E se un giorno tornasse
Language: Italian (Italiano) after the French (Français)
E se un giorno tornasse
che dovrei dirgli?
Digli che lo si attese
fino a morirne.
E se ancora interrogasse
senza riconoscermi?
Parla a lui come farebbe una sorella;
forse egli soffre.
E se chiede dove siete,
che debbo dirgli?
Dagli il mio anello
d'oro, senza parole.
E se vorrà sapere perché
la sala è vota?
Mostragli che la lampada
è spenta e l'uscio aperto.
Ma se poi mi richiede
dell'ultima ora?
Digli che in quell'ora ho sorriso
per non far ch'egli pianga.
Text Authorship:
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, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Laura Prichard) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 20
Word count: 83
Q: What if one day he were to return
Language: English after the Italian (Italiano)
Q: What if one day he were to return
what should I tell him?
A: Tell him I expected him
until the moment of my death.
Q: And if he still inquires
without recognizing me?
A: Talk to him as to a sister;
perhaps he suffers.
Q: And if he asks where you are,
what shall I say?
A: Give him my ring
of gold, without speaking.
Q: And if he wants to know why
the room is empty?
A: Show [him that] the lamp
is out and the door is open.
Q: But if he asks me
about [your] last hour?
A: Tell him that in that hour I smiled
so that he doesn't weep.
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2015 by Laura Prichard, (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:
Based on:
This text was added to the website: 2015-12-26
Line count: 20
Word count: 116