YEARBOOK OF THE ALAMIRE FOUNDATION

(1) Latra traitora tu mi fai morire,
Con s’occhi pinti e con ’sa bocca bella.
Contient’un poco ’st’alma poveriella.
(2) A tal ch’ognun mi senta io lo vo’ dire,
Voi sete oggi nel mondo la più bella.
Contient’un poco ’st’alma poveriella.
(3) Se mo me dai ogn’hor mille martire,
Pensa che sempre non sarai citella.
Contient’un poco ’st’alma poveriella.
(4) Signora mia acquista amici assai,
Ca se simo hoggi non sarimo crai.
A far piacer non si perde mai.
ORLANDO DI LASSO ET AL.: A NEW READING OF THE ROMAN VILLANELLA BOOK (1555)
Thieving traitoress, you make me die,
with those painted eyes and that beautiful mouth.
Satisfy this poor soul a little.
I want to tell it to anyone who may hear me,
today you are the most beautiful woman in the world.
Satisfy this poor soul a little.
Now if you continually give me a thousand tortures,
consider that you will not aways be a young girl.
Satisfy this poor soul a little.
My lady acquire many friends,
because what we are today, we may not be tomorrow.
One never loses by giving pleasure.
Example 4. Latra traitora tu mi fai morire, Cantus, 1555 30 ; Tenor, 1558 16 , Bassus, GB Lbl, Royal
Appendix 59-62.
141