Translation of the song Ecco di dolci raggi il sol armato artist Claudio Monteverdi

Ecco di dolci raggi il sol armato

Behold, armed with gentle rays, the Sun

del verno saettar la stagion florida.

shoots its arrows at the flowery season of spring;

Di dolcissim’amor inebriato,

drunk with sweetest love,

dorme tacito’l vento in sen di Clorida.

the wind sleeps silently in Chloris’ bosom.

Talor però, lascivo e odorato

But sometimes, wanton and fragrant,

ondeggiar, tremolar fa l’erba florida.

the breeze makes the blossom-filled grass shiver and tremble.

L’aria, la terra, il ciel spiran amore:

Air, earth and sky breathe love:

arda dunque d’amor, arda ogni core!

let all hearts burn, therefore, burn with love!

Io, ch’armato sinor d’un duro gelo,

Protected hitherto by hard ice,

degli assalti d’amor potei difendermi;

I was able to defend myself from the assaults of Cupid;

né l’infocato suo pungente telo

nor could his sharp and fiery arrow

puote l’alma passar o ‘l petto offendermi.

pierce my soul or wound my breast.

Or ch’il tutto si cangia al novo cielo,

Now that all is changing beneath a new sky,

a due begli occhi ancor non dovea rendermi?

have I too not had to surrender to two lovely eyes?

Sì, sì, disarm’il solito rigore:

Yes, let my accustomed severity be disarmed:

arda dunque d’amor, arda il mio core!

let my heart burn, therefore, burn with love.