by Mark Musa
Chi è fermato di menar sua vita
Chi vuol veder quantunquepo Natura
Clear, cool, sweet, running waters
Come ’l candido pie’ per l’erba fresca
Come talora al caldo tempo sòle
Come va ’l mondo! or mi diletta et piace
Conobbi (quanto il Ciel li occhi m’aperse
Così potess’ io ben chiudere in versi
Could I but take my vengeance on the one
Cruel was the star beneath which I was born
Da più belli occhi, et dal più chiaro viso
Datemi pace, o duri miei pensieri? 274
Dear lord of mine, my every thought draws me
Death cannot change a sweet face into bitter
Death has put out the sun that dazzled me
Deh, porgi mano a l’affannato ingegno
Deh, qual pietà, qual angelfu sì presto
Del cibo onde ’l signor mio sempre abonda
De ’l empia Babilonia ond’ è fuggita
Del mar tirreno a la sinistra riva
Desire spurs me, Love sees and guides my way
Determined to take up graceful revenge
Diana never pleased her lover more
Dicemi spesso il mio fidato speglio
Dicesette anni à già rivolto il cielo
Di dì in dì vo cangiando il viso e ’l pelo
Di pensier in pensier, di monte in monte
Discolorato ài, Morte, il più bel volto
Di tempo in tempo mi si fa men dura
Dodici donne onestamente lasse
Dolce mio caro et prezioso pegno
Dolci durezze et placide repulse
Dolci ire, dolci sdegni et dolci paci
Donna che lieta col Principio nostro
Due gran nemiche inseme erano agiunte
Due rose fresche et colte in paradiso
D’un bel chiaro polito et vivo ghiaccio
During that time my heart by loving worms
Each day to me is like a thousand years
E’ mi par d’or in ora udire il messo
E’ questo ’l nido in che la mia fenice
Era il giorno ch’al sol si scoloraro
Erano i capei d’oro a l’aura sparsi
Escaping from the prison where Love kept me
“Eyes, come now, weep, accompany the heart
Far potess’ io vendetta di colei
Father of Heaven, after the lost days
Fearing my state of mind, I weep, I sing
Fera Stella (se ’l cielo à forza in noi
Fiamma dal Ciel su le tue trecciepiova
Flowers joyful and glad, fortunate grass
Fontana di dolore, albergo d’ira
For any animal that lives on earth
Forever more I shall detest the window
Fortune and love, and my own mind, which shuns
Fountain of sorrow, dwelling place of wrath
Fresco ombroso fiorito et verde colle
From day to day my face and hair are changing
From far away she would console my sleep
From lovely, polished, clear and living ice
From the most lovely eyes and brightest face
From those two lovely lights came living sparks
From thought to thought, mountain to mountain top
From time to time that form which is angelic
From what part of the heavens, from what Idea
From wicked Babylon, from which has fled
Fu forse un tempo dolce cosa amore
Fuggendo la pregione ove Amor m’ebbe
Full of a loving thought, that makes me stray
Full of that sweetness indescribable
Gentil mia Donna, i’ veggio
Geri, at times when my sweet enemy
Geri, quando talor meco s’adira
Già desiai con sì giusta querela
Già fiammeggiava l’amorosa Stella
Giovene donna sotto un verde lauro
Giunto Alessandro a la famosa tomba
Giunto m’à Amor fra belle et crude braccia
Give me some peace, O cruel thoughts of mine! 274
Gli occhi di ch’io parlai sì caldamente
Gloriosa Columna in cui s’appoggia
Glorious column upon whom there rests
Gluttony, sleep, pillows of idleness
Gone is the time now, O my grief, that I
Go now, my grieving verse, to the hard stone
Go now, my sighs of warmth, to her cold heart
Good fortune is both slow and late in coming
Grazie ch’ a pochi il Ciel largo destina
Green clothes, bright red or dark or purple ones
Green hill, a cool and shady flowering place
Had I decided to stay in the cave
Had it come any closer to my eyes
Hannibal won, but then did not know how
Happier than I there never came to land
“Happy yet sad, in company yet alone
Here where there’s only half of me, Sennuccio
He who made up his mind to lead a life
However many lovely, charming ladies
How fortunate for me that from one of
How many times I go to my sweet nest
How much I envy you, the greedy earth
How the world changes! Now I’m charmed and pleased
How well I knew that any human means
I always loved and still I love with passion
I am already weary of my thinking
I am so tired now of all this waiting
I am so weary under the old bundle
I am told often by my faithful mirror
I begli occhi ond’ i’ fui percosso in guisa,
I dì miei più leggier che nesun cervo
I’d like to sing of love so differently
I dolci colli ov’ io lasciai me stesso
If, counting all the hours with blind desire
I fear so that attack of lovely eyes
I feel the aura of old times, sweet hills
I felt within my heart already failing
If end and middle answer to the start
If ever I said it, then may she hate me
If fire by fire has never been extinguished
