VEDUT' HO LA LUCENTE STELLA
DIANA ...		 NOW I HAVE SEEN THE SHINING
MORNING STAR ...
Guido Guinizellitr. Brian Cole
Vedut' ho la lucente stella diana,
ch'appare anzi che'l giorno rend'albore,
c'ha preso forma di figura umana,
sovr'ogn'altra mi par che dea splendore;
viso di neve colorato in grana
occhi lucenti gai e pien d'amore;
non credo che nel mondo sia cristiana
si piena di beltate e di valore.

Ed io da lo su' amor son assalito
con sė fera battaglia di sospiri
ch'avanti a lei di dir non seri' ardito:
cosė conoscess'ella i miei disiri,
che, senza dir, di lei seria servito
per la pietá ch'avrebbe de' martiri.
 Now I have seen the shining morning star
that comes before the day awakes the dawn.
It seems the brightest in the sky, by far,
and has assumed the shape of a human form.
Its face resembles snow but tinged with red,
so gay and full of love, with shining eyes.
I think there is no Christian girl yet bred
so full of beauty, such a sovereign prize.

And I am quite beset with love for her,
assailed with volleys of such fearsome sighs,
that in her presence I could say no word.
But if she were aware of my desires
then even without a word I'd be well-served
by the pity she'd take on my sorry plight.
Trans. Copyright © Brian Cole 2005 







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