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Sleep, my son
Sleep, my son, sleep, my son,
close your eyes, my darling son,
mama’s little curly-haired boy,
my own dear sweetheart.
My little tiny child,
go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
rock-a-bye baby,
my dearest treasure,
rock-a-bye baby,
sweet little curly-haired boy,
so charming and beautiful.
Twinkling eyes, pretty eyes,
my son's bright stars,
give yourself to slumber,
soften your shining.
My little tiny child,
go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
rock-a-bye baby.
Charming little eyes,
rock-a-bye baby,
little shy eyes,
shy little eyes.
Now sleep steals towards him.
Spreads its wings over my son.
Sweet sleep, richly deserved,
you grasp it, draw it near.
My little tiny child,
go to sleep, go to sleep, my son,
rock-a-bye baby.
Lull him, my lullabies,
rock-a-bye baby.
My sweetest comfort,
my most precious treasure.
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Figlio, dormi by Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger (c1580-1651)) from Libro secondo di villanelle no. 7 (1619). See the copyright notice below.
Figlio, dormi
Figlio, dormi; dormi, figlio,
china’l ciglio, caro figlio,
ricciutello della mamma,
del mio petto dolce fiamma.
Mio bambino piccinino,
fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
ninna la nanna, ninna, nanna,
amoroso mio tesoro,
ninna la nanna, ninna, nanna,
dolce e vago ricciutello,
vezzosetto vago e bello.
Luci vaghe, luci belle,
vive stelle del mio figlio,
non più crude al sonno omai
serenate i vostri rai.
Mio bambino piccinino,
fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
ninna la nanna, ninna, nanna.
Pupilluccie lusinghiere,
ninna la nanna, ninna nanna,
pupillucie ritrosette,
ritrosuccie pupliette.
Ecco il sonno che l’assale.
Spiega l’ale su’l mio figlio.
Dolce sonno, à te si spetta,
tù lo stringi, tù l’alletta.
Mio bambino piccinino,
fà la nanna, fà la ninna, figlio,
ninna la nanna, ninna, nanna.
Lusingatelo, ò miei canti,
ninna la nanna, ninna, nanna.
Mio dolcissimo ristoro,
mio ricchissimo tesoro.
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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