Perché tuo gran bellezze al mondo sièno

Perché tuo gran bellezze al mondo sièno
in donna più cortese e manco dura,
prego se ne ripigli la natura
tutte quelle c'ognor ti vengon meno,
e serbi a riformar del tuo sereno
e divin volto una gentil figura
del ciel, e sia d'amor perpetua cura
rifarne un cor di grazia e pietà pieno.
E serbi poi i mie sospiri ancora,
e le lacrime sparte insieme accoglia
e doni a chi quella ami un'altra volta.
Forse a pietà chi nascerà in quell'ora
la moverà co' la mie propia doglia,
né fie persa la grazia c'or m'è tolta.

by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) , no title, from Rime, no. 230

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 Erich J. Wolff (1874-1913) , "Da deiner Schönheit Glanz mich hat besiegt", Lieder no. 12, published 1914.

ENG English (John Addington Symonds)

Date added to the website: 2008-08-06.

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 Prayer to Nature: Amor Redivivus

That thy great beauty on our earth may be
   Shrined in a lady softer and more kind,
   I call on nature to collect and bind
   All those delights the slow years steal from thee,
And save them to restore the radiancy
   Of thy bright face in some fair form designed
   By heaven; and may Love ever bear in mind
   To mould her heart of grace and courtesy.
I call on nature too to keep my sighs,
   My scattered tears to take and recombine,
   And give to him who loves that fair again:
More happy he perchance shall move those eyes
   To mercy by the griefs wherewith I pine,
   Nor lose the kindness that from me is ta'en!

by John Addington Symonds (1840-1893) , "A Prayer to Nature: Amor Redivivus", 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) , no title, from Rime, no. 230

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 ]

Date added to the website: 2008-08-12.