Introduction

Lorenzo (1449-1492) is the most remarkable of the Medicis of Florence, richly deserving his by-name “the Magnificent” – a word originally meaning “doing great things”. This is not the place to detail his oft-paradoxical history; this poem may well be seen as a reaction to the grim and glum side of the Catholic Church, yet his son became a cardinal at the age of thirteen, which is rather younger than is customary today, and later became Pope.

This poem has a rhyming scheme which is rather complex and irregular, throwing off the reader in a charming way. Its delightful musical setting may be heard on a compact disk by the group Doulce Mémoire, Auvidis E 8626. I have tried to maintain the rhyming scheme, as well as the tone of the poem.

It is interesting to note that in the booklet accompanying the disk, the French rendering of the paragraph beginning Queste ninfe bears no resemblance to the Italian original:

Ces satyres joyeux,
amoureux des nymphes,
sont cent fois aux aguets
dans les cavernes et les bosquets:
Maintenant, réchauffés par Bacchus,
ils dansent et chantent sans cesse.

It is not clear to me whether the translator did not understand the original, or found it distasteful. (The English text is simply translated from the French.) This hesitation may be illuminated by Jack Zipes in his Don't bet on the Prince (New York, 1989) p. 242:

The erotic display in Doré's illustration [of Red Riding Hood] indicates a transgression of society's rules of sexual behavior and sexuality, while at the same time it confirms what we suppose to be true about both women and men: women want men to rape them; men are powerful but weak beasts who cannot help themselves when tempted by alluring female creatures. [my emphasis.]

A word on the classical references. Bacchus is identified with Dionysus, whose love for his Ariadne was proverbial. His popular cult was suppressed early in the Christian era. Silenus is a mythic figure, part horse and part man, who was the father-in-law of Dionysus-Bacchus. Silenus is typically pictured as a jolly old reprobate, happy in his drunken stupor. Nymphs are minor female deities, usually associated with trees, or bodies of water. They appear to be pleasant company for humans. Bacchus and Silenus together form the model for the constant search for pleasure that the poet recommends: Gather ye rosebuds while ye may; Gaudeamus igitur – youth is the time for rejoicing, for it soon flies away.

Additional Note 2008:05:27
But see now the explanation of Vasja Nagy at the end of this page!

The Triumph of Bacchus

The time of youth indeed is sweet,
But all too soon it slips away.
If you'd be happy – don't delay!
Tomorrow's ills we've yet to meet.

Welcome Bacchus, Ariadne!
An ardent couple, loving, fair.
They spend as one their days with glee,
For time flies fast and does not spare.
Thus these nymphs – and others – fare.
Happy they the livelong day!
If you'd be happy – don't delay!
Tomorrow's ills we've yet to meet.

These nymphs are tickled by the thought
To be deceived by lover's wile.
If Love's sweet remedy were naught,
Folk sure would be uncouth and vile.
Commingled now, they dance and smile
And sport and play the livelong day!
If you'd be happy – don't delay!
Tomorrow's ills we've yet to meet.

Upon a donkey, corpulent,
Silenus wends his weighty way.
Heavy, drunk and senescent,
Years and blubber on him lay.
He can't stand straight, he is quite bent –
Yet still he smiles the livelong day!
If you'd be happy – don't delay!
Tomorrow's ills we've yet to meet.

All ye lovers, boys, girls too –
Long live Bacchus, and Love, I say.
Play, dance, and sing, each one of you,
Let sweetness o’er your hearts hold sway.
Fatigue and weakness throw away,
For what must be you cannot beat.
If you'd be happy – don't delay!
Tomorrow's ills we've yet to meet.

Translated by Alan D. Corré June 3, 2005

Trionfo di Bacco

Quant’è bella la giovinezza,
che si fugge tuttavia!
chi vuol esser lieto, sia:
di doman non c’è certezza.

Quest’è Bacco e questa Arianna,
belli e l’un dell altro ardenti:
perche il tempo fugge e inganna,
sempre insieme stan contenti.
Queste ninfe ed altre genti
sono allegre tuttavia.
Chi vuol esser lieto, sia:
di doman non c’è certezza.

Queste ninfe anche hanno caro
da lor esser ingannate:
non può fare Amor riparo,
se non gente rozze e ingrate:
ora insieme mescolate
suonon, canton tuttavia.
Chi vuol esser lieto, sia:
di doman non c’è certezza.

Questa soma, che vien drieto,
sopra l’asino, è Sileno:
cosi vecchio è ebbro e lieto,
già di carne e d'anni pieno;
se non può star ritto, almeno
ride e gode tuttavia.
Chi vuol esser lieto, sia:
di doman non c’è certezza.

Donne e giovinetti amanti
viva Bacco e viva Amore!
Ciascun suoni, balli e canti!
arda di dolcezza il core!
Non fatica, non dolote!
cio c’ha a esser, convien sia
Chi vuol esser lieto, sia:
di doman non c’è certezza.