| D'APRILE | APRIL | ||
| Folgore da San Gimignano | tr. Brian Cole | ||
|
D'April vi dono la gentil campagna tutta fiorita di bell'erba fresca, fontane d'acqua che non vi rincresca, donne e donzelle per vostra compagna; ambianti palafren, destrier di Spagna e gente costumata a la francesca, cantar danzar a la provenzalesca con istormenti novi d'Alemagna. E da torno vi sia molti giardini e giachita vi sia ogni persona, ciascun con reverenza adori e 'nchini a quel gentil ch'ò dato la corona de pietre preziose le più fini ch'à 'l presto Gianni o 'l re di Babilona. |
For April I give you the countryside in flower with lovely new-grown grass, pleasing fountains playing as you pass, women and girls by your side; nimble horses, Spanish steeds, and people dressed like those in France, singing and dancing as they do in Provence to music played on new German reeds. And all will be stretched out at ease in many gardens all around, all will worship, bow their knees to that gentle one whom I have crowned with finer jewels than Prester John would seize or that the King of Babylon ever owned. |
Click here 2 for another translation of this poem.
Trans. Copyright: Brian Cole 2005