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The good news
I have brought you good news,
O my handsome love!
Tell me, what news do you bring
That you come at this hour!
The news I’ve brought
May hopefully please you:
I am here to ask you,
Dark and handsome one,
If you wish to marry me.
Or have me marry someone-else…
May fortune smile on me,
To you, dark and handsome one,
To you I shall give this ring.
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of La bella noeva
by an anonymous Italian composer from the Renaissance period.
La bella noeva
La bella noeva che t'ho purtà
O bel faccin d’amore,
Dimmi che noeva m'hai purtà
Che sei venut’a quest'ora!
E mi la noeva che t'ho purtà,
E mi non so se vi piacerà:
Son qui a domandarvi
A voi bello morettin,
Se volete maritarmi.
O maritarmi non so con chi...
Fortuna si è quella,
A voi bello morettin,
A voi vi donerò l’anello.
Recording. Live performance by Marco Beasley and Accordone.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hekes1fcpts
Copyright notice. The translation is provided as an aid to musicians and audiences. Publication of the translation in print or digital formats is expressly forbidden unless permission from the author has been first obtained and acknowledgement of authorship is duly made. Permission will usually be granted so please contact Paul Archer with details of how you wish to make use of the translation.
For more translations into English of early music texts, go to:
Translations of early music texts. |
