To the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lady
The Lady Vittoria D'Oria Gonzaga

Courteous spirit second to none other,
Which despising that which is now desired so much,
Riches, and nobility, hold carried the boast
Of being among us alone Vittoria to the World;
I, which of each misery lie down on ground,
Advance me all, and rejoice me, hearing how much
Is in you of that ancient and holy valor
Which alone I am able to make others rich, and merry:
And pray the Heaven, that your high thoughts
Conduct to joyful end, that well are worthy
Of the favor of thereabove more than others ever;
And you, who follow at all times most hot the true
Honor, letting go the shadows, and not you scorn,
If few with you would have to the high attempt.

Original rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDECDE

Felice Vittoria (Happy Vittoria)
Balletto of M. Ippolito Ghidotti da Crema;

In Praise of the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lady,
The Lady Vittoria D'Oria Gonzaga

In this Balletto, taking both the hands, as will be found in the picture of Contentezza d'Amore, they will do together the Riverenza grave; then letting go the hands, they will do 2 Continenze gravi, 1 to the left, taking the right hand, and the other to the right, taking the left hand: then turning to the left, they will do 2 Passi gravi, and 1 Seguito semidoppio, touching the left hand; and turning to the right, they will do the same by opposite, touching the right hand.  Then they will do 2 Continenze grave, and letting go said hand, and taking the ordinary hand, they will do the Riverenza grave in perspective.

In the second time walking, they will do 2 Puntate grave, and 2 Seguiti ordinarii, then the man guiding the lady in the manner of a half moon, they will do together 2 Passi grave, and 3 Trabuchetti grave, with the final to feet even, starting with the left: they will do the same by opposite, walking to the right, and starting with the right: then they will do 2 Puntate, 1 forward with the left foot, and the other back with the right, and the Riverenza with the left.

In the third time, the man alone will do 2 Passi gravi, and 1 Seguito semidoppio to the left, and he will do the same to the right: then turning the left flank back, he will do 2 Riprese, and 2 Trabuchetti, turning also with the same flank inward, he will do 2 other Riprese, and 1 Trabuchetto to feet even: then turning the right flank outward, he will do the same by opposite outward and inward, as of above.  Together then they will do 2 Puntate, 1 with the left foot forward,, taking the hands, and another back with the right, letting them go, with the Riverenza grave with the left.

In the fourth time, the lady alone will do the same change which the man will have done: then both together will do the same actions said in the end of the third time.

In the fifth time, taking the right arm, they will do 2 Passi gravi, and 1 Seguito semidoppio to the left, starting with the left foot; then taking the left arm, they will do the same, starting with the right; and letting go, they will turn the left flank outward, doing the 2 Riprese, and the 2 Trabuchetti: then suddenly turning the same flank inward, they will do 2 other Riprese, and 1 Trabuchetto grave to feet even: they will do the same by opposite, turning the right flank outward, and starting with the right: then taking with both the hands, they will do 2 Continenze gravi, and letting go, they will do the Riverenza.

To the sciolta of the sonata in Saltarello.

They will do together 6 Seguiti spezzati, 4 in the wheel, and 2 turned to the left, 4 Trabuchetti presti facing, 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked back, 2 Seguiti battuti di Canario forward, and the Cadenza, starting with the left foot: they will do the same Seguiti spezzati flanked, and battuti di Canario, with the Cadenza, by opposite, starting with the right.  Finally they will do the 2 Riprese with the left flank outward, the 2 Trabuchetti: then turning the same flank inward, they will do 2 Riprese, and 1 Trabuchetto to feet even: they will do the same turning the right flank outward; then the lady will do 1 Seguito scorso turning to the right, and the man thence will do another forward; then he will take the lady, and they will finish the Ballo gracefully with doing together the Riverenza.

Lute tablature of the Balletto Felice Vittoria.


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