To the Illustrious Lady,
The Lady Margherita Gracca Boccamazzi,
Roman Gentlewoman

Oh if I were able with my wit, and art
Lady to praise how much beauty is in You,
I would show, that alone today among us
You are such, which I am not able to say it in pages;
That seeing in you that which Heaven imparts,
Done in me as the Sun with his rays,
Which illustrates me, and dazzles me then,
Such that I lose the better part of seeing;
Whence in seeing you the same oblivion,
And I consume me, and do not have which rules me;
Which I moreover would wish to stay fixed to such object.
In the meantime this my Ballo would be pleasing
To accept, which now is yet born, and which if in come
To the world, and to you, for to make it most perfect.

Original rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDECDE

Gracca Amorosa (Gracca Lover)
Cascarda;

In Praise of the Illustrious Lady,
The Lady Margherita Gracca Boccamazzi,
Roman Gentlewoman

Facing the man, and the lady, after done together the Riverenza minima, will do 4 Seguiti spezzati, 2 in the wheel, and 2 turned to the left, with 4 Trabuchetti facing, starting each thing first with the left, then with the right: after they will follow with 1 Seguito spezzato with the left, and meza Riverenza with the right to the left flank; similarly by opposite they will do to the right flank another Seguito spezzato with the right, and meza Riverenza with the left: then back they will do 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked, and 3 Riprese, with 1 Trabuchetto with the left, turning the left flank inward; they will return then to do 2 other Seguiti spezzati flanked back, with 3 other Riprese, and 1 Trabuchetto, as of above, turning the right flank, and starting with the right.

In the second time, in the wheel they will do 4 Seguiti spezzati, 4 Trabuchetti, and 2 Seguiti spezzati turned to the left, with 2 Scambiate, 1 to the left, the other to the right.  They will return then to do the 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked back, with the 3 Riprese, and the Trabuchetto, turning the left flank: they will do the same another turn by opposite, as yet is said in the first time.

In the third time, the man alone will do 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked forward, 4 Trabuchetti, 2 other Seguiti spezzati turned to the left, and 4 other Trabuchetti facing, 1 Passo with the left, and meza Riverenza with the right, turning the body a little to the left flank: he will do then another Passo with the right, and meza Riverenza with the left, turning the body to the right flank.  After that they will return to do 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked back together, with 3 Riprese, and 1 Trabuchetto, turning the left flank inward; they will do the same things another turn by opposite.

In the fourth time, the lady alone will do the same change which the man will have done: then together they will do the prestated spezzati, as of above.

In the fifth time, together they will do 1 Seguito ordinario to the left flank, 2 Riprese, 2 Trabuchetti, 1 with the right, and the other with the left: they will do the same to the right flank by opposite: then they will do 1 Passo with the left foot, and meza Riverenza with the right, touching the right hands together: they will do the same another turn by opposite: they will return also to do the 2 Seguiti spezzati flanked back 2 turns, with the Riprese, and the Trabuchetto, as they will have done to all the other parts: they will finish the Ballo finally with the Riverenza grave facing.

Lute tablature of the Cascarda Gracca Amorosa.


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