by Rabindranath Tagore (1861 - 1941)
Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

O mother, the young Prince is to pass by...
Language: English  after the Bangla (Bengali) 
Our translations:  FRE
O mother, the young Prince is to pass by our door, --
how can I attend to my work this morning?
Show me how to braid up my hair; 
tell me what garment to put on.
Why do you look at me amazed, mother?
I know well he will not glance up once at my window; 
I know he will pass out of my sight in the twinkling of an eye; 
only the vanishing strain of the flute 
will come sobbing to me from afar.
But the young Prince will pass by our door, 
and I will put on my best for the moment.

O mother, the young Prince did pass by our door, 
and the morning sun flashed from his chariot.
I swept aside the veil from my face, 
I tore the ruby chain from my neck
and flung it in his path.
Why do you look at me amazed, mother?
I know well he did not pick up my chain; 
I know it was crushed under his wheels 
leaving a red stain upon the dust, 
and no one knows what my gift was nor to whom.
But the young Prince did pass by our door, 
and I flung the jewel from my breast before his path.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2010-11-05
Line count: 23
Word count: 207

Mamma, il giovane Principe
Language: Italian (Italiano)  after the English 
Mamma, il giovane Principe deve passare avanti la nostra porta.
Come vuoi che lavori stamane?
Insegnami come devo acconciare i miei capelli,
Dimmi che vestito devo indossare.
Perchè mi guardi sgomenta, mamma?
So bene che il Principe non alzerà gli occhi alla mia finestra.
So che sparirà dalla mia vista in un baleno
E che solo il palpitar del flauto
Giungerà singhiozzante di lontano sino a me!
Ma il giovane Principe deve passare avanti la nostra porta,
Ed io voglio vestirmi per un momento con gli abiti più belli!

Mamma, il giovane Principe passò avanti la nostra porta,
E il sole mattutino scintillò sul suo cocchio!
Mi tolsi il velo dal viso,
Mi strappai dal collo il vezzo di rubini
E lo lanciai sul suo cammin!
Perchè mi guardi piena di sgomento, mamma? 
Lo so che non raccolse la mia collana,
Vidi che s'infranse sotto le ruote
Lasciando una macchia vermiglia ne la polvere
E nessuno comprese qual fosse il mio dono e per chi!
Ma il giovane Principe passò avanti la nostra porta
Ed io gettai sui suoi passi il gioiello che portavo sul seno!

Text Authorship:

Based on:

Based on:

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


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2003-12-22
Line count: 23
Word count: 186