La bella pargoletta

General information

Author: Torquato Tasso.

Settings by composers (automated)

• Andrea Feliciani — La bella pargoletta  Italian SSAAB
• Giulio Ferro — La bella pargoletta  Italian SSAATB
• Andrea Gabrieli — La bella pargoletta  Italian SSATTB

 

Texts and Translations

Italian text La bella pargoletta, Che ancor non sente Amore Nè pur noto ha per fama il suo valore, Co' begli occhi saetta, E co'l leggiadro riso, Nè s'accorge, che l'armi ha nel bel viso. Qual colpa ha del morire Della traffitta gente, Se non sa di ferire? O bellezza omicida, ed innocente! Tempo è, c'homai ti mostri Amor nelle tue piaghe i dolor nostri.

English translation The girl who in her youth's first flower Has ne'er felt love within her heart, Nor heard from others of his power, Still with her lovely eyes will dart, And all unconscious smile, Nor knows what arms she has the while. Say, then, what fault with be found, If men fall victims to those arms She never knew would wound? Oh, innocent and homicidal charms, Tis tim that you by love were shown What pain we suffer, in your own. Translation by Sir John Kingston James (1879)