Quel sguardo sdegnosetto by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643)
Published in Scherzi musicali (1632)

María Cristina Kiehr, soprano
Concerto Soave
Jean-Marc Aymes, harpsichord & direction

Quel sguardo sdegnosetto
lucente e minaccioso
quel dardo velenoso
vola a ferirmi il petto;
bellezze ond ‘io tutt’ardo.
e son da me diviso,
piagatemi col sguardo,
sanatemi col riso.

Armatevi pupille
d’asprissimo rigore
versatemi sul core
un nembo di faville
ma il labbro non sia tardo
a ravvivarmi ucciso.
Feriscami quel sguardo
ma sanimi quel riso.

Begl’occhi all’armi,
io vi preparo il seno.
Gioite nel piagarmi
infin ch’io venga meno.
E se da’ vostri dardi
io resterò conquiso
ferischino quei sgaurdi
ma sanima quel riso.
[Lyrics by Bartholomeo Magni]

TRANSLATION (by Charles Johnston):
That scornful look,
Bright and threatening,
That poisoned dart
Flies to strike at my heart;
Beauties that make me burn,
That part me from myself,
Wound me with your glance,
Heal me with a smile!

Arm yourself, pupils,
With rigour most obdurate,
Pour down on my heart
A shower of sparks,
Yet let not your lips tarry
To revive my corpse.
Let that glance wound me,
But let the smile heal me.

Fair eyes, to arms!
I make ready my heart for you.
Rejoice in my wounding,
That I may faint.
And if by your darts
I am vanquished,
Let those glances wound me,
But let your smile heal me.

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