Songs

I’ vidi in terra angelici costumi,
I saw angelic virtue on earth
E celesti bellezze al mondo sole;
and heavenly beauty on terrestrial soil,
Tal che di rimembrar mi giova, e dole:
so I am sad and joyful at the memory,
Che quant’io miro, par sogni, ombre, e fumi.
and what I see seems dream, shadows, smoke:

E vidi lagrimar que’ duo bei lumi,
and I saw two lovely eyes that wept,
Ch’han fatto mille volte invidia al sole;
that made the sun a thousand times jealous:
Ed udì’ sospirando dir parole
and I heard words emerge among sighs
Che farian gir i monti, e stare i fiumi.
that made the mountains move, and halted rivers.

Amor! senno! valor, pietate, e doglia
Love, Judgement, Pity, Worth and Grief,
Facean piangendo un più dolce concento
made a sweeter chorus of weeping
D’ogni altro, che nel mondo udir si soglia.
than any other heard beneath the moon:

Ed era ‘l cielo all’armonia s’intento
and heaven so intent upon the harmony
Che non si vedea in ramo mover foglia.
no leaf was seen to move on the boughs,
Tanta dolcezza avea pien l’aer e ’l vento.
so filled with sweetness were the wind and air.