Quam pulchra es et quam decora (Jacob Meiland)

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(Posted 2021-12-26) CPDL #67239:

Editor: Gerhard Weydt (submitted 2021-12-26). Score information: A4, 5 pages, 156 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes:

General Information

Title: Quam pulchra es et quam decora
Composer: Jacob Meiland
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 5vv Voicing: SATTB
Genre: Sacred, Motet

Language: Latin
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1576 in Cantiones aliquot novae (Jacob Meiland), no. 1
Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

Original text and translations may be found at Quam pulchra es a 6 (Orlando di Lasso).
These translations, though, sometimes disregard the Latin text, especially at the end, where "dentibus" is completely left out in all of them, and something like "sleeping" or "slumbering" is added, which is not found in the Latin text; which, at that time, was probably the only relevant source, regardless of anything a Hebrew or Greek text might reveal. There is some indication that Meiland understood "ruminate" in its strict, literal meaning, "rehashing", as bovines use to do, as he repeats that word as well as "dentibus" many times, (he uses "word painting" also with "ascendam in palmam", by ascending note sequences, or by slowing down the pace because of the difficulty to climb up). So here's an attempt at an alternative translation. Meiland also as some differences at the end of the text: "odor malorum" instead of simply "malorum" , and he moves "ruminandum" forward.

Latin text

Quam pulchra es et quam decora, charissima, in delitiis,
Statura tua assimilata est palmae, et ubera tua botris.
Dixi: ascendam in palmam et apprehendam fructus eius.
Et erunt ubera tua sicut botri vineae, et odor oris tui sicut odor malorum,
Guttur tuum sicut vinum optimum dignum dilecto meo
ad potandum et ruminandum labiis et dentibus illius.

German translation

Wie schön du bist und wie lieblich, Liebste, in deiner Wonne,
dein Wuchs gleicht einer Palme, und deine Brüste den Trauben.
Ich sprach: ich werde hinaufsteigen in die Palme und ergreifen ihre Früchte.
Und deine Brüste werden sein wie die Trauben des Weinstocks, und der Duft deines Mundes wie der Duft der Äpfel,
dein Rachen wie bester Wein, wert, dass mein Liebling ihn trinke und mit Lippen und Zähnen nachschmecke [wiederkäue].

Translation by Gerhard Weydt

English translation

How beautiful you are, and how pleasant, dearest, in your delight,
your stature is like a palm-tree, and your breasts are like grapes.
I said: I will climb up into the palm-tree and take hold of its fruit.
And your breasts will be like the grapes of the wine, and the smell of your mouth like the smell of apples,
your throat like the best wine, worth to be drunk by my darling, and to be ruminated by lips and teeth.