Published: 1561 in Di Cipriano et Annibale madregali à 4 voci (Gardano press, Venice)
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Original text and translations
Italian text
Era il bel viso suo, quale esser suole
da primavera alcuna volta il cielo,
quando la pioggia cade, e a un tempo il sole
si sgombra intorno il nubiloso velo.
E come il rosignuol dolci carole
mena nei rami alor del verde stelo,
cosi alle belle lagrime le piume
si bagna Amore, e gode al chiaro lume.
E ne la face de' begli occhi accende
l'aurato strale, e nel ruscello amorza,
che tra vermigli e bianchi fiori scende:
e temprato che l'ha, tira di forza
contra il garzon, che ne scudo difende,
ne maglia doppia, ne ferrigna scorza;
che mentre sta a mirar gli occhi e le chiome,
si sente il cor ferito, e non sa come.
English translation
Her face was such as sometimes in the spring
We see a doubtful sky, when on the plain
A shower descends, and the sun, opening
His cloudy veil, looks out amid the rain.
And as the nightingale then loves to sing
From branch of verdant stem her dulcet strain,
So in her beauteous tears his pinions bright
Love bathes, rejoicing in the chrystal light.
The stripling heats his golden arrow's head
At her bright eyes, then slacks the weapon's glow
In streams, which falls between white flowers and red;
And, the shaft tempered, strongly draws his bow,
And roves at him, o'er whom no shield is spread,
Nor iron rind, nor double mail below;
Who, gazing on her tresses, eyes, and brow,
Feels that his heart is pierced, he knows not how.
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Italian text
English translation