To the Night

      by Ugo Foscolo (1778-1827)

     Maybe because you always would appear
The image of that fatal rest to me,
O night! You come towards me so dear!
Escorted by the summer clouds with glee
And by the gentle breezes full of cheer,
     Or from the snowy air you come sending
That long, uneasy darkness to the world,
O summoned night, upon the earth descending,
The darkest secrets of my heart you hold.
     At sight of you my mind begins to wander
To the eternal void beyond the sky;
And all along the wretched time meanders
And with it all my worries; meanwhile I
Stand looking at your peace that calms the torment
Within my raging spirit lying dormant.

                                            --translated by Alexander Shaumyan
 

          Alla Sera*

     Forse perchè della fatal quïete
tu sei l’immago, a me sì cara vieni,
o sera! E quando ti corteggian liete
le nubi estive e i zeffiri sereni,
     e quando dal nevoso aere inquïete
tenebre e lunghe all’universo meni,
sempre scendi invocata, e le secrete
vie del mio cor soavemente tieni.
     Vagar mi fai co’ miei pensier su l’orme
che vanno al nulla eterno; e intanto fugge
questo reo tempo, e van con lui le torme
     delle cure onde meco egli si strugge;
e mentre io guardo la tua pace, dorme
quello spirto guerrier ch’entro mi rugge.
 

         --Ugo Foscolo
            (1778-1827)

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*NOTE: The word sera actually means “evening” in Italian.  I changed it to the “night” for poetic effect.