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moon_custafer) wrote2014-03-04 02:20 pm
moon_custafer) wrote2014-03-04 02:20 pm
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I've been reminded that it's Pancake Tuesday...
...So have some Lorenzo de Medici, featuring Bacchus and friends, c/o three different translators.
Carnival Song
1.
Though they're all the joy we know,
youth and beauty don't endure.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Here's the Wine God and his Lady:
see how they admire each other!
They know time is brief and flighty,
so they spend it well together.
All these nymphs and other gentry,
to enjoy themselves know how.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Satyrs here are happy, clearly,
they are waiting in the bushes
for the nymphs they love so dearly,
who expect their ardent rushes.
Gulping as the wineskin gushes,
jumping, dancing anyhow,
if you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
And the nymphs seem not to worry,
they have found they like the satyrs,
(who in fact are rather furry
but that makes their pleasure greater).
They are pairing up for later
and their faces are aglow.
If you want be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Fat Silenus, Baccus' friend,
like a sack with pointed ears,
on assback since too drunk to stand,
shows his ancient wrinkled leer.
Full of wine and flesh and years,
he is cheerful anyhow.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Midas throws his coins about —
all turns gold beneath his touch.
Why the disappointed pout?
Metal doesn't please him much.
Thirsty (can't drink gold as such),
starving, he could eat a cow.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Now hear this with open ears:
we can't live on future plans;
it's today that we are here,
youngster, oldster, woman, man.
Put your sorrows under ban
and let's party anyhow.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
You young dancers in the ring,
hail to Wine and hail Desire!
Let's have music and let's sing,
never tiring, stepping higher.
Yes to sweetness, to the fire
that our courtesy allows.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Though they're all the joy we know,
youth and beauty don't endure.
~
From the Italian of Lorenzo de' Medici (Florentine, 1449–1492).
This translation copyright © 1999, 2001 by Leonard Cottrell. All rights reserved
2.
The time of youth indeed is sweet, But all too soon it slips away. If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
Welcome Bacchus, Ariadne! An ardent couple, loving, fair. They spend, as one, their days with glee, For time flies fast and does not spare. Thus these nymphs, and others, fare. Happy they the livelong day! If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
These nymphs are tickled by the thought To be deceived by a lover’s wile. If Love’s sweet remedy were naught, They sure would be uncouth and vile. Commingled now, they dance and smile And sport and play the livelong day! If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
Upon a donkey, corpulent, Silenus wends his weighty way. Heavy, drunk and senescent, Years and blubber on him lay. He can’t stand straight, he is quite bent – Yet still he smiles the livelong day! If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
All ye lovers, boys, girls too – Long live Bacchus, and Love, I say. Play, dance, and sing, each one of you, Let sweetness o’er your hearts hold sway. Fatigue and weakness throw away, For what must be, you cannot beat. If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
Lorenzo De Medici (Il Magnifico)
1449-1492
Translated by Alan D. Corré June 3, 2005
3.
How beautiful youth is
Through ever fleeing!
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
Here are Bacchus and Ariadne,
Handsome, and burning for each other:
Because time flies and beguiles,
They remain ever happy together.
These nymphs and these others
Are always merry.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
These happy little satyr
Enamoured of the nymphs
In caves and groves
Have set a hundred traps for them:
Now warmed by Bacchus,
They're always dancing and leaping.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
These nymphs in turn are glad
To be beguiled by them;
No one can shield himself from Love
Except crude and ungrateful people:
Now mingling together
They play instruments and sing always.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
This load coming behind
Upon the ass is Silenus:
Old as he is, he's drunk and happy,
Already full of flesh and years;
If he can't hold himself straight, at least
He laughs and revels always.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
Let every one open his ears well:
Let no one feed on tomorrow;
Today, young and old, let's be
Happy, everybody, women and men:
May every sad thought fall away;
Let's be celebrating always.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
Ladies and young men in love,
Long live Bacchus and long live Love!
Let every one make music, dance and sing!
Let hearts be fired with sweetness!
No straining, no grieving!
Whatever has to be, must be.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
How beautiful youth is
Though ever fleeing!
Lorenzo di Medici, Introduction to Italian Poetry: A Dual-Language Book, (P.57-59), edited by Luciano Rebay, copyright 1969 by Dover Publications, Inc. ISBN: 0-486-99930-0
Carnival Song
1.
