E lucevan le stelle
The stars were gleaming
ed olezzava la terra,
The ground was fragrant,
stridea l'uscio dell'orto,
The creak of the garden gate,
e un passo sfiorava la rena...
light footsteps in the sand...
Entrava ella, fragrante,
the smell of her hair. She came
Mi cadea fra le braccia...  
and fell into my arms...

Oh dolci baci, o languide carezze,
Oh tender kisses, sweet caresses,
Mentr'io fremente
While, trembling, I beheld
La belle forme discioglea dai veli!
Her beautiful form freed of its gown!

Svani per sempre il sogno mio d'amore...
Gone forever is my dream of love...
L'ora e' fuggita...
Time has fled, and I die in despair!
E muoio disperato!
I die in despair!
E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
But never have I loved life so much!






 

 



Poetic translation by Mark D. Lew

 






Tosca
by 
Giacomo Puccini







 

Richard Tucker
as Cavaradossi


"E lucevan le stelle"
 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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