by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Translation © by Ferdinando Albeggiani

That thou hast her it is not all my...
Language: English 
Our translations:  ITA
That thou hast her it is not all my grief,
And yet it may be said I loved her dearly;
That she hath thee is of my wailing chief,
A loss in love that touches me more nearly.
Loving offenders thus I will excuse ye:
Thou dost love her, because thou know'st I love her;
And for my sake even so doth she abuse me,
Suffering my friend for my sake to approve her.
If I lose thee, my loss is my love's gain,
And losing her, my friend hath found that loss;
Both find each other, and I lose both twain,
And both for my sake lay on me this cross:
      But here's the joy; my friend and I are one;
      Sweet flattery! then she loves but me alone.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-08-12
Line count: 14
Word count: 130

Che tu possieda lei non è tutto il mio tormento
Language: Italian (Italiano)  after the English 
Che tu possieda lei non è tutto il mio tormento
e tuttavia si può dire che l'ho teneramente amata;
che lei possieda te io soprattutto lamento,
una sconfitta d'amore che è più grave ferita.
Ma, amabili aguzzini, vi concedo una scusa: 
tu ami lei, perché sai che io l'amo pure,
ed è per amor mio che anche lei mi rifiuta,
lasciando che il mio amico l'ami, per mio amore.
Così se io ti perdo, la mia amata arricchisco,
e se è lei che mi manca, il mio amico è felice.
Così voi vi ritrovate, e io tutti e due smarrisco,
e entrambi, per mio amore, mi addossate la croce.
Ma di questo gioisco; io e il mio amico siamo una persona;
O dolce inganno! Ed è per questo che lei me solo ama.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from English to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2013 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (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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This text was added to the website: 2013-05-13
Line count: 14
Word count: 133