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You were once all mine

You were once all mine,
Your heart and soul were mine.
Who leads you away from me,
A new alluring lover?
O beauty, O virtue,
O admirable fidelity,
Where are you now?
You were once all mine,
But not anymore,
Alas, you're mine no more.
To me alone you turned
Your sparkling eyes,
For me your golden hair
Spread in the wind.
O fleeting happiness,
O firmness of heart,
Where are you now?
You were once all mine,
But not anymore,
Alas, you're mine no more.  
Joy on my face, alas
You’ll see no more;
My songs, my laughter,
Like martyrs die.
O scattered sighs, 
O vanished pity,
Where are you now?
You were once all mine,
But not anymore,
Alas, you're mine no more.

English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Eri già tutta mia by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643) from Scherzi musicali cioè arie et madrigali no. 3 (1632).

Eri già tutta mia

Eri già tutta mia, 
Mia quel' alma e quel core,
Chi da me ti desvia:
Novo laccio d'amore?
O bellezz' o valore,
O mirabil constanza,
Ove sei tu?
Eri già tutta mia;
Hor non sei più.
Ah, che mia non sei più. 
Sol per me gl'occhi belli 
Rivolgevi ridenti,
Per me d'oro i capelli 
Si spiegavan a i venti.
O fugaci contenti,
O fermezza d'un core,
Ove sei tu?
Eri già tutta mia;
Hor non sei più.
Ah, che mia non sei più. 
Il gioir nel mio viso: 
Ah che più non rimiri.
Il mio canto, il mio riso
È converso in martiri.
O dispersi sospiri,
O sparita pietate,
Ove sei tu?
Eri già tutta mia;
Hor non sei più.
Ah, che mia non sei più.

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.

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