Expert: Maria - 11/18/2007

Question
Dear Maria:
i'm a classical music lover and i'd appreciate to have this madrigali by Claudio Monteverdi(1567-1643)tranlated:

Zefiro torna

Zefiro torna,e di soave odori
l'aer fa grato,e'l pie discioglie a l'onde,
e mormorando tra le verdi fronde,
fa danzar al bel suon su'l prato i fiori.
Inghirlandat'il crin Fillide e Clori
note tempran d'amor care e gioconde;
e da monti e da valli ime e profonde
raddopian l'armonia gli antri canori;
sorge piu vaga in ciel l'aurora,e'l sole
sparge piu luci d'or,piu puro argento
fregia di Teti il bel ceruleo manto.
Sol io per selve abbandonate e sole,
l'ardor di due begli occhi e'l mio tormento,
come vuol mia ventura,or piango or canto.


Thank you in advance.
Gabriela

Answer
Hello Gabriela,

this Monteverdi-Rinuccini madrigal (music  by Claudio Monteverdi - verse by Ottavio Rinuccini) tells of Zephir, the spring wind, and of poetic sensitivities and  pains of love of an unhappy man.

So here’s the translation which is not in rhymed verses like in Italian, of course, as it would have been  impossible.

"Zephir returns"

Zephir returns and fills the air
with good scents, and warms the waters,
and, whispering in the green branches,
gets the flowers to dance in the meadow.

Phillis and Chloris with a garland of flowers
on their head, are singing  love songs,
while  the sweet harmony echoes through the woods,
valleys and caves.

A beautiful  dawn rises in the sky
and the sun is shining more, while a silver light
adorns Thetys’cerulean mantle.

I only, through lonely deserted woods,
now give way to my grief, as it's my fate,
now sing my beloved‘s beautiful eyes.


Best regards,
Maria