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LT → Italian, Latin, Italian (Medieval) → Claudio Monteverdi → Possente spirto e formidabil nume → English
  • Claudio Monteverdi
    Claudio Monteverdi – Possente spirto e formidabil nume

    English translation

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Italian
Original lyrics

Possente spirto e formidabil nume

Possente spirto e formidabil nume,
senza cui far passaggio a l'altra riva
alma da corpo sciolta in van presume,
non viv'io no, che poi di vita è priva
mia cara sposa, il cor non è più meco,
e senza cor com'esser può ch'io viva?
A lei volt'ho il cammin per l'aër cieco,
a l'inferno non già, ch'ovunque stassi
tanta bellezza il paradiso ha seco.
Orfeo, son io che d'Euridice i passi
seguo per queste tenebrose arene,
ove già mai per uom mortal non vassi.
O de le luci mie luci serene;
s'un vostro sguardo può tornarmi in vita,
ahi, chi nega il conforto a le mie pene?
Sol tu, nobile dio, puoi darmi aita,
né temer déi che sopra un'aurea cetra
sol di corde soavi armo le dita
contra cui rigida alma invan s'impetra.
 
English
Translation#1#2#3

Powerful Spirit and fear-inspiring God

Powerful Spirit and fear-inspiring God,
Without whom to make passage to the other bank
A soul, freed from the body, presumes in vain:
I do not live, no; since my dear bride
Was deprived of life, my heart is no longer with me,
And without a heart how can it be that I live?
For her I have made my way through the blind air,
Not yet to Hades, for wherever there is
Such beauty there is Paradise in her company.
ORFEO am I, who follows EURIDICE’s steps
On these dark sands,
Where never mortal man has gone.
O serene light of my eyes,
If one look of yours can return me to life,
Ah, who denies comfort to my afflictions?
You alone, noble God, can help me,
Nor should you fear, since on a golden Lyre
My fingers are only armed with sweet strings,
Against which the merciless soul tries in vain to resist.
 

Translations of "Possente spirto e ..."

English #1, #2, #3
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