An Italian Aria from Mozart's Le Nozzi de Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) sung by a mezzosoprano dressed in drag. In the opera the mezzo plays a page boy talking to the lady of the manor about his emotions when he/she lays eyes upon a beautiful woman.
Translation
Voi Che Sapete che cosa e amor
You know what thing is love
donne, vedete s'io l'ho nel cor
ladies, see if I have it in my heart
Quello ch'io provo, vi ridiro
That which I experience, to you I will repeat
E per me nuovo, capir not so
It's new to me; I don't understand it.
Sento un affetto pien di desir,
I feel a longing full of desire,
ch'ora e diletto, ch'ora e martir!
that now is delight, that now is death!
Gelo, e poi sento l'alma avvampar
I freeze, and then I feel the soul burst into flame
e in un momento torno a gelar;
and in a moment I go back to freezing;
ricerco un bene fuori di me,
I search for a blessing outside of me,
non so ch'il tiene, non so cos'e.
I don't know who holds it; I don't know what it is.
Sospiro e gemo senza voler,
I sigh and moan without wishing to,
palpito e tremo senza saper.
I throb and tremble without knowing.
Non trovo pace notte ne di,
Not find I peace night nor day,
ma pur mi piace languir cosi.
but yet me it pleases to pine thus.
Translation thanks to:
G. Schimer, Inc. (c) 1972