by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822)
Translation by Augusta Guidetti
The flower that smiles to‑day
Language: English
The flower that smiles to-day To-morrow dies; All that we wish to stay Tempts and then flies. What is this world's delight? Lightning that mocks the night, Brief even as bright. Virtue, how frail it is! Friendship how rare! Love, how it sells poor bliss For proud despair! [But we, though soon they fall, Survive their joy, and all Which ours we call.]1 [Whilst]2 skies are blue and bright, Whilst flowers are gay, Whilst eyes that change ere night Make glad the day; Whilst yet the calm hours creep, Dream [thou]3 -- and from thy sleep Then wake to weep.
About the headline (FAQ)
View original text (without footnotes)1 omitted by D. E. Thomas
2 Stöhr: "While"
3 Stöhr: "then"
Text Authorship:
- by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822), "Mutability", first published 1824
See other settings of this text.
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CZE Czech (Čeština) (Jaroslav Vrchlický) , "Změna", Prague, J. Otto, first published 1901
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2005-01-24
Line count: 21
Word count: 102
Mentre azzurri splendono i cieli Matches base text
Language: Italian (Italiano) after the English
Mentre azzurri splendono i cieli, Mentre i fiori sono giocondi, Mentre gli occhi che mutano anzi sera Fanno contento il giorno; Mentre scorrono ore di pace, sogna... E dal tuo sogno poi ridestati al pianto.
Composition:
- Set to music by Giorgio Federico Ghedini (1892 - 1965), "Mentre azzurri splendono i cieli", 1934, from Tre Canti di Shelley, no. 3
Text Authorship:
Based on:
- a text in English by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792 - 1822), "Mutability", first published 1824
Go to the general single-text view
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2003-11-03
Line count: 7
Word count: 36