Vago augelletto che cantando vai

General information

Author: Francesco Petrarca in Il Canzoniere. 353

Settings by composers

• Claudio Monteverdi SSATTTB (lines 1-8 only)
• Giaches de Wert SATTB
• Andrea Gabrieli
• Mateo Flecha el Joven

Text and translations

Italian text Vago augelletto che cantando vai, over piangendo, il tuo tempo passato, vedendoti la notte e 'l verno a lato e 'l dí dopo le spalle e i mesi gai, se, come i tuoi gravosi affanni sai, cosí sapessi il mio simile stato, verresti in grembo a questo sconsolato a partir seco i dolorosi guai. I' non so se le parti sarian pari, ché quella cui tu piangi è forse in vita, di ch'a me Morte e 'l ciel son tanto avari; ma la stagione et l'ora men gradita, col membrar de' dolci anni et de li amari, a parlar teco con pietà m'invita. Canzoniere 353

English translation Little wandering bird that goes singing your time gone by, with weeping notes, seeing the night and the winter near, and the day and all the joyful months behind, if, knowing your own heavy sorrows, you could know of my state like your own, you would fly to this disconsolate breast to share your grievous sadness with me. I cannot say our measures would be equal, since perhaps the one you cry for still has life, which in my case Death and heaven have denied: but the fading season and the hour, with the memory of sweet years and bitter, invite me to speak to you, of pity. Translation by Anthony S. Kline ©

Czech translation Rozmilý ptáčku, který stále zpíváš, naříkej raději nad svým časem, který se krátí. Vždyť před nocí a mrazem marně se skrýváš. a měsíce jasu a slunce svitu se už nenavrátí. Kdybys jen věděl, jak příliš se podobá tvůj bědný osud neštěstí mému, zalétal bys ke mně, básníku věnčenému.