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Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.

It is illegal to copy and distribute copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.

Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

See below for more information.

by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation © by Timothy Hoekman

Perle care e pregiate
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Our translations:  FRE
Perle care e pregiate
dall'ocean venute,
perché state
fra due labbra che son mute?
Gite a bocca che risponda
o tornate in grembo all'onda.

Neve, tu che cadesti
sovra un alpestre scoglio,
perché resti
in quel sen pieno d'orgoglio?
Trova un petto più gentile
o ritorna all'Alpe vile.

Oro, che nobil vanto
sei dell'Indico lido,
perché tanto
orni il crine a volto infido?
Vanne a men severa fronte
o ritorna in seno al monte.

Sangue, che sulle rose
ha Ciprigna versato,
chi ti pose
ostro bel su volto ingrato?
Corri a guance più serene
o alla dea torna in le vene.

Stelle, voi che negl'occhi
splendete di costei,
che vi tocchi
d'illustrare occhi sì rei?
Gite a ciglia meno altere
o tornate all'alte sfere.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author, "A donna bella e crudele" [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 Timothy Hoekman , "Allemanda", 2002, published 2010, first performed 2004 [ baritone and harpsichord ], from Suite italiana, no. 2, confirmed with a concert programme booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
  • by Barbara Strozzi (1619 - 1677), "A donna bella e crudele", op. 3 no. 4, published 1654 [ soprano, continuo ], from Cantate, ariete a una, due, e tre voci, no. 4 [sung text checked 1 time]

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

  • ENG English (Timothy Hoekman) , copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , "À une dame belle et cruelle", copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2017-05-21
Line count: 30
Word count: 124

Pearls, costly and precious
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano) 
Pearls, costly and precious,
that came from the ocean,
why do you dwell
between two lips that are mute?
Go to a mouth that will answer 
or return to the womb of the waves.

Snow that fell
upon the alpine rocks,
why do you rest
in that breast fuIl of pride?
Find a kinder heart
or return to the bleak Alps.

Gold, the noble pride
of the lndian shore,
why do you so much
adorn the hair of a faithless countenance? 
Go to a brow less severe 
or return to the heart of the mountain.

Blood, that on roses
was shed by Venus,
who placed your lovely
scarlet on an ungrateful face? 
Run to cheeks more serene 
or return to the veins of the goddess.

Stars, you that within her eyes 
shine,
why must you illumine 
such guilty eyes?
Go to lashes less haughty
or return to the highest spheres!

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

  • by Timothy Hoekman , copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Based on:

  • a text in Italian (Italiano) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist , "A donna bella e crudele"
    • Go to the text page.

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: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2020-10-05
Line count: 30
Word count: 150

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