Translation of the song lyrics Britten: Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op. 22 - Sonetto XXIV - Peter Pears, Бенджамин Бриттен

Britten: Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo, Op. 22 - Sonetto XXIV (original)

Spirito ben nato, in cui si specchia e vede
Nelle tuo belle membra oneste e care
Quante natura e 'l ciel tra no' puo' fare
Quand’a null’altra suo bell’opra cede;
Spirto leggiadro, in cui si spera e crede
Dentro, come di fuor nel viso appare
Amor, pietà, mercè, cose sì rare
Che mà furn’in beltà con tanta fede;
L’amor mi prende, e la beltà mi lega;
La pietà, la mercè con dolci sguardi
Ferma speranz’al cor par che ne doni
Qual uso o qual governo al mondo niega
Qual crudeltà per tempo, o qual più tardi
C’a sì bel viso morte non perdoni?

(translation)

Well-born spirit, in which he reflects and sees
In your beautiful honest and dear members
How many nature is heaven between no can do
When none of his other beautiful works yields;
Graceful spirit, in which one hopes and believes
Inside, as outside in her face he appears
Love, mercy, mercy, such rare things
That you give me so much faith in beauty;
Love takes me, and beauty binds me;
Mercy, mercy with sweet looks
Stop hope the heart seems to give it
What use or what government in the world denies
What cruelty in time, or what later
There is such a beautiful face death you do not forgive?