Eransi solo a far perpetua guerra

This secular Italian madrigal for SATTB voices by Alessandro Striggio would suit a moment of intense reflection. The text explores the conflicting emotions of scorn and love, which bind the heart and lead to perpetual war. Love urges us to seek earthly joys, while scorn suggests that our days are better spent elsewhere, extinguishing all pleasure. One force rekindles desire, while the other extinguishes hope. The poet questions which emotion ultimately prevails, concluding that it is not through piety but through one's own strength and value that victory is achieved. Striggio's setting would bring these powerful emotions to life.