The Marriage of Figaro

English text example:

FIGARO sends Cherubino off to join the army: Time to throw off the role of the lover; Play no longer the fair young enchanter. March away from the pastime and banter Of the darling, the court cavalier. Feast no more on a diet of dainties; Leave behind masquerades and cotillions, Conversation of sparkle and brilliance, As you head for a soldier's career. Say goodby e to fair complexion. Pretty phrases, soft affection, And secret embraces..... Into battle goes the dandy, Sword at side and pistol handy, Beard unshaven, pack on shoulder, Weather freezing, getting colder; New fiasco by the minute Leather purse but nothing in it. Little need for velvet breeches In the swamps and frozen ditches; Ice and sweat upon your forehead; Toil abundant, diet frugal, Blare of trumpet, call of bugle. Round your head the bullets whistle As you plod through thorn and thistle Toward the enemy frontier. Say goodbye to silk and satin, Sparkling wine, foods that fatten, Dainty hands, smiling faces. Tender words and secret embraces...... Meet CHERUBINO in days of happier confusion: I forget who I am, where I'm going, Back and forth, cold and hot, never knowing. With the girls I'm a ball of confusion; With a woman I fall all apart. Words of love, and desire, and affection Stir my pulse and inflame my complexion, And I've no choice, but then must give voice To that yearning, that sweet hunger Dwelling deep in my heart. Love, only love while waking..... Love, only love while sleeping..... And the COUNTESS, grieving over the love that seems to have faded: Source of love, console my sorrow; Heed and comfort my lonely sigh. Ah! Restore that lost devotion, Or relent, and let me die. The thwarted COUNT takes up the challenge: That I should pine and suffer, And see my servant prosper! And play the jilted lover While he enjoys the prize! The girl for whom I hunger To a lowly menial plighted! My passion unrequited While in his arms she lies. Oh, no! I'll stop the marriage! The rites shall be prevented. None but a fool dares flourish And thrive while I'm tormented; To hold me up for ridicule And cast my rank aside...... Jealous FIGARO rages in disillusion: You men, wipe off your glasses; See for yourself these lasses. Get rid of stupid fantasies; Observe them open-eyed. Did you believe them angels? A fool to trust your senses! But look with cleaner lenses Before the knot is tied. They're masters of sorcery To lure and enthrall; They're sirens whose melody Is fatal to all. Like roses that prickle, Or doves full of malice, A fly is less fickles, A serpent less callous...... All is finally resolved: TUTTI At last, all contented, We share our delight. From a day at odds, tormented, Full of follies and caprices, Love at last unites the pieces Putting former woes to flight. Sing out, Hosannah! Be happy, be merry! And a toast, a joyful toast to those that marry. Figaro and his Susanna Let us celebrate tonight. All in chorus, Let us celebrate tonight!