167. ‘Quando Amor I belli occhi a terra inchina’

and with his hand gathers her wandering breath

in a sigh, then looses it in a voice,

clear, gentle, angelic and divine,

I feel my heart sweetly stolen away,

and my thoughts and wishes changed within,

so that I say: ‘These are the last spoils of me

if heaven intends me for so happy a death.’

But that sound that binds the senses with its sweetness

restrains the spirit from swiftly departing,

through a great desire to hear it, and be blessed.

So I live, and so she winds, unwinds

the thread of life that was granted me,

that sole Siren from heaven who’s among us.

Notes