If, like thee, I were permitted From this cold world to depart, Having seen thy early fading— Hope and glory of my heart! I should find thee up in heaven, And live with thee where thou art. Therefore pray our dear Lord Jesus, Till He calls me ceaseless pray! For my only hope I cannot Live on thus from day to day— Cannot end these vain lamentings— Cannot weep my tears away! VOCERO OF A GIRL FOR HER FATHER. I came forth from Calanca At the twelfth hour of the night, And everywhere I sought him, I sought him by torchlight,— And when I found my father, 'Twas his corpse that met my sight. (_Another girl enters, seeking a relative, also slain._) Ye who would find Matteju, Go farther up the steep; The dead here is my father, And I must stay to weep. Take apron, trowel, hammer, My father, and come away, For you must work at the chapel Of San Marcello to-day; But they had slain my father, And my brother wounded lay. Oh, scissors to cut my long locks, Make haste and bring to me! Let me staunch with my hair those gashes Where the blood is running free— For the red drops on my fingers Are a fearful sight to see. I will dye me a mandilè, In his blood I will dye it red; And when I have time to be merry, I will deck with it my head.[J] Now I bear him to Calanca— To the Church of the Holy Cross, Still crying, O speak, my father! Still wailing for my loss— For they have crucified him, Like Christ upon the cross. TEXT OF THE PRECEDING VOCERO. Eo partu dalle Calanche Circa quattr' ore di notte: Mi ne falgu cu la teda A circà per tutte l'orte, Per truvallu lu mio vabu: Ma li avianu datu morte. Cullatevene più in su, Chi truvarete a Matteju; Perchè questu è lu mio vabu, E l'aghiu da pienghie eju. Via, pigliatemi u scuzzale La cazzola e lu martellu. Nun ci vulete andà, vabu, A travaglià a San Marcellu? Tombu m'hann lu miò vabu, E feritu u miò fratellu. Or circatemi e trisore, E qui prestu ne venite: Vogliu toudemi i capelli Per tuppalli le ferite; Chi di lu sangue di vabu N'achiu carcu le miò dite. Di lu vostru sangue, o vabu, Bogliu tinghiemi un mandile; Lu mi vogliu mette a collu Quandu avrachiu oziu di ride. Eo collu per le Calanche Falgu per la Santa Croce, Sempre chiamand uvi, vabu: Rispunditemi una voce. Mi l'hanu crucifissatu Cume Ghesù Cristu in croce.