There is shoving and rejoicing and singing and ringing
Through Rome’s weathered streets,
Foolishness is swinging its banner high,
The swarms of masked people are going wild.

Up and down the Via del Corso races
The flighty throng of wagons,
There the great ‘flower battle’
Of the carnival is being fought.

There is skirmishing with roses and violets,
Ha! How the bouquets are flying!
That was a hit! -- Good luck to you! her eyes are flashing, --
Keep throwing -- you shall be victorious!

You too, my heart, be joyous today,
Forget what you have suffered,
Let the olden times and the old suffering
Go under in a flood of flowers.