Vedo ben ch'io perdo el tempo (Anonymous)

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(Posted 2025-04-29) CPDL #84644: (Diplomatic score) (Practical score)

Editor: Andreas Stenberg (submitted 2025-04-29). Score information: A4, 8 pages, 122 kB Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: A double editio: diplomatic score in mensural notation and practical score in modern notation with note-values halved.

General Information

Title: Vedo ben ch'io perdo el tempo
Composer: Anonymous
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1505 in Frottole libro 2 (Petrucci, Venice), no. 9
Description: A Frottola.

External websites:

Original text and translations

Italian text

    Vedo ben ch'io perdo el tempo
    A servir te donna ingrata.
    Mala forte che vien data
    Nonsi po fugir in tempo.
    Vedo ben chio perdo el tempo
    A servir te donna ingrata.

    Non si po fugir la forte
       Nel destin accerbo e rio
       Ma si po ben fugir morte

    Con un morir dolce e pio
        Lasso me chel corpo mio
        Si dissolve nanzi el tempo

    Quando nacqyi per men pena
        Deva morte consumarmi
        E non darme in cathena

    A chi brama de dissarmi
        Poi che i cieli atormentarmi
        Vedo gionti amore e tempo

English translation

I see clearly that I am wasting my time
In serving you, ungrateful woman.
The hardship that is given
It is not possible to escape in time.
I see clearly that I am wasting my time
In serving you, ungrateful woman.

It is not possible to escape the hardship
In the harsh and cruel destiny
But it is possible to escape death

With a sweet and pious death
Alas, my body
Dissolves before its time

When I was born with less pain
Death must consume me
And not put me in chains

To those who wish to disarm me
Since the heavens torment me
I see love and time come together