Quando, alle mie luci perdute, torno a pensare

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by John Milton (1608 - 1674)

Translation © by Ferdinando Albeggiani

When I consider how my light is spent

Language: English

Our translations: GER ITA

When I consider how my [light]¹ is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide,
"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask; But patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best
Bear His mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
Is kingly: thousands at His bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

• G. Finzi

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View original text (without footnotes)
¹ Finzi: "life"

Text Authorship:

by John Milton (1608 - 1674), "Sonnet XIX" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

by Stephen Bick (b. 1993), "On his blindness", 2020, first performed 2020 [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a concert programme booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
by Gerald Finzi (1901 - 1956), "When I consider how my life is spent", op. 12 no. 1 (192-?) [ tenor or soprano and small orchestra ], from Two Sonnets, no. 1 [sung text checked 1 time]

Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Walter A. Aue) , "Sonett XIX: Wenn ich bedenke, wie mein Licht verblich", copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
HUN Hungarian (Magyar) (Árpád Tóth) , "A vak szonettje"
ITA Italian (Italiano) (Ferdinando Albeggiani) , copyright © 2010, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2008-01-08
Line count: 14
Word count: 114

Quando, alle mie luci perdute, torno a...

Language: Italian (Italiano) after the English

Quando, alle mie luci perdute, torno a pensare,         
e come, a mezzo della vita, il vasto mondo si è spento, 
e come a morte assomiglia celare un talento           
che giace inutile in me, mentre il Creatore             
vorrei servire con tutto me stesso, e così dimostrare,  
per tema di un rimprovero, quanto davvero valgo:        
"Pretende ancora Dio il mio lavoro?" - Allora mi domando.
Stolta questione. L'indulgenza ha pronta la risposta         
per prevenirla: Dio non ha bisogno              
dei regali degli uomini o della loro fatica.              
Meglio lo serve  chi il suo dolce giogo sopporta.         
Il suo stato è regale: migliaia, a un suo comando,         
terre e mari percorrono veloci e senza posa.             
Ma pure lo serve chi, accanto a Lui, è in attesa.

About the headline (FAQ)

Text Authorship:

Translation from English to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2010 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net

Based on:

a text in English by John Milton (1608 - 1674), "Sonnet XIX"
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2010-03-25
Line count: 14
Word count: 121