He

If thou to be a nun,

proud maid, didst flee away,

Thy convent I would find,
To win so fair a boon

and where I was I'd stay ;

right gladly would I pay :

I'd be there at the dawn and twilight hour,
Until at last I had thee in my power.

She

Alas, most hapless maid,
Dear Saviour Jesus Christ,
Silence this man, I pray,

destined to suffer wrong!

to Whom my hopes belong, he doth blaspheme too long!

Let him go seeking through the world so wide,
He'll find a lovelier lady for his bride.

He

Calabria, Lombardy

and Tuscany all through,

Constantinople, Rome,

Pisa and Genoa too,

Babylon, Barbary, I've searched and searched anew,
But found no woman lovely as thou art,
Dearest and sovereign lady of my heart.

She

Since thou dost love me so

Go ask me, love, of both

I need no more repine, mother and father mine;

If they thereto agree lay thou my hand in thine,

Then in the abbey take me soon to wife,
And I will do thy bidding all my life!

ch' eo deggia trovare, ch' io vegna a compimento! in voi, madonna, amare,

ch'a voi piace, amore, farò onne mia possanza Dato aggio lo meo core

e tutta mia speranza

e no mi partiraggio

in vostro piacimento !

da voi, donna valente,

ch' eo v' amo dolcemente,

e piace a voi ch' eo aggia intendimento!

Valimento

mi date, donna fina,

che lo mio core ad esso voi s' inchina.

e

di sì amoroso bene, ch' ancora deggio avere tutta la mia spene :

S' io inchino, ragion aggio chè spero, e vo sperando allegro meo coraggio fui dato in voi amando, e veggio li sembianti che aspetto gioia intera.

ed in vostro volere ;

di voi, chiarita spera,

Ed ho fidanza che lo mio servire
aggia a piacere a voi, che siete fiore
sor l' altre donne, e avete più valore.

e tutta caunoscenza ;
vostro pregio contare,
secondo mia credenza,
alta, sì bella, e pare,

Valor sor l'altre avete, null' homo non poría di tanto bella sete, non è donna che sia nè ch' aggia insegnamento La vostra cera umana

di voi, donna sovrana.

mi dà conforto, e facemi allegrare. Allegrare mi posso, donna mia, più conto mi ne tegno tuttavia.

FREDERICK II, 1194-1250

INCE, love, 'tis thy desire

Certes I will aspire Madonna, unto thee

that I should find a tune, to fashion one right soon! my heart's true love is given,

And for thy pleasure, see,
Madonna, I from thee

I love thee tenderly,

O apprehend my heart!

my every hope hath striven! will never more depart.

Madonna sweet, give virtue unto me,

And let this heart of mine be bowed to thee!

before so fond a boon,

to hope that very soon renewed, my hope as well: into thy power fell;

'Tis fitting I should bow
And I am tempted now
My jocund courage be
Lo, I in loving thee,
Thy face is in my sight
Wherein I seek delight,
Trusting my service here

like to a shining sphere

Be pleasing unto thee who art the flower
Among all women and hast richest dower.

Than others rarer far,
No men on earth there are
Thou art so passing fair;
Can match thee anywhere,
Nor can her wit compare
Light heart consoled I bear
Because of thy kind mien.

more virtuous as well;

who can appraise thy spell, no woman, nay, trust me, whatever her degree, with thine, O lady queen.

Madonna, though to gladness I am fain
Yet wiser he who doth his mirth restrain.

RINALDO D'AQUINO. Secolo XIII

G

IÀ mai non mi conforto, Inè mi voglio rallegrare: le navi son giunte al porto e vogliono colare. Vassene lo più gente in terra d' oltre mare : oi me, lassa dolente, e como degio fare?

Vassene in altra contrata e no lo mi manda a dire, ed io rimagno ingannata, tanti sono li sospire

che mi fanno gran guerra la notte co' la dia ;

nè 'n cielo ned in terra, non mi pare ch' io sia.

Santus, santus, santus Deo

qui in Vergine venisti,
salva e guarda l' amor meo
poi da me lo dipartisti :
oi alta potestade,
temuta e dottata,

il dolze mi' amistade
ti sia raccomandata !

La croce salva la gente

e me face disviare ;

la croce mi fa dolente,

e non mi val Dio pregare.
Oi croce pellegrina,
perchè m' hai sì distrutta?
oi me, lassa tapina !

ch' i' ardo e 'ncendo tutta!

RINALDO D'AQUINO. XIIIth Century

O

COMFORT doth avail me nought,

For mirth I am not fain:

The ships now gathered into port
Will hoist their sails again.
Full many a wight afar will go
To lands beyond the sea :
Alas, so deeply versed in woe,
What will become of me?

To other countries they are borne Yet tell me not a word,

So I remain behind forlorn,

The while my sighs are heard

Tormenting me all through the night,
Tormenting me by day;

Nor heaven nor earth I see aright,
I know not where I stray.

O holy, holy God, O Thou
Who art the Virgin's own,
Do Thou protect my love since now
I have been left alone :

O high and mighty potentate,

O God of awe and fear,
I pray Thee be compassionate
Towards my love so dear!

The cross that saveth everyone

Doth lead me from the way ;
The cross for me hath sorrow won,
In vain to God I pray.

O pilgrim cross, why hast thou, say,
Brought me to such a plight?
I burn, I am consumed away,
Most miserable wight!