Fairer and fairer 
the plain becomes,
as caressing breezes 
blow on me!

Away from the burden 
and trouble of prose,
I go forth into 
the land of Poetry.

More golden the sun, 
more blue the air,
More green the green, 
more aromatic the scents!

There on the corngrass, 
swelling with sap,
the aloe bristles 
with stubborn strength;

Olive, Cypress, 
one light and one dark,
are you nodding like dainty, 
greeting women?

What is gleaming in the leaves, 
glittering like gold?
Ha! Oranges, 
are you lovely ones hiding there?

 ... 

Defiant Poseidon, 
was it you,
jesting and 
murmuring down there so sweetly?

And this, seeming 
half meadow, half ether,
was that fearful horror 
of the sea?

Here I would live, 
Godly one:
Parthenope, can you bring 
peace to the waves?

Now try it then, 
Eden of Joy,
and ease as well the waves 
in this breast!

Greener and greener the meads and fields,
Gladder life, prettier the world!
Away from the cares of the dark valley,
and forth into Spring's sunny hall!
More colorful the flowers, more sweet the scent,
Finer the sky, fresher the air!

See how the antelope skips, and the deer,
Look how the brook rushes into the lake!
To the muffled sound of the avalanche
echo pipes lovely and fine.
The valleys here are covered by mist;
Above is joy, is sweet glow.

Below and above I would gladly be!
Valleys and mountains, how far you are!
Alas, how far is peace and rest -
oh, and how just as far are you, O Love!
Only dreaming do I see roses blooming,
Only dreaming, the peaks of the alps glow.
Valleys and mountains, how far you are!
Below and above I would gladly be!