To the Same Most Serene One
Grand Duchess of Tuscany

Bianca, wise, gentle, courteous, and beautiful,
Whose not which the Arno, the World all embraces;
And where departs, and where returns the Sun
Were each other star to suddenly vanish,
Whilst to behold you inflamed each burning light
I see of my great wishes, and the words
Sail so rough to my new school,
Your heart alone in my defense appeals.
Which the to distancing it from vileness goes on,
And the vileness, of too much roughness they wish,
And these are without beginning and end:
High Queen, my long faith
Will say, that by you always in me it gathers
As in you are the most Divine graces.

Original rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDECDE


Madrigal
To the Same

In saying that thou art beautiful,
I diminish your praise
Lady, and I take again each one that hears me.
Not to you is name conform to that which thou art,
Not I know which with you have
Most of the human, most of the divine still.
The hair of the Dawn,
The eyes of the Sun, the brow of the Moon:
And if beauty someone
Is able to imagine which not is seen,
Is beheld in you, which each beauty exceeds.
Nor more fair than you would be able to be,
If beauty were to have form, or gracefulness.

Original rhyme scheme - AA/BB/CC/DD/EE/FF/GG


Alta Regina (High Queen)
Cascarda

In Praise of the Most Serene Lady
The Lady Bianca Cappello de Medici
Grand Duchess of Tuscany

The first time of this Cascarda is started standing the people as the picture demonstrates, doing facing the Riverenza minima with the left foot, and 1 Scambiato to the same foot: after in the wheel is done in walk, that is 2 Seguiti spezzati, and another turned to the left, and the Cadenza with the Right, finding them facing again, and doing 1 Puntato forward with the left foot, that is by flank, and the other back: turning again another Seguito spezzato to the left, and doing the Cadenza as of above.

In the second time, said passage is followed in the wheel, doing 4 other Seguiti spezzati, and 2 Scambiate, the one to the left, the other to the right, and both facing.  They are turned then to do 2 Puntate, the one forward, and the other back, 1 Seguito spezzato turning to the left with the Cadenza, as of above, and being careful to find themselves always facing again in the end of said Cadenza.

In the third time, the man alone has then to do 2 Passi presti forward and the Cadenza, starting it with the left foot, and will do the same with the right foot back; then he will follow doing 4 Trabuchetti, and these starting with the left foot with 1 Seguito spezzato turned to the left, and the Cadenza with the right foot facing.  Then they both have to do 2 Puntate the one forward, and the other back by flank, and another Seguito spezzato turned to the left, and the Cadenza, as of above.

In the fourth time, the lady alone then has to do the same, and together they have to turn to do the said Puntate, and the Seguito turned, as of above.

In the fifth time, are done facing together 4 Trabuchetti, starting it with the left foot; and 1 Doppio presto to the left flank: and they will do the same to the right, starting it with the right foot, and doing 2 Puntate together with the Seguito spezzato turned to the left, and the Cadenza with the right foot, as of above.

In the sixth time are done also together 2 Riprese, 2 Trabuchetti, and 1 Doppio presto to the left flank, starting it with the left foot: and they would do the same to the right flank, starting it with the right foot: and repeating the said Puntate forward, then back, with 1 Spezzato turned to the left, and the Cadenza with the right: then resting the people in the end of this facing, as they were discovered in the start, they are able gracefully and to the time of the sound, to do end to said Cascarda: and after outside of the sound they will do the Riverenza minima.

Lute tablature, with the music of the Sonata of the Cascarda Alta Regina, done in 6 Times.


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