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O serene brow

O serene brow,
O golden tresses
that bind my heart
with a strong chain.

So sweet is my pain,
bitterness born
from the sweetness
that joy brings.

O perky cheeks,
O lilies, excitedly
joined and married
in purple and roses.

Nature takes its ease
among wine colours,
the glad, the ardent,
the joys of love.

O richest treasure,
O heavenly beauty,
have mercy on me,
I die while adoring you.

Offer me solace
beautiful loving eyes,
show me compassion,
I adore you while dying.

English translation by Paul Archer of the text of O fronte serena by Giovanni Girolamo Kapsberger (c1580-1651)) from Libro secondo di villanelle no. 9 (1619). See the copyright notice below.

O fronte serena

O fronte serena,
O treccie dorate
ch'el cor mi legate
con forte catena.

Si dolc'e mia pena
che nasce amarezza,
per soma dolcezza
che gioia rimena.

O guance vezzose,
O gigli animati
congiunti e sposati,
a porpora e rose.

Natura ripose
tra vini colori,
le grati e gl'ardori
le gioie amorose.

O ricco tesoro,
O Ciel di beltade,
mercede, pietade,
io moro e v'onoro.

Porgete ristoro
begl'occhi amorosi,
volgete pietosi,
v'onoro e mi moro.

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.

For more translations into English of early music texts, go to:
Translations of early music texts.

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