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

Se'l mie rozzo martello i duri sassi
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Our translations:  CAT LIT
Se'l mie rozzo martello i duri sassi
forma d'uman aspetto or questo o quello,
dal ministro, ch'el guida iscorgie e tiello,
prendendo il moto, va con gli altrui passi:

Ma quel divin, ch'in ciela alberga e stassi,
altri, e sè più, col proprio andar fa bello;
e se nessun martel senza martello
si può far, da quel vivo ogni altro fassi.

E perchè 'l colpo è di valor più pieno
quant' alza più se stesso alla fucina,
sopra 'l mie, questo al ciel n'è gito a volo.

Onde a me non finito verrà meno,
s' or non gli dà la fabbrica divina
aiuto a farlo, c' al mondo era solo.

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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 page: Caroline Diehl

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 110

After the death of Vittoria Colonna: Irreparable loss
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano) 
When my rude hammer to the stubborn stone
    Gives human shape, now that, now this, at will,
    Following his hand who wields and guides it still,
    It moves upon another's feet alone:

But that which dwells in heaven, the world doth fill
    With beauty by pure motions of its own;
    And since tools fashion tools which else were none,
    Its life makes all that lives with living skill.

Now, for that every stroke excels the more
    The higher at the forge it doth ascend,
    Her soul that fashioned mine hath sought the skies:

Wherefore unfinished I must meet my end,
    If God, the great artificer, denies
    That aid which was unique on earth before.

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Based on:

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: 114