To the Illustrious Lady
The Lady Vittoria Accorambona,
Roman Gentlewoman

Born among delicate, and liquids whence
Nymphs, which settle the Sun with their sight,
And they know to work with their holy words,
That the water be resting, and to his pleasing which surrounds.
Born among the most fresh and green blossoms,
And Dryads, and Wood Nymphs, which each one embraces,
Adorned of little flowers, and of violets,
Who write, that to no one are second.
Not Nymph You, not Goddess, but Lady born,
And to these all take moreover the boast
Gentle Vittoria, so much thou art prized.
Of the Sun the light offends me not so much,
As your beauty, of whom troubled
Thence my soul comes, dead I, pining the song.

Original rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDCDCD

Alta Vittoria (High Vittoria)
Balletto of M. Oratio Martire

In Praise of the Illustrious Lady
The Lady Vittoria Accorambona,
Roman Gentlewoman.

He would take the lady by the ordinary hand, and the Riverenza grave will be done, with 2 Continenze: then walking, 2 Puntate will be done, and 4 Passi gravi, with 2 other Continenze, and 2 Seguiti; starting each thing with the left foot: then letting go the said hand, and turning both to the left hand, 1 will go to one head of the room, and the other to the other, doing 2 Seguiti scorsi: to the end of which, finding them again facing, they will do meza Riverenza.

Change of the man alone, in the which is done the sciolta of the Sonata in Gagliarda.

The man alone will do 1 change of Gagliarda, starting it with Cinque passi, and with the left foot: then he will follow doing 1 Groppo to the left flank, 2 Fioretti forward, 2 Passi presti back, 2 Riverenze preste with the left, and 1 Trabuchetto to the left flank, with 1 Capriola.

Change of the lady alone, also with the sciolta of the Sonata in Gagliarda.

The lady alone will do 2 Seguiti flanked, 1 Continenza to the left, and 3 Trabuchetti to the right, starting it with the right foot, and doing the final to feet even with the right flank outward.

Second change of the man alone.

The man will do Cinque passi in Gagliarda, and to the time of the Cadenza, will start to do 3 Triti minuti to the left flank, 1 Zoppetto with the left in air, 1 Sottopiede to the left, 2 Trabuchetti gravi, 1 to the left, the other to the right, another Sottopiede, also to the left, 2 Fioretti forward, and 2 Passi presti back, with 1 Capriola in 4: in place of the which 2 Passi andCapriola, he will be able to do 3 Passi back, and the Cadenza.

Second change of the lady alone.

The lady alone will do 2 Trabuchetti, with 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked forward, with 2 Seguiti scorsi turned to the left, finding her again to the end of this facing, and doing meza Riverenza.  The man alone will do then 1 Riverenza grave with the left.  The lady alone will do also the same.  Together they will do then 2 Seguiti flanked forward, with 2 Continenze, starting with the left: then they will be turned to the left, and will do 4 Seguiti scorsi; to the end of which the man will take the lady by the ordinary hand, and they will do together meza Riverenza.

To the sciolta of the Sonata in Saltarello.

They will do, without letting go hand, 4 Seguiti spezzati; and letting go, and going one to one head, and the other to the other of the room, thence they will do another 4 turned to the left: then they will do 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked back, with 2 Passi presti forward, and the Cadenza, starting it with the left foot: they will return to do the same another turn, starting the Seguiti spezzati back with the right foot: after that they will do 2 Scambiate, 1 to the left, and the other to the right: then they will follow, doing 2 Riprese to the left flank, and 2 Trabuchetti, and 1 Seguito spezzato turned to the left, with the left foot, and the Cadenza with the right foot: facing they will do the same Riprese, and Trabuchetti, and Seguito spezzato to the right.

To the sciolta of the Canario.

The man alone will do 1 Change of Canario, of those which most will please them, and which I explained in the proper Ballo of this Canario.  After the lady alone thence will also do another: and when in the end of this change they will have done the retreat, they will both be turned to the left hand, doing 2 Seguiti spezzati: then they will thence do another 2 forward, taking the right hand, and scurrying without letting go hand, they will do 2 Seguiti scorsi, changing place: then letting go said hands, and turning to the left hand, they will do 2 Passi presti forward, with the Cadenza facing, starting with the left.  The man alone then will do another change also of Canario.  The lady alone thence will do another: then finished the retreat of this Canario, they will both be turned to the right hand, and in the manner which yet is said of above, they will do the 2 Seguiti spezzati, and the other 2 forward; then taking the left hand, they will do the remaining of those acts which are being said.  Finally, letting go said hand, they will do the braiding with said course: then returning to take the ordinary hand, they will end the Ballo with doing together the Riverenza.

Lute tablature, of the Balletto Alta Vittoria.


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