Poet/poetic source: Panfilo Sasso (c.1455-1527)
Poetic form/text type: sonnet
Music composer: Adrian Willaert (c.1490-1562)
Music source: Musica Nova (Gardano press, Ferrara, 1559)
| Original Italian | Translation |
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Quando nascesti Amor? Quando la terra si riveste di verde e bel colore. Allor di che nascesti? D'un ardore ch'ozio e lascivia in se richiude e serra. Con ti costringe a farne tanta guerra? Calda speranza et gelido timore. In cui fai la tua stanza? In gentil core che sotto il mio valor' tosto s'atterra. Chi fai la tua nutrice? Giovinezza. E le serve furno a lei d'intorno? Vanità , gelosia, pompa e bellezza. Di che ti pasci? D'un parlare adorno. Offendeti la morte o la vecchiezza? No, ch'io rinasco mille volte il giorno. |
When were you born, Love? When the earth was blanketed in green and lovely colors. Then, of what were you born? Of a passion that encloses and binds idleness and licentiousness within. What forces you to make so much war? Hot hope, and frigid fear. Wherein do you make your chambers? In the gentle heart, that bows quickly under my power. Who was your nursemaid? Youth. And who are your servants around you? Vanity, jealousy, pride and beauty. Of what are you nourished? Of graceful parlance. Does death or old age injure you? No, for I am reborn a thousand times a day. |