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He shoots me night and day
He shoots me night and day with his darts
The sly god of love
But I hope one day
To get back
To how I was before,
Ah, I'm wounded!
He shoots me night and day with his bow and arrow
And treats me badly
But I hope
My wounds
Will soon get better,
Ah, I'm wounded!
He shoots me night and day with wounding darts
So I burn all over
But I hope
The wound heals
In my broken heart,
Ah, I'm wounded!
He shoots me night and day without respite
He scatters my wits
But I hope somehow
If they run too fast
I can pull back their clumsy feet,
Oh, it's hopeless!
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of El me tira nott’e di by Tarquinio Merula (1594-1665). See the copyright notice below.
El me tira nott'e di
El me tira nott’e di con la saetta
Amor furbetta
Ma spero un giorno
di far ritorno
Nel mio primero stato
Ah son piagato!
El me tira nott’e di con l’arco e strale
E mi fa male
Ma spero maga
che la mia piaga
Ritorni a miglior stato
Ah son piagato!
El me tira nott’e di col fero dardo
Ond’io tutto ardo
Ma spero aita
Alla ferita
Et al mio cor sprezzato
Ah son piagato!
El me tira nott’e di senza far tregua
E’l sen dilegua
Ma spero forsi
Se troppo corsi
Ritrar il pie legato
Oh sfortunato!
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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