Greensleeves

Alas, my love, you do me wrong,
To cast me off discourteously.
For I have loved you well and long,
Delighting in your company.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

Your vows you’ve broken, like my heart,
Oh, why did you so enrapture me?
Now I remain in a world apart
But my heart remains in captivity.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

I have been ready at your hand,
To grant whatever you would crave,
I have both wagered life and land,
Your love and good-will for to have.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

If you intend thus to disdain,
It does the more enrapture me,
And even so, I still remain
A lover in captivity.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

My men were clothed all in green,
And they did ever wait on thee;
All this was gallant to be seen,
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

Thou couldst desire no earthly thing,
but still thou hadst it readily.
Thy music still to play and sing;
And yet thou wouldst not love me.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

Well, I will pray to God on high,
that thou my constancy mayst see,
And that yet once before I die,
Thou wilt vouchsafe to love me.

Greensleeves was all my joy
Greensleeves was my delight,
Greensleeves was my heart of gold,
And who but my lady greensleeves.

Ah, Greensleeves, now farewell, adieu,
To God I pray to prosper thee,
For I am still thy lover true,
Come once again and love me.

§

Ahimè, mio amore, mi fate male,
Per avermi allontanato in modo sì scortese.
Poiché io vi ho amato molto e a lungo,
Dilettandomi in vostra compagnia.

Greensleeves era tutta la mia gioia
Greensleeves era la mia delizia,
Greensleeves era il mio cuore d’oro,
E chi se non la mia signora Greensleeves?

I vostri voti che avete rotto, come il mio cuore,
Oh, perché così mi rapiscono?
Ora resto in un mondo a parte
Ma il mio cuore rimane in cattività.

Greensleeves era tutta la mia gioia
Greensleeves era la mia delizia,
Greensleeves era il mio cuore d’oro,
E chi se non la mia signora Greensleeves?

Io sono stato pronto alla vostra mano,
Per concedervi qualunque cosa di cui aveste bisogno,
Ho scommesso la vita e la terra,
Il vostro amore e il desiderio di avervi.

Greensleeves era tutta la mia gioia
Greensleeves era la mia delizia,
Greensleeves era il mio cuore d’oro,
E chi se non la mia signora Greensleeves?

Se intendete in tal modo disprezzarmi,
Ciò mi rapirà ancor più,
E anche così, io rimango ancora
Un amante in cattività.

Greensleeves era tutta la mia gioia
Greensleeves era la mia delizia,
Greensleeves era il mio cuore d’oro,
E chi se non la mia signora Greensleeves?

I miei uomini erano vestiti tutti di verde,
E non vi hanno mai aspettata;
Tutto questo è stato galante a vedersi,
Eppure non mi avreste mai amato.

Greensleeves era tutta la mia gioia
Greensleeves era la mia delizia,
Greensleeves era il mio cuore d’oro,
E chi se non la mia signora Greensleeves?

Qualunque cosa terrena avste voluto
L’avreste avuta prontamente.
La vostra musica da suonare e cantare;
Eppure non mi avreste mai amato.

Greensleeves era tutta la mia gioia
Greensleeves era la mia delizia,
Greensleeves era il mio cuore d’oro,
E chi se non la mia signora Greensleeves?

Bene, io pregherò Dio in alto,
Che possa vedere la mia costanza,
E che ancora una volta prima di morire,
Voi vi degniate di amarmi.

Greensleeves era tutta la mia gioia
Greensleeves era la mia delizia,
Greensleeves era il mio cuore d’oro,
E chi se non la mia signora Greensleeves?

Ah, Greensleeves, ora addio, addio,
A Dio io prego che vi dia prosperità,
Perché io sono ancora il vostro amante vero,
Venite ancora e amatemi.

ANONIMO INGLESE Sec. XVI