Si, non posso il cor placarte
Con el mio fidel servire
Forza me da ti partire
Ch'io mora per amare
Mio destin spietato e forte
il tuo divo e sacro aspecto
che me fece a ti sugietto
la belleze alti che acorte
me fagir cercando morte
tanto e grave laspro affanno
chio sostegno e che me danno
gliocchi toi per contemplarte
Se non muto el fiero core
e benigna a me retorni
i mei gravi e brevi giorni
darran fine ale sue hore
pocha laude e molto errore
al tuo viver farra torto
poni speme insecur porto
che felice sia el fondarte
English translation
Yes, if I cannot calm your heart
with my faithful service:
Force me to leave you,
so that I may die of love.
My cruel and hard destiny is this:
Your divine and sacred aspect,
that made me subject to you,
the high beauty that I court,
makes me seek death.
So much and heavy, bitter torment
I carry, brought to me by my eyes
as they contemplate you.
If I can not make my fierce heart change,
or if you will not turn back benignly towards me,
my heavy and brief days
will come to an end, to their final hour.
Little praise and much blame
can cause injury to your life.
If you place your hope in an unsafe harbour:
May you still be happy as you founder.
Italian text
English translation