To the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lady,
The Lady Felice Orsina Colonna,
Duchess of Tagliacozzo, and of Paliano,
Vice Regina of Sicilia

Lucky star, gentle, illustrious, and wise,
Which adorn at all times with immortal trophies
The glorious your Colonna, and Indei
New Callisto, that which most you shines;
Whilst of roses in this, and in that meadow
Harvest, you are adorned, which India and Sabei
Similar prizes do not have; how much I would owe
To say thence, but it seems that Heaven has me in hatred.
You well may be able distant at all times of near the Tebro
To make me favorable, it of the West, to the East
To withdraw me, and to make sublime my desires;
So it would be, that you wake in Heaven rise up again
My idol, as among joyful turnings
I did of joy at all times become drunk.

Original rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDEDEC

Bassa Colonna (Colonna Valley; Column Valley)
Balletto of M. Andrea da Gaeta

In Praise of the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lady
Duchess of Tagliacozzo, and of Paliano

The left hand of the lady is taken, as stand the figures of the Balletto Austria Gonzaga, doing together the Riverenza, and 2 Continenze: although now this Balletto would be corrupted, and if one would do without the Riverenza, and Continenze, the which renders it most foul to see; because which, as in the Rules I have said; Each Ballo which is started without doing Riverenza, is most false: and the reason is that it is always owed for manners to salute the lady, and to revere her, the which not doing it, is a sign of most great discourtesy, and despising of the most gentle lady with whom the Ballo is done: therefore I exhort each noble and well-mannered soul to do said Riverenza, and Continenze, the which done, the man alone has to follow the Ballo with doing 2 Puntate forward flanked, and 3 Seguiti spezzati back flanked, and 1 Trabuchetto to the right hand to feet even gracefully on point of feet.  And the same the lady will owe to do.

In the second time he returns to take the lady by the ordinary hand, and walking, they do 2 Seguiti ordinarii, and to the end of the second they have to bend the knees a little in the manner of meza Riverenza, and letting go, one has to go in head of the hall, and the other has to rest on feet doing 2 Seguiti turned to the left hand.

In the third time, facing the man alone has to do 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked forward, with 2 Riprese and 1 Trabuchetti to feet even lightly on point of feet, with the left flank within: after they have to do 2 other Seguiti spezzati flanked back, starting it with the right foot, and 3 Trabuchetti, doing the final one to feet even: the lady has to do the same.

In the fourth time, together they have to do 1 Seguito, the man forward, and the lady back, starting it with the left foot: the same she has to do forward, and he back; the man then has to turn 2 Seguiti ordinarii to the left, and the lady has to do thence another 2 forward, taking the left hand of the man. 

In the fifth time, the lady alone has to do that which in the start of the Ballo the man did alone, that is 2 Puntate forward flanked, and 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked back, with 1 Trabuchetto to the right hand to feet even lightly on point of feet, together with all the other actions and ceremonies which were done together.  That done, they have to take the right hand, and to do 2 Passi presti, and the Cadenza as in the Cascarde, starting it with the left foot, and taking the left hand: the same they have to do starting it with the right foot: then facing are done with the left foot 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked, with 2 Passi presti, and the Cadenza: that is the man will do them forward, and the lady back; and the same they will do starting it with the right foot, that is the lady forward, and the man back:

In the sixth time are done in the wheel 4 Seguiti spezzati, starting it with the left foot: and then the lady has to turn thence 2 other to the left, and the man thence has to do another 2 forward, taking the lady by the left hand, and doing 2 Puntate, 1 forward, and the other back: then with the Riverenza they have gracefully to finish said Balletto.

Lute tablature, with the music of the Sonata of the Balletto Bassa Colonna, done in 13 times.


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