Think that this moment
(Poet's title: Pensa, che questo istante,)
Set by Schubert:
D 76
[September 13, 1813]
Pensa che questo istante
Del tuo destin decide;
Ch’oggi rinasce Alcide
Per la futura età.
Pensa che adulto sei,
Che sei di Giove un figlio,
Che merto e non consiglio
La scelta tua sarà.
Think that this moment
Is going to decide your fate;
That Alcide is being reborn today
For a future age.
Think that you are now an adult,
That you are a son of Jove,
That it is merit not recommendation
That has led you to be chosen.
All translations into English that appear on this website, unless otherwise stated, are by Malcolm Wren. You are free to use them on condition that you acknowledge Malcolm Wren as the translator and schubertsong.uk as the source. Unless otherwise stated, the comments and essays that appear after the texts and translations are by Malcolm Wren and are © Copyright.
☙
Confirmed by Peter Rastl with Tutte le opere di Pietro Metastasio, Firenze, Tipografia Borghi e compagni 1832, page 659.
The text appears in “Alcide al Bivio”, scena I, Aria di Fronimo
To see an early edition of the text, go to page 214 [226 von 430] here: http://digital.onb.ac.at/OnbViewer/viewer.faces?doc=ABO_%2BZ176741603