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by Torquato Tasso (1544 - 1595)

Sovente, allor
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Sovente, allor che in su gli estivi ardori
giacean le pecorelle a I'ombra assise,
ne la scorza de' faggi e de gli allori
segnò l'amato nome in mille guise,
e de' suoi strani et infelici amori 
gli aspri successi in una scorza incise,
e in rileggendo poi le proprie note
rigò di belle lagrime le gote.

E dicea piangendo: "In voi serbate 
questa dolente istoria, amiche piante;
perché se fia ch' a le vostr'ombre grate
giarnai soggiorni alcun fedele amante,
senta svegliarsi al cor dolce pietate
de le sventure mie sì varie e tante, 
e dica: Ah troppo ingiusta empia mercede
diè Fortuna et Amor a sì gran fede!

"Forse avverrà, se 'l Ciel benigno ascolta
affettuoso alcun prego mortale, 
che venga in queste selve anco tal volta
quegli a cui di me forse or nulla cale;
e rivolgendo gli occhi ove sepolta 
giacerà questa spoglia inferma e frale,
tardo premio conceda a i miei martiri
di poche lagrimette e di sospiri."

Text Authorship:

  • by Torquato Tasso (1544 - 1595) [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 Sigismondo d'India (1582? - 1629?), "Sovente, allor", 1609, from Le musiche . . . do cantar solo [sung text checked 1 time]

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

  • ENG English (Edward Fairfax) , "But oft"


Researcher for this page: John Versmoren

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 24
Word count: 162

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