Nel pur ardor della più bella stella
Aurea facella di bel foc’accendi
E qui discendi su l’aurante piume,
Giocondo nume, e di celeste fiamma
L’anime infiamma.

Lieto Imeneo, d’alta dolcezza un nembo
Trabocca in grembo a fortunati amanti
E tra bei canti di soavi amori
Sveglia nei cori una dolce aura, un riso
Di paradiso.

Notes: The score for the opera (Le Musiche sopra l’Euridice, Florence: Marscotti, 1600) is reproduced in a facsimile edition (Rome: Reale Accademia d’Italia, 1934).

Text Authorship:

• by Ottavio Rinuccini (1562 - 1621) [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 Jacopo Peri (1561 - 1633), "Nel our ardor della più bella stella", published 1600, from the opera Le Musiche sopra l’Euridice [ sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

• ENG English (Laura Prichard) , "In the pure heat of the most beautiful star", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor] , Laura Prichard [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2016-04-13
Line count: 10
Word count: 55

In the pure heat of the most beautiful star,
Kindle [a] golden torch of beautiful fire
And descend here on golden plumes,
Happy god, and with celestial fire
Enflame souls.

Happy Hymen, [in] a rain of sublime sweetness
Flood into the bosom of fortunate lovers
And among the beautiful songs of sweet loves
Awaken in their hearts a sweet breeze, a smile
Of paradise.