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For so long did I love you
For so long did I love you and yearn for you.
All the while you were faithless and deceived me.
So go out now with new lovers to prove your worth,
For I´ve had enough and can get what I need elsewhere.
So go now,
I don´t want you,
I´ve had enough
And can get what I need elsewhere:
For it´s already over there,
The ferryboat´s gone to the far bank of the Po…
Run, run and you´ll see it!
I wept a thousand times, and you laughed.
A thousand times I laughed, and you wept.
So courteous, the happiest of lovers
Cruelly mocked in games, laughter and tears.
I´m deaf now
To your cries,
I´ve had enough
And can get what I need elsewhere:
For it´s already over there,
The ferryboat´s gone to the far bank of the Po…
Run, run and you´ll see it!
I was faithful to you when I was appreciated.
Now you´ve betrayed me, I want to leave you.
You can go and give the mistletoe to new lovers,
For I´m free now and no longer hear your whistle,
So bite the dust,
I don´t want you,
I´ve had enough
And can get what I need elsewhere:
For it´s already over there,
The ferryboat´s gone to the far bank of the Po…
Run, run and you´ll see it!
If you become talented at screwing around,
Look at your face, for it´s not what it was:
Now your gold lips and silver hair
Only make me rich in remorse.
No, no more
Will I adore you,
I don´t want you,
I´ve had enough
And can get what I need elsewhere:
For it´s already over there,
The ferryboat´s gone to the far bank of the Po…
Run, run and you´ll see it!
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of T'amai gran tempo by Stefano Landi (1587-1639). See the copyright notice below.
Notes on the text: There was a small ferryboat crossing the River Po that was called the 'Merlo' meaning blackbird in English. It could be summoned by whistling loudly. The ferryboat is named in the original text (see below), but I chose not to keep the name in the translation as it is not well-known, nor give the English equivalent as this might be confusing. In the first line of the final stanza of the original text, there is a crude colloquial expression for sex 'dar martello' which means 'to give hammer' in English. I have tried to provide a near-equivalent rather than a direct translation. I am indebted to Marco Beasley for these elucidations.
T'amai gran tempo
T'amai gran tempo e sospirai mercede.
Tu m'hai tradito ogn'hor, priva di fede.
Hor và con novi amanti a far tue prove,
ch'io son già stufo e m'ho provvisto altrove.
Hor vanne mò
Ch'io non ti vuò,
Ch'io son già stufo
E m'ho provvisto altrove:
Che già di là,
Di là dal Po, passato è 'l Merlo...
Corri, corri a vederlo!
Mille volte io piangeva, e tu ridevi.
Mille volte io rideva, e tu piangevi.
Così cortese, i più felici amanti
Schermisti cruda in giochi, in risi, in pianti.
Hor grida mò,
Ch'io sordo stò,
Ch'io son già stufo
E m'ho provvisto altrove:
Che già di là,
Di là dal Po, passato è 'l Merlo...
Corri, corri a vederlo!
Ti fui fedele allor che fui gradito.
E qui lasciar ti vuò, se m'hai tradito.
Hor vanne a porre a nuovi amanti il vischio,
Ch'io son già sciolto, e più non sento il fischio,
Hor crepa mò,
Ch'io non ti vuò,
Ch'io son già stufo
E m'ho provvisto altrove:
Che già di là
Di là dal Po, passato è 'l Merlo...
Corri, corri a vederlo!
Se talento ti vien di dar martello,
Guardati il volto, che non è più quello:
Hor le tue labbra d'oro e 'l crin d'argento
Ricco mi fanno sol di pentimento.
Hor non più, no
T'adorerò,
Ch'io non ti vuò,
Ch'io son già stufo
E m'ho provvisto altrove:
Che già di là
Di là dal Po, passato è 'l Merlo...
Corri, corri a vederlo!?
Recording. Marco Beasley and L'Arpeggiata.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMNKHp5iFUk
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:
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