Al cor di zolfo, a la carne di stoppa

  Al cor di zolfo, a la carne di stoppa,
a l'ossa che di secco legno sièno;
a l'alma senza guida e senza freno
al desir pronto, a la vaghezza troppa;
  a la cieca ragion debile e zoppa
al vischio, a' lacci di che 'l mondo è pieno;
non è gran maraviglia, in un baleno
arder nel primo foco che s'intoppa.
  A la bell'arte che, se dal ciel seco
ciascun la porta, vince la natura,
quantunche sé ben prema in ogni loco;
  s'i' nacqui a quella né sordo né cieco,
proporzionato a chi 'l cor m'arde e fura,
colpa è di chi m'ha destinato al foco.

by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) , from Rime, no. 97

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

[ None yet in the database ]

by John Mitchell (1941-) , "A heart of flaming sulphur", op. 72 no. 2 (1989), from Six Sonnets by Michelangelo, no. 2.

GER German (Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt)

Date added to the website: 2008-07-10.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

A heart of flaming sulphur

A heart of flaming sulphur, flesh of tow,
Bones of dry wood, a soul without a guide
To curb the fiery will, the ruffling pride
Of fierce desires that from the passions flow;
A sightless mind that weak and lame doth go
Mid snare and pitfalls scattered far and wide
What wonder if the first chance brand
Applied to fuel massed like this should make it glow?
Add beauteous art, which brought with us from heaven,
Will conquer nature; so divine a power
Belongs to him who strives with every nerve.
If I was made for art, from childhood given
A prey for burning beauty to devour,
I blame the mistress I was born to serve.

by John Addington Symonds (1840-1893) , from The Sonnets of Michael Angelo Buonarroti and Tommaso Campanella now for the first time translated into rhymed English, published 1878

a text in Italian by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) , from Rime, no. 97 GER

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by John Mitchell (1941-) , "A heart of flaming sulphur", op. 72 no. 2 (1989), from Six Sonnets by Michelangelo, no. 2.

Date added to the website: 2003-11-09.