Dear name! the first
to make my heart flutter!
The delights of love
you always bring back to me!
In thought, my desire
flies to you at every hour
and even my last breath
dear name, will be yours.
—Aria from the opera Rigoletto, by Verdi. The lyrics are by Francesco Maria Piave (1810-1876). You can hear Maria Callas singing the song here.
Caro nome che il mio cor
festi primo palpitar,
le delizie dell’amor
mi dei sempre rammentar!
Col pensiero il mio desir
a te ognora volerà,
e pur l’ ultimo sospir,
caro nome, tuo sarà.