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Summer nights in Posílippo
Song Cycle by Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848)
View original-language texts alone: Nuits d'Été à Pausilippe
Voga, voga, il vento tace, pura è l'onda, il ciel sereno, solo un alito di pace par che allegri e cielo e mar: voga, voga, o marinar. Or che tutto a noi sorride, in sí tenero momento, all'ebrezza del contento voglio l'alma abbandonar. Voga, voga, o marinar. Chè se infiera la tempesta, ambedue ne tragge a morte, sarà lieta la mia sorte al tuo fianco vuò spirar [sí]. Voga, voga, o marinar.
Authorship:
- by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "The boatman", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Row, row, the wind has died, the water is pure, the sky bright, only a breath of peace seems to cheer both sky and sea. Row, row, sailor. Now that everything smiles upon us, in such a tender moment, to the exhilaration of happiness I want to abandon my soul. Row, row, sailor. Because if a storm should rage and carry us both to our death, it will be my happy fate to die at your side. Row, row, sailor.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-15
Line count: 15
Word count: 80
Colle piume sul cimiero, tutto chiuso in armatura, vene un giorno il cavaliero alla dama del suo cor a nunziarle una sventura d'acerbissimo dolor: "Il vessillo della Croce vuò seguire in Palestina." "Ah crudele! ah crudele!" ma qui la voce della misera languì. Il guerrier baciò Clarina e qual folgore sparì [ah sì.] Dopo un lustro alla sua dama ei tornò di gloria carco, ma Clarina indarno ei chiama a dividere l'onor: d'una pietra il freddo in carco riposava sul suo cor, Ah crudele! ah crudele!
Authorship:
- by Carlo Guaita
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "The crusader", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
With plumes on his helmet, in full armor, a gentleman came one day to the lady of his heart to announce to her an event of the bitterest pain: “The banner of the Cross– I want to follow it to Palestine.” “Ah cruel one, ah cruel one!” But here the voice of the unhappy lady faded. The warrior kissed Clarina and like lightning he disappeared [ah, yes]. After five years, to his lady he returned, covered with glory, but he calls on Clarina in vain to share his honor; the cold weight of a stone rested on her heart. Ah cruel one, ah cruel one!
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Carlo Guaita
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This text was added to the website: 2016-01-20
Line count: 20
Word count: 105
Quando notte sarà oscura e le stelle in ciel vedrai, cheto, cheto mi verrai nel mio asilo a ritrovar. Nel silenzio della notte dentr'all'umile mio tetto, vieni pure, o mio diletto, la tua ninfa a consolar: canta pur la tua canzone ch'io t'attendo sul balcone. ah! Ma non debbo a te soltanto aprir l'uscio a notte bruna: coprirebbesi la luna vereconda in suo pudor. Noi due soli non saremo, verecondia nol consente, vuò che un terzo sia presente e quel terzo sia l'amor. Canta pur la tua canzone, ch'io t'attendo sul balcone, io t'attendo a mezzanotte, cheto cheto ne verrai, noi due soli non saremo, vuò che il terzo sia l'amor. ah!
Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "At midnight", copyright © 2008, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Juan Henríquez Concepción) , "A medianoche", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
When night turns dark and you see the stars in the sky, silently, silently, you will come to find my solitary dwelling. In the silence of night inside, under my humble roof, come then, o my delight, to make your darling happy. Sing your song while I wait for you on the balcony. Ah! But not for you alone must I open the threshold to the dark night: the moon in her modesty would cover herself for shame. We two will not be alone; modesty would not allow it. It wants a third person to be present, and that third is love. Then sing your song while I wait for you on the balcony. I expect you at midnight, silently, silently you will come, we two will not be alone, the third must be love. Ah!
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2008 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
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This text was added to the website: 2008-12-30
Line count: 26
Word count: 136
Vedi là, sulla collina, quella torre bruna bruna, sovra cui giammai ne inchina i suoi raggi amica luna, tra i cui ruderi deserti è perpetuo tenebror! [Vedi!] Spesso allor che il mondo dorme, se ti affisi in quei veroni, errar vedi oscure forme di sibille, di stregoni ed ascolti un suon di festa che di tema agghiaccia il cor. Fuggi, fuggi, o passeggero, dalla torre del mistero. Su quei merli stanno assisi la sventura ed il terrore. Quando l'alba in ciel si accende Sulla cima dirupata, Una striscia si distende Di meteora insanguinata; E fra quella, orrendi spetri Stan giojosi a carolar: E poi tuona, a destra, il cielo, La meteora in fiamma è volta, E una donna in bianco velo, Con la chioma all'aure sciolta, Tra le fiamme si profonda Con un grido di dolor. Spesso ardito cavaliere Desioso di ventura Per lo ripido sentiere S'avviava a notte oscura, E tra gli orridi rottami Già spronando il corridor. Ma tal fremito improvviso Gli agghiacciò nell'opra il core, Che, di tema allor conquiso, Volse indietro il corridore, Invocando al suo ritorno Della Vergine il favor.
