Werner Icking Music Archive: Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa

Tu m'uccidi, o crudele: Tu m'uccidi, o crudele,
D'Amor empia homicida,
E vuoi ch'io taccia e'l mio morir non grida?
Ahi, non si può tacer l'aspro martire
Che va innanzi al morire,
Ond'io ne vo gridando:
'Oimè, ch'io moro amando!'

You are killing me, cruel lady,
Heartless murderer of love,
And you expect me to remain silent
And not to cry out that I am dying?
No, it is impossible to say nothing of the cruel torment
Which comes before death
And which compels me to cry out:
'Alas, I die loving.'

English translation by Mick Swithinbank at CPDL