Qual donna attende a gloriosa fama (Cipriano de Rore)

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• CPDL #16295:  ] Finale 2007

Editor: Paul R. Marchesano (submitted 2008-03-04).   Score information: Letter, 8 pages, 216 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: transposed up minor third for mixed voicing

General Information

Title: Qual donna’attende a gloriosa fama
Composer: Cipriano de Rore

Number of voices: 5vv   Voicing: SATTB

Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: a cappella
Published: 1548

Description:

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian text

Qual donna’attende a gloriosa fama
Di seno, di valor, di cortesia, Miri fiso ne gli occhi a quella
mia Nemica che mia donna il mondo chiama.
Come s’acquist’honor come Dio s’ama,
Come giont’honestà con leggiadria,
Ivi s’impara e qual è dritta via Di gir al ciel,
che lei aspett’e brama.
Ivi’l parlar che nullo stil agguaglia,
E’l bel tacere e suoi santi costume Ch’ingegn’human non può spiegar in carte.
L’infinita bellezza ch’altrui abbaglia
Non vi s’impara che quei dolci lumi,
S’acquistan per ventura, e non per arte, e non per arte.

English translation

Doth any maiden seek the glorious fame
Of chastity, of strength, of courtesy? Gaze in the eyes of that sweet enemy
Whom all the world doth as my lady name!
How honor grows, and pure devotion's flame,
How truth is joined with graceful dignity,
There thou mayst learn, and what the path may be
To that high heaven which doth her spirit claim;
There learn soft speech, beyond all poet's skill,
And softer silence, and those holy ways
Unutterable, untold by human heart.
But the infinite beauty that all eyes doth fill,
This none can copy! since its lovely rays
Are given by God's pure grace, and not by art.