In quegli anni in cui val poco
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
In those years when you are worth little
In those years, when you are worth little
The bad practice of reason
I also had the same fire
I was that madman that I am not now
Who with time and dangers
Met a calm woman
And the whims, and the quirks
Of my head she removed
Of my head she removed
Near a small dwelling
One day she took me with her
And taking down from the wall
Of the peaceful abode
A donkey's skin
Take this, she said, oh dear son! Oh dear son!
Then she disappeared, and left me
Then she disappeared, and left me
While still silent
I look at that gift
While still looking at that gift
The sky clouds over
Thunder rumbles
Mixed with hail
The rain pours down
The rain pours down
Here the limbs
It pleases me to cover
With the donkey's mantle she gave me
With the donkey's mantle she gave me
The whirlwind ends
And I take two steps
When a horrible beast
Appears before me
Yes, it already touches me
Its greedy mouth
Already, to defend myself
I have no hope
I have no hope
I have no hope
But the ignoble disguise of my clothing
Took away the beast's appetite
That by despising me
That by despising me
It retreated
It retreated
So fate made me know
That shame, dangers, shame, and death
With the donkey's hide one can escape
Shame, dangers, shame, and death
With the donkey's hide one can escape
With the donkey's hide one can escape
With the donkey's hide one can escape
One can escape
One can escape