This podcast is dedicated to English speakers who would like to know more about Italian Poetry, but don’t speak Italian. You can hear a summary of each poem in English, then the original in Italian, and you can also follow along on our website, where you’ll find resources to help find your way across languages.
https://italianpoetry.it/
episode 9: Deh non insuperbir per tuo belleza, by Poliziano
Today we read Deh non insuperbir per tuo belleza, by Poliziano.
In this very short poem, Poliziano reminds a beautiful lady that her beauty is transitory. She should not, then, grow haughty or vain.
Rather, she should enjoy it while it lasts — or, as he puts it, … pluck the flower.
The original:
Deh non insuperbir per tuo’ bellezza,donna, ch’un breve tempo te la fura:
canuta tornerà la bionda trezza
che del bel viso adorna la figura.
Mentre che il fiore è nella sua vaghezza
coglilo, che bellezza poco dura.
Fresca è la rosa da mattino, e a sera
ell’ha perduto suo’ bellezza altera\ The music in this episode is Monteverdi’s Toccata from Orfeo, played by The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps (in the public domain).