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Io d'odorate fronde de bei fiori
Che la felice arabbia in grembo asconde
Te sacra un gran altar tra verde alhori
Che arda mai sempre qui vicin al onde.
E de le nimphe de la nobil Clori
Meco la più leggiadra in queste sponde
Cantera, cantera le due lodi ad una
Fin che col sol il ciel tutto si inbruna.
English translation
With the sweet-smelling leaves of lovely flowers
that grow in the fertile region of Arabia,
I dedicate to you a great altar among green laurels
where a flame will eternally burn here near the water.
Here on these banks the prettiest of the nymphs who escort the noble Chloris
will join me in singing the praises of an incomparable woman
until the sun sets and the sky turns dark. Translation by Mick Swithinbank