Torquato Tasso- For Margherita

Torquato Tasso’s lovely elegy- of sorts- for a friend opens with a beautiful use of Italian. ‘Non è questo un morire,’ literally ‘This is not a dying.’ It doesn’t quite work to my ear in English- at least not as gracefully- hence my below attempt.

The fifth (sixth, in Italian) line gave me a little pause for thought. Does pietà here mean compassion or reverence? It was tempting to settle for the former, which would make a lovely individual line (‘But only pity for the last departure’), but I decided the latter fitted better with the overall message of the poem. I also thought it possible he was referring to the Last Judgement with 'partenza estrema,' which strengthened the case for piety.

Anyway, it is just generally a spry and elegant little poem in the Italian, almost weightless in its grace, and it’s hard to convey it in another language.

Italian	English
Non è questo un morire, Immortale Margherita, Ma un passer anzi tempo a l’altra vita: Nè de l’ignota via Duol ti scolori o tema, Ma sol pietà per la partenza estrema, Di noi pensosa e pia, Di te lieta e sicura, T’accomiate dal mondo, anima pura.	This is no dying, Immortal Margherita, But an early crossing to the other life. Have no fear nor sorrow at this unknown path, But only piety for the last departure. For us thoughtful and pious, For yourself happy and secure, You take your leave of this world, pure soul.