Translation by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

Il bianco e dolce cigno
Language: Italian (Italiano)  after the Italian (Italiano) 
Our translations:  DUT ENG
Il bianco e dolce cigno 
cantando more, ed io 
piangendo, giung' al fin del viver mio.
Stran' e diversa sorte, 
ch'ei more sconsolato,
Ed io moro beato. 
Morte che nel morire
M'empie di gioia tutt' e di desire;
Se nel morir' altro dolor non sento,
Di mille mort' il di sarei contendo.

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The text shown is a variant of another text. [ View differences ]
It is 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):

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

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) (Tinelot Wittermans) , "De witte en lieflijke zwaan", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Tinelot Wittermans) , "The white and lovely swan", copyright ©, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Anonymous/Unidentified Artist)
  • GER German (Deutsch) [singable] (Anton Gatscha) , "Der weiße, stille Schwan"


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 10
Word count: 52

The white and gentle swan
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano) 
The white and gentle swan 
sings as it dies, 
while I, in weeping, 
reach the end of my life. 
Strange and opposite fate – 
for it dies in sorrow, 
yet I die in bliss. 
And as I perish, I rejoice, 
my heart so full of pleasure 
that I can no longer bear 
to remain in this state. 
A thousand deaths I suffer each day, 
yet each is sweet 
and welcome to my heart. 
And if such is dying, 
then dying a hundred times a day 
could never bring me complete joy.

About the headline (FAQ)

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):

    [ None yet in the database ]


Researcher for this page: Joost van der Linden [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2025-11-20
Line count: 17
Word count: 91