Werner Icking Music Archive: Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa

O dolorosa gioia: O dolorosa gioia,
O soave dolore,
Per cui quest'alma è mesta e lieta more!
O miei cari sospiri,
Miei graditi martiri, Del vostro duol non mi lasciate privo
Poiché sì dolce mi fa morto e vivo.

Oh dolorous joy,
Oh sweet suffering,
which makes this spirit sad, yet causes it to die happy!
Oh my beloved sighs,
my welcome torment;
do not release me from the pain you give me;
for so sweetly it makes me feel both dead and alive.

English translation by Mick Swithinbank at CPDL