VIII. Non mi curo più di te
Renouncing the Enemy
The speaker firmly rejects the enemy's temptations, declaring a new allegiance to Christ.
I don't care about you anymore: I've taken hold of strong branches, I won't answer when you call, I'll make a mockery of you.1 Enemy, I’ve crossed the uncertain road by now; my Jesus has set me free—don't keep waiting there. I've been given grace so I won't fall. Don't try the bait and the hooks on me anymore. I don't answer when you call; I'll make a mockery of you.2 You thought you had a big job on your hands, showing me pleasures; I won't even think of anything that would offend my Lord. Come on now—leave me alone! I don't want your calls anymore; I won't answer, though you call; I'll make a mockery of you.3
Turning Toward God
The speaker shifts focus from the enemy to the contemplation of sins and divine goodness.
Ah, leave me alone now with your mortal wound! I mean to think on my sins, and on God, infinite goodness; I mean to set my life on doing so much that God will love me. I won't answer when you call; I'll mock you.4
Final Defiance of Vanity
The speaker dismisses all worldly pleasures, affirming that Christ's sacrifice is the anchor of the soul.
Now show me as many pleasures as you can—every one you know how to offer. Even if it were you and all you have, you'll get nothing else from me.5 Ah, as for the rest, let these false and wretched ways be done with now! I won't answer when you call; I'll make a mockery of you. You've worked hard, I tell you, to keep me far from God. I've made you unhappy; otherwise, He would have died in vain.✦6 I've placed the soul in His hand, so He can call it back to Himself.7 I won't answer when you call; I'll make a mockery of you.
Read the original Latin
Non mi curo più di te: Aggio preso forti rami, Non rispondo perchè chiami, Beffe mi farò di te.
O nimico, i’ ò passato Oramai la dubia strada; Gesù mio m’ à liberato, Non istare a quella bada. Grazia ò auto ch’ io non cada, Non provar più l’ esca e gli ami; Non rispondo, perchè chiami, Beffe mi farò di te.
Credesti aver gran faccenda, Con piaceri a me mostrare; Non che ’l mio Signore offenda, Non ci voglio pur pensare. Deh omai lasciami stare! I’ non vo’ più tuo’ richiami; Non rispondo, perchè chiami; Beffe mi farò di te.
Deh omai lasciami stare Con la tua mortal ferita! A’ peccati i’ vo’ pensare Ed a Dio, bontà infinita, Io vo’ metter la mie vita In far tanto che Dio m’ ami. Non rispondo, perchè chiami; Beffe mi farò di te.
Or ne mostra quanto puoi De’ piacer quanti ne sai. Se tu fussi tu e’ tuoi, Da me altro non arai. Deh pel resto sia omai Questi modi falsi e grami! Non rispondo, perchè chiami: Beffe mi farò di te.
Tu se’ stato molto attento Farmi, dico, a Dio lontano. I’ t’ ò fatto malcontento: Or sarebbe morto invano. Dato gli ò nella suo mano L’ alma ch’ a sè la richiami. Non rispondo, perchè chiami; Beffe mi farò di te.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Gal.2.21 — I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Notes
- 1 ↩Aggio preso forti rami (Tuscan aggio = ho): literally 'I've taken/grasped strong branches'—a firm-hold image of safety and support against the enemy addressed in the next stanza.
- 2 ↩Tuscan ò auto = ho avuto; ch' io non cada is purpose/result (grace given so that I may not fall).
- 3 ↩perchè here is read concessively ('though/even though you call'), matching the defiant refrain; a causal 'because' reading is less apt.
- 4 ↩Italian 'perchè chiami' (tu form identical in indicative and subjunctive) rendered as temporal/indifferent 'when you call,' matching the defiant refrain; concessive 'though you call' is also possible.
- 5 ↩'tu e’ tuoi' is the World (or tempter) and its company/belongings; rendered as 'you and all yours'.
- 6 ↩"Or sarebbe morto invano" is taken as the averted counterfactual: had the speaker stayed with the addressee (the world/sin), Christ's death would have been wasted for this soul. "He" is supplied as the implied referent of "morto."
- 7 ↩"nella suo mano" is dialectal/Tuscan for "nella sua mano"; rendered as God's hand ("His"), matching "a sè la richiami."
Sacred Narratives (Storie Sacre) and Laude of Lucrezia Tornabuoni de' Medici companion
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