Unica speme mia (Henricus Schaffen)

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(Posted 2025-04-03) CPDL #84406:

Editor: Ullrich Köthe (submitted 2025-04-03). Score information: A4, 3 pages, 174 kB Copyright: CC BY SA

Edition notes: Original pitch and note values.

General Information

Title: Unica speme mia
Composer: Henricus Schaffen
Lyricist:
Number of voices: 4vv Voicing: SATB
Genre: Secular, Madrigal

Language: Italian
Instruments: A cappella

First published: 1549 in Il vero terzo libro di madrigali de diversi autori a note negre (Venice: Gardano), no. 14
2nd published: 1569 in Corona libro primo (Zorzi, Venice), Edition 1, no. 44
Description:

External websites:

Source: https://stimmbuecher.digitale-sammlungen.de/view?id=bsb00071785, page 59

Original text and translations

Italian text

Unica speme mia unico bene,
Poi che sei qui soletta,
Damm'il premio d'amor non far vendetta,
Ch'a un gentil cor pietoso esser conviene,
Fammi gustar amore,
Abbracciami ti prego e non fuggire,
Soccorri al mio dolore,
Damm'un basetto e poi fammi morire,
Haime ch'io moro,
O che dolcezza io sento,
Che mi cangia in piacer ogni tormento.

English text

My only hope, my only joy,
Since you’re here all alone,
Give me the prize of love, don’t take revenge,
For a gentle heart should be merciful.
Let me taste your love;
Embrace me, I beg you, and do not turn away,
Relieve my pain,
Give me one little kiss, then make me die.
Alas I’m dying, oh what sweetness I feel,
That turns every torment into pleasure.
(AI translated by Gemini)

German text

Meine einzige Hoffnung, mein einziges Gut,
Da du hier allein bist,
Gib mir den Lohn der Liebe, räche dich nicht,
Denn ein edles Herz muss mitleidig sein.
Lass mich die Liebe kosten,
Umarme mich, ich bitte dich, und wende dich nicht ab,
Löse meinen Schmerz,
Gib mir einen kleinen Kuss und lass mich dann sterben.
Ach, ich sterbe, oh welche Süße empfinde ich,
Die jede Qual in Freude verwandelt.
(AI translated by Gemini)