by
Olindo Guerrini (1845 - 1916), as Lorenzo Stecchetti
Ho sognato che stavi a' ginocchi
Language: Italian (Italiano)
Available translation(s): ENG
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:
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 or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Hugo Poon) , copyright © 2017, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: 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
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano)
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.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
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