Hawthorne Early Music editions: Canzoniere 172

O Invidia nimica di vertute

Canzoniere #172 (CLXXII)

Poetic form: sonnet


O Invidia nimica di vertute,
ch'a' bei principii volentier contrasti,
per qual sentier così tacita intrasti
in quel bel petto, et con qual' arti il mute?

Da radice n'ài svelta mia salute:
troppo felice amante mi mostrasti
a quella che' miei preghi humili et casti
gradì alcun tempo, or par ch'odi et refute.

Né però che con atti acerbi et rei
del mio ben pianga, et del mio pianger rida,
poria cangiar sol un de' pensier' mei;

non, perché mille volte il dì m'ancida,
fia ch'io non l'ami, et ch'i' non speri in lei:
che s'ella mi spaventa, Amor m'affida.
 O Envy enemy to virtue, that willingly
opposes all our best intentions,
by what path have you entered silently
into that lovely breast, by what art the mute?

You have shattered my health at its root:
shown me as too happy a lover, whose humble
and chaste prayers she once valued,
and now seems to deny and hate.

But though with bitter and harsh actions
she weeps at my good fortune, laughs at my tears,
she cannot change a single thought of mine:

nor, though she murder me a thousand times,
make me not love her, or not hope for her:
though she make me afraid, Love gives me hope.


All translations copyrighted by A.S. Kline, and are used with explicit permission.

ComposerTitleSubtitleLanguagePartsFiles
Adrian Willaert (c.1490-1562) O Invidia nemica di vertute Prima parte italian 5 Score + parts                              
Adrian Willaert (c.1490-1562) Né però che con atti acerbi et rei Seconda parte italian 5 Score + parts