E La Solita Storia

(l'arlesiana) (it's that familiar tale)

E la solita storia del pastore
Il povero ragazzo voleva raccontarla e s'addormi
C'e nel sonno l'oblio. come l'invidio!
Anch'io vorrei dormir cosi, nel sonno almen l'oblio trovar!
La pace sol cercando io vo'. vorrei poter tutto scordar!
Ma ogni sforzo e vano. davanti ho sempre
Davanti ho sempre di lei il dolce sembiante
La pace tolta e solo a me. perche degg'io tanto penar?
Lei! sempre lei mi parla ancor! fatale vision, mi lascia!
Mi fai tanto male, ahime!

Synopses
Federico loves a girl of ill repute
so his family arranges a marriage
with a childhood sweetheart
the heartbroken lad compares his sad adventure
to the well-known tale of a shepherd boy
he knows he will never forget his one true love

English translation
It's that familiar tale you've heard of the shepherd
That penniless young man, attempting to retell it
Fell sound asleep. in such slumber there's oblivion
How I've envied him! like him, I would sleep all of my days
At least if I slept, I might forget! I seek only peace
It's all I need! forget it all! never recall!
Yet all is futile effort, before me will always be that sweet
Face of hers, alas! my peace and my quiet, forever gone!
Why must I suffer so, oh why? she, always she, speaks to me!
Vision so fatal, please vanish! how you have harmed me! alas!