L'Autunno
Celebra il vilanel con balli e canti
Del felice raccolto il bel piacere,
E del liquor di Bacco accesi tanti
Finiscono col sonno il lor godere.
Fa ch'ogn'uno tralasci e bali e canti,
L'aria che temperata dà piacere.
È la staggion ch'invita tanti e tanti
D'un dolcissimo sonno al bel godere.
I cacciator' alla nov'alba a caccia
Con corni, schioppi, e canni escono fuore.
Fugge la belva, e seguono la traccia.
Già sbigottita e lassa al gran rumore
De' schioppi e canni, ferita, minaccia
Languida di fuggir, ma oppressa, muore.
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)
(Sonnet used in Vivaldi's Op. 8 No. 3)
Autumn
The peasants celebrate the pleasures of fall,
Great bountiful harvest with dance and song,
So fortified by wine of Bacchus all
They end their feast with sleep deep and long.
From songs and dances they all have done
As a gentle breeze tempers delight.
`Tis the season that invites all and one
To that sweetest of pleasures found in dream at night.
The hunters depart with the coming of first light
With horns and muskets and dogs they are led.
And chase the wild game, its trail in their sight.
The beast is frightened by the noise overhead
Of muskets and dogs—wounded, still threatens to fight
And stand and flee, but overwhelmed, it falls and is dead.
(tr. Cliff Crego)
The Four Seasons: Autumn
(Concerto III)
