Ohimè, il bel viso

Song Meaning

“Oimè il bel viso” opens a profound lament, immediately immersing the listener in a deep cry of sorrow. The speaker mourns a lost beloved, detailing their striking beauty and noble presence. Each line builds a vivid portrait of an almost impossibly perfect individual, emphasizing what has been irrevocably lost. The lyrics emphasize the beloved's powerful influence: their speech could humble the fierce and embolden the weak, a stark contrast to the speaker's current vulnerability. The “dolce riso” (sweet smile) is described as the source of a “dart” that brought a “death,” suggesting a love so intense it became a fatal wound, leaving no hope for other joy. The speaker elevates the lost individual to an “Alma real” – a royal soul worthy of empire. The poignant caveat, “Se non fossi fra noi scesa sí tardo!” (if only you hadn't arrived among us so late!), hints at a tragic, perhaps untimely, separation. This deep admiration underpins the speaker's declaration: “Per voi conven ch'io arda, e 'n voi respire” (for you I must burn, and in you I breathe), asserting an existence now entirely defined by this profound absence. The emotional core culminates in the final lines, revealing a devastating twist. The speaker recalls being “filled with hope and desire” upon a parting that felt like “supreme living pleasure.” Yet, this fragile hope was ultimately shattered: “Ma 'l vento ne portava” (But the wind carried away the words).