Journal of Italian Translation

Joseph Tusiani/Ugo Foscolo
youngsters’ glad hynms and nymphs’ amorous sighs –
may all this be most sacred unto you.
Listen meanwhile, O fair, celestial guardians
of the mysterious deep, to this my prayer.
Give days of calmness to the only one
who, since my years in greater gladness bloomed,
divinely burned me with immortal love.
Alone she lives, dear burden to my heart,
just as alone and dear she will unbind
her tresses on my sepulcher unless
Fate also sets my tomb out of man’s reach.
One day l saw her, beautiful and blest,
on the sweet hillock of Brianza lead
dark-haired, full-breasted maidens to the dance;
today, instead, she has forsaken all
her cheerful dresses and her girls’ lament.
And if with bluer light the Eupili
shines to the Moon and to the starry air,
clad in long raiments, she still looks at him,
and with the nightingale still sadly weeps
till Dawn recalls him to a lesser grief.
Graces, come down and walk along with her,
and while, O Goddesses, she looks at you,
let her big, fatal eyes return at once
to the familiar beauty of their smile.
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