Authorship:
- by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "The tower of Biasano", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Look there, on the hill, that very dark tower, upon which never shine the rays of the friendly moon, among whose deserted ruins there is perpetual darkness! Often when the earth sleeps, if you look fixedly at those balconies you see obscure forms wandering, soothsayers, ugly witches, and you hear a festive sound that freezes your heart with fear. Flee, flee, o passenger, from the tower of mystery. Those battlements are seats of misfortune and terror. When dawn enflames the sky over the rocky summit, a streak stretches overhead of a meteor covered with blood, and meanwhile, horrid specters are joyously caroling. And then, to the right, the sky thunders, the meteor has turned to flames, and a lady veiled in white, with her hair blowing in the breeze, plunges into the flames with a cry of pain. Often an ardent cavalier, desiring an adventure, climbed the steep banks in the dark of night, and among the horrible wrecks who are encouraging the runner. But what a sudden trembling froze his heart while he was struggling, because, already conquered by fear, the runner turned around invoking upon his return the favor of the Virgin.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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This text was added to the website: 2016-01-20
Line count: 40
Word count: 194
Quann'a lo bello mio voglio parlare, ca spisso me ne vene lu golio, a la fenesta me mett'a filare, quann'a lo bello mio voglio parlare Quann'isso passa po' rompo lo filo, e co'una grazia me mett'a priare bello, peccarita, proite milo, isso lu piglia, ed io lo sto a guardare, e accossi me ne vao'mpilo mpilo ah jeme!
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- ENG English (Camilla Bugge) , "The drop spindle", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
When I want to speak to the one I love, because often I want to do that, I sit down spinning at my window when I want to speak to the one I love When he passes by I break the thread a bit1 and with grace begins to ask handsome one, please get it back to me he bends down and I stand watching him and so is lit in me a fire (which will burn) forever!
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian - Neapolitan (dialect) to English copyright © 2007 by Camilla Bugge, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian - Neapolitan (dialect) from Volkslieder (Folksongs)
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View original text (without footnotes)1 Translator's note: [so the spindle falls into the street]
This text was added to the website: 2007-10-27
Line count: 10
Word count: 78
L'aube naît, et ta porte est close ! [Ma]1 belle, pourquoi sommeiller ? À l'heure où s'éveille la rose Ne vas-tu pas te réveiller ? Ô ma charmante, Écoute ici L'amant qui chante Et pleure aussi ! Toute frappe à ta porte bénie. L'aurore dit : Je suis le jour ! L'oiseau dit : Je suis l'harmonie ! Et [mon cœur]2 dit : Je suis l'amour! Ô ma charmante, Écoute ici L'amant qui chante Et pleure aussi ! Je t'adore, ange, [et]3 t'aime, femme. Dieu qui [pour]4 toi m'a complété A fait mon amour [par]5 ton âme, Et mon regard pour ta beauté ! Ô ma charmante, Écoute ici L'amant qui chante Et pleure aussi !
Authorship:
- by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre chanson", appears in Les Chants du Crépuscule, no. 23
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Toru Dutt) , appears in A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields, 2nd edition
- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- ENG English (Amy Pfrimmer) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Confirmed with Victor Hugo, Œuvres complètes, Volume 1, Bibliothèque de la Pléiade, Editions gallimard, 1964, page 876.
1 Donizetti: "Ô ma"2 Gounod: "moi je"
3 Donizetti: "je"
4 Koreshchenko, Lacombe: "par"
5 Donizetti, Koreshchenko, Lacombe, Lalo, Godard: "pour"
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
Still barr'd thy doors. The far East glows, The morning wind blows fresh and free. Should not the hour that wakes the rose, Awaken also thee? All look for thee, Love, Light and Song; Light in the sky, deep-red above, Song, in the lark of pinions strong. And in [my]1 heart true love. Apart we miss our nature's goal, Why strive to cheat our destinies? Was not my love made for thy soul? Thy beauty for mine eyes? No longer sleep, Oh, listen now! I wait and weep, But where art thou?
Authorship:
- by Toru Dutt (1856 - 1877) [an adaptation]
Based on:
- a text in French (Français) by Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885), "Autre chanson", appears in Les Chants du Crépuscule, no. 23
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View original text (without footnotes)Note: this is the version quoted by Mr. E. W. Gosse described in The Critic, May 1882.
