Va Pensiero
(The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves from Nabucco)
Va, pensiero, sull'ali dorate
(Go, my thoughts on golden wings;)
Va, ti posa sui clivi, sui colli
(Go, settle on the cliffs and hills)
Ove olezzano tepide e molli,
(Where the sweet breezes bring)
L'aure dolici del suolo natal!
(The warm, soft fragrances of your native land)
Del Giordano le rive saluta,
(From Jordan, the river of salvation, and)
Di Sionne le torri atterrate.
(From the desolate towers of Zion.)
Oh, mia patrie si bella e perduta!
(Oh my fatherland so beautiful and lost!)
Oh, Membrenza si cara e fatal!
(Oh remembrances, so dear and so deadly)
Arpa d'or del fatidici vati,
(Golden Harps of our prophets and poets,)
Perch?muta dal salice pendi?
(Why have you changed into weeping willows?)
Le memorie nel petto raccendi,
(The battered memory in my heart)
Chi favella del tempo che fu!
(Which speaks of the time which was!)
O simile di Solima ai fati
(Either like Solomon to the fates)
Traggi un suono di crudo lamento,
(You present a sound of crude lament,)
O t'ispiri il Signore un concento
(Or the Lord inspires in you a song)
Che ne infonda al patire virtu!
(Which takes courage into the depths.) -