by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 - 1564)
Translation by John Addington Symonds (1840 - 1893)

Qua si fa elmi di calici e spade
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Our translations:  CAT FRE LIT
Qua si fa elmi di calici e spade,
e 'l sangue di Cristo si vend' a giumelle,
e croce e spine son lance e rotelle;
e pur da Cristo pazienza cade!

Ma non c'arivi più 'n queste contrade,
chè n'andré 'l sangue suo 'nsin alle stelle,
poscia che a Roma gli vendon la pelle;
e èci d'ogni ben chiuso le strade.

S' i' ebbi ma' voglia a posseder tesauro,
per ciò che qua opera da me è partita,
può quel nel manto che Medusa in Mauro.

Ma se alto in cielo è povertà gradita,
qual fia di nostro stato  il gran restauro,
s' un altro segno amorza l'altra vita?

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Researcher for this page: Caroline Diehl

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 109

On Rome in the Pontificate of Julius II
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano) 
Here helms and swords are made of chalices:
    The blood of Christ is sold so much the quart:
    His cross and thorns are spears and shields; and short
    Must be the time ere even his patience cease.

Nay let him come no more to raise the fees
    Of this foul sacrilege beyond report!
    For Rome still flays and sells him at the court,
    Where paths are closed to virtue's fair increase.

Now were fit time for me to scrape a treasure!
    Seeing that work and gain are gone; while he
    Who wears the robe, is my Medusa still.

God welcomes poverty perchance with pleasure:
    But of that better life what hope have we,
    When the blessed banner leads to nought but ill?

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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-08-12
Line count: 14
Word count: 122