In quegl'anni, in cui val poco
La mal pratica ragion,
Ebbi anch'io lo stesso foco,
Fui quel pazzo ch'or non son.
Che col tempo e coi perigli
Donna flemma capitò;
E i capricci, ed i puntigli
Della testa mi cavò.
Presso un piccolo abituro
Seco lei mi trasse un giorno,
E togliendo giù dal muro
Del pacifico soggiorno
Una pella di somaro,
Prendi disse, oh figlio caro,
Poi disparve, e mi lasciò.
Mentre ancor tacito
Guardo quel dono,
Il ciel s'annuvola
Rimbomba il tuono,
Mista alla grandine
Scroscia la piova,
Ecco le membra
Coprir mi giova
Col manto d'asino
Che mi donò.
Finisce il turbine,
Nè fo due passi
Che fiera orribile
Dianzi a me fassi;
Già già mi tocca
L'ingorda bocca,
Già di difendermi
Speme non ho.
Ma il finto ignobile
Del mio vestito
Tolse alla belva
Sì l'appetito,
Che disprezzandomi
Si rinselvò.
Così conoscere
Mi fè la sorte,
Ch'onte, pericoli,
Vergogna, e morte
Col cuoio d'asino
Fuggir si può.
The Marriage of Figaro - In quegl'anni in cui val poco Lyrics
The Marriage of Figaro - In quegl'anni in cui val poco Lyrics
In those years, when reason is of little value and poorly practiced,
I too had the same fire,
I was that fool who I am no longer.
But with time and through dangers,
A woman's wisdom came to me;
And she removed from my head
All whims and stubbornness.
One day she led me to a small cottage,
And taking down from the wall
Of that peaceful dwelling
A donkey's skin,
She said, "Take this, dear son,"
Then she disappeared and left me.
While still silently
I gazed at that gift,
The sky darkened,
Thunder rumbled,
Mixed with hail,
The rain poured down,
And I found it useful
To cover myself
With the donkey's skin
That she gave me.
The storm ended,
And I had taken only two steps
When a horrible beast
Appeared before me;
It was already touching me
With its greedy mouth,
And I had no hope
Of defending myself.
But the lowly disguise
Of my dress
So took away the beast's appetite
That, despising me,
It returned to the forest.
Thus, fate made me understand
That insults, dangers,
Shame, and death
Can be avoided
With a donkey's skin.
I too had the same fire,
I was that fool who I am no longer.
But with time and through dangers,
A woman's wisdom came to me;
And she removed from my head
All whims and stubbornness.
One day she led me to a small cottage,
And taking down from the wall
Of that peaceful dwelling
A donkey's skin,
She said, "Take this, dear son,"
Then she disappeared and left me.
While still silently
I gazed at that gift,
The sky darkened,
Thunder rumbled,
Mixed with hail,
The rain poured down,
And I found it useful
To cover myself
With the donkey's skin
That she gave me.
The storm ended,
And I had taken only two steps
When a horrible beast
Appeared before me;
It was already touching me
With its greedy mouth,
And I had no hope
Of defending myself.
But the lowly disguise
Of my dress
So took away the beast's appetite
That, despising me,
It returned to the forest.
Thus, fate made me understand
That insults, dangers,
Shame, and death
Can be avoided
With a donkey's skin.
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Italian
In quegl'anni, in cui val poco
La mal pratica ragion,
Ebbi anch'io lo stesso foco,
Fui quel pazzo ch'or non son.
Che col tempo e coi perigli
Donna flemma capitò;
E i capricci, ed i puntigli
Della testa mi cavò.
Presso un piccolo abituro
Seco lei mi trasse un giorno,
E togliendo giù dal muro
Del pacifico soggiorno
Una pella di somaro,
Prendi disse, oh figlio caro,
Poi disparve, e mi lasciò.
