Westron Wynde (elegiac poem)

Westron Wynde, when wilt thou blow
The small raine down can raine
Cryst, if my love were in my arms
and I in my bedde again!

O, Zephyre, flabunt quando tibi leniter aurae?
(imbre Iovi parco tum liceat pluere*!)
O, molli si iterum in lecto versarer, amatam
amplexu possem continuisse meam!
____________
*vel addas tingere tum liceat (Chris Jones).

O Western Wind, when will your breezes gently blow?
(then let it be permitted to Jove
to rain down with sparing rain!)
O, if only I were once again in my soft bed,
and able to hold my beloved
in my embrace!

Westron Wynde (in Latin elegiac couplets)

Work in Progress!

Westron wynde, when wilt thou blow
The small raine down can raine
Cryst, if my love were in my arms
and I in my bedde again!

(1)
O, Zephyre, flabunt quando tibi leniter aurae?
tum parcus pluviam Iuppiter addet aquam.

O Western wind, when wilt thy breezes gently blow?
Then will Jove grant the rain, but sparingly.

(2)
O, Zephyre, flabunt quando tibi leniter aurae?
imbre Iovi parco tum liceat pluere!

O Western wind, when wilt thy breezes gently blow?
Then let it be permitted to Jove to rain with sparing rain.

(3)
O, Zephyre, flabunt quando tibi leniter aurae?
Pompaque ventorum tum tua parcet aquae!

O Western wind, when wilt thy breezes gently blow?
And then your procession of winds will be sparing with the rain.

Volare - in Latin Sapphics
Italian Lyrics - Franco Migliacci
Latine vertit Petrus Johannes Carolus Lichoas

First Installment

Italian

Penso che un sogno cosi non ritorni mai piu
mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia blu
Poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito

Volare, O O!
Cantare, O O O!
Nel blu, dipinto di blu
felice di stare lassu!

Latin Version

Non reversurum lepidum putabam
tale somnium; faciem manusque
- triste dictu! - caeruleo colore
inficiebam.

tum repente raptus ego furenti
sum vento infinitaque iam advolare
templa coepi (crederet haec quis umquam?)
caerula caeli.

me cantare, meque volare caelum
caerulo per caeruleum colore
pincta gaudebam specie, beatus
nubila mirans.

Translation of Latin

"Such a charming dream won't return!"
That's what I thought.
I painted my face and hands
- Sad to say! -
with the color blue.

Then, suddenly, I was seized
by the raging wind,
and began to fly
(who would ever believe this?)
to the infinite regions of heaven.

That I was singing, and
that I was flying
across the blue heavens,
my form painted blue,
that was my joy, as happily
I marveled at the clouds!

Suavia da mihi (elegiac couplet)

Bésame, bésame mucho

Como si fuera esta noche

La última vez

Savia da mihi multa velut si savia ferres

ultima; si nox haec ultima nostra foret!

Give me many kisses, as if you were giving

the last ones; as if this night were our last.

Candoris faciem (elegiac poem)

Candoris faciem plenam et ridentia canto
lumina; sermones nocte bona mutuos;
vestes - O visu mirabile! - carmine dignae;
saltum; horum memores semper erunt elegi!


Features full of candor, and smiling eyes
these are the subject of my song:
talks shared during the good night;
dresses (a marvel to see!) tailor-made for song;
her dance: these are the things
my elegies will always bring to mind.

Strangers in the Night: Elegiac meter version.

Strangers in the night exchanging glances
Wondring in the night
What were the chances wed be sharing love
Before the night was through.

Something in your eyes was so inviting,
Something in you smile was so exciting,
Something in my heart,
Told me I must have you.

Strangers in the night, two lonely people
we were strangers in the night
up to the moment
when we said our first hello

Ignoti inter se tacitam aspiciunt per noctem
nocte rogant utrum possit Amor mutuus
conciliare prius quam Aurora cucurrerit altum
ad caelum; Nox et fugerit astra trahens.

Risu motus eram*; pulchrisque allectus ocellis
iusserit ut mihi cor te tenuisse meam .
Nocte salutemus dum inter nos usque manemus#
Ignoti; soli nocte manemus ea.
___________________
*in Propertian usage pluperfect sts.=perfect.
#graphic present (for past)

They glance at each other, to each other unknown
during the still night. During the night
They wonder whether reciprocal Love
could unite them, before lady Dawn has sped
to lofty heaven in her chariot, and night
has fled, trailing stars.

