Quam pulchra es By: John Dunstable

Editions

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

Info

Number of Voices: 3
Voicings: ATB , ABB
Date: 15th century
Language: Latin
Tags: translation religious Biblical text 15th-century motet

Lyrics

LyricsPoetic Translation
Quam pulchra es et quam decoraHow beautiful you are and graceful,
carissima in deliciis.the sweetest and with such enticements.
Statura tua assimilata est palmæ,Your shapely figure is like a towering palm tree;
et ubera tua botris.your breasts are like pomegranates
Caput tuum ut carmelus.and your head is a mountaintop,
Collum tuum sicut turris eburnea.and your lovely neck a pearly fortress turret.
Veni dilecte mi;To me, O my adored;
egrediamur in agrum,come, let us go to the orchards;
et videamuslet us discover
si flores fructus parturiunt,if all the little flowers have borne fruit,
si floruerunt mala punica.if pomegranate trees are blossoming.
Ibi dabo tibi ubera mea.In the fragrant orchards, my breasts I'll give you.
Alleluia.Alleluia.
Vulgate, Song of Solomon 7Carol Anne Perry Lagemann

Direct Translation

See translation at Choral Public Domain Library.