Boiardo Tarocchi Poem: Chapter 4 - Amore

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[edit] Italian original: Amore

CAPITULO QUARTO DE AMORE (dardi))

1. AMORE, un che cum te cerchi bon stato,

Sollicito, animoso e prompto sia,

Che, nel fin, a chi dura el pregio è dato.

2. AMOR, dubio non è che gelosia

In qualche parte ognor non te acompagni:

Ma poca è bona, e troppa è cosa ria.

3. AMOR, termine e fin de toi guadagni

E un sempre sospirar infin a morte;

E chi un di ride, un'anno advien se lagni.

4. AMOR, questo disio stringe si forte

Di consequir quel che gl'imprime al core,

Che al effecto non par che se aprin porte.

5. AMOR ce insegna non aver timore

In qual se voglia impresa: ché un ardito

Sempre ne la sua corte è vincitore.

6. AMOR, se qualche volta ha un cor ferito,

E lo resani cum quel proprio strale,

Oh quanto è nel suo regno favorito!

7. AMOR, septe anni andar, come animale,

Fece quel savio re : ché la sua lege

El principe al suo servo adduce equale.

8. AMORE obtenne, che a guardar la grege

D'Ameto Apollo stesse, e a lui crudele

Non fu al fin poi; ma cusi i suoi correge.

9. AMOR nov'arte trova; e sotto el mele

L'esca tien sempre; e i soi servi contenta,

Quando se ne ritrova alcun fidele.

10. AMOR de ciascun servo il disio tenta;

E se `l ritrova vano, in forme tante

Il volgie, che ogni di piu se lamenta.

11. AMOR questo gran Cyclope gigante

Fece per Galatea tanto amoroso,

Che piu de lui forse non arse amante.

12. AMOR Paride fece si animoso,

Che ardito fu rapir Elena bella,

Ché ciascun cor Amor fa generoso.

13. AMORE, a Vener figlio, fece che ella

Per Adone arse e per lui tanto accese:

Ché Amor infonde ancor dal ciel sua stella.

14. AMOR fece che Jove già discese

In varie forme, in tauro, in cygno, in oro,

E Ganymede in aquila ancor prese.

E fe' Pasiphe innamorar de un Toro.

[edit] English Translation: Love

CHAPTER FOURTH ON LOVE

1. LOVE, if someone wants to be in good relations with you,

He has to be ready, courageous and prompt,

For, in the end, who holds on wins the prize.

2. LOVE, there is no doubt that jealousy

Is always with you many places:

But if it is little, it's good, too much is bad.

3. LOVE, the end and final goal of your earnings

Is a continuous sighing until you die;

And he who laughs one day, cries thereafter for an year.

4. LOVE, this desire holds so strong

Of aquiring what you impress in one's heart,

That it seems that doors do not open for your aim.

5. LOVE teaches to us not to be afraid

In every deed: because a courageous

Is always a winner in courtship.

6. LOVE, if sometimes you wound an heart,

And heal it with that same arrow,

How much it is favoured in your kingdom!

7. LOVE made that wise king go

As an animal for seven years: because its law

Makes the prince equal to his own servant.

8. LOVE made so that Apollon looked after

The herd of Admetus, and in the end it was not

Cruel to him; it corrects its people in such ways.

9. LOVE finds new arts; and under its honey

It always keeps a bait; and it makes its servants happy,

Whenever it finds one that is loyal.

10. LOVE puts to trial the desire of all its servants;

And if it finds it vain, it turns it

in so many shapes, that he complaints more every day.

11. LOVE made this big giant Cyclops

So full of love for Galatea,

That possibly no lover burned as much as he did.

12. LOVE made Paris so courageous,

That he dared to abduct beautiful Helen,

Beacause Love makes each heart generous.

13. LOVE, the son of Venus, made her

Burn for Adonis and with such flames:

Because Love infuses its star also from heaven.

14. LOVE made Jove descend many times

In different shapes, of bull, of swan, of gold,

And, in shape of eagle, he also took Ganymedes.

And it made Pasiphe fall in love with a Bull.

For commentaries and discussion (which includes comments about translation problems, please see the Discussion Page (or click on the 'discussion' tab above).
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