Firstpublished:1615 in Musiche a una dua e tre voci (Venice: Amadino), no. 21, p. 32 Description: This work is preceded in the original edition by the dedication 'Per la Beatissima Virgine' (For the most blessed Virgin).
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Original text and translations
Italian text
Vergine bella
Che di sol vestita coronata
di stelle al sommo sole,
piacesti si
ch’ in te sua luce ascose.
Amor mi spingea dir
di te parole.
Ma non sò incominciar
Senza tua aita.
E dico lui ch’amando in te
si pose in voco lei che ben sempre
rispose chi la chiamò con fede.
Vergine s’a merce de miseria
estrema dell’ humane cose,
Giamai ti volse al moi prego
t’ inchina soccorri alla mia guerra.
Ben ch’ io sia terra e tu del ciel Regina.
English translation
Beautiful Virgin,
Dressed with sun
and crowned with stars,
It pleased you that
your light ascended into you.
Love urged me
to speak to you,
But I do not dare to start
without your help.
And I say that by loving you,
you always answer who calls you in faith.
Virgin, feel sorry for
the extreme misery of human affairs.
Once I turned to you
to support the mine war.
Well, I am on earth
and you are Queen in heaven.
Dutch translation
Schone Maagd
Met zon gekleed en
gekroond met sterren,
Het behaagde u dat
uw licht in u opsteeg.
De liefde spoorde mij
aan u aan te spreken,
Maar ik durf niet te beginnen
zonder uw hulp.
En ik zeg dat door van u te houden,
u altijd antwoord geeft
aan wie in geloof u aanroept.
Maagd, heb medelijden met
de extreme menselijke ellende.
Ooit wende ik mij tot u
om de mijn oorlog te steunen.
Welnu, ik ben op aarde
en u Koningin in de hemel.
Original text and translations may be found at Vergine bella.