Quando men vo, Quando men vo soletta per la via, La gente sosta e mira. E la bellezza mia tutta ricerca in me, Ricerca in me da capo a pie.
Ed assaporo allor la bramosia sottil, Che da gl'occhi traspira. E dai palesi vezzi intender sa Alle occulte belta. Cosi l'effluvio del desio Tutta ma'ggira. Felice mi fa! Felice mi fa!
E tu che sai, Che memori e ti struggi, Da me tanto rifuggi? So ben: le angoscie tue non le vuoi dir, Non le vuoi dir, So ben ma ti senti morir!
English translation: When I walk all alone in the street People stop and stare at me And look for my whole beauty From my head to my feet.
And then I taste the slight yearning Which transpires from their eyes And which is able to perceive from manifest charms To most hidden beauties. So the scent of desire is all around me It makes me happy!
And you, while knowing, reminding and longing You shrink from me? I know it very well; You don't want to express your anguish But you feel as if you're dying!