Giacomo Puccini
“E lucevan le stelle” from Tosca
ITALIAN TEXT
E lucevan le stelle,
ed olezzava la terra
stridea l’uscio dell’orto
ed un passo sfiorava l’arena.
Entrava ella fragrante,
mi cadea tra le braccia.
O dolci baci, o languide carezze,
mentr’io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!
Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d’amore.
L’ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato!
E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
How the stars used to shine there,
How sweet the earth smelled,
The orchard gate would creak,
And a footstep would lightly crease the sand.
She’d come in, fragrant as a flower,
And she’d fall into my arms.
Oh! sweet kisses, oh! lingering caresses,
Trembling, I’d slowly uncover her dazzling beauty.
Now, my dream of love has vanished forever.
My last hour has flown, and I die, hopeless!
And never have I loved life more!