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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, 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"
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