Original Text

Una donna a quindici anni
Dèe saper ogni gran moda,
Dove il diavolo ha la coda,
Cosa è bene e mal cos'è.

Dèe saper le maliziette
Che innamorano gli amanti,
Finger riso, finger pianti,
Inventar i bei perché.

Dèe in un momento
Dar retta a cento;
Colle pupille
Parlar con mille;
Dar speme a tutti,
Sien belli o brutti;
Saper nascondersi
Senza confondersi;
Senza arrossire
Saper mentire;
E, qual regina
Dall'alto soglio,
Col «posso e voglio»
Farsi ubbidir.
fra sé
Par ch'abbian gusto
Di tal dottrina.
Viva Despina
Che sa servir!

English Text

At fifteen a woman
Should know the ways of the world,
Where the devil keeps his tail,
What's right and what is wrong.
She should know the wiles
That ensnare lovers,
How to feign laughter or tears
And to make up good excuses.
At one and the same moment
She must listen to a hundred
But speak with her eyes
To a thousand,
Hold out hope to all,
Be they handsome or plain,
Know how to hide things
Without getting flustered,
Know how to tell lies
Without ever blushing.
And, like a queen
On her lofty throne,
Get her own way
With „I can“ and „I will“
aside
It seems they're taking
To this doctrine;
Hooray for Despina,
She knows how to do it.