Six Ariettas

Song Cycle by Vincenzo Bellini (1801 - 1835)

View original-language texts alone: Sei Ariette

1. Malinconia, Ninfa gentile
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Malinconia, Ninfa gentile,
la vita mia consacro a te;
i tuoi piaceri chi tiene a vile,
ai piacer veri nato non è.

Fonti e colline chiesi agli Dei;
m'udiro alfine, pago io vivrò,
né mai quel fonte co' desir miei,
né mai quel monte trapasserò.

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Note: in one of many repetitions within Hensel's song, the final two lines become: 

Né mai quel monte co' miei pensieri,
né mai quel fonte trapasserò
by Ippolito Pindemonte (1753 - 1828)
1. Melancholy, gentle nymph
Language: English 
Melancholy, gentle nymph,
I devote my life to you.
One who despises your pleasures
Is not born to true pleasures.
 
I asked the gods for fountains and hills;
They heard me at last; I will live satisfied
Even though, with my desires, I never
Go beyond that fountain and that mountain.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © by Antonio Giuliano, (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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Translations of titles
"Malinconia, Ninfa gentile" = "Melancholy, gentle nymph"
"Canzonetta" = "Little song"



This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 8
Word count: 51

Translation © by Antonio Giuliano
2. Vanne, o rosa fortunata
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Vanne, o rosa fortunata,
a posar di Nice in petto
ed ognun sarà costretto
la tua sorte invidiar.

Oh, se in te potessi anch'io
transformarmi un sol momento;
non avria più bel contento
questo core a sospirar.

Ma tu inchini dispettosa,
bella rosa impallidita,
la tua fronte scolorita
dallo sdegno e dal dolor.

Bella rosa, è destinata
ad entrambi un'ugual sorte;
là trovar dobbiam la morte,
tu d'invidia ed io d'amor.

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
2. Go, fortunate rose
Language: English 
Go, fortunate rose,
to rest at Nice's breast
and all will be forced
to envy your fate.

Oh, if I could change myself
into you, but for a moment,
my heart would long
for no greater happiness.
 
But you bow your head with spite,
fair faded rose,
your brow loses all colour
from disdain and pain.
 
Lovely rose, it is destined,
that we meet the same fate:
we shall both meet death there,
you from envy and I of love.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2004 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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This text was added to the website: 2004-10-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 80

Translation © by Camilla Bugge
3. Bella Nice, che d'amore
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Bella Nice, che d'amore
desti il fremito e il desir,
Bella Nice, del mio core
dolce speme e sol sospir,

Ahi! verrà, né sì lontano,
forse a me quel giorno è già,
che di morte l'empia mano
il mio stame troncherà.

Quando in grembo al feral nido
peso, ahi! misero, io sarò,
deh, rammenta quanto fido
questo cor ognor t'amò.

Sul mio cenere tacente
se tu spargi allora un fior,
Bella Nice, men dolente
dell'avel mi fia l'orror.

Non ti chiedo che di pianto
venga l'urna mia a bagnar,
se sperar potess'io tanto,
vorrei subito spirar.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. Beautiful Nice, who arouses
Language: English 
Beautiful Nice, who arouses
The trembling and desire of love- ah!
Beautiful Nice, sweet hope
And sole yearning of my heart,

Alas, it will come- and perhaps
That day is already not so far away from me-
When the pitiless hand of death
Will cut short my life's thread.

When in the bosom of the ungodly final abode
Lifeless- alas, wretched- I will be,
Please, please remember how faithfully
This heart always loved you.

Upon my silent ashes
Should you then cast a flower,
Beautiful Nice, less sorrowful
Will the horror of the tomb be for me.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2004 by Diana Farrell, (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.

    Diana Farrell.  Contact: DianaKFarrell (AT) gmail.com

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This text was added to the website: 2004-11-02
Line count: 16
Word count: 97

Translation © by Diana Farrell
4. Almen se non poss'io
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Almen se non poss'io
seguir l'amato bene,
affetti del cor mio,
seguitelo per me.

Già sempre a lui vicino
raccolti amor vi tiene
e insolito cammino
questo per voi non è.

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
4. At least, if I am not able
Language: English 
At least, if I am not able
to follow my beloved,
you affections of my heart,
go with him for me.
 
Already near him always,
Love keeps you gathered,
and the path to him is not
an unfamiliar one for you.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2004 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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This text was added to the website: 2004-09-09
Line count: 8
Word count: 41

Translation © by John Glenn Paton
5. Per pietà, bell'idol mio
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Per pietà, bell'idol mio,
non mi dir ch'io sono ingrato;
infelice e sventurato
abbastanza il Ciel mi fa.

Se fedele a te son io,
se mi struggo ai tuoi bei lumi,
sallo amor, lo sanno i Numi
il mio core, il tuo lo sa.

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
5. For Pity's Sake
Language: English 
For pity's sake, my beautiful idol
do not tell me that I am ungrateful;
unhappy and unfortunate enough
has heaven made me.

That I am faithful to you,
that I languish under your bright gaze,
Love knows, the gods know,
my heart [knows], and yours knows.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2004 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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This text was added to the website: 2004-10-02
Line count: 8
Word count: 46

Translation © by Camilla Bugge
6. Ma rendi pur contento
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Ma rendi pur contento
della mia bella il core,
e ti perdono, amore,
se lieto il mio non è.

Gli affanni suoi pavento
più degli affanni miei,
perché più vivo in lei
di quel ch'io vivo in me.

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by Pietro Antonio Domenico Bonaventura Trapassi (1698 - 1782), as Pietro Metastasio
6. Only make her happy
Language: English 
 Only make happy
 The heart of my beautiful [lady],
 And I will pardon you, love
 If my own [heart]is not glad.

 Her troubles I fear
 More than my own troubles,
 Because I live more in her
 Than I live in myself.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2003 by Barbara Miller, (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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website:
Line count: 8
Word count: 42

Translation © by Barbara Miller