Julia L. Hairston

julia.hairston@uniroma1.it

Selected Bibliography on Tullia d'Aragona
A Selection of Poetry in Translation for Teaching Tullia d’Aragona
Allo Eccell. S. Duca di Firenze Signor, che con pietate alta, & consiglio (Onde tanto piu ch’altro al mondo vali) Venisti a medicar gli antichi mali Del fiorito per te purpureo giglio; Io che scampata da crudele artiglio Provo gli acerbi, e ingiuriosi strali Quanto sian di fortuna aspri, & mortali, A te rifuggo in si grave periglio; Et solo chieggio humil, che come l’alma Secura vive homai ne la tua corte Da la vicina, & minacciata morte, Cosi la tua mercË di ben n’apporte Tanto, che l’altra mia povera salma Libera venga per le ricche porte.	To the Most Excellent Duke of Florence My Lord, with great compassion, and judgement (so that you are worth much more than any other) You came to remedy the ancient ills Of the purple lily that flourished for you. I, having just escaped from cruel talons, Feel how sharp and unjust The arrows of fortune are; In such grave danger, I take refuge in you. And, humbly, I only ask that as my soul Lives safely now in your court After a near and menacing death, So may your merciful generosity grant that my other poor body, May enter freely through the rich gates.
Alla Illustriss. S. Duchessa di Firenze O qual vi debb’io dire o Donna o Diva? Poi che tanta belt‡, tanto valore Riluce in voi, che’l vostro almo splendore Abbaglia qual fu mai fiamma piu viva? Mi dice un bel pensier, che di voi scriva, Et renda gratie, & qual si deve honore; Ma dove s’erge l’animoso core, Non giunge penna, o voce humana arriva, So ch’ogni alto favor da voi mi viene, Come la luce al di da quella stella, Che surge in Oriente innanzi al sole. Ma poi che pur al fin mal si conviene A tanta altezza l’humil mia favella, V’appaghi il core in vece di parole.	To the Most Illustrious Lady Duchess of Florence Oh what am I to call you—Grande Dame or Goddess? Is it because such beauty, such excellence Shines in you that your brilliance Irradiates a flame bright beyond compare? An admirable idea tells me to write about you, And to render thanks, and the honor that is your due; Yet there where a brave heart ascends, Neither pen nor human voice can reach, I know that all high favors come to me from you, Just as that star, which rises before the sun in the East, gives light to the day. But since my humble speech is unsuited to its goal and to such greatness, Let my heart rather than my words gratify you.
Al S. Don Pedro di Tolledo Ben si richiede al vostro almo splendore Del chiaro sangue, e a la virt_ eccellente, Che si canti Signore eternamente Ne gioghi di Parnaso il vostro honore. Ond’Ë ch’a dir di voi dentr’al mio core S’accende ogn’hor un vivo foco ardente: Ma come a l’alta impresa non si sente L’anima ugual si spenge il novo ardore. Non s’assicura nel profondo seno Di vostre glorie entrar mia navicella Sotto la scorta del mio cieco ingegno. Solchi’l gran mar di vostre lodi a pieno Piu felice alma, a cui piu chiara stella Porga favore in piu securo legno.	To Signor Don Pedro of Toledo It is most fitting, Sir, for the splendor of your illustrious lineage and your excellent virtue that one should sing forevermore your honor in the games of Parnassus. So that within my heart a burning desire to speak of you is constantly ignited. Yet as my soul does not feel able to rise to such a glorious feat, my new ardor is extinguished. My little bark cannot sail confidently into the deep seas of your glories With my blind intellect as its pilot. May a happier soul, to which a brighter star Offers protection in a safer boat, Plow the great sea of your praises.
