by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374)
Translation by MacGregor, Major
Due rose fresche e colte in paradiso
Language: Italian (Italiano)
Due rose [fresche e]1 colte in paradiso l' altr' ier, nascendo il dì primo di maggio, bel dono e d' un amante antiquo e saggio tra duo minor egualmente diviso, con sì dolce parlar e con un riso da far innamorare un uom selvaggio, di sfavillante ed amoroso raggio e l' un e l'altro fe' cangiare il viso. "Non [vede un]2 simil par d' amanti il sole" dicea ridendo e sospirando insieme; e [stringendo ambedue]3, volgeasi a torno. Così partia le rose e le parole, onde 'l cor lasso ancor s' allegra e teme: o felice eloquenzia! o lieto giorno!
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 Gabrieli, Marenzio: "fresch'e"
2 Gabrieli, Marenzio: "ved'un"
3 Gabrieli, Marenzio: "stringend'ambedue"
Text Authorship:
- by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), "Sonetto CCXLV" [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 Andrea Gabrieli (c1533 - 1585), "Due rose fresch'e colte in paradiso", published 1566 [chorus], madrigal [ sung text checked 1 time]
- by Luca Marenzio (c1553 - 1599), "Due rose fresche", HWV 20, published 1585 [ ] [ sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (MacGregor, Major) , "The two roses", appears in The Sonnets, Triumphs, and other poems of Petrarch, first published 1869
Research team for this page: Steven Cox , Andrew Schneider [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 100
The two roses
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano)
Two brilliant roses, fresh from Paradise, Which there, on May-day morn, in beauty sprung Fair gift, and by a lover old and wise Equally offer'd to two lovers young: At speech so tender and such winning guise, As transports from a savage might have wrung, A living lustre lit their mutual eyes, And instant on their cheeks a soft blush hung. The sun ne'er look'd upon a lovelier pair, With a sweet smile and gentle sigh he said, Pressing the hands of both and turn'd away. Of words and roses each alike had share. E'en now my worn heart thrill with joy and dread, O happy eloquence! O blessed day!
Text Authorship:
- by MacGregor, Major , "The two roses", appears in The Sonnets, Triumphs, and other poems of Petrarch, first published 1869 [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Francesco Petrarca (1304 - 1374), "Sonetto CCXLV"
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 text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-09-03
Line count: 14
Word count: 110