Translation of the song Quel sguardo sdegnosetto artist Claudio Monteverdi

Quel sguardo sdegnosetto

That look with its touch of disdain,

Lucente e minacioso,

Lustrous and menacing,

Quel dardo velenoso

That poison dart

Vola a ferirmi il petto:

Flies to wound me to the core:

Bellezze ond'io tutt'ardo

Delights by which I am all afire

E son da me diviso.

And am without myself.

Piagatemi col sguardo,

Afflict me with your look,

Sanatemi col riso.

Heal me with your laugh.

Armatevi pupille

Arm yourselves pupils

D'asprissimo, d'asprissimo rigore,

With severest, with severest rigour,

Versatemi su'l core

Pour around my heart

Un nembo di faville,

A cloud of sparks,

Ma 'l labro non sia tardo

But let your lips not be slow

A ravvivarmi ucciso.

To revive me from the slaying.

Feriscami quel sguardo,

Let that look wound me,

Ma sanimi quel riso.

But let that laugh heal me.

Begli occhi a l'armi, a l'armi!

Beautiful eyes – to arms, to arms!

Io vi preparo il seno.

I open my bosom to you,

Gioite di piagarmi,

Rejoice in my affliction,

Infin ch'io venga meno.

That my submission becomes final.

E se da vostri dardi

And if by your darts

Io resterò conquiso,

I remain vanquished,

Ferischino quei sguardi

Let those looks wound,

Ma sanimi quel riso.

But let that laugh heal me.