Mentre ancor tacito
Guardo quel dono,
Il ciel s'annuvola
Rimbomba il tuono,
Mista alla grandine
Scroscia la piova,
Ecco le membra
Coprir mi giova
Col manto d'asino
Che mi donò.
Finisce il turbine,
Nè fo due passi
Che fiera orribile
Dianzi a me fassi;
Già già mi tocca
L'ingorda bocca,
Già di difendermi
Speme non ho.
Ma il finto ignobile
Del mio vestito
Tolse alla belva
Sì l'appetito,
Che disprezzandomi
Si rinselvò.
Così conoscere
Mi fè la sorte,
Ch'onte, pericoli,
Vergogna, e morte
Col cuoio d'asino
Fuggir si può.
La mal pratica ragion,
Ebbi anch'io lo stesso foco,
Fui quel pazzo ch'or non son.
Che col tempo e coi perigli
Donna flemma capitò;
E i capricci, ed i puntigli
Della testa mi cavò.
Presso un piccolo abituro
Seco lei mi trasse un giorno,
E togliendo giù dal muro
Del pacifico soggiorno
Una pella di somaro,
Prendi disse, oh figlio caro,
Poi disparve, e mi lasciò.
Mentre ancor tacito
Guardo quel dono,
Il ciel s'annuvola
Rimbomba il tuono,
Mista alla grandine
Scroscia la piova,
Ecco le membra
Coprir mi giova
Col manto d'asino
Che mi donò.
Finisce il turbine,
Nè fo due passi
Che fiera orribile
Dianzi a me fassi;
Già già mi tocca
L'ingorda bocca,
Già di difendermi
Speme non ho.
Ma il finto ignobile
Del mio vestito
Tolse alla belva
Sì l'appetito,
Che disprezzandomi
Si rinselvò.
Così conoscere
Mi fè la sorte,
Ch'onte, pericoli,
Vergogna, e morte
Col cuoio d'asino
Fuggir si può.
English
In those years, when reason is of little value and poorly practiced,
I too had the same fire,
I was that fool who I am no longer.
But with time and through dangers,
A woman's wisdom came to me;
And she removed from my head
All whims and stubbornness.
One day she led me to a small cottage,
And taking down from the wall
Of that peaceful dwelling
A donkey's skin,
She said, "Take this, dear son,"
Then she disappeared and left me.
While still silently
I gazed at that gift,
The sky darkened,
Thunder rumbled,
Mixed with hail,
The rain poured down,
And I found it useful
To cover myself
With the donkey's skin
That she gave me.
The storm ended,
And I had taken only two steps
When a horrible beast
Appeared before me;
It was already touching me
With its greedy mouth,
And I had no hope
Of defending myself.
But the lowly disguise
Of my dress
So took away the beast's appetite
That, despising me,
It returned to the forest.
Thus, fate made me understand
That insults, dangers,
Shame, and death
Can be avoided
With a donkey's skin.
I too had the same fire,
I was that fool who I am no longer.
But with time and through dangers,
A woman's wisdom came to me;
And she removed from my head
All whims and stubbornness.
One day she led me to a small cottage,
And taking down from the wall
Of that peaceful dwelling
A donkey's skin,
She said, "Take this, dear son,"
Then she disappeared and left me.
While still silently
I gazed at that gift,
The sky darkened,
Thunder rumbled,
Mixed with hail,
The rain poured down,
And I found it useful
To cover myself
With the donkey's skin
That she gave me.
The storm ended,
And I had taken only two steps
When a horrible beast
Appeared before me;
It was already touching me
With its greedy mouth,
And I had no hope
Of defending myself.
But the lowly disguise
Of my dress
So took away the beast's appetite
That, despising me,
It returned to the forest.
Thus, fate made me understand
That insults, dangers,
Shame, and death
Can be avoided
With a donkey's skin.
Performed By: The Marriage of Figaro
From Album: The Marriage of Figaro Opera
Language: Italian
Year: 1786