Al S. Colonnello Luca Antonio Poi che rea sorte ingiustamente preme Voi, ch’alto albergo sete di valore, Sento spirto gentil un tal dolore, Che con voi l’alma mia ne giace insieme. L’anima mia ne giace, e’l petto geme Di non poter mostrar nel viso il core A voi, cui bramo con perpetuo honore Piacer servendo infino a l’hore estreme. Il disio d’hora in hora a voi mi porta: Quindi rispetto honesto mi ritiene: Et disvoler conviemmi quel ch’io voglio. In si dubbioso stato mi conforta, Che ben v’Ë noto quel che si conviene. Et questo fa minore il mio cordoglio.	To Colonel Luca Antonio Since evil fortune unjustly afflicts You, who are the lofty refuge of valor, Noble spirit, I feel such pain That my soul lies down together with you. My soul lies, and my breast heaves Because my face cannot reveal my heart To you, whom I long to please by serving With perpetual honor until the extreme hour. Desire again and again brings me to you Then respect for honor holds me back– And it is better that I not desire what I long for. In such a state of doubt I am comforted That you are well aware of what is proper And this lessens my grief.
Al Varchi VARCHI il cui raro, & immortal valore Ogni anima gentil subito invoglia, Deh perchÈ non poss’io com’ho la voglia Del vostro alto saver colmarmi il core? Che con tal guida so ch’uscirei fore De le man di fortuna che mi spoglia D’ogni usato conforto: e ogni mia doglia Cangerei in dolce canto, e’n miglior hore. Ahi lassa, io veggio ben che la mia sorte Contrasta a cosi honesto, & bel desire, Sol perchÈ manch’io sotto l’aspre some. Ma s’a me pur cosi convien finire La penna vostra al men levi il mio nome Fuor de gli artigli d’importuna morte.	To Varchi Varchi, whose rare, everlasting excellence Immediately attracts all noble souls, Well, since I am attracted, why can I not fill my heart with your high knowledge as I would wish? Because with such a guide I know I would escape the hand of fortune that denudes me Of all my usual comforts; and I would turn my every sorrow into sweet song, and a better time. Oh alas, I well can see that my destiny Contrasts with such an honorable, fine desire Only because I fail under such a heavy yoke. But even though it is best for me to end thus May your quill at least draw my name Out of the claws of an untimely death.
Al Predicatore Ochino BERNARDO ben potea bastarvi haverne Co’l dolce dir, ch’a voi natura infonde, Qui dove’l Re de fiumi ha piu chiare onde, Acceso i cuori a le sante opre eterne. Che se pur sono in voi pure l’interne Voglie, & la vita al vestir corrisponde, Non huom di frale carne, & d’ossa immonde, Ma sete un voi de le schiere superne. Hor le finte apparenze, e’l ballo, e’l suono Chiesti dal tempo, & da l’antica usanza A che cosi da voi vietati sono? Non fora santit‡, fora arroganza Torre il libero arbitrio, il maggior dono, Che Dio ne die ne la primiera stanza.	To the Preacher Ochino Bernardo, it would have easily sufficed for you to have, With your sweet speech, which nature has infused into you, Ignited all hearts to eternal, sacred works Here where the King of Rivers has its more celebrated waters. Although your own inner desires are pure, And your life corresponds to your dress, Not a man of frail flesh, and blood unclean, Yet you are one of the upper ranks. Now false appearances, and dancing, and music-making, Required by the times, and by ancient customs, Why are they condemned by you so? Neither sanctity, nor arrogance will Take away free will, the greatest gift That God gave in the first place.
A Piero Manelli Poi che mi diË natura a voi simile forma e materia, o fosse il gran Fattore, non pensate ch’ancor disÏo d’onore mi desse, e bei pensier, Manel gentile? Dunque credete me cotanto vile, ch’io non osi mostrar, cantando, fore, quel che dentro n’ancide altero ardore, se bene a voi non ho pari lo stile? Non lo crediate, no, Piero, ch’anch’io fatico ognor per appressarmi al cielo, e lasciar del mio nome in terra fama. Non contenda rea sorte il bel desÏo, che pria che l’alma dal corporeo velo si scioglia, sazierÚ forse mia brama.	To Piero Manelli Since nature, or the supreme Creator, has given me a body and a soul similar to yours, dear Manelli, don’t you think it has also given me beautiful thoughts and the desire for honor? Do you think then that I am so cowardly that I dare not show, singing forth, the lofty ardor that kills inside just because my style is not the same as yours? Don’t think as much, Piero, because I too labor incessantly to draw nearer the heavens and leave the fame of my name to the world. Let not wicked destiny thwart my fine desire because before my soul frees itself from its corporeal veil, I will perhaps satisfy my yearning.