Fenice fu’ e vissi By: Jacopo da Bologna

Editions

Singable Translation PDF By: Carol Anne Perry Lagemann (CC BY SA 4.0)

Info

Number of Voices: 2
Voicings: AT , AB
Date: 14th century
Language: Italian
Tags: madrigal translation Trecento

Lyrics

Lyrics Direct Translation Poetic Translation
Fenice fu' e vissi pura e morbida, I was a phoenix and I lived pure and delicate, A phoenix I was, and I lived finely and purely,
Et or son trasmutata in una tortora And now I am transformed into a turtledove And now to mildest turtledove am transmuted,
Che vollo con Amor per le bell' ortora. That flies with Love through the beautiful orchards. That flies with Love through orchards sublimely fruited.
Arbor secho n' aqua torbida Dry trees and murky water The thirsty trees and murky pools surely
No' me deleta, may per questo dubito, Do not delight me, but because of this doubt, Do not delight me, so because I'm suspicious,
Va nel' astate l'inverno ven e subito. Go in summer, winter comes quickly. I go in summer; winter's sudden and vicious.
Tal vissi e tal me vivo e posso scrivere So I lived and so I live and I can write So I was alive and so now I live and say clearly:
Ch' a donna non è più chè onesta vivere. That for a woman there is no more than to live honestly. All you can do is live for a woman sincerely.
Jacopo da Bologna Stolba, K Marie, ed. The Development of Western Music: An Anthology. 3rd ed. Vol. I. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 1998. Print. Carol Anne Perry Lagemann