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Resolutely I shall pursue
Resolutely I shall pursue
My great and noble venture:
Love, do your worst to me
And I shall die a good death.
Resolutely I shall pursue
My great and noble venture.
Heaven and Fate, do me
Good or ill as you please:
No joy or injustice can
Dishearten or embolden me:
For one is beyond me,
The other I can't escape.
Resolutely I shall pursue
My great and noble venture.
Win or lose, I expect nothing
From my venture than honour:
I'll rise to the bliss of heaven
If I am the one who wins her;
If I lose her, to the end, my heart
Will show the upmost passion.
Resolutely I shall pursue
My great and noble venture.
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Ostinato vo’ seguire by Bartolomeo Tromboncino (c1470-1535) from Frottole, Ottaviano Petrucci (1509).
Ostinato vo’ seguire
Ostinato vo’ seguire
La magnanima mia impresa:
Fame, Amor, qual voi offesa,
S’io dovesse ben morire,
Ostinato vo’ seguire
La magnanima mia impresa.
Fame, Ciel, fame, Fortuna,
Bene o male como a te piace:
Né piacer né ingiuria alcuna
Per avilirmi o far più audace:
Che de l’un non son capace,
L’altro più non po’ fuggire.
Ostinato vo’ seguire
La magnanima mia impresa.
Vinca o perda, io non l’attendo
De mia impresa altro che onore:
Sopra il ciel beato ascendo
S’io ne resto vincitore;
S’io la perdo, alfin gran core
Mostrarà l’alto desire.
Ostinato vo’ seguire
La magnanima mia impresa
Copyright notice. The translation is provided as an aid to musicians and audiences. Publication of the translation in print or digital formats is expressly forbidden unless permission from the author has been first obtained and acknowledgement of authorship is duly made. Permission will usually be granted so please contact Paul Archer with details of how you wish to make use of the translation.
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