User talk:Mick Swithinbank

Quanto ha di dolce Amore

Hi Mick, thanks for adding English translations to the Gesualdo pieces. With respect to Quanto ha di dolce Amore, the word order that I understand would make more sense is this:

Perchè sempre io vi baci,

o dolcissime rose,

Tutto [quanto ha di dolce,

Amore] in voi ripose.

So that I would constantly kiss you,

Oh, sweetest roses,

All [the sweetness there is,

Love] has hidden in you.

Then my suggestion would be something like this (I'm not certain about the best word order here):

All the sweetness there is,

So that I would constantly kiss you,

Oh, sweetest roses,

It all has Love hidden in you.

Since the original translation is yours, feel free to change it if you agree with the above.
Best regards, Carlos 02:23, 1 April 2008 (PDT)

Thanks. I'm changing the translation with the benefit of this insight. Mick

Ecce beatam lucem

Hi Mick,

Thanks for the correction. Do you know of a translation that could be posted here?

Regards, Philip Legge_{@ Φ} 10:14, 2 April 2008 (PDT)

Aller m'y faut sur la verdure

Good evening Mick,
First i want to congratulate you for your expert translations of that beautiful renaissance music.
I have a poor knowledge of the english language and a superficial one of the french renaissance idioms.
Although, french is my langue maternelle and i happen to have read (and sung) quite a lot of renaissance chansons as well as poetry and prose of that period.
My opinion is that Aller m'y faut sur la verdure crudely means I have to make love.
I met this kind of metaphor somewhere else, i do not remember where.
Also, Janequin was acustomed to that manner of rude expressions.
Besides, green color seems in that period closely associated to physical love; see Ce mois de mai, ma verte cotte... etc
I wish i could find back all references to show that.
What do you think about it ?
Something else : Si trouvais un gallois.
I do not think Janequin talked about a welshman, which had to be but a few in Paris then.
Most probably, it must have been a man whishing to have fun, the kind she needs.
Gallois, from the infinitive Galler.
'Je plains le temps de ma jeunesse, auquel j'ai plus qu'autre gallé'
(But you know that, i am sure) Do you think the translation could be better if possible, that way ?
But of course, this is only a modest answer.

Benoit Huwart

Thanks for this. I wasn't too convinced that the reference was to a Welshman, I must admit, but didn't know the other sense. As far as the 'verdure' is concerned, I was sure that this was at least a double entendre: I'll try to find a better solution. Mick