(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.