Poet/poetic source: Ottaviano Salvi (d.1553)
Poetic form/text type: sonnet
Music composer: Annibale Stabile (c.1535-1595)
Music source: Madrigali a5 di ... Nanino ... et di ... Stabile (Gardano press, Venice, 1581)
| Original Italian | Translation |
|
Chiari cristalli da begli occhi santi spargea sopra la neve e le viole co' capei d'oro sciolti, ond' Amor suole tesser lacciuoli a mille casti amanti la donna mia: e con dolci sembianti mostrando le bellezze al mondo sole volgeva i lumi al ciel con tai parole; che spezzo i sassi, e gli converse in pianti. Il ciel fermossi ad ascoltar gli accenti delle pietose voci, e d'ogni intorno si coperse di doglia, e di pietade; S'ascose il Sole, ed oscurossi il giorno: l'aere pianse di duol, tanto possenti furon le luci essempio d'onestate. |
Bright crystals from beautiful, blessed eyes scattered across the snow and the violets with locks of gold loose, where Love usually weaves ribbons for a thousand chaste lovers, my lady, with her sweet looks showing her beauty to the world she turned her eyes to heaven with such words that broke stones, and turned them into tears. Heaven itself stopped to listen to the sounds of the pitieous voices, and all around it cloaked itself with sorrow and pity; The sun hid, and the day grew dark: the air cried of sorrow, so powerful were her bright eyes, an example of integrity. |