Saturday, June 20, 2020

 

The Secret of Being Happy

Felice Romani, lyrics to the brindisi in Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia, Act II (tr. Ellen H. Bleiler):
The secret of being happy
I know from experience and I teach it to my friends:
Let the sky be fair or cloudy,
let it be hot or cold any time,
I joke and drink, and laugh at the madmen
who worry about the future.
Let's not care about tomorrow's uncertainties
if we can enjoy today.

[....]

Let's take advantage of our blossoming years,
pleasure makes them go by more slowly;
if old age with its livid face
stands behind me and threatens my life,
I joke and drink, and laugh at the madmen
who worry about the future.
Let's not care about tomorrow's uncertainties
if we can enjoy today.



Il segreto per esser felici
So per prova e l'insegno agli amici
Sia sereno, sia nubilo il cielo,
Ogni tempo, sia caldo, sia gelo,
Scherzo e bevo, e derido gl'insani
Che si dan del futuro pensier.
Non curiamo l'incerto domani,
Se quest'oggi n'è dato a goder!

[....]

Profittiamo degli'anni fiorenti,
Il piacer li fa correr più lenti;
Se vecchiezza con livida faccia
Stammi a tergo e mia vita minaccia,
Scherzo e bevo, e derido gl'insani
Che si dan del futuro pensier.
Non curiamo l'incerto domani,
Se quest'oggi n'è dato a goder!
I would translate livida as pale.



<< Home
Newer›  ‹Older

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?