Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at 
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Mentr'io mirava fiso de la mia donna gl'occh'ardenti e belli, due vaghi spiritelli fiammeggiando n'uscir a l'improviso, e leggiadretti e snelli, facendo mille scherz'e mille giri, mille fughe d'intorno e mille aguati dentr'al sen adorno, mi trassero dal cor mille sospiri, onde con dolc'ed amorosi lai, pietà, pietà, gridai.
Authorship
- by Torquato Tasso (1544 - 1595) [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 Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643), "Mentr'io mirava fiso", published 1590 [ vocal quintet], from Libro II de madrigali, no. 11, madrigal [text not verified]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , title 1: "Pendant que je regardais", copyright © 2013, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-09-02
Line count: 11
Word count: 49
Pendant que je regardais, Les beaux yeux ardents de ma dame, Deux petits diables mignons Sortirent soudain comme des flammes, Et légers et gracieux Faisaient mille plaisanteries et tours, S'échappaient mille fois tout autour, Et posaient mille pièges sur ce doux sein, Et tiraient mille soupirs de mon cœur ; Aussi d'une voix douce et languissante d'amour, Je criai : « Pitié, pitié ! »
Authorship
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to French (Français) copyright © 2013 by Guy Laffaille, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: 
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Torquato Tasso (1544 - 1595)
This text was added to the website: 2013-03-09
Line count: 11
Word count: 65