Stampa, Gaspara: Ladies, who of my lord would fain be told (Rime d'amore VI (Chi vuol conoscer, donne, il mio signore) in English)

Chi vuol conoscer, donne, il mio signore,

miri un signor di vago e dolce aspetto,

giovane d’anni e vecchio d’intelletto,

imagin de la gloria e del valore:

di pelo biondo, e di vivo colore,

di persona alta e spazioso petto,

e finalmente in ogni opra perfetto,

fuor ch’un poco oimè lassa! empio in amore.

E chi vuol poi conoscer me, rimiri

una donna in effetti ed in sembiante

imagin de la morte e de’ martiri,

un albergo di fé salda e costante,

una, che, perché pianga, arda e sospiri,

non fa pietoso il suo crudel amante. 

Ladies, who of my lord would fain be told,

Picture a gentle knight, full sweet to see,

Though young in years, in wisdom passing old,

Model of glory and of valiancy ;

Fair-haired, bright colour glowing in his face,

Tall and well-set, broad-shouldered, finally,

In all his parts a paragon of grace

Except in loving wantonly, ah me !

Who'd know myself, picture a woman wrought

In passion and in presence after pain's

And death's own bitter images, a port

Of safety where untroubled rest remains ;

One who with neither tears, nor sighs, nor zest

Wakes pity in her cruel lover's breast.