If I had thought the sound of my voice sighing
I find no peace, and I am not at war
If I thought that by death I would be lightened
If it’s not love, then what is it I feel
If Love does not give me some new advice
If Love or Death does not come to cut short
If love that’s virtuous can merit mercy
If loving faithfulness, unfeigning heart
If my life can resist the bitter anguish
If only I could close as well in verse
If only those sweet-flowing aura’s sighs
If sound of birds complaining or green leaves
If that sweet glance of hers can make me die
If the illustrious branch that can control
If the mountain closing in this valley most
If this thought paining me
If Virgil and if Homer could have seen
If you were able by some angry signs—
I go my way lamenting those past times
I go on thinking, and I’m seized in thought
I have begged Love and I beg him again
I have filled with my sighs all of this air
I keep on listening but I hear no news
I knew—so much had Heaven opened my eyes
Il cantar novo e ’I pianger delli augelli
Il figliuol di Latona avea già nove
Il mal mi preme et mi spaventa il peggio
Il mio adversario in cui veder solete
Il successor di Carlo, che la chioma,
I’m crushed by ills and terrified by worse
I’ mi soglio accusare, et or mi scuso
I’ mi vivea di mia sorte contento
I never saw the sunrise look so lovely
I never want to sing the way I used to
In her loveliest age, while in full bloom
In mezzo di duo amanti onesta altera
In nobil sangue vita umile et queta
In noble blood a quiet, humble life
In qual parte del Ciel, in quale Idea
In quel bel viso ch’i’ sospiro et bramo,
In quella parte dove Amor mi sprona
In such a star I saw two lovely eyes
In sun or shade I’ve never seen you, lady
In tale Stella duo belli occhi vidi
In that direction which love urges me
In the sweet season of my early years
Into my weary sleep my sacred aura
Io amai sempre, et amo forte ancora
Io avrò sempre in odio la fenestra
Io canterei d’Amor si novamente
I often would accuse, but now excuse myself
Io mi rivolgo indietro a ciascun passo
Io non fu’ d’amar voi lassato unquanco
I’ ò pien di sospir quest’aere tutto
I’ ò pregalo Amor, e ’l ne riprego
Io sentia dentr’ al cor già venir meno
Io son de l’aspettar omai sì vinto
Io son già stanco di pensar sì come
Io son sì stanco sotto ’l fascio antico
Io temo sì de’ begli occhi l’assalto
I’ pensava assai destro esser su l’ale
I’ piansi, or canto; ché ’l celeste lume
I’ pur ascolto, et non odo novella
I sang once, now I weep, and no less sweetness
I saw on earth angelic qualities
I see, my gracious lady
Is this the nest where that phoenix of mine
Italia mia, ben che ’l parlar sia indarno
Ité, caldi sospiri, al freddo core
Ite, rime dolenti, al duro sasso
I thought by now that I could live my life
I thought my wings were strong enough to soar
It is the time the rapid heavens bend
It was the day the sun’s ray had turned pale
I used to leave behind my life’s own fountain
I’ve always sought a solitary life—
I’ve never found a place where I could see
I’ vidi in terra angelici costumi
I’ vo pensando, et nel penser m’assale
I’ vo piangendo i miei passati tempi
I wanted once by means of just complaint
I was alive and happy with my fate
I wept and now I sing: that living sun
Just as eternal life is seeing God
La bella donna che cotanto amavi
La donna che ’l mio cor nel viso porta
Lady, now happy in our Maker’s presence
L’aere gravato et l’ importuna nebbia
La gola e ’l sonno et l’oziose piume
La guancia che fu già piangendo stanca
L’alma mia fiamma oltra le belle bella
L’alto et novo miracol ch’a’ dì nostri
L’alto signor dinanzi a cui non vale
L’arbor gentil che forte amai molt’anni
L’ardente nodo ov’ io fui, d’ora in ora
Lasciato ài, Morte, senza sole il mondo
La sera desiare, odiar l’aurora
L’aspettata vertu che ’n voi fioriva
L’aspetto sacro de la terra vostra
Lassare il velo per sole o per ombra
Lasso, Amor mi trasporta ov’ ir non voglio
Lasso, ben so che dolor ose prede
Lasso, che mal accorto fui da prima
Lasso, ch’ l’ ardo et altri non mel crede
Lasso me, ch’ i’ non so in qual parte pieghi
Lasso, quante fiate Amor m’assale
Latona’s son already had looked nine
L’aura celeste che ’n quel verde lauro
L’aura che ’l verde lauro et l’aureo crine
L’aura et ’l’odore e ’l’refrigerio et l’ombra
L’aura gentil che rasserena i poggi
L’aura mia sacra al mio stanco riposo
L’aura serena che fra verdi fronde
L’aura soave al sole spiega et vibra
L’avara Babilonia à colmo il sacco
Là ver l’aurora, che si dolce l’aura
La vita fugge et non s’arresta un’ora
Le stelle, il cielo, et gli elementi a prova
Let any lady who wants glorious fame
Let us stay, Love, and gaze upon our glory
Levommi il mio penser in parte ov’ era
Li angeli eletti et l’anime beate
