Infelix ego (Orlando di Lasso)
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CPDL #23324: []
- Editor: Edward Tambling (submitted 2011-04-01). Score information: A4, 17 pages, 120 kB Copyright: CPDL
- Edition notes: At original pitch for ATTBarBB
General Information
Title: Infelix ego
Composer: Orlando di Lasso
Number of voices: 6vv Voicing: ATTBBB
Genre: Sacred, Motet
Language: Latin
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1566
Description: A setting of the beginning of the Meditation on the Miserere by Girolamo Savonarola (1452-98), written the day before his execution for heresy.
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Original text and translations
Latin text
Infelix ego, omnium auxilio destitutus, qui caelum terramque offendi: quo ibo? quo me vertam? ad quem confugiam? quis mei miserebitur? Ad caelum levare oculos non audeo, quia ei graviter peccavi, in terra refugium non invenio, quia ei scandalum fui. Quid igitur faciam? desperabo? Absit, misericors est Deus, pius est Salvator meus.
Solus igitur Deus refugium meum, ipse non despiciet opus suum, non repellet imaginem suam.
Ad te igitur, piissime Deus, tristis ac maerens venio, quoniam tu solus spes mea, tu solus refugium meum. Quid autem dicam tibi? cum oculos levare non audeam? verba doloris effundam, misericordiam tuam implorabo et dicam: miserere mei Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam.
English translation
by Edward Tambling
Unlucky me! Bereft of all aid, who against heaven and earth have offended. Where shall I go? Where shall I turn? To whom shall I flee? Who will have pity on me? I do not dare to lift up mine eyes to the heavens, because I have gravely sinned against them. I find no refuge on earth, because I have been a disgrace to it. What, therefore, am I to do? Shall I despair? Let it be far off: God is merciful; my saviour is kind.
Therefore, God alone will be my refuge: he will not despise the work of his hands, nor repel his own image.
Therefore, to thee, most loving God, do I come, sad and grieving: for thou alone art my hope, thou alone my refuge. But what am I to say to thee, since I dare not lift up mine eyes? I shall pour out words of sorrow, implore thy mercy and say: have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great mercy.