In uomini, in soldati

Despina's aria from the opera Così fan tutte (soprano)

Text by Lorenzo da Ponte (1749-1838)
Set by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Recitative
Via, via! Passaro i tempi
[via via pas.sa.o i tm.pi]
Come, come! passed-have the times
(Come, come, the time has passed)

da spacciar queste favole ai bambini!

[da spat.tar kwe.ste fa.vo.le ai bam.bi.ni]
of spreading such fables to children!
(when we sell such fables to children!)

Aria
In uomini, in soldati, sperare fedeltà?
[in w.mi.ni in sol.da.ti spe.a.e fe.dl.ta]
In men, in soldiers to-hope-for faithfulness?
(You hope for faithfulness in men, in soldiers?)

Non vi fate sentir, per carità!

[non vi fa.te sn.tir per ka.i.ta]
Not yourselves make be-heard, for pities-sake!
(Don't let anyone hear you, for pities sake!)

Di pasta simile son tutti quanti,

[di pa.sta si.mi.le son tut.ti kwan.ti]
Of material the-same are all of-them,
(They are all cut from the same cloth;)

le fronde mobile, l'aure incostanti

[le fron.de m.bi.le lau.e i.ko.stan.ti]
the branches movable, the-breezes fickle
(swaying branches, fickle breezes)

han più degli uomini stabilità!

[an pju de.w.mi.ni sta.bi.li.ta]
have more than-men stability!
(have more consistancy than men!)

Mentite lagrime, fallaci sguardi voci ingannevoli, vezzi bugiardi

[mn.ti.te la.ri.me fal.li.ti zwar.di vo.ti i.an.ne.vo.li vt.tsi bu.dar.di]
Lying tears, false glances, voices deceiving, charms lying

In uomini, in soldati (Così fan tutte) Mozart - Page 1 of 2

son le primarie lor qualità!
[son le pri.ma.je lor kwa.li.ta]
are the primary their qualities!
(these are their primary qualities!)

In noi non amano che il lor diletto,

[in noi non a.ma.no ke il lor di.lt.to]
In us not to-love but [the] their pleasure,
(They love us only for their pleasure,)

poi ci dispregiano, neganci affetto,

[poi ti di.spre.da.no ne.an.ti af.ft.to]
then us they-do-not-respect, deny-us affection,
(then they show us no respect and deny us affection.)

nè val da' barbari chieder pietà!

[ne val da bar.ba.i kj.de pie.ta]
of-no-more worth than-of barbarians to-ask pity!
(You might as well ask a barbarian to have pity!)

Paghiam o femmine, d'ugual moneta

[pa.jam o fem.mi.ne du.wal mo.ne.ta]
Let-us-pay oh women, with-the-same coin
(Let us, oh women, pay them with the same coin)

questa malefica razza indiscreta.

[kwe.sta ma.l.fi.ka rat.tsa in.di.skre.ta]
this evil breed indiscreet.
(for this evil breed of indiscreet men.)

Amiam per comodo, per vanità! La, ra, la!

[a.mjam per k.mo.do per va.ni.ta la ra la]
Let-us-love for convenience, for vanity! La, ra, la!
(Let us love at our convenience, for our vanity!)

(Literal translation and IPA transcription © 2018 by Bard Suverkrop—IPA Source, LLC)

In uomini, in soldati (Così fan tutte) Mozart - Page 2 of 2