Greensleeves

Greensleeves

(Short version commonly sung)


Alas, my love, you do me wrong,

To cast me off discourteously.

For I have loved you well and long,

Delighting in your company.


Chorus:

Greensleeves was all my joy

Greensleeves was my delight,

Greensleeves was my heart of gold,

And who but my lady greensleeves.


Your vows you've broken, like my heart,

Oh, why did you so enrapture me?

Now I remain in a world apart

But my heart remains in captivity.


chorus


I have been ready at your hand,

To grant whatever you would crave,

I have both wagered life and land,

Your love and good-will for to have.


chorus


If you intend thus to disdain,

It does the more enrapture me,

And even so, I still remain

A lover in captivity.


chorus


My men were clothed all in green,

And they did ever wait on thee;

All this was gallant to be seen,

And yet thou wouldst not love me.


chorus


Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,

but still thou hadst it readily.

Thy music still to play and sing;

And yet thou wouldst not love me.


chorus



LADY GREENSLEEVES


(Complete version - )


Greensleeves was all my joy

Greensleeves was my delight,

Greensleeves my heart of gold

And who but my lady Greensleeves.


I

Alas, my love, you do me wrong,

To cast me off discourteously.

For I have loved you well and long,

Delighting in your company.


II

Your vows you've broken, like my heart,

Oh, why did you so enrapture me?

Now I remain in a world apart

But my heart remains in captivity.


III

I have been ready at your hand,

To grant whatever you would crave,

I have both wagered life and land,

Your love and good-will for to have.


IV

Thy petticoat of sendle white

With gold embroidered gorgeously;

Thy petticoat of silk and white

And these I bought gladly.


V

If you intend thus to disdain,

It does the more enrapture me,

And even so, I still remain

A lover in captivity.


VI

My men were clothed all in green,

And they did ever wait on thee;

All this was gallant to be seen,

And yet thou wouldst not love me.


VII

Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,

but still thou hadst it readily.

Thy music still to play and sing;

And yet thou wouldst not love me.


VIII

Well, I will pray to God on high,

that thou my constancy mayst see,

And that yet once before I die,

Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.


IX

Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,

To God I pray to prosper thee,

For I am still thy lover true,

Come once again and love me.



Traduzione italiana di Cattia Salto


Greensleeves eri il bene dell’anima mia,

eri la mia delizia, il mio cuore d’oro

nessuno c’è al di fuori di te

la mia Signora dalle Maniche Verdi


I

Ahimè amore mio, non mi rendete giustizia

a respingermi scortesemente,

vi ho amata per tanto tempo

deliziandomi della vostra compagnia.


II

Le vostre promesse avete spezzato, come il mio cuore.

Oh perché mi avete così rapito?

Ora sto in un mondo a parte

e il mio cuore resta in prigione


III

Ero pronto al vostro fianco,

a concedervi ogni cosa aveste bramato.

E avevo impegnato la mia vita e le mie terre

per mantenermi nelle vostre grazie.


IV

Vi ho comprato la gonna di zendalo bianco

sfarzosamente ricamata d’oro,

la gonna di seta bianca

vi ho comprato con gioia.


V

Se così intendete disprezzarmi

ciò mi rende più avvinto

e anche così, continuo a rimanere

un amante imprigionato


VI

I miei uomini erano vestiti tutti di verde

ed erano al vostro servizio

tutto ciò era galante da vedersi

e tuttavia voi non volete amarmi


VII

Voi non potete desiderare cosa terrena

senza che l'abbiate prontamente

La vostra musica ancora da suonare e cantare

e tuttavia voi non volete amarmi


VIII

Pregherò Iddio lassù

che voi possiate riconoscere la mia costanza

e che una volta prima che io muoia

voi possiate infine amarmi


IX

Ed ora Greensleeves addio vi saluto

Pregherò Iddio che voi prosperiate

sono ancora il vostro fedele amante

venite ancora da me ad amarmi