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Oimè il bel viso, oimè il soave sguardo, oimè il leggiadro portamento altero; oimè il parlar ch'ogni aspro ingegno et fero facevi humile, ed ogni huom vil gagliardo! et oimè il dolce riso, onde uscío 'l dardo di che morte, altro bene omai non spero: alma real, dignissima d'impero, se non fossi fra noi scesa sí tardo! Per voi conven ch'io arda, e 'n voi respire, ch'i' pur fui vostro; et se di voi son privo, via men d'ogni sventura altra mi dole. Di speranza m'empieste et di desire, quand'io partí' dal sommo piacer vivo; ma 'l vento ne portava le parole.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), no title, appears in Canzoniere (Rerum vulgarium fragmenta) , in 2. Rime In morte di Madonna Laura, no. 267 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Spirito l'Hoste da Reggio (c1510 - c1575), "Oimè il bel viso" [ chorus ], madrigal [sung text not yet checked]
- by Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643), "Ohimè, il bel viso", published 1614 [ vocal quintet ], from Libro VI de madrigali, no. 6, madrigal
Score: IMSLP [external link] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (A. S. Kline) , no title, copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Francisque Reynard) , "Canzone CCLXVII Oimè il bel viso"
Researcher for this page: Ferdinando Albeggiani
This text was added to the website: 2007-11-23
Line count: 14
Word count: 102
Ah me, the beautiful face, ah me, the gentle look, ah me, the graceful noble manner of her: ah me, the speech that made every harsh and bitter mind humble, and every coward brave! And, ah me, the sweet smile, from which the arrow of death, the only good I hope for now, issued: regal soul, worthiest to reign, if only you had not descended so late among us! It is fitting that I burn for you, and breathe for you, since I am yours: and if I am parted from you, I suffer less from all my other grief. You filled me with hope and with desire, when I departed, living, from the highest delight: but the wind did not carry my words to you.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2002 by A. S. Kline, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), no title, appears in Canzoniere (Rerum vulgarium fragmenta) , in 2. Rime In morte di Madonna Laura, no. 267
This text was added to the website: 2015-03-10
Line count: 14
Word count: 126