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!

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   A. Gabrieli •   L. Marenzio 

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:

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

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


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: 104

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:

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):

    [ 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