Werner Icking Music Archive: Carlo Gesualdo da Venosa

Qual fora, donna: Qual fora, donna, un dolce oimè d'Amore
Se quell'oimè che da voi tragge, ahi lasso,
Lieve dolor così m'incende il core?
Misero, a ciascun passo
Vo desiando, e so ch'indarno il bramo,
Che un dì col cor diciate: 'oimè ch'io t'amo'.

What purpose, lady, does a sweet sigh of love serve
if the sigh which it draws from you, alas,
so inflames my heart with welcome pain?
Wretch that I am, at each step that I take
I am filled with desire, and know it is in vain for me to hope
that one day you will say with all your heart: 'Alas how I love you'.

English translation by Mick Swithinbank at CPDL