Vasilissa ergo gaude

An isorhythmic motet by Guillaume Dufay, dedicated to the marriage of Cleofa Malatesta, daughter of Malatesta di Pandolfo, to Theodore II Palaiologos, son of the Byzantine emperor Manuel II and Despot of the Morea, in 1421.

Another all-time favorite, performed by ensemble La Reverdie.




Vasilissa, ergo gaude,
Quia es digna omni laude,
Cleophe, clara gestis
A tuis de Malatestis,
In Italia principibus
Magnis et nobilibus,

Ex tuo viro clarior,
Quia cunctis est nobilior:
Romeorum est despotus,
Quem colit mundus totus;
In porphyro est genitus,
A deo missus celitus

Iuvenili etate
polles et formositate
multum fecunda
Et utraque lingua facunda
Ac clarior es virtutibus
Pre alliis hominibus.

(Therefore rejoice, princess,
for you are worthy of all praise,
Cleofe, glorious from the deeds
of your Malatesta kin,
leading men in Italy,
great and noble,

More glorious from your husband,
for he is nobler than all;
he is Despot of the Rhomaioi,
he whom all the world reveres;
he was born in the purple,
sent by god from heaven

In youthfull bloom
you abound and in beauty,
very fertile
and eloquent in both tongues,
and you are more glorious for your virtues
above other human beings.)