Carlyle Garden in Full Spring

Spinet in the small parlor of Carlyle House

As a descriptive basis for his Four Seasons, Vivaldi took four Sonnets, apparently written by himself. Here are his verses for the Allegro of the Spring Concerto:

Giunt' è la Primavera e festosetti
La Salutan gl' Augei con lieto canto,
E i fonti allo Spirar de' Zeffiretti
Con dolce mormorio Scorrono intanto:
Vengon' coprendo l' aer di nero amanto
E Lampi, e tuoni ad annuntiarla eletti
Indi tacendo questi, gl' Augelletti;
Tornan' di nuovo al lor canoro incanto.

Springtime is upon us.
The birds celebrate her return with festive song,
and murmuring streams are softly caressed by the breezes.
Thunderstorms, those heralds of Spring, roar, casting their dark mantle over heaven,
Then they die away to silence, and the birds take up their charming songs once more.

Veniti, privighetoarea canta
Si liliacul e-nflorit.
(Macedonski - Noaptea de Mai)

(Alexandria)

(A Life in Books)