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Giusta negativa
Original Language: Italian
Non mi dite ch'io canti
poter d'amor, perché dirò che sete
de' musici il flagello e degli amanti.
No no no signor no,
bocca non aprirò.
A chi cantar dev'io
s'il bell'idolo mio
lungi è da me?
Venga l'idolo mio
ch'io canto affé.
Non mi dite ch'io suoni,
forza del ciel, vi manderò là dove
non mancano altri a voi musici buoni.
No no no signor no,
tasto non toccherò.
A chi sonar dev'io
s'il bell'idolo mio
lungi è da me?
Venga l'idolo mio
ch'io suono affé.
English
Right Refusal
Don’t tell me to sing by the power of love,
because I’ll say that it’s the bane
of musicians and lovers.
No, no, no sir, no!
I won’t open my mouth.
To whom should I sing
if my beautiful idol
is far away from me?
Let him come
and then I’ll certainly sing!
Don’t tell me to play by the power of heaven,
or I will send you to where
there is no lack of other good musicians besides you!
No, no, no sir, no!
I won’t touch the keyboard.
To whom should I play
if my beloved is
far away from me?
Were he to come
then I would surely play!
Translated by:
Candace Magner
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Giusta Negativa
Published by Cor Donato Editions in historically correct modern transcription, including critical introductory notes on the work, editorial procedures, original texts with new English translations, and other contextual information about the piece.
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