Torquato Tasso Quotes

Per la fe, per la patria il tutto lice.

For when last need to desperation driveth,
Who dareth most, he wisest counsel giveth.

Oh, such a gentle entreaty
this fool has found,
reminding me of my youth,
of pleasures past and present woes!

Great Carthage low in ashes cold doth lie,
Her ruins poor the herbs in height scant pass,
So cities fall, so perish kingdoms high,
Their pride and pomp lies hid in sand and grass:
Then why should mortal man repine to die,
Whose life, is air; breath, wind; and body, glass?

Non bisogna la morte,
Ch'astringer nobil cuore,
Prima basta la fede, e poi l'amore.

Women have tongues of craft, and hearts of guile,
They will, they will not; fools that on them trust.

For love she wist was weak without those arts,
And slow; for jealousy is Cupid's food;
For the swift steed runs not so fast alone,
As when some strain, some strive him to outgone.

Alike prepared for all fates, at each breath
assured of triumph and contemning death.

Already darkening night
had quenched all rays of daylight, and made truce,
in mere oblivion of all care and fright,
with tears and with laments.

The way to honor, way to safety is.

L'arte, che tutto fa, nulla si scopre.

Giunta è tua gloria al sommo e per lo innanzi Fuggir le dubbie guerre a te conviene, Ch' ove tu vinca sol di stato avvanzi Nè tua gloria maggior quindi diviene; Mal' Imperio acquii'tato e prefo dianzi El' onor perdi, se 'l contrario avviene.

Nè consiglio d'uom sano Amor riceve.

She tried to cry out: 'Will you, cruel man,
leave me alone here?' Pain choked off her cry,
and in her heart the plaintive words began
to echo in a yet more bitter sigh.

Wherever I am, I am Love, no less
among these shepherds than with nobility.
And inequalities of subjects to my rule
I balance as I please.