benchè nero

Michelangelo Buonarroti

O notte, o dolce tempo, benché nero,

con pace ogn’opra sempre’al fin assalta;

ben vede e ben intende chi t’esalta

e chi t’onor ha l’intelletto intero.

Tu mozzi e tronchi ogni stanco pensiero;

ché l’umid’ombra ogni quiet’appalta,

e dall’infima parte alla più alta

in sogno spesso porti, ov’ire spero.

O ombra del morir, per cui si ferma

ogni miseria, a l’alma, al cor nemica,

ultimo delli afflitti e buon rimedio;

tu rendi sana nostra carn’inferma

rasciughi i pianti e posi ogni fatica,

e furi a chi ben vive ogn’ira e tedio.

though dark

Michelangelo Buonarroti

Oh night, oh time sweet, though dark,

peacefully each labor, at last, will embrace;

farseeing are those who honour you, judicious

and of refined intellect those who exalt.

You shatter and break each tired thought;

as vaporous shade the quiet soothes,

the highest tops and infamous depths

in dreams you then conduct, whereto I would part.

Oh shadow of death, for which all anguish

will cease, to the soul, to the heart foe,

conclusion to suffering and ready comfort;

you make salubrious our ailing flesh

you dry the tears and placate woe,

ending for the virtuous tedium and anger.

Translation ©Matilda Colarossi