Forward, Urania! | I have no wings — but when I launch my

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by Renato Fucini (1843 - 1921)

Translation © by Stephen Dubberly

Avanti Urania!

Language: Italian (Italiano)

Our translations: ENG

Io non ho l'ali, eppur quando dal molo
lancio la prora al mar,
fermi gli alcioni sul potente volo
si librano a guardar.

Io non ho pinne, eppur quando i marosi
niun legno osa affrontar,
trepidando, gli squali ardimentosi
mi guardano passar.

Simile al mio signor,
mite d'aspetto
quanto è forte in cuor,
le fiamme ho anch'io nel petto,
anch'io di spazio, anch'io di gloria ho smania...
Avanti, Urania!

Note: Urania is the muse of astronomy in Greek mythology. Puccini dedicated his song to the wife of a Marchese who purchased a steamer named Urania.

Text Authorship:

by Renato Fucini (1843 - 1921) [author's text not yet checked 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 Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924), "Avanti Urania!", published 1899 [sung text checked 1 time]

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

ENG English (Stephen Dubberly) , "Forward, Urania!", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this page: Sergio Leone

This text was added to the website: 2004-08-19
Line count: 14
Word count: 69

Forward, Urania!

Language: English after the Italian (Italiano)

I have no wings — but when I launch my
prow into the sea from the wharf,
the kingfishers, stopping their powerful flight,
swoop down to watch.

I have no fins — but when no vessel
dares to defy the billows,
the bold sharks fearfully
watch me pass.

Just like my master —
gentle in appearance
and yet strong of heart,
I, too, have flames in my chest;
I, too, am mad for space, for glory…
Forward, Urania!

Text Authorship:

Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2023 by Stephen Dubberly, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you must ask the copyright-holder(s) directly for permission. If you receive no response, you must consider it a refusal.
Stephen Dubberly. Contact: Stephen (DOT) Dubberly (AT) unt.edu
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Based on:

a text in Italian (Italiano) by Renato Fucini (1843 - 1921)
- Go to the text page.

This text was added to the website: 2023-09-10
Line count: 14
Word count: 78