by William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Translation © by Ferdinando Albeggiani

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's...
Language: English 
Available translation(s): ITA
When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
  For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
  That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 14
Word count: 114

Quando agli uomini inviso e alla Fortuna straniero
Language: Italian (Italiano)  after the English 
Quando, agli uomini inviso e alla Fortuna straniero,
io tutto solo piango sul mio triste stato
e il cielo sordo importuno con un vano sospiro
ed a me stesso guardo e maledico il Fato,
e a chi è ricco di speranza vorrei somigliare,
e come lui avere amici e bellezza d’aspetto,
desiderando dell’uno il talento, dell’altro il potere,
e di quanto posseggo non contento affatto;
Pure, in questi pensieri, in cui ho di me stesso scorno
ecco, ti penso, e l’animo mio in un canto si scioglie
come di allodola che sale, allo spuntar del giorno,
da cupa  terra fino alle celesti soglie;
      Perché tanta ricchezza porta al dolce tuo amor pensare
      Che neanche per un regno vorrei il mio stato  mutare.

Authorship:

  • Translation from English to Italian (Italiano) copyright © 2007 by Ferdinando Albeggiani, (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: 2007-01-29
Line count: 14
Word count: 122