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Begli occhi
Original Language: Italian
Voi pur, begl'occhi, sete
porte d'un paradiso,
voi tra le scherzo e 'l riso
in ciel m'introducete
Ma tanto il cor m'ardete
che dal mio foco eterno
per le porte del ciel corro all'inferno.
Sì, bel seno, che tu sei
una neve animata,
sì che tua giogia grata
consola gl'ardor miei.
Ma tanto alfin godei
che grande a poco a poco
fra le falde di gel provo il mio foco.
Voi pur, bei crini, adoro,
cari dolci legami,
voi, preziosi stami
del mio ricco tesoro.
Ma della selva d'oro
se non mi fate un dono,
fra le miniere d'or povero io sono.
No, no, pomi e rubini,
che voi non pareggiate
di quelle labbra amate
i coralli divini.
Ma non mai ne' giardini
di quella bella bocca
coglier quanti vorrei baci mi tocca.
English
Beautiful Eyes, Breast, Hair, and Mouth
Beautiful eyes, you are indeed
doors to paradise:
with a tease and a laugh
you take me to heaven.
But my heart burns so fiercely
that my everlasting flame causes me to run,
from the doors of heaven to hell.
Beautiful breast, you are
living snow.
O how your graceful throat
feeds my passionate fire.
Yet so sublime is my delight,
that as it grows, little by little,
my fire burns amidst the snow.
I adore you, beautiful hair,
dear sweet bindings,
precious threads
of my rich treasure.
But if you won't give me
some of that golden tangle,
I’m impoverished amid these goldmines.
No, no, apples and rubies,
you don’t compare with
the divine corals
within those beloved lips.
Yet never, in the garden
of that beautiful mouth, could I
gather enough kisses to satisfy my yearning.
Translated by:
Richard Kolb
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Begl'Occhi, Bel Seno, Bei Crini, e Bella Bocca
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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