Vogliatemi bene

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vogliatemi bene (Love me a little) is the most famous part of the act I love duet from Puccini's Madama Butterfly. The whole love duet is sometimes referred to as "Vogliatemi bene" even though Pinkerton starts the duet much earlier at "Bimba, bimba, non piangere." "Vogliatemi bene" starts the last third of the love duet, although it is the longest part.

This part of duet takes place at the very end of the first act in a traditional Japanese garden during a starry night. Butterfly and Pinkerton sing as follows:

Italian:

Butterfly:
Vogliatemi bene,
un bene piccolino,
un bene da bambino,
quale a me si conviene.
Vogliatemi bene.
Noi siamo gente avvezza
alle piccole cose
umili e silenziose,
ad una tenerezza
sfiorante e pur profonda
come il ciel, come l'onda
del mare.

English translation:


Ah, love me a little,
oh, just a very little,
As you would love a baby
'Tis all that I ask for.
Ah, love me a little.
I come of a people
accustomed to little;
Grateful for love that's silent;
Light as a blossom
And yet everlasting
As the sky, as the fathomless
ocean.


Pinkerton:
Dammi ch'io baci le tue mani care.
Mia Butterfly! come t'han ben nomata
tenue farfalla...


Give me your darling hands that I may kiss them.
My Butterfly! aptly your name was chosen,
Gossamer creation.


Butterfly:
Dicon ch'oltre mare
se cade in man dell'uom,
ogni farfarla
da uno spillo è trafitta
ed in tavola infitta!..


They say that in your country
If a butterfly
is caught by man,
He'll pierce its heart with a needle
And then leave it to perish!


Pinkerton:
Un po' di vero c'è.
E tu lo sai perchè?
Perchè non fugga più.
Io t'ho ghermita...
Ti serro palpitante.
Sei mia.


Some truth there is in that,
And can you tell me why?
That you may not escape.
See, I have caught you...
I hold you as you flutter.
Be mine.


Butterfly:
Sì, per la vita.


Yes, yours forever.


Pinkerton:
Vieni, vieni...
Via dall'anima in pena
l'angoscia paurosa.
È notte serena!
Guarda: dorme ogni cosa!


Come, then, come then...
Love, what fears hold you trembling.
Have done with all misgivings.
The night doth enfold us!
See the world lies sleeping!


Butterfly:
Ah! Dolce notte!..


Ah! Night of rapture!


Pinkerton:
Vieni, vieni...


Come then, come then.


Butterfly:
Quante stelle!
/ Non le vidi mai sì belle!
| Pinkerton
\ È notte serena!
Ah! vieni, vieni.
È notte serena!..
Guarda: dorme ogni cosa!


Stars unending!
/ Never have I seen such glory!
|
\ The night doth enfold us!
Ah! hasten, hasten!
The night enfold us!..
See the world lies sleeping!


Butterfly:
Dolce notte! Quante stelle!


Night of rapture! Stars unending!


Pinkerton:
Vieni, vieni!


Hasten, hasten!


Butterfly:
Non le vidi mai sì belle!


Never have I seen such glory!


Pinkerton:
Vieni, vieni!


Hasten, hasten!


Butterfly:
Trema, brilla ogni favilla


Throbbing, sparkling, each star in heaven


Pinkerton:
Vien, sei mia!...


Come, my dearest!


Butterfly:
col baglior d'una pupilla. Oh!
/ Oh! quanti occhi fisi, attenti
| d'ogni parte a riguardar!
| pei firmamenti,
| via pei lidi, via pel mare...
| Pinkerton
| Via l'angoscia dal tuo cor!
| Ti serro palpitante.
| Sei mia.
| Ah! Vien, vien sei mia
| ah! vieni, guarda:
\ dorme ogni cosa!..
Ti serro palpitante.
Ah, vien!


like a fiery eye is flashing. Oh!
/ Oh! how kindly are the heavens,
| Ev'ry star that shines afar!
| Is gazing on us,
| lighting our future for us...
|
| Cast all fear from out your heart!
| Close to my heart I hold you.
| You're mine now,
| Ah! come, come you are mine now
| Ah! come then, see the
\ whole world lies sleeping!..
Close to my heart I hold you,
come!


Butterfly:
Ah! quanti occhi fisi, attenti!
quanti sguardi!


Oh how kindly are the heavens
on us shining!


Pinkerton:
Guarda: dorme ogni cosa:
/ Ah! vien! ah! vieni, vieni!
| Ah! vien, ah! vien, sei mia!
| ah! vien!
| Butterfly
| ride il ciel!
| Ah! Dolce notte!
| Tutto estatico d'amor
\ ride il ciel!


See the world lies sleeping.
/ Ah! come! ah, come then, dearest!
| Ah! come, ah! come then, be mine
| ah come!
|
| see the stars!
| Ah, lovely night!
| Thy perfect calm is breathing love
\ near and far!


[edit] References