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CCCLXXXV.

Ah me! where is my true love;

Why comes not Damon nigh me?
Alas! I fear some new love

Has caus'd my dear to fly me!

Sigh not, sigh not, my true love;
Nor let my absence grieve thee:
Oh! think not that a new love

Can make thy Damon leave thee.

The original words (to which the above have no relation) are Caggia fuoco dal cielo. The Music is by Felice Anerio, who according to some accounts was Maestro di Capella, at Rome, shortly after the death of Palestrina.

Morley has taken the leading feature of this Madrigal, and called it his own. See one of his Canzonets for two voices, "Fire and Lightning."

CCCLXXXVI.

Damon to Cynthia fair a rose presented,
With April's fragrant perfume sweetly scented:
While her soft cheek such beauties did disclose,
It seem'd twin sister to that blushing rose.
Ah me! I needs must languish !
Quoth he, and sigh'd in anguish :
For tho' my gift her breast adorneth,
Fair Cynthia still the giver scorneth.

After many vain attempts to translate the beautiful expression rosa donatrice, in the last line of the Italian version,

I was obliged to change the idea of the sonnet in some small degree, by making Damon the giver. Luca Marenzio is the composer of the music; the original Italian is as follows:

"Donò Cynthia a Damone una rosa

"Cred' io di Paradiso:

"E si vermiglia in viso
"Donandola si fecè, e si vezzosa;

"Che parea rosa che donasse rosa.
"Allor diss' il pastore,

"Con un sospir d'amore,
"Perchè degno non sono,

"D'haver la rosa donatrice in dono?"

CCCLXXXVII.

When April, deck'd in roses gay,
Leads on the cheerful spring;
Merrily on the greenwood spray,
In varied notes the birds do sing.

But sweeter far it is to hear,

When Phoebus high is mounting,
In yonder grove my Clora dear

Her tale of love recounting.

The original Italian with a more literal translation will be found under No. XLVII. My version is adapted to the music of Luca Marenzio.

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Imitated from one of the "Canzone alla Napolitana,"

music by B. Donato, 1558.

"Chi la galliarda, Donne, vo imparare;

"Venite a noi, chi siamo maestri fini :

"Chi di sera e mattutini

"Mai manchiamo di sonare."

Tan tan ta ri ra.

CCCLXXXIX.

Hence dull care and sadness!
Welcome joy and gladness!

Sly Love with skilful art,

Had well nigh caught my heart;

Now it in peace reposes,

Spite of his flatt'ring gloses;

Shoot, Love, thine arrows spare not,

For all thy darts I care not.

From the following ballet, Music by Gastoldi, A.D. 1570.

“Viver lieto voglio

“Senza alcun cordoglio.
“Tu puoi restar, Amor,
"Di saettarmi il cor.

"Spendi pungenti strali
"Ove non paian frali:
"Nulla ti stimo poco,
"E di te prendo gioco."

CCCXC.

With sad sorrow wasting,

The live-long day I wander all alone:

At night no slumber tasting,

To Cynthia pale I make my love-sick moan.

Deep sighs my bosom rend,

My tears in show'rs descend:

Yet all my grief is vain,

Nor sighs, nor tears can cure my pain.

Founded upon a Madrigal, (Music by Luca Marenzio,) the first words of which are "Consumando mi vo."

CCCXCI.

Two nymphs well skill'd in Cupid's wiles

By silent art the one beguiles;

The other, when she speaks and sweetly smiles:

Both equal are in beauty,

And worthy of all duty.

Once I sigh'd for sweet Phillis,

Now I burn for Amarillis.

Thus love beguiles my poor deluded heart,
Alas! no charm avails against his art:

For if perchance

I 'scape the glance

Of Phillis' sparkling eye;

Unhappy wight!

In woful plight

By Amarillis' frown I die.

Paraphrased from a Madrigal, (Music by Luca Marenzio) beginning "Coppia di Donn' altera."

CCCXCII.

O Lady dear, that sparkling eye

With hope and fear my soul entrances:
Darting around such changeful glances;
For when you smile-my hope advances :
But when you frown,-ah me! I die.
Since then I live or die,

Fair lady, by a glance from thee;

O, may that sparkling eye

For ever sweetly smile on me.

Music by Luca Marenzio.

A paraphrase from the following sonnet:

Occhi lucenti e belli,

Com' esser puo ch' in un medesm' istante,
Nascan da voi si nove forme e tante?

Lieti, vaghi, superb', humili, altieri,
Vi mostrat' in un punto, onde di speme
E di timor m' empiete;

E tanti affetti dolc', acerb', e fieri,
Nel cor arso per voi vengono insieme;

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