To the Most Illustrious and Most Excellent Lady
The Lady Costanza Colonna Sforza,
Marquesse of Caravaggio

With the flashing of the burning and beautiful eyes,
Which sweetly govern honest love
You lead again to naked hills, then which winter
The flowered season of two twins.
But of rare virtue new heat
Hence crowds kindle; whence to the internal sight
You discover the beauty of the highest mansion;
And give cause his each vile desire.
Eyes, Stars of the Heavens bright and clear;
Which give to us of the soul Nature
For loyal mirrors to the well born soul.
Eyes, nested of grace, and of honesty,
Which are able to make day of dark night,
Open the clouds, and make calm the burning.

Original rhyme scheme - ABBA/ABBA/CDEEDC

Se Pensand' Al Partire (Thinking Him of Leaving)
Balletto of M. Bastiano

In Praise of the Lady Costanza Colonna Sforza,
Marquesse of Caravaggio

The present Balletto is divided in 4 times: in the start of which, the people standing facing, the man will take the ordinary hand of the lady, and they will do together the Riverenza, and 2 Continenze: starting with the left foot, and concluding with the right: then will be done 2 Puntate forward, and 1 Doppio with the left: with another 2 Puntate, 1 with the right, and the other with the left: and 2 Riprese to the right, with 2 Continenze, the 1 to the left, and the other to the right, and the Riverenza with the left foot.

In the second time, they will be let go, and turning to the left, they will do 4 Seguiti scorsi with taking to the field enough, and they will go 1 to one head of the hall, and the other to the other: then scurrying similarly, they will be joined, and will do meza Riverenza to the end of the first time of the sound: then touching the right hand, they will be let go, and will do another 4 Seguiti scorsi, changing place, and joining it facing, and doing meza Riverenza to the end of the second time of the sound without taking hand.  The man will do then 2 Puntate forward, and the lady back: the same she will do forward another turn, and he back, with 2 Continenze, and the Riverenza.

In the third time they will return to do another turn the 4 Seguiti scorsi, touching the left hand with doing the meza Riverenza, with all the other actions which are stood done in the second change: but the lady will start with doing the 2 Puntate forward.

In the final time, they will do another 4 Seguiti scorsi turned to the left hand, as of above, and joining it, both the hands will be taken by slashed [unknown word - sbiasso?], that they are able to walk, and they will do meza Riverenza; then doing the other 4 Seguiti scorsi changing place, and to the end of the time joining it, they will do meza Riverenza without taking hand.  Then taking the right hand, they will do 1 Puntata with the left foot, and meza Riverenza with the right, turning the body in perspective to the left flank: they owe to do the same taking the left hand by opposite; then they will do 2 Continenze, the 1 to the left, and the other to the right.  Finally the man taking the ordinary hand of the lady, and doing together the Riverenza, they will put end to the Balletto.

Lute tablature, with the music of the Sonata of the Se Pensando al Partire, Balletto


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