Ite amari sospiri

General Information

Author: Giovanni Battista Guarini, 1598 in Rime. Madrigal 43, "Donna dura poco dura"

Settings by composers

• Luca Marenzio — Ite amari sospiri  Italian SATTB
• Hans Nielsen — Ite amari sospiri  Italian SSATB
• Claudio Saracini — Ite amari sospiri  Italian S

 

Text and translations

Italian text Ite amari sospiri A la bella cagion del morir mio, E dite. O troppo di pietate ignuda; C'havete pur desio Di lungamente conservarvi cruda, Allentate il rigore, Che quel meschin si more: E darà tosto fin co'l suo morire A la durezza vostra, al suo languire.

English translation Go, bitter sighs, to the comely cause of my death and say: «O woman too barren of pity, if it really is your desire to remain cruel for a long time, relax your harshness, for that wretch is dying, and his death will soon put an end to your harshness, to his wallowing in pain». Translation by Campelli