To the Most Illustrious Lady
The Lady Lucretia Salviati Orsina

Among the most solemn, and honored undertakings,
Which I for object to the good  works learn;
Your proud glory, whence I me kindle,
Render me bold enough, sweet, and courteous.
For you will be my sparkle inflamed,
And will grow of hoop in circle burning,
Which I well me would have, and clearly understand,
How many are your graces to the world understood;
Which not would be able point of me to be worth me,
Or to raise me, if with your prize
To me you gave not aid, to You great glory.
Oh done to death a thousand treacheries, and defenses,
Which adorn, and incline of such clear praise,
I with joy lived, You with victory.

Original rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDECDE

Lucretia Favorita  (Favorite Lucretia)
Balletto of M. Battistion;

In Praise of the Most Illustrious Lady
The Lady Lucretia Salviati Orsina

In this Balletto the man will take the ordinary hand of the lady, and together they will do the Riverenza grave, with 2 Continenze, the 1 to the left, and the other to the right, 2 Puntate gravi, and 1 Doppio similarly grave, starting with the left: then they will do 2 Puntate, starting it with the right, and the Riverenza with the same.

In the second time, following said walk, they will do 2 Puntate with 2 Doppii, and 4 Riprese to the right, starting the walk with the right foot: then they will do 2 Continenze, starting it with the left, and the Riverenza grave with the same foot.

In the third time, they will take the right hand, and will do 2 Puntate, starting it with the left foot: then letting go the hand, they will do 1 Doppio turned to the left, changing place, that is, going one to one head of the hall, and the other to the other; then walking to the left hand, they will do by flank 2 Puntate, starting it with the right foot, and 4 Riprese with the right flank without: facing they will also do 2 Puntate back flanked, starting it with the left, and the Riverenza with the same foot.

In the fourth time, following also the walk of said left hand, they will do 2 Puntate, starting it with the left foot, and 2 Doppii: then they will do 2 Seguiti scorsi facing, concluding it with meza Riverenza with the right foot: and 2 Continenze, 1 to the right, and the other to the left, and the Riverenza with the right.

In the fifth time, they will take the left hand, and will do 2 Puntate, starting it with the right foot: then letting it go, they will do 1 Doppio with the same foot, turning it to the right hand: then walking, and bringing them one to one head, and the other to the other of the hall, they will do to the right hand 2 Puntate by flank the one of the other, starting it with the left foot, with 4 Riprese to the left: and after those, they will do back 2 Puntate flanked, starting it with the right foot, and the Riverenza with the same foot.

In the sixth time, walking similarly with the left flank outward, they will do 2 Puntate, and those by flank, as of above, then 2 Doppii, starting it with the right foot, and 2 Seguiti scorsi, the which they will do with 1 meza Riverenza with the left foot: then with the same foot they will do 2 Continenze, the 1 to the left, and the other to the right, with the Riverenza grave with the left.

To the sciolta of the Sonata in Gagliarda.

They will do 4 Riprese, 2 to the left, and 2 to the right, with 1 Continenza to the left, and 1 Seguito finto with the right, concluding to manner of meza Riverenza: after that they will do 4 Seguiti, 2 walking forward, and changing place, and 2 turned to the left: and facing thence they will do another 4 flanked forward.

the second time of the Sonata, they will return to do the same things another turn.

To the third time of the Sonata (the which does not go done in Gagliarda as the other 2, but grave, in the manner which the Ballo was started) they will take both the hands, and will do 1 Riverenza grave with the left, and 2 Continenze 1 to the left, and the other to the right: then the man taking the right hand of the lady, and holding it by the left they will do, walking together, 4 Seguiti, 2 ordinarii, and 2 scorsi: then they will finish the Ballo, doing together the Riverenza gracefully.

Lute tablature, of the Balletto, Lucretia Favorita


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