IL SERENADO DI VENICE.

The sunlight has faded away from the sky,

Bright day has departed, the night draweth nigh;

Then come to the lattice, love, hither and see,

Where waits the gondola, swift-gliding and free.

The moon is uprising in glorious light,

Her beams on the waters are trembling and bright;

Then haste to thy lattice, love, hither and see,

Where waits the gondola, swift-gliding and free.

Not a cloud is above, nor a wave here below,

All is quiet and still, save the river’s soft flow;

Oh! come to thy lattice, love, hither and see,

Where waits the gondola, swift-gliding and free.

Then, away! then, away! let us pass the calm hours,

With the sweet words of love, and with Fancy’s fair flowers

Ere the rose-fingered morn shall appear and renew

The songs of the birds and the pearls of the dew.

Valeria.