Apollo, s'anchor vive il bel desio

General information

Lyricist: Francesco Petrarca

Settings by composers

• Luca Marenzio
  • 1st 8 lines SATB
  • last 6 lines SATB

Text and translations

Italian text Apollo, s'anchor vive il bel desio che t'infiammava a le thesaliche onde, et se non ài l'amate chiome bionde, volgendo gli anni, già poste in oblio: dal pigro gielo et dal tempo aspro et rio, che dura quanto 'l tuo viso s'asconde, difendi or l'onorata et sacra fronde, ove tu prima, et poi fu' invescato io; et per vertú de l'amorosa speme, che ti sostenne ne la vita acerba, di queste impressïon l'aere disgombra; sí vedrem poi per meraviglia inseme seder la donna nostra sopra l'erba, et far de le sue braccia a se stessa ombra. Canzoniere 34

English translation Apollo, if that sweet desire is still alive that inflamed you by the river of Thessaly, and if with the passing years you've not already forgotten that beloved blonde hair: defend the honoured and sacred leaves now, where you long ago, and I lately, were caught, through the slow frost and harsh and cruel time that is endured while you hide your face: and by the power of that amorous hope that sustained you, though life was bitter, disburden the air of this dark weather: so we may see by a miracle together our lady seated on the grass lifting her arms to make herself a shade. Translation by Anthony S. Kline ©