by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374)
Translation by Susan Wollaston (flourished 1841)
Rapido fiume che d’alpestra vena
Language: Italian (Italiano)
Rapido fiume che d’alpestra vena rodendo intorno, onde ’l tuo nome prendi, notte et dí meco disïoso scendi ov’Amor me, te sol Natura mena, vattene innanzi: il tuo corso non frena né stanchezza né sonno; et pria che rendi suo dritto al mar, fiso u’ si mostri attendi l’erba piú verde, et l’aria piú serena. Ivi è quel nostro vivo et dolce sole, ch’addorna e ’nfiora la tua riva manca: forse (o che spero?) e ’l mio tardar le dole. Basciale ’l piede, o la man bella et bianca; dille, e ’l basciar sie ’nvece di parole: Lo spirto è pronto, ma la carne è stanca.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), no title, appears in Canzoniere (Rerum vulgarium fragmenta) , in 1. Rime In vita di Madonna Laura, no. 208 [author's text checked 1 time 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 Marcelle de Manziarly (1899 - 1989), "Rapido fiume", 1960 [ baritone and piano ], from Sonnets de Pétrarque pour baryton et piano, no. 2 [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John Nott)
- ENG English (Susan Wollaston) , first published 1841
- FRE French (Français) (Francisque Reynard)
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-30
Line count: 14
Word count: 106
O rapid flood! which from thy mountain...
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano)
O rapid flood! which from thy mountain bed Gnawest thy shores, whence (in my tongue) thy name; Thou art my partner, night and day the same, Where I by love, thou art by nature led: Precede me now; no weariness doth shed Its spell o'er thee, no sleep thy course can tame; Yet ere the ocean waves thy tribute claim, Pause, where the herb and air seem brighter fed. There beams our sun of life, whose genial ray With brighter verdure thy left shore adorns; Perchance (vain hope!) e'en now my stay she mourns. Kiss then her foot, her lovely hand, and may Thy kiss to her in place of language speak, The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Susan Wollaston (flourished 1841), first published 1841 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
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. 208
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- [ None yet in the database ]
Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2016-01-01
Line count: 14
Word count: 121