La Ci Darem La Mano from Mozart's Don Giovanni

The duet, with words by Lorenzo Da Ponte, is sung during the first act of the opera. Don Giovanni has just met Zerlina and her betrothed, Masetto. In an attempt to distract Masetto and have him removed from the scene, Giovanni offers to host a wedding celebration for the couple at his castle. When Masetto has left, Giovanni attempts to seduce Zerlina to accompany him to his castle.

Character

Italian text

Poetic translation

Literal translation

Don Giovanni

Là ci darem la mano,
Là mi dirai di sì.
Vedi, non è lontano;
Partiam, ben mio, da qui.

Give me thy hand, oh fairest,
Whisper a gentle ‘Yes’,
Come, if for me thou carest,
With joy my life to bless.

There we will give each other our hands,
There you will say ‘yes’ to me.
See, it’s not far;
Let’s go there, my dear.

Zerlina

Vorrei e non vorrei,
Mi trema un poco il cor.
Felice, è ver, sarei,
Ma può burlarmi ancor.

I would, and yet I would not,
I dare not give assent,
Alas! I know I should not…
Too late, I may repent.

I would like to, and I wouldn’t,
My heart is trembling a little.
True, I could be happy,
But it could trick me again.

Don Giovanni

Vieni, mio bel diletto!

Come, dearest, let me guide thee.

Come, my beautiful delight!

Zerlina

Mi fa pietà Masetto.

Masetto sure will chide me!

I feel sorry for Masetto.

 

Don Giovanni

Io cangierò tua sorte.

Danger shall ne’er come nigh thee!

I will change your fate.

Zerlina

Presto … non son più forte.

Ah … that I could deny thee!

Soon…I won’t be strong anymore.

Don Giovanni

Andiam! Andiam!

Let’s go! Let’s go!

Let’s go! Let’s go!

Zerlina

Andiam!

Let’s go!

Let’s go!

Both

Andiam, andiam, mio bene,
a ristorar le pene
d’un innocente amor.

With thee, with thee, my treasure,
This life is nought but pleasure,
My heart is fondly thine.[

Let’s go, let’s go, my dear,
To restore the values
Of an innocent love.

 

Attachment:  PDF icon la_ci_darem_la_mano_-_vocal_score.pdf