Tuesday, October 15, 2002

"Al cor gentil" ("In the gentle heart") Guido Guinizelli (fl. second half of thirteenth century) Language: Italian, Dialect: Bolognese Text: 1. Al cor gentil rempaira sempre amore come l'ausello in selva a la verdura; nè fe' amore anti che gentil core, nè gentil core anti ch'amor, natura: ch'adesso con' fu 'l sole, sì tosto lo splendore fu lucente, nè fu davanti 'l sole; e prende amore in gentilezza loco così propïamente come calore in clarità di foco.           Translation: Love returns always to a noble heart, Like a bird to the green in the forest. Nature did not make love before the noble heart, Nor the noble heart before love. As soon as the sun appeared,          5 Brightness shone forth, But it did not exist before the sun. And love takes its place in true nobility As rightly As heat in the brightness of fire.              10 2. Foco d'amore in gentil cor s'aprende come vertute in petra prezïosa: che de la stella valor no i discende anti che 'l sol la faccia gentil cosa; poi che n'ha tratto fòre per sua forza lo sol ciò che li è vile, stella li dà valore: così lo cor, ch'è fatto da natura asletto, pur, gentile donna, a guisa di stella, lo 'nnamora. Love's fire catches in the noble heart, Like the power of a precious stone Whose potency does not descend from the star Until the sun makes it a noble object: After the sun has drawn out                15 Everything base with its own force, The star confers power on it. In such a way, lady, Like the star, transforms the heart Chosen by Nature and made pure and noble.         20 3. Amor per tal ragion sta 'n cor gentile per qual lo foco in cima del doplero: splendeli al su' diletto, clar, sottile; non li stari' altra guisa, tant' è fero. Così prava natura recontra amor como fa l'aigua il foco caldo, per la freddura. Amore in gentil cor prende rivera per suo consimel loco, com' adamàs del ferro in la minera. Love remains in the noble heart for the same reason That fire shines on the tip of a candle Clear and refined in its own delight. Nor could it be any other way­it is proud. Thus a baser nature                           25 Opposes love, just as water quenches Burning fire with its coldness. Love takes its place in the noble heart As its rightful dwelling Like the diamond in a vein of ore.             30 4. Fere lo sol lo fango tutto 'l giorno: vile reman, nè 'l sol perde calore; dis' omo alter, "Gentil per sclatta torno"; lui semblo al fango, al sol gentil valore: chè non dé dare om fede che gentilezza sia fòr di coraggio in dignità di rede, sed a vertute non ha gentil core, com' aigua porta raggio e 'l ciel riten le stelle e lo splendore. Sun strikes the mud all day long: It remains base, nor does the sun lose heat. A proud man says, "I am made noble by birth." I liken him to the mud and noble worth to the sun. No man should believe                     35 That nobility exists outside the heart, By right of lineage, Unless he has a noble heart disposed to virtue, Just as water carries the sunray And the sky holds the stars and their brightness.  40 5. Splende 'n la 'ntelligenzïa del cielo Deo Crïator più che 'n nostr' occhi 'l sole; ella intende suo fattor oltra 'l cielo, e 'l ciel volgiando, a Lui obedir tole; e con' segue, al primero, del giusto Deo beato compimento, così dar dovria, al vero, la bella donna, poi che 'n gli occhi splende del suo gentil, talento, chi mai di lei obedir non si disprende. God the Creator shines in the Intelligence Of the heavens, more than even the sun in our eyes. It understands its maker beyond the sky And, turning the sky, prepares to obey Him; And much as the blessed realization         45 Of the just God follows instantly, So truly should the beautiful lady, When she shines in the eyes of her noble lover, Inspire a wish that he will never Cease in his obedience to her.               50 6. Donna, Deo mi dirà, "Che presomisti?," sïando l'alma mia a Lui davanti, "Lo ciel passasti e 'nfin a Me venisti, e desti in vano amor Me per semblanti: ch'a Me conven le laude e a la reina del regname degno per cui cessa onne fraude." Dir Li porò, "Tenne d'angel sembianza che fosse del Tuo regno; non me fu fallo, s'in lei posi amanza." Lady, God will say to me when my soul Stands before Him, "How could you presume? You went past heaven, coming finally to me, And tried to compare Me to a vain love. All praises are due to me alone                55 And to the Queen of this noble realm Through whom all evil ends." But I shall say to Him: "She had the likeness Of an angel from your kingdom. It's not my fault if I fell in love with her."      60       Edited and translated by Robert R. Edwards 12:49:30 PM

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