Chiudete l’orecchie,
Donne più sagge,
A i caldi preghi, a i pianti
De gli huomini inconstanti!
Ogni una si specchie;
Nè le schernite,
Nè le tradite,
Tanto ci dolgono,
Fin che ci colgono,
Poi voltan’ mancatori altrove il piè,
Credetelo a mè!
Non sia chi si pieghi
A mendicate parolette a sguardi,
A sospir tronchi e tardi,
A lagrime! a preghi!
Gli antichi esempii
Vi mostron gli empii:
Impareno a piangere,
Solo per frangere
Nostra fermezz’e poi mancar di fè -
Credetelo a mè!
Theseo l’infido
Innamora rapisce
e poscia inganna,
La misera Arianna.
La lascia al lido
preda al duolo,
Poi fugge a volo.
Tanto ci pregano,
Fin che ci piegano;
Poi danno al nostr’Amor dura mercè -
Credetelo a mè!
Bireno il crudo
A divenir più caute oggi v’invita:
Lascia beltà rapita
Su un scoglio ignudo.
Indi’l crudele
Spiega le vele.
Ah! se pur amano,
Tosto disamano
Quest’infedeli e poi mancan di fè -
Credetelo a mè!
English text
Close your ears
O wiser ladies
To the heated beseechings, to the tears
Of inconstant men!
Each one of you – look at yourselves
Do not be scorned
Do not be betrayed
They will give you so much pain
Until at last they catch you
Then they will turn their feet elsewhere -
Believe you me!
Do not be the one who gives in
To begging words and glances,
To sighs – short-lived and late –
To tears and prayers!
Examples drawn from antiquity
Show us that these wicked men
Learn how to weep
Only to break our resolve
And then they break their word –
Believe you me!
Unfaithful Theseus
Enamoured, kidnapped
and deceived
Wretched Arianna.
Abandoned her on the shore,
A prey to her grief
Then he flees.
(Men) plead so much
Until we women give in
Then they give our love short shrift –
Believe you me!
[The tale of] cruel Bireno
Should invite you to be more cautious today:
He left the ravished beauty [Atalanta]
On a deserted shore,
Then the cruel [monster]
Sailed away.
Ah! Even if these faithless men love,
They soon fall out of love,
and then they break their word –
Believe you me!
Italian text
English text