“Liete et pensose, accompagnate et sole
Lieti fiori et felici, et ben nate erbe
Life runs away and never rests a moment
“Look at that hill, my tired heart that yearns
L’oro et le perle e i fior vermigli e i bianchi
Love and my own good fortune had so blessed me
Love and myself as full of wonderment
Love at times would weep, and I, with him
Love, by alluring me with promises
Love, if you’d have me wear the ancient yoke
Love sends me that sweet thought, the one that is
Love set amid the grass his pretty net
Love’s given me to hard and lovely arms
Love showed to me a port of peacefulness
Love’s made me like a target for his arrows
Love spurs and holds me back at the same time
Love that lights up the heart with flaming zeal
Love, when my hope was blossoming
Love, who in those good times would be with me
Love, who lives and reigns within my thought
Love, you who see my every thought clear through
L’ultimo, lasso, de’ miei giorni allegri
Mai non fui in parte ove sì chiar vedessi
Mai non vedranno le mie luci asciutte
Mai non vo’ più cantar com’ io soleva
Many a time has Love said to me: “Write
Ma poi che ’l dolce riso umile et piano
May Heaven’s fire pour down on your tresses
Mente mia, che presaga de’ tuoi danni
Mentre che ’l cor dagli amorosi vermi
Mia benigna fortuna e ’l viver lieto
Mia ventura et Amor mavean sì adorno
Mie venture al venir son tarde et pigre,
Mille fiate, o dolce mia guerrera
Mille piagge in un giorno et mille rivi
Mirando ’l sol de’ begli occhi sereno
“Mira quel colle, o stanco mio cor vago
More fortunate than any other ground
Morte à spento quel sol ch’ abagliar suolmi
Movesi il vecchierel canuto et bianco
My days, swifter than any deer, have fled
My enemy in which you often see
My eyes, that sun of ours has darkened now
My kindly fortune and my life, so happy
My lofty flame, beauty beyond all beauty
My mind is nourished by a food so noble
My ship full of forgetful cargo sails
My soul that sees so many different things
My thought lifted me up to where she was
My tongue so used to grieving has been urged
My weary eyes, as I turn you to look
Nature and Love and the fair, humble soul
Né cosi bello il sol giamai levarsi
Ne la stagion che ’l ciel rapido inchina,
Nel dolce tempo de la prima etade
Ne l’eta sua più bella et più fiorita
Né mai pietosa madre al caro figlio
Né per sereno ciel ir vaghe stelle
Never did tender mother her dear son
Never with eyes that are not wet or m
ind
Noble spirit, you who informs those members
No longer do I see a way to flee
No lovely stars that roam through limpid skies
No matter how hard Polyclitus looked
Non al suo amante più Diana piacque
Non à tanti animali il mar fra l’onde, 7
Non da l’ispano Ibero a l’indo Idaspe
Non d’atra et tempestosa onda marina
Non fur ma’ Giove et Cesare sì mossi
Non po far Morte il dolce viso amaro
Non pur quell’una bella ignuda mano
Non Tesin, Po, Varo, Arno, Adige et Tebro
Non veggio ove scampar mi possa omai
No sparrow on a roof was so alone
Not from Spain’s Ebro to India’s Hydaspes
Not only that one lovely, naked hand
Not Tessin, Tiber, Varo, Arno, Adige, Po
Nova angeletta sovra l’ale accorta
No weary helmsman ever rushed for port
Now it was time to find my peace or truce
Now, Love, just look how that young lady there
Now that the heavens, earth and wind are silent
Now weep, ladies, and with you let Love weep
Now you have worked your power to the limit
O aspettata in Ciel beata et bella
O beautiful and blessèd soul that Heaven
O bella man che mi destringi ’l core
O cameretta che già fosti un porto
Occhi miei lassi, mentre ch’ io vi giro
Occhi miei, oscurato è ’l nostro sole
“Occhi, piangete, accompagnate il core
O d’ardente vertute ornata et calda
O day, O hour, O that final moment
O dolci sguardi, o parolette accorte
O Envy, you the enemy of virtue
Of loving you I am not tired, never
O giorno, o ora, o ultimo momento
O glances sweet, O little words of wisdom
Ogni giorno mi par più di mil’anni
O God! that lovely face, that gentle look
Oh blessèd be the day, the month, the year
Oh miserable and terrifying vision! 251
Oh what to do with all that hope of mine
Oimè il bel viso, oimè il soave sguardo
O Invidia nimica di vertute
O little room that once served as a port
O Love, I err and I can see my error
O lovely hand that squeezes my heart tight
O lovely little bird singing away
O misera et orribil visione! 251
O my mind that, foreseeing grievous loss
O, my own Italy, though words be useless
O my Sennuccio, though you’ve left me grieving
Onde tolse Amor l’oro et di qual vena
One day while at my window all alone
O noble soul with glowing virtue warm
On the left bank of the Tyrrhenian Sea
O passi spar si, o pensier vaghi et pronti
Or ài fatto l’estremo di tua possa