Almen se non poss'io

Text by Pietro Metastasio (1698–1782), aria of Servilia from act 2 of the libretto to La clemenza di Tito
Set by Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835), from Sei Ariette, #4

Recitative
Dall'adorato oggetto vedersi abbandonar;
saper che a tanti rischi corre ad esporsi;
in seno per lui sentirsi il cor tremante,
e nel periglio non poterlo seguir:
questo è un affanno d'ogni affanno maggior;
questo è soffrire la pena del morir senza morire.
From the beloved object to be abandoned;
to know that he is exposed to so many risks;
to feel for him my heart trembling,
and into the peril not being able to follow him:
this is an anxiety of every greater anxiety;
this is suffering the pain of death without dying.

Aria
Almen se non poss'io Già sempre a lui vicino
        
At-least if not can-I Now always to him near
(If I cannot at least) (Always near to you now,)

Seguir l'amato bene, Raccolti Amor vi tiene,

      
follow the-beloved well, concentrated love on-you keeps,
(follow my beloved,) (Love (Cupid) keeps his attention on you,)

Affetti del cor mio, E insolito cammino

      
affections of-the heart mine, and unusual pathway
(affections of my heart,)
Questo per voi non è.
Seguitelo per me.     
   this-one for you not is.
follow-him for me. (although this is not the usual pathway for you.)
(go with him for me.)

(Literal translation and IPA transcription © 2020 by Bard Suverkrop—IPA Source, LLC)

Almen se non poss'io (Metastasio) Page 1 of 1