Quel sguardo sdegnosetto
lucente e minaccioso,
quel dardo velenoso
vola a ferirmi il petto,
Bellezze ond'io tutt'ardo
e son da me diviso
piagatemi col sguardo,
Sanatemi col riso.
Armatevi, pupille
d'asprissimo rigore,
versatemi su'l core
un nembo di faville.
Ma 'labro non sia tardo
a ravvivarmi ucciso.
Feriscami quel squardo,
ma sanimi quel riso.
Begl'occhi a l'armi, a l'armi!
Io vi preparo il seno.
Gioite di piagarmi
in fin ch'io venga meno!
E se da vostri dardi
io resterò conquiso,
feriscano quei sguardi,
ma sanami quel riso.
English translation
That haughty little glance,
bright and menacing,
that poisonous dart
is flying to strike my breast.
O beauties for which I burn,
by which I am severed from myself:
wound me with your glance,
but heal me with your laughter.
Arm yourself, O eyes,
with sternest rigor;
pour upon my heart
a cloud of sparks.
But let lips not be slow
to revive when I am slain.
Let the glance strike me;
but let the laughter heal me.
O fair eyes: to arms, to arms!
I am preparing my bosom as your target.
Rejoice in wounding me,
even until I faint!
And if I remain vanquished
by your darts,
let your glances strike me –
but let your laughter heal me.