(from Flotow's "Martha")
[Lady Harriet and her maid Nancy, disguised as peasants called Martha and Julia, have unwittingly bound themselves for a year's service to Lionel and Plunket, two local farmers. The women soon escape, and though time passes, Lionel cannot get Martha out of his mind.]
M'appari tutt' amor,
il mio sguardo l'incontro;
bella si che il mio cor,
ansioso a lei volo;
mi feri, m'invaghi
quell' angelica belta,
sculta in cor dall'amor
cancellarsi non potra:
il pensier di poter
palpitar con lei d'amor,
puo sopir il martir
che m'affana e stranzia il cor.
M'appari tutt'amor,
il mio sguardo l'incontro;
bella si cheil mio cor
ansioso a lei volo;
Marta, Marta tu sparisti
e il mio corcol tuo n'ando!
Tu la pace mi rapisti,
di dolor io moriro.
[Translation:]
She Appeared To Me
She appeared to me, purest of love.
I discovered with my eyes this vision of delight.
Lovely was she, that my hungry heart,
in a snap, to her did fly.
I was hurt, I was charmed
by that beauty from above.
Love is etched in my heart,
and cannot now be erased.
The mere thought that our hearts
with sweet love might beat as one
is enough to forget all the sorrow
that fills my heart.
She appeared to me, purest of love.
I discovered with my eyes this vision of delight.
Lovely was she, that my hungry heart,
In a snap to her did fly.
Marta, Marta, you have left me,
and my heart with yours has vanished.
Peace and quiet, gone now forever, I will surely die of pain.
