Firstpublished:1557 in Il secondo libro di madrigali a 5 voci (Antonio Gardano press, Venice) Description:
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Original text and translations
Italian text
Liete piante, verdi erbe, limpide acque,
Spelunca opaca e di fredde ombre grata,
Dove la bella Angelica che nacque
Di Galafron, da molti invano amata,
Spesso ne le mie braccia nuda giacque;
De la commodità che qui m’è data,
Io povero Medor ricompensarvi
D’altro non posso, che d’ognior lodarvi.
E di pregare ogni signore amante,
e cavallieri e damigelle, e ognuna
persona, o paesana o viandante,
che qui sua volontà meni o Fortuna;
ch’all’erbe, all’ombre, all’antro, al rio, alle piante
dica: benigno abbiate e sole e luna,
e de le ninfe il coro, che proveggia
che non conduca a voi pastor mai greggia.
English translation
Translation by John Harrington
Ye pleasant plants, greene herbs, and waters faire,
And cave with smell and gratefull shadow mixt
Where sweet Angellyca, daughter and heir
Of Galafronne, on whom in vaine were fixt
Full many hearts, with me did oft repaire
Alone and naked lay mine armes betwixt,
I, poore Medore, can yeeld but prayse and thanks
For these great pleasures found amid your banks.
And pray each Lord whom Cupid holds in pray,
Each knight, each dame, aud eu'ry one beside,
Or gentle or meane sort that passe this way,
As fancie or his fortune shall him guide,
That to the plants, herbs, spring, and caue he say,
Long may the Sun and Moon maintaine your pride,
And ye faire crew of Nymphs make such purueyance,
As hither come no heards to your annoyance.
Italian text
English translation