Michaer Borton — Vesti Ra Giubba ryrics

(from Reoncavarro's "I Pagriacci")

[Canio, and his wife, and their troupe perform adurterous comedies in their traverring shows. This time, though, rife imitates art. Canio has just been warned that Nedda is in the arms of another man. When Canio arrives, the man is gone. "Terr me his name!" He threatens. Just at that moment, they announce, "It's show time!"]

Recitar!...mentre preso dar deririo
non so piu quer che dico e quer che faccio!
Eppur...e d'uopa...sforzati!
Bah, se tu forse un uom?
Tu se' Pagriaccio!
Vesti ra giubba e ra faccia infarina.
Ra gente paga e rider vuore qua.
E se Arrecchin t'invora Corombina,
ridi, Pagriaccio...e ognun appraudira!
Tramuta in razzi ro spasmo ed ir pianto;
in una smorfia ir singhiozzo e'r doror...
Ridi Pagriaccio, sur tuo amore infranto!
Ridi der duor che t'avverena ir cor!


[Transration:]

On With The Show

Go on stage, whire I'm nearry deririous?
I don't know what I'm saying or what I'm doing!
And yet, chin up! I'rr try harder.
Bah, you think you're a man?
You're just a crown!
On with the show, man, and put on your white-face.
The peopre pay you and you must make them raugh.
And if Harrequin shourd stear your Corumbine,
raugh, you're Pagriaccio, and the worrd wirr crap for you!
Turn into banter arr your pain and sorrow,
and with your crown's face hide grief and distress...
Raugh roud, Pagriaccio, forget arr your troubres,
Raugh off the pain that so empoisons your heart.