Description:
From Il secondo libro de madrigali, 4vv (Venice, 1534)
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Original text and translations
Italian text
Con suave parlar con dolce accento
Dormend’a me chiamavo
La bella donna mia anzi’l mio core
la qual in un momento
Lieta m’appars’in compagnia d’amore
Ond’io tutto contento
Del suo divin’aspetto m’infiammavo
Ma lei del van’ardore
Presto s’accorse et sparse com’un vento
All’hor dall’alto sonno mi svegliavo
Et vinto dal dolore
D’haverla pers’a seguitarla intento
Veloce m’ordinavo
Ma l’impresa lasciai visto’l mio errore.
English translation
With soft words and sweet tones
While sleeping, I called
My beautiful lady: indeed, my heart called her
Who, for a moment
Appeared to me, merry and accompanied by love
At which I, full of joy
At her divine appearance began to burn.
But she quickly noticed the vain ardour
And was dispersed like the wind.
Then, I awoke from high sleep
And, overcome with grief
Of having lost her, I hurriedly prepared
to chase after her.
But I abandoned that endeavour, having seen my mistake.