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My love, where are you going?
My love, where are you going?
My love, from who do you flee?
He who praises your bright eyes
that wounded him so dearly?
Stay here, my love, my life,
I want to die at your feet!
Alas, she’s bent on leaving,
her heart flees as fast as her feet.
Sad eyes, let your tears flow,
O weep, as she goes on her way.
In misery the day’s lost its glow
now her shining beauty’s gone away.
Alas, no more the golden tresses
that snared my heart so softly,
no more the string of pearls
in her lovely smile shall I see.
No more to see her rosy hand
that puts to shame Aurora’s glow,
no more the luminous eyelashes
where Cupid pulls his bow.
I’ll feel deep inside my chest
how I die in the flame’s glow.
Far or near they blaze no less,
those beautiful eyes, as well I know.
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Alma Mia by Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger (c1580-1651)) from Libro terzo di villanelle No. 16 (1619). See the copyright notice below.
Alma mia
Alma mia dove te ne vai?
alma mia chi fuggi tu?
Un ch'onore i tuoi bei rai,
ond'il cor ferito fu?
Fermai pass'o core, o vita,
vuo morir davanti a te.
Ahi ch'intenti alla partita,
fugge ‘l cor non men ch'el pie.
Lagrimate, occhi dolente,
lagrimate, ella s’en va.
Infelici, eccovi spenti,
senza i rai di sua beltà.
L'or ‘ohimè del blondi crine,
che si dolce il cor lego.
Ne le perle peregrine,
tra i bei risi mirerò.
Ne vedrò la man di rose,
ch'alla Aurora scorno fà
ne le ciglia luminose
dove Amor con arco stà.
Sentirò ben giù nel seno,
foco tal ch'io ne morrò.
Lungi apresso ardon’ non meno,
quei begl'occhi, e ben lo sò.
Recording. A live performance by The Archduke's Consort - and very lively it is too with a catchy beginning by the violone and a rousing ending by all the Consort in full flow.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJsAkf_XuAI
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.
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