I am posting an English translation of the wonderful "canticle" by St
Francis of Assisi,
known as the "Laudes creaturarum" (Canticle of the Creatures),
one of the first form of poetry and oldest literary document in Italian,
which represents also the formal beginning of verse (here in the form of
verancular psalm):
it is followed by the original text in ancient Italian.

Erminia


San Francesco d'Assisi
"Canticle of the Creatures"

Most high, all-powerful, all good, Lord!
  All praise is yours, all glory, all honor
  And all blessing.

To you alone, Most High, do they belong.
  No mortal lips are worthy
  To pronounce your name.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made,
  And first my lord Brother Sun,
  Who brings the day; and light you give to us through him.

How beautiful is he, how radiant in all his splendor!
  Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars;
  In the heavens you have made them, bright
  And precious and fair.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
  And fair and stormy, all the weather's moods,
  By which you cherish all that you have made.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
  So useful, lowly, precious, and pure.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
  Through whom you brighten up the night.
  How beautiful he is, how gayl Full of power and strength.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother,
  Who feeds us in her sovereignty and produces
  Various fruits and colored flowers and herbs.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through those who grant pardon
  For love of you; through those who endure
  Sickness and trial.

Happy those who endure in peace,
  By you, Most High, they will be crowned.

All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Death,
  From whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sinl
Happy those She finds doing your will!
  The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks,
  And serve him with great humility.



"Laudes Creaturarum"

Altissimu, omnipotente, bonsignore,
  tue sono le laude
  la gloria et l'honore
  et omne benedictione.

Ad te solo, Altissimo, se Konfano
  et nullu homo enne dignu
  te mentovare.

Laudato sie, mi signore, cum tucte le tue creature,
  spetialmente messer lo frate sole,
  loquale iorni et allumini noi per lui.

Et ellu e bellu eradiante cum grande splendore:
  de te, Altissimo, porta significatione.

Laudato si, mi signore, per sora luna ele stelle:
  in celu lai formate clarite
  et pretiose et belle.

Laudate si, mi signore, per frate vento,
  et per aere et nubilo
  et sereno et omne tempo
  per loquale a le tue creature
  dai sustentamento.

Laudato si, mi signore, per sor aqua,
  laquale e multo utile et humile
  et pretiosa et casta.

Laudato si, mi signore, per frate focu,
  per loquale ennalumini la nocte:
  et ellu ebello et iocundo
  et robustoso et forte.

Laudato si, mi signore, per sora nostra matre terra,
  laquale ne sustenta et governa,
  et produce diverse fructi
  con coloriti flori et herba.

Laudato si, mi signore, per quelli ke perdonano
  per lo tuo amore
  et sostengo infirmitate
  et tribulatione.

Beate quelli kel susterranno in pace,
  ka da te, Altissimo,
  sirano incoronati.

Laudato si, mi signore, per sora nostra
  morte corporale,
  da laquale nullu homo
  vivente po skappare.

Guai acqueli ke morrano
  ne le peccata mortali!

Beati quelli ke trovarane
  le tue santissime voluntati,
  ka la morte secunda
  nol fara' male.

Laudate et benedicite, mi signore,
  et rengratiate et servite lo
  cum grande humilitate.



--St. Francis of Assisi



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