I was moved by your smile
and attracted by your beautiful eyes
with this result:
My heart bade me to have you as my own.

During the night, we remain uknown
During that night, we remain alone
Right up until we exchange mutual greetings.

Pergam Fortis Iter (elegiac couplet; rough)


Pergam fortis iter, ne tu, Timor ater, obesse
credas posse mihi; nam teget ipsa Fides.

I shall proceed bravely on my journey.
Don't you suppose, dark Fear,

that you can hinder me.

for my very faith protects me.

Hesperias malam (elegiac couplet)


Hesperias malam quam litora Nova Britanna
oras visere si mecum aderit lepida!

I'll prefer western climes to New England's beaches
If only my charming girl will be with me!

Litora sola (elegiac couplet)


litora sola, sciam mea si bene velle puella
intrepidus lunae visere non metuam.

If I knew she liked me, I'd boldly go
to the solitary shores of the moon!

Principiis inquit (elegiac couplet)

(1)
"Principiis" inquit "laetum decet esse" puella
Copia adest; aderat Copia Laetitiae!

"In beginnings you should be joyful" she said:
There is and has been an abundance of Joy!

(2)

Principio memorat laetum esse decere puella:
Copia adest; aderat Copia Laetitiae!

She reminds me of the fact that one ought to be happy in the beginning:
Of happiness there is, and has been an abundance!

Scribant Apta Tvae (Elegiac Poem; first draft)

Scribant apta tuae magni sua verba poetae
formae; laudentur lumina pulchra tua
aptus erit pernix celebrari carmine motus
Saltas cum gracili, pube vidente, pede.
Certe ad cantandos nata est Elegia capillos
fulvos et pedibus labra canenda suis.

Let the great poets write their words, so as to be fitting to your beauty.
Let your fair eyes be praised; your nimble movement will be suitable
for celebration in song, whenever you dance with graceful step,
as the young men look on.
Certainly Elegy was created for singing of your chestnut hair
and for singing of your lips, all in its measures.

Pacificas remigrat (Elegiac Couplet)

Pacificas remigrat fugiens mare Atlanticum ad oras

iam mea vita; canendi manet altus Amor!

My dear, fleeing the Atlantic, now returns to Pacific shores

Yet the lofty desire for singing of her remains.

Celsa Puella Volat (Elegiac Couplet)

celsa puella volat per nubila; abesse putetur

ne mea Musa tamen, neve perisse Elegi!

My girl flies through the lofty clouds. For all that

let it not be supposed that my source of inspiration is absent,

nor that my Elegies have perished!

Iam Natalis Adest (Elegiac Couplet)

iam natalis adest patriae; candentia signa

risus ut illius gaudia clara ferunt!

Now the birthday of our country has arrived

The dazzling displays, like her smile,

bring bright joys!

Non ubi sim novi (elegiac couplet)

Non ubi sim novi; totum cor gestit ob illam

tintinnantque aures; sudor adest gelidus!

I don't know where I am; my entire heart leaps
because of her; and my ears ring; the chill sweat appears!

Laetitiae Florent (elegiac couplet)

Laetitiae florent! rosae velut imbre iuvante;
praesens Musa beat; flos redit ipse lyrae!

Joys are flowering, like roses, with rain's help

My Muse, when present, gladdens me;

& the very flower of my lyre returns!

Ingreditur crocea (elegiac couplet)

(1)
Ingreditur crocea mea candens veste puella
conspicua ut caelis stella micans placidis !

There! She enters, dazzling in a saffron yellow gown
Striking, like a star glittering in the tranquil heavens.

(2)
Ingreditur crocea mea candens veste puella
conspicuum ut sidus nocte micans placida!

Look! My girl enters brilliant in her golden dress
remarkable, like a star glittering in the tranquil night.

Serta dabo pulchrae (elegiac couplet)

serta dabo pulchrae necnon mea carmina verbis
si potero, pulchris; grata utinam tibi sint!

I shall give garlands to you, beautiful one,
and songs in beautiful words, if I can.
May they be pleasing to you!

Quid pudeat nudam (elegiac couplet)

Quid pudeat nudam monstrare, puella, figuram

laudandam speciem si tribuunt Veneres?

Why should it be a source of shame

to show your figure nude

if the Graces fair assigned to you

a body to be praised?

Urbe Salis Remanet (elegiac couplet)

urbe salis remanet veniat dum raeda puella

longa volans alte, terram aditura otii!

She waits in the Salt City

until the long carriage,

flying high, should arrive,
fixing to go to the land of leisure!