La Lira mia già si sonor concento,
Rendea sopra il Metauro, Ched’ Anfione,
d’Alfeo, di Marsia, d’Orfeo o d’Arione,
Il dolce suono in tutto havrebbe spento.
Rivolta hor langue in flebile lamento,
E duolsi e si dissona, ch’afflittione
Recarebbe a un Busiri e a un Lestrigone,
Vegendola penare in tal tormento.
Meglio sia dunque, in bassa e rea caverna
Riporla, poi che l’aspra mia ventura,
Vieta che melodia in lei si scerna
Se man felice il ciel non li procura
Che le ritorni il suon, Credo ch’eterna
tal sepultura sia lugubre e oscura.
English translation
My lyre used to sonorously sound
near the Metauro, and of Amphion,
Alpheus, Marsyas,Orpheus, or Arion
would have wholly quenched the sweet sound.
Cast aside, now it languishes in weak lament
and so much complains and discordant
that it would give afflictionts to a Busiris and a Lestrygonian,
seeing it suffering in such torment.
Better, then, to place it in a deep and savage cave,
as my harsh condition forbids
melody to be heard in it,
if Heaven does not procure it a skillful hand
that will give it back its sound,then I believe that eternal
will be its burial, and grim and dark.
(Translaton Franco Piperno)