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It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.

To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net

If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.

Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.

by Alberto Donaudy (1880 - 1941)
Translation © by Gretchen Armacost

Se volete un servidore
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Our translations:  ENG
Se volete un servidore giovin,
lindo e accostumato,
pien di zelo e di vigore,
non poltrone nè sbadato,
che sa farvi riverenza,
bello e pronto egli è già qui...
Non ci vede, non ci sente, e,
per far le cose a modo,
fa ben poco o quasi niente...
Sol vi chiede per mercede
uno sguardo per semmana
e un sorriso a fin di mese...
Via, sì poco chi mai chiese
nell'offrir sua servitù?

Se poi meglio un bel marito
gradireste avere a lato,
che non manchi sol d'udito,
ma anche d'occhi e d'odorato,
tutto miele e complimenti,
bello e pronto egli è pur qui...
Non borbotta, non impera, e,
per far le cose a modo,
esce il giorno e torna a sera...
Sol vi chiede per mercede
uno sguardo per semmana
e un sorriso a fin di mese...
Via, sposando, chi mai chiese
questo solo e nulla più?

Text Authorship:

  • by Alberto Donaudy (1880 - 1941) [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 Stefano Donaudy (1879 - 1925), "Se volete un servidore", published <<1918, from 36 Arie di Stile Antico, no. 25. [
     text verified 1 time
    ]

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Gretchen Armacost) , title 1: "If you want a servant", copyright © 2002, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Stuart Price

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 148

If you want a servant
Language: English  after the Italian (Italiano) 
 If you want a servant
 Young, tidy and well-trained,
 Full of zeal and energy,
 Neither a slacker nor careless,
 Who knows how to pay you respect,
 Handsome and prompt, he is already here... 
 He is not seen, he is not heard,
 And, to do things properly,
 He does very little or almost nothing... 
 He asks of you only, for recompense,
 One look a week
 And a smile at the end of the month... 
 Come now, who ever asked so little
 In offering his service? 
 
 If, then, rather a fine husband
 You would like to have at your side,
 Who lacks not only hearing,
 But also sight and smell,
 All honey and compliments,
 Handsome and prompt, he is likewise here... 
 He doesn't mumble, he doesn't rule,
 And, to do things properly,
 He goes out for the day and returns in the evening... 
 He asks of you only, for recompense,
 One look a week
 And a smile at the end of the month... 
 Come now, who ever, marrying, asked
 Only this and nothing more? 

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2002 by Gretchen Armacost, (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 Alberto Donaudy (1880 - 1941)
    • Go to the text page.

 

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 28
Word count: 173

Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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