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O serene brow
O serene brow,
O golden braids
that tie my heart
in strong chains.
Sweet is my pain,
its bitterness born
from the fulsome
sweetness of joy.
O blushing cheeks,
O lilies aroused
paired and wedded
to crimson and rose.
Nature takes a rest
in the tinted wines,
the grateful and ardent,
the amorous joys.
O glittering treasure,
O heaven of beauty,
have mercy on me,
I die as I adore you.
Bring me solace
beautiful loving eyes,
show me mercy,
I adore you as I die.
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of O fronte serena by Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger (c1580-1651)) from Libro secondo di villanelle no. 9 (1619). See the copyright notice below.
O fronte serena
O fronte serena,
O treccie dorate
ch'el cor mi legate
con forte catena.
Si dolc'e mia pena
che nasce amarezza,
per soma dolcezza
che gioia rimena.
O guance vezzose,
O gigli animati
congiunti e sposati,
a porpora e rose.
Natura ripose
tra vini colori,
le grati e gl'ardori
le gioie amorose.
O ricco tesoro,
O Ciel di beltade,
mercede, pietade,
io moro e v'onoro.
Porgete ristoro
begl'occhi amorosi,
volgete pietosi,
v'onoro e mi moro.
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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