A piè d’un verde alloro assisi un dì
Eraclito e Democrito su’i fiori
vidder per l’aria andar schiere d’amori
e tra’ lor favellarono così:
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At the foot of a green laurel sat one day
Heraclitus and Democritus upon the flowers
watching flocks of lovers stroll through the air
and spoke to each other thus: |
(Heraclitus) È pur da piangere
(Democritus) è pur da ridere,
sentir ogn’hor gl’amanti stridere.
Ch’un duro cor non si può frangere,
(Heraclitus) oh miseria,
(Democritus)oh follia,
se l’impietà di ria Beltà piegar non lice
(Heraclitus) mori infelice,
(Democritus)fuggi infelice,
che d’un penoso amor il lungo tedio
altro rimedio al fin non hà nò, nò,
(Heraclitus) che morir,
(Democritus) che fuggir,
come si può.
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(Heraclitus) It makes one weep,
(Democritus) it makes one laugh,
to hear constantly the cries of lovers.
That a hardened heart cannot break,
(Heraclitus) oh wretchedness,
(Democritus) oh folly,
if the coldness of cruel beauty allows no yielding,
(Heraclitus) die unhappy ones,
(Democritus) flee unhappy ones,
since from the long tedium of a tortured love
there is no other cure than
(Heraclitus) to die,
(Democritus) to flee,
as one can. |
(Heraclitus) E come puote un moribondo Amante alla fuga fidar l’inferme piante!
Come scampar dà una Beltà severa!
Se dovunque egli fugga Amora impera. |
(Heraclitus) And how can a dying lover trust his weak feet to flight!
How to escape from cruel beauty!
since wherever he flees, Love rules. |
È pur da piangere, etc.
(Heraclitus) S’al pregar un cor s’indura, prega,
(Democritus) s’al tacer un cor s’indura, taci,
che s’havrà dà cangiar già mai ventura
(Heraclitus) tuo desir, al pregar.
(Democritus) tuo ferità, al tacer.
Non conviene trà catene à chi certo è di morte
(Heraclitus) non tentar la sorte
(Democritus) gettar i prieghi
(Heraclitus) e co’i sospir mercate
(Democritus) e’in dono havute
son le gioie d’Amor sempre più grate. |
It makes one weep, etc.
(Heraclitus) If to plead a heart is resolved, plead,
(Democritus) if to keep silent a heart is resolved, be silent,
so that fortune once might change
(Heraclitus) your desire, by pleading.
(Democritus) your wounds, by keeping silent.
It is not fitting that, in bonds, one certain of death
(Heraclitus) should tempt fate,
(Democritus) should cast forth pleas,
(Heraclitus) and bought with sighs
(Democritus) and as a freely-given gift
the pleasures of Love are even more delightful. |
(Democritus) Mà che mentre il rigor d’alta Bellezza suol nudrirsi di lagrime e che vale alimentar co’l pianto il proprio male!
(Heraclitus) Han le lagrime ancor qualche dolcezza poiche piangendo un core spesso annega nel pianto il suo dolore! |
(Democritus) But during the rigors of high Beauty one is accustomed to live on tears; and what is the point of nourishing one’s own suffering with tears!
(Heraclitus) Tears have yet their sweetness; since while weeping a heart often cancels its own grief!
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È pur da piangere, etc.
(Heraclitus) Quanti muoiono perche dentro a’i lor petti i pianti stagnano,
(Democritus) Quanti perche si lagnano mai non trovan mercè!
(Heraclitus) deh scopri, rivela ,
(Democritus) deh cela, ricopri,
amante il duolo atroce poich’in Amor per prova
(Democritus) quelche giova una volta un altra nuoce.
(Heraclitus) quelche nuoce una volta un altra giova. |
It makes one weep, etc.
(Heraclitus) How many die, because within their breasts the tears stagnate!
(Democritus) How many, because they suffer, never find mercy!
(Heraclitus) Ah, reveal, uncover,
(Democritus) ah, hide, conceal,
lovers your horrid sorrow, since in Love by experience
(Democritus) that which succeeds once another time harms.
(Heraclitus) that which harms once another time succeeds. |
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