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Sacchetti, Franco: Ballata (Le Montanine in English)

Portre of Sacchetti, Franco

Le Montanine (Italian)

“O vaghe montanine pasturelle,

d’ onde venite sì leggiadre e belle?

Qual è ’l paese dove nate sète,

che sì bel frutto più che gli altri adduce?

Creature d’ amor vo’ mi parete,

tanto la vostra vista adorna luce!

Nè oro nè argento in voi riluce,

e malvestite parete angiolelle.”

 

   “Noi stiamo in alpe presso ad un boschetto;

povera capannette è ’l nostro sito;

col padre e con la madre in picciol letto

torniam la sera dal prato fiorito,

dove natura ci ha sempre nodrito,

guardando il dì le nostre pecorelle.”

 

   “Assai si de’ doler vostra bellezza,

quando tra monti e valli la mostrate;

chè non è terra di sì grande altezza

dove non foste degne et onorate.

Deh, ditemi se voi vi contentate

di star ne’ boschi così poverelle?”

 

   “Più si contenta ciascuna di noi

andar drieto alle mandre alla pastura,

che non farebbe qual fosse di voi

d’ andar a feste dentro a vostre mura.

Ricchezza non cerchiam nè più ventura

che balli, canti e fiori e ghirlandelle.”

 

   Ballata, s’ i’ fosse come già fui,

diventerei pastore e montanino;

e, prima c’ io il dicesse altrui,

serei al loco di costor vicino;

et or direi “Biondella” et or “Martino,”

seguendo sempre dove andasson elle.



Uploaded byP. T.
Source of the quotationhttp://elfinspell.com/SacchettiPoems.html

Ballata (English)

“O little shepherdesses fresh and fair,

Say whither do you come so soft and rare?

Say, whither lies the land where you were born,

Where sweeter fruits than any do betide?

With radiant smiles your faces you adorn,

Yet neither gold nor silver is your pride,

I trow Love fashioned you with him to bide,

Angels you seem yet tattered raiment wear!”

 

   “We live upon a hill beside some trees;

Humble our cot, we sleep in tiny bed

Both one and all together at our ease

When homewards we our gentle flocks have led

At eventide; by nature we are fed

Day after day in flowery meadows fair.”

 

    “Your loveliness might well indeed make moan,

Which only among hills and vales is seen,

Though the proud cities of the world would own

It worthy to hold honourably, I ween!

Poor lassies, had you not far happier been

Out of these woods in more refinèd air?”

 

   ”Nay, we are well contented with our fate,

And, when we tend our flocks in pastures bright,

Merrier we are than you who go in state

To revel in your chamber shuttered tight;

Riches we do not crave nor gold delight,

But weave gay songs and garlands for our hair!”

 

   O Ballad, were I now as long ago,

I’d be a shepherd lad upon a hill;

I’d mark these lassies’ goings, but none should know;

I’d seek their company with a right good will;

For ever we’d be calling “Jack” and “Jill,”

And wheresoe’er they went I’d follow there.



Uploaded byP. T.
Source of the quotationhttp://elfinspell.com/SacchettiPoems.html

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