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Solo e pensoso i più deserti campi Vo mesurando a passi tardi e lenti; E gli occhi porto per fuggire intenti Ove vestigio uman l’arena stampi. Altro schermo non trovo che mi scampi Dal manifesto accorger de le genti; Perchè negli atti d’allegrezza spenti Di fuor si legge com’io dentro avampi. Sì ch’io mi credo omai che monti et piagge E fiumi e selve sappian di che tempre Sia la mia vita, ch’è celata altrui. Ma pur sì aspre vie nè sì selvagge Cercar non so, ch’Amor non venga sempre Ragionando con meco, et io co llui.
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Francesco Petrarca, Il Canzoniere con le note di Giuseppe Rigutini, rifuse e di molto accresciute da Michele Scherillo. Terza edizione, rinnovata. Ulrico Hoepli, editore libraio della real casa, Milano, 1918, page 152; and with Le Rime di Francesco Petrarca secondo la revisione ultima del poeta a cura di Giuseppe Salvo Cozzo. In Firenze, G. C. Sansoni, editore. 1904, page 37.
Text as set by Haydn and Marenzio:
Solo e pensoso i più deserti campi vo misurando a passi tardi e lenti, e gl'occhi porto per fuggir intenti dove vestigio human l'arena stampi. Altro schermo non trovo che mi scampi dal manifesto accorger de le genti, perché ne gl'atti d'allegrezza spenti di fuor si legge com' io dentr'avampi. Sì ch'io mi cred' homai che monti e piagge e fiumi e selve sappian di che tempre sia la mia vita, ch'è celata altrui, ma pur sì aspre vie né si selvagge cercar non so ch'Amor non venga sempre ragionando con meco, et io con lui.
Text Authorship:
- by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), no title, appears in Canzoniere (Rerum vulgarium fragmenta) , in 1. Rime In vita di Madonna Laura, no. 35 [author's text checked 2 times 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 (Franz) Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809), "Sonetto XXXV" [ voice and orchestra ], concert aria [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Marcelle de Manziarly (1899 - 1989), "In vita di Madonna Laura : Solo e pensoso", 1958 [ baritone and piano ], from Sonnets de Pétrarque pour baryton et piano, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
- by Luca Marenzio (c1553 - 1599), "Solo e pensoso", 1599, from Ninth Book of Madrigals, no. 8 [sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in German (Deutsch), a translation by August Wilhelm Schlegel (1767 - 1845) , "Sonett XI" ; composed by Franz Peter Schubert.
- Also set in Russian (Русский), a translation by E. Solonovich ; composed by Boris Alexandrovich Arapov.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (A. S. Kline) , no title, copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Francisque Reynard)
- GER German (Deutsch) (Johann Baptist Mayrhofer)
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Peter Rastl [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 97
Alone and thoughtful, through the most desolate fields, I go measuring out slow, hesitant paces, and keep my eyes intent on fleeing any place where human footsteps mark the sand. I find no other defence to protect me from other people’s open notice, since in my aspect, whose joy is quenched, they see from outside how I flame within. So now I believe that mountains and river-banks and rivers and forests know the quality of my life, hidden from others. Yet I find there is no path so wild or harsh that love will not always come there speaking with me, and I with him.
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), no title, appears in Canzoniere (Rerum vulgarium fragmenta) , in 1. Rime In vita di Madonna Laura, no. 35
This text was added to the website: 2015-03-10
Line count: 14
Word count: 105