Dite mi o si o no (Cristóbal de Morales)
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- CPDL #32794:
Sibelius 5
- Editor: Jonathan Goodliffe (submitted 2014-08-27). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 47 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes:
General Information
Title: Dite mi o si or no
Composer: Cristóbal de Morales
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal
Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella
Published: 1541
Description: A four part madrigal, included in Jacques Arcadelt's (1505-1568) fourth book of 4 part madrigals
External websites:
Original text and translations
Italian text
Dite mi o si, o no, senza timore,
ch'ognun de voi, non puose non giovarmi,
se serà un no mi farà grand' honore
star constante volendo voi lasciar mi,
se serà un si fia' l frutto del languire,
assai più degno che'l mio ben servire,
dunque eleggete quel che più vieletta
che l'un mi honora et l'altro mi diletta.
English translation
by Mick Swithinbank
<poem>Tell me either yes or no – do not hold back –
for neither answer can fail to make me happy.
If it is ‘no’, I shall gain great honour
by remaining constant while you wish to leave me;
if it is ‘yes’, it will be the fruit of longing, a far worthier motive than my faithful service to you. So choose whichever you prefer, for the one will be to my honour while the other will give me pleasure. }}