a pardon, and to be unfaithful to one's lovers is like the harsh cruelty of the Turk. Repay in kind: ladies, render your heart full of pity and humility; learn to leave behind that haughty pride, soften your thoughts. Beauty no longer shines in her, nor can one say: 'here it was.' Therefore, she who yearns to have lasting beauty, let her practice pity. |