Interrotte speranze (Claudio Monteverdi)

Interrotte speranze, eterna fede,
fiamme e strali possenti in debil core;
nutrir sol di sospir un fero ardore
e celar il suo mal quand’altri il vede;

seguir di vago e fuggitivo piede
l’orme rivolte a volontario errore;
perder del seme sparso e’l frutto e’l fiore
e la sperata al gran languir mercede;

far d’uno sguardo sol legge ai pensieri
e d’un casto voler freno al desìo,
e spender lacrimando i lustri interi:

questi ch’a voi, quasi gran fasci invio,
donna crudel, d’aspri tormenti e fieri,
saranno i trofei vostri e’l rogo mio.

Broken hope, eternal faith,
powerful flames and rays in the weak heart;
with just one sigh nourish the fervant ardour
and hide your weakness from others;

follow from the wandering, fugitive foot
the tracks that lead towards willful erring;
lose from the widespread seed both fruit and flower
and the expected mercy from the great anguish;

from just one look dictate the laws of thought
and with chaste resolution stifle the desire,
and tears shall flow for lustrums;

I send you a large bunch
of harsh and dire torments, cruel lady,
that shall be your trophy and my damnation.