1 Rogers: "thy"
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2011-07-14
Line count: 16
Word count: 92
Tuo, finche il sol rischiara, mio ben, il cor sarà. Cesso d'amarti, o cara, quando più sol non v'ha. Teco sarà quest'anima d'amor soave unita, godrem di vita in vita, pura felicità.
Authorship:
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "The oath", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
As long as the sun shines, my dear, my heart will be yours. I shall cease to love you, my dear, when there is no more sun. My soul will be united with yours by sweet love; we will enjoy from one life into another life pure happiness.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michele Palazzolo
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This text was added to the website: 2016-01-20
Line count: 8
Word count: 48
Vedi come in sul confine del Vesevo il ciel s'indora e le aurette mattutine[, sí,] stan quell'onde a carezzar. Vieni, o cara, in su quest'ora par che rida cielo e mar [mare]. Or beltade e amor t'arride, ma beltade e amor non dura. Vieni, o Lisa, finchè ride[, sí,] lieto a noi degl'anni il fior [fiore]. Fra il gioir della natura deh, ragiona a me d'amor.
Authorship:
- by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "Dawn", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Look how in the area around Vesuvius the sky turns golden and the morning breezes are ready to caress every wave. Come, my dear, just at this time it seems that the sky and the sea are smiling. Now beauty and love smile upon you, but beauty and love do not last. Come, o Lisa, until the flower of years smiles happily for us. Surrounded by the joy of nature, please, talk to me of love.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 76
O profumo delicato, che ti spandi in ogni via, d'onde vieni, chi t'invia, solo posso indovinar. V'ha chi pensa nel gustarti che di vaghi e eletti fiori su cui posano gli amori vieni il mondo a consolar! Soavissimo profumo, io t'ho solo indovinato, sei di Bice il caro fiato che in dolcezza ugual non ha!
Authorship:
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "Bice’s breath", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
O delicate perfume that diffuses in all directions, where you come from, who produces you, only I can guess. One who savors you must think that from lovely and desirable flowers on which Cupids perch you come to console the world! Sweetest perfume, only I have guessed what you are: you are the dear breath of Bice, which has no equal in sweetness.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Francesco Puoti
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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 63
Si, t'amo, a te nascondere io mai non seppi il core, t'amo, ed immenso etereo per te m'accende amore; la tua diletta immagine mi sta presente ognor: Deh, se d'amore ai palpiti tuo cor s'aprì talor[a], calma i miei dubbi, e tenera tu mi ripeti ancor, qui, dove eterno è il gemito, voce del cielo è amor.
Authorship:
- by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "Love, the voice of heaven", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Yes, I love you, I could never hide my heart from you. I love you, and the immense universe lights on fire with love for you. Your delightful image is always present with me. Please, if your heart is ever open to the trembling of love, calm my doubts and tenderly repeat to me again here, where my weeping is eternal, the voice of heaven and of love.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 68
Uno sguardo di nera pupilla nel mio core la strada s'aprì, come raggio di sole che brilla e traversa la nebbia del dì. Una voce, un angelico accento, lieve lieve sull'alma posò, come raggio dell'astro d'argento l'onda azzurra che dorme baciò. Ah! se un lampo è la vita che passa, e la gioia non torna mai più, sia memoria a quest'anima lassa una voce ed un guardo che fu.
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "A glance and a voice", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
A glance from a dark eye opened its way into my heart like a ray of sun that shines through the fog of the day. A voice, an angelic accent, very gently rested on my soul, as if a ray of a silver star kissed the blue, sleeping wave. Ah, if life passes by like lightning and joy never returns, may this be a memory to this weary soul: a voice and a glance that once were.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Michele Palazzolo
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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-15
Line count: 12
Word count: 77
Mesci, mesci e sperda il vento ogni cura, ogni lamento, solo il canto del piacere risuonar fra noi s'udrà; nell'ebbrezza del bicchiere sta la vera ilarità. Lunga è l'ora degli affanni, ha il piacer fugaci i vanni, il momento del godere brilla e rapido sen va [se ne va].
Authorship:
- by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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- ENG English (John Glenn Paton) , "The drinkers", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Pour, pour! and may the wind carry away every concern, every lament; only a song of pleasure shall be heard around us; in the exhilaration of the beaker is true happiness. Long are the hours of worry, pleasure has a fleeting time, a moment of enjoyment gleams and rapidly goes away.
Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2016 by John Glenn Paton, (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.
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Based on:
- a text in Italian (Italiano) by Leopoldo Tarantini (1811 - 1882)
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This text was added to the website: 2016-02-15
Line count: 10
Word count: 51