TEXTS & TRANSLATIONS VEDRAI, CARINO Vedrai, carino, se sei buonino, Che bel rimedio ti voglio dar! È naturale, non dà disgusto, E lo speziale non lo sa far. È un certo balsamo Ch'io porto addosso, Dare tel posso, Se il vuoi provar. Saper vorresti dove mi sta? Sentilo battere, toccami qua!
You will see, my dear If you'll be good The cure I have for you! It's natural It won't give you disgust Though no apothecary Can prescribe it. It's a certain balm I carry within me Which I can give you, If you'll try it. You want to know Where I keep it? Then feel it beating, put your hand here. Translated by: Camila Argolo Freitas Batista
LA DIVA DE L‘EMPIRE Sous le grand chapeau Greenaway, Mettant l'éclat d'un sourire, D'un rire charmant et frais De baby étonné qui soupire, Little girl aux yeux veloutés, C'est la Diva de l'Empire. C'est la rein' dont s'éprennent Les gentlemen Et tous les dandys De Piccadilly.
Beneath her large Greenaway hat, Putting on her dazzling smile, The fresh and charming laugh Of a wide-eyed sighing babe, A little girl with velvet eyes She's the Diva of the Empire, She's the queen they're smitten with, The gentlemen And all the dandies Of Piccadilly.
Dans un seul "yes" elle mettant de douceur Que tous les snobs en gilet à coeur, L'accueillant des hourras frénétiques, Sur la scène lancent des gerbes de fleurs, Sans remarquer le rire narquois De son joli minois.
She invests a single 'Yes' with such sweetness, That all the fancy-waistcoated snobs Welcoming her with frenzied cheers, Hurl bouquets on the stage, Without observing the wily smile On her pretty face.
Elle danse presque automatiquement Et soulève, oh très pudiquement, Ses jolis dessous de fanfreluches, De ses jambes montrant le frétillement. C'est à la fois très très innocent Et très très excitant.
She dances almost mechanically And lifts - Oh! so modestly Her pretty petticoat edged with flounces, To reveal her wriggling legs. It is very, very innocent And very, very exciting too. Translation by: Richard Stokes