Nulla in mundo pax sincera

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Nulla in mundo pax sincera (RV 630) is a motet composed by Antonio Vivaldi, the title of which may be translated as "In this world there is no honest peace". Written in the key of E major and in the typical lyrical Italian Baroque style, it is scored for solo soprano, two violins, and basso continuo. The piece praises Jesus Christ for the salvation he offers (in Christianity) to an imperfect world full of evil and sin; as one of Vivaldi's sacred works, the lyrics are accordingly written in the traditional Latin.

The motet consists of three parts (Aria; Recitative; Aria), followed by a concluding Alleluia. A full performance of the piece takes approximately nine and a half minutes -- nearly eight minutes of which are spent entirely on the first aria.

[edit] Lyrics

Aria.

Nulla in mundo pax sincera
sine felle; pura et vera,
dulcis Jesu, est in te.

Inter poenas et tormenta
vivit anima contenta
casti amoris sola spe.

Recitative.

Blando colore oculos mundus decepit
at occulto vulnere corda conficit;
fugiamus ridentem, vitemus sequentem,
nam delicias ostentado arte secura
vellet ludendo superare.

Aria.

Spirit anguis
inter flores et colores
explicando tegit fel.
Sed occulto tactus ore
homo demens in amore
saepe lambit quasi mel.

Alleluia.

Aria.

In this world there is no honest peace
free from bitterness; true and pure
peace, sweet Jesus. lies in Thee.

Amidst punishment and torment
lives the contented soul,
chaste love its only hope.

Recitative.

This world deceives the eye by surface charms,
but is corroded within by hidden wounds.
Let us flee him who smiles, shun him who follows us,
for by skilfully displaying its pleasures, this world
overwhelms us by deceit.

Aria.

The serpent’s hiss conceals its venom,
as it uncoils itself
among blossoms and beauty.
But with a furtive touch of the lips,
a man maddened by love
will often kiss as if licking honey.

Alleluia.