Songs

Ahi, fuggitivo ben

by Francesco Rasi

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Text & Translation

Ahi, fuggitivo ben
Italian source: Francesco Rasi

Ahi, fuggitivo ben, come sì tosto
Sconsolati lasciasti i miei desiri.
Deh, come sia ch'a miei dolori accosto
Di viver lieta più lassa desiri?
O valli, o fiumi, o poggi, o tu riposto
Dolce loco pietoso a miei sospiri,
Se rimbombasti a miei gioisoi accenti
Udit'or prego i duri miei lamenti.

Alas, elusive love
English translation © Susannah Howe

Alas, elusive love, how quickly you
have disillusioned my desires.
How can you bear witness to my grief
and yet, you wretch, wish to live on in happiness?
O valleys, o rivers, o hills, o sweet and
secluded place that hears my sighs with pity,
where once you echoed my joyful words,
listen now, I beg you, to my sorrowing laments.

Ahi, fuggitivo ben
Italian source: Francesco Rasi

Alas, elusive love
English source: Susannah Howe

Ahi, fuggitivo ben, come sì tosto
Alas, elusive love, how quickly you
Sconsolati lasciasti i miei desiri.
have disillusioned my desires.
Deh, come sia ch'a miei dolori accosto
How can you bear witness to my grief
Di viver lieta più lassa desiri?
and yet, you wretch, wish to live on in happiness?
O valli, o fiumi, o poggi, o tu riposto
O valleys, o rivers, o hills, o sweet and
Dolce loco pietoso a miei sospiri,
secluded place that hears my sighs with pity,
Se rimbombasti a miei gioisoi accenti
where once you echoed my joyful words,
Udit'or prego i duri miei lamenti.
listen now, I beg you, to my sorrowing laments.

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