Poet/poetic source: Torquato Tasso (1544-1595)
Poetic form/text type: madrigal
Music composer: Paolo Virchi (c.1551-1610)
Music source: Il primo libro de madrigali a 5 voci (Vincenti e Amadino press, Venice, 1584)
| Original Italian | Translation |
|
Qual Cervo errando suole fuggir saette o dardi io fuggiva i begli occhi e i dolci sguardi, Fra l'erbe e le viole, quando costei mi giunse e col suo viso non pur con le parole vita e morte mi dié così gradita: morte, perché diviso fui da me stesso, e vita perché l'alma felice è seco unita. |
As a Deer wandering is wont to flee arrows or darts, I fled her beautiful eyes and sweet glances, amidst the grasses and the violets, when she came to me, and with her visage, not simply her words, granted me life and death, so welcome: death, because I was divided from myself, and life because my happy soul is united with hers. |