Text & Translation
Il crociato "Colle piume sul cimiero"
Italian source:
Carlo Guaita
Tutto chiuso in armatura,
Venne un giorno il cavaliero
Alla dama del suo cor
A nunziarle una sventura
D'acerbissimo dolor:
"Il vessillo della croce
Vuò seguire in Palestina".
"Ah crudele!" ma qui la voce
Della misera languì.
Il guerrier baciò Clarina
E qual folgore sparì.
Dopo un lustro alla sua dama
Ei tornò di gloria carco,
Ma Clarina indarno ei chiama
A dividere l'onor:
D'una pietra il freddo in carco
Riposava sul suo cor.
Ah crudele!
The cross "With plumes upon his helmet"
English translation ©
Roger Parker & Opera Rara
Girded in full armour,
One day a cavalier came
To the lady of his heart
To announce to her a misfortune
Of the most bitter kind:
"I want to go to Palestine
To follow the banner of the cross".
"Ah, so cruel!" but here the voice
Of the miserable lady faltered.
The warrior kissed Clarina
And like lightning disappeared.
After five years he returned
To his lady, laden with glory,
But in vain he calls for Clarina
To share his honour:
The cold weight of a stone
Was resting on her heart.
Ah, so cruel!
Il crociato "Colle piume sul cimiero"
Italian source:
Carlo Guaita
The cross "With plumes upon his helmet"
English source:
Roger Parker & Opera Rara
Colle piume sul cimiero,
With plumes on his helmet,
Tutto chiuso in armatura,
Girded in full armour,
Venne un giorno il cavaliero
One day a cavalier came
Alla dama del suo cor
To the lady of his heart
A nunziarle una sventura
To announce to her a misfortune
D'acerbissimo dolor:
Of the most bitter kind:
"Il vessillo della croce
"I want to go to Palestine
Vuò seguire in Palestina".
To follow the banner of the cross".
"Ah crudele!" ma qui la voce
"Ah, so cruel!" but here the voice
Della misera languì.
Of the miserable lady faltered.
Il guerrier baciò Clarina
The warrior kissed Clarina
E qual folgore sparì.
And like lightning disappeared.
Dopo un lustro alla sua dama
After five years he returned
Ei tornò di gloria carco,
To his lady, laden with glory,
Ma Clarina indarno ei chiama
But in vain he calls for Clarina
A dividere l'onor:
To share his honour:
D'una pietra il freddo in carco
The cold weight of a stone
Riposava sul suo cor.
Was resting on her heart.
Ah crudele!
Ah, so cruel!
Composer
Gaetano Donizetti
Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti was an Italian composer. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, Donizetti was a leading composer of the bel canto opera style during the first half of the nineteenth century. Read more here.
