Tacea la notte placida, Leonora's aria from Il Trovatore

Tacea la notte placida		The night was still and quiet
e bella in ciel sereno		and beautiful in the terse sky
la luna il viso argenteo	the silvery moon
mostrava lieto e pieno...	showed her glad and full face...
Quando suonar per l' aere,	Suddenly the stillness of the night
infino allor sì muto,		was broken by
dolci s' udiro e flebili	weal and sweet harmony -
gli accordi di un liuto,	the notes of a lute -
e versi melanconici		(and a troubador sang
un Trovator cantò.		a melancholy song.)
Versi di prece ed umile		Those verses were humble like the invocation
qual d' uom che prega Iddio	of a man praying to God.
in quella ripeteasi		(In that song 
un nome...il nome mio!		a name was constantly repeated...mine!...)
Corsi al veron sollecita...	So I rushed to the balcony...
Egli era! egli era desso!...	It was him! it was him!...
Gioia provai che agli angeli	I felt the joy that only angels
solo è provar concesso!...	are allowed to feel!...
Al core, al guardo estatico	To my heart, to my blissful glance,
la terra un ciel sembrò.	the earth seemed like Paradise.

Guia K. Monti   guiam@tinn.net