Text for Cantata 209
Non sa che sia dolore
|
Original Italian Text |
English Translation |
1. SINFONIA |
2. REZITATIV (Sopran) |
Non sa che sia dolore
chi dall' amico suo parte e non more.
Il fanciullin' che plora e geme
ed allor che più ei teme, vien la madre a consolar.
Va dunque a cenni del cielo,
adempi or di Minerva il zelo. |
No one knows the pain
when one departs his friend, and not through dying.
The young one who implores and moans
and then even more afraid,
comes to the mother for consoling.
Take it as a sign of heaven
fulfilling the zeal of Minerva. |
3. ARIA (Sopran) |
Parti pur e con dolore
lasci a noi dolente il core.
La patria goderai,
a dover la servirai;
varchi or di sponda in sponda,
propizi vedi il vento e l'onda. |
Simply depart and with sorrow
leave us grieving in our hearts.
You will delight your fatherland
in service to your duty;
embark now from shore to shore
may winds propel you upon favorable waves. |
4. REZITATIV (Sopran) |
Tuo saver al tempo e l'età constrasta, virtù e valor solo a vincer basta;
ma chi gran ti farà più che non fusti Ansbaca, piena di Tanti Augusti. |
Your savvy transcends time and era
virtue and valor alone enough to win;
but who can make even more use of you
than Ansbach, full of so many Augusts.* |
5. ARIA (Sopran) |
Ricetti gramezza e pavento,
qual nocchier, placato il vento,
più non teme o si scolora, ma contento in su la prora va cantando in faccia al mar. |
Retreat anxiety and fear,
as a seafarer, placated by the wind
no longer trembles or turns pale,
but contentedly at the helm
goes forth singing to face the sea. |
*perhaps implying that Ansbach will have similar patrons like August III Elector of Saxony. |
COMPOSED: ? 1729 likely a farewell to a scholar, Lorenz Albrecht Beck (1723-1768,)called to a position in Ansbach (Franconia)
LIBRETTIST: unknown, but perhaps from an Italian poem by Pietro Metastasio
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here. |