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[Chi vuol aver]1 felice e lieto il core, non segua il crudo Amore, quel lusinghier che ancide, quando più scherza e ride; ma tema di beltà, di leggiadria l'aura fallace e ria. Al pregar non risponda, alla promessa non creda: e se s'appressa, fugga pur, che baleno è quel ch'alletta; né mai balena Amor, se non saetta.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Monteverdi: "Chi vol haver"
Authorship
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Sigismondo d'India (1582? - 1629?), "Chi vuol aver felice", 1615, from Il Terzo Libro de Madrigali, no. 17. [ sung text verified 1 time]
- by Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643), "Chi vol haver felice e lieto il core", published 1638 [vocal quintet], from Libro VIII: Madrigali guerrieri e amorosi, no. 17, a 5 voci, cantato a voce piena, alla francese [ sung text verified 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (unknown or anonymous translator) , "If you wish your heart to be happy and gay"
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2018, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: John Versmoren
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 57
Celui qui veut garder le cœur gai et léger, ne suit pas l'amour cruel, ce flatteur qui tue, quand il joue et rit ; mais qu'il craigne de beauté, de légèreté, son apparence trompeuse et coupable. Qu'il ne réponde pas à ses prières, sa promesse, ne la crois pas : et s'il s'approche, fuis aussi, c'est un éclair qui attire ; il n'y a jamais d'éclair de l'amour sans flèche.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Chi vol haver felice e lieto il core" = "Celui qui veut garder le cœur gai et léger"
"Chi vuol aver felice" = "Celui qui veut garder le cœur gai "
Authorship
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2018 by Guy Laffaille, (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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- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Giovanni Battista Guarini (1538 - 1612)
This text was added to the website: 2018-02-03
Line count: 10
Word count: 70