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Ho sognato che stavi a' ginocchi, Come un santo che prega il Signor ... Mi guardavi nel fondo degli occhi, Sfavillava il tuo sguardo d'amor. Tu parlavi e la voce sommessa... Mi chiedea dolcemente mercè... Solo un guardo che fosse promessa, Imploravi, curvata al mio piè. Io tacevo e coll'anima forte Il desio tentatore lottò. Ho provato il martirio e la morte pur mi vinsi e ti dissi di no. Ma il tuo labbro sfiorò la mia faccia... E la forza del cor mi tradì. Chiusi gli occhi,ti stesi le braccia... Ma, sognavo...E il bel sogno svanì.
About the headline (FAQ)
Warning: many sources have typos on line 2-4 ("curvato") and line 3-1 ("taceva"), for example, La romanza italiana da salotto, ed. by Francesco Sanvitale, Instituto Nazionale Tostiano, 2002, p. 88.
Authorship:
- by Olindo Guerrini (1845 - 1916), as Lorenzo Stecchetti, first published 1877 [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Enrique Mario Casella (1891 - 1948), "Ho sognato", 1915 [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Francesco Paolo Tosti (1846 - 1916), "Sogno" [sung text checked 2 times]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Hugo Poon) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Mario Giuseppe Genesi
This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 97
I dreamt that you were on your knees Like a saint praying to the Lord. You were looking deep into my eyes, With a glowing look of love. You were speaking quietly, Asking me sweetly for forgiveness. That she be allowed just one glance, You begged, curled at my feet. I stayed silent and, with a strong will, Fought the irresistible desire. I had faced martyrdom and death; Still, I forced myself to say no. But then your lips touched my face, And my heart betrayed me. I closed my eyes, reached out to you; But I had been dreaming, and that beautiful dream vanished.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translation of title "Sogno" = "Dream"Authorship:
- Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2017 by Hugo Poon, (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 Olindo Guerrini (1845 - 1916), as Lorenzo Stecchetti, first published 1877
This text was added to the website: 2017-11-08
Line count: 16
Word count: 105