Though they're all the joy we know,
youth and beauty don't endure.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Here's the Wine God and his Lady:
see how they admire each other!
They know time is brief and flighty,
so they spend it well together.
All these nymphs and other gentry,
to enjoy themselves know how.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Satyrs here are happy, clearly,
they are waiting in the bushes
for the nymphs they love so dearly,
who expect their ardent rushes.
Gulping as the wineskin gushes,
jumping, dancing anyhow,
if you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
And the nymphs seem not to worry,
they have found they like the satyrs,
(who in fact are rather furry
but that makes their pleasure greater).
They are pairing up for later
and their faces are aglow.
If you want be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Fat Silenus, Baccus' friend,
like a sack with pointed ears,
on assback since too drunk to stand,
shows his ancient wrinkled leer.
Full of wine and flesh and years,
he is cheerful anyhow.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Midas throws his coins about —
all turns gold beneath his touch.
Why the disappointed pout?
Metal doesn't please him much.
Thirsty (can't drink gold as such),
starving, he could eat a cow.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Now hear this with open ears:
we can't live on future plans;
it's today that we are here,
youngster, oldster, woman, man.
Put your sorrows under ban
and let's party anyhow.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
You young dancers in the ring,
hail to Wine and hail Desire!
Let's have music and let's sing,
never tiring, stepping higher.
Yes to sweetness, to the fire
that our courtesy allows.
If you want, be happy now;
for tomorrow's never sure.
Though they're all the joy we know,
youth and beauty don't endure.
~
From the Italian of Lorenzo de' Medici (Florentine, 1449–1492).
This translation copyright © 1999, 2001 by Leonard Cottrell. All rights reserved
2.
The time of youth indeed is sweet, But all too soon it slips away. If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
Welcome Bacchus, Ariadne! An ardent couple, loving, fair. They spend, as one, their days with glee, For time flies fast and does not spare. Thus these nymphs, and others, fare. Happy they the livelong day! If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
These nymphs are tickled by the thought To be deceived by a lover’s wile. If Love’s sweet remedy were naught, They sure would be uncouth and vile. Commingled now, they dance and smile And sport and play the livelong day! If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
Upon a donkey, corpulent, Silenus wends his weighty way. Heavy, drunk and senescent, Years and blubber on him lay. He can’t stand straight, he is quite bent – Yet still he smiles the livelong day! If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
All ye lovers, boys, girls too – Long live Bacchus, and Love, I say. Play, dance, and sing, each one of you, Let sweetness o’er your hearts hold sway. Fatigue and weakness throw away, For what must be, you cannot beat. If you’d be happy – don’t delay! Tomorrow’s ills you’ve yet to meet.
Lorenzo De Medici (Il Magnifico)
1449-1492
Translated by Alan D. Corré June 3, 2005
3.
How beautiful youth is
Through ever fleeing!
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
Here are Bacchus and Ariadne,
Handsome, and burning for each other:
Because time flies and beguiles,
They remain ever happy together.
These nymphs and these others
Are always merry.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
These happy little satyr
Enamoured of the nymphs
In caves and groves
Have set a hundred traps for them:
Now warmed by Bacchus,
They're always dancing and leaping.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
These nymphs in turn are glad
To be beguiled by them;
No one can shield himself from Love
Except crude and ungrateful people:
Now mingling together
They play instruments and sing always.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
This load coming behind
Upon the ass is Silenus:
Old as he is, he's drunk and happy,
Already full of flesh and years;
If he can't hold himself straight, at least
He laughs and revels always.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
Let every one open his ears well:
Let no one feed on tomorrow;
Today, young and old, let's be
Happy, everybody, women and men:
May every sad thought fall away;
Let's be celebrating always.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
Ladies and young men in love,
Long live Bacchus and long live Love!
Let every one make music, dance and sing!
Let hearts be fired with sweetness!
No straining, no grieving!
Whatever has to be, must be.
Let him be happy who wants to be:
There's no certainty of tomorrow.
How beautiful youth is
Though ever fleeing!
Lorenzo di Medici, Introduction to Italian Poetry: A Dual-Language Book, (P.57-59), edited by Luciano Rebay, copyright 1969 by Dover Publications, Inc. ISBN: 0-486-99930-0