next

Karl Young



The Barber of Seville


she finds romance in her tapestry      I belong to applause      he dreams of winning private treasure
she sleeps among lilies of the valley      I conceal distance      he sings in the forest of kindly devices
she strolls through meadows of innocent pastime      I defy reliance      he flies in fancies over bustling cities
she conjures the perfect sweetheart      promises humor my overtures      he follows lazy streams
she gathers humble violets      I feed on checkered privilege      he purges himself of meanness
she frees herself from gratitude      I tease public opinion      he fancies heroic adventures
she dreams of pearls and ivory      starting fires makes me happy      he checks the town clock
she looks at her miniature watch      I stir up the hesitant      he plays cards at midnight
she plays her harpsichord at dusk      satire is my sugar      he skips through an alley
she fingers her thimble      I wheedle glory from jealousy      he brandishes pungent cigars
she looks at the table      I delight in ardent jokes      he unfolds his cape
she perfumes her handkerchief      my eyes flash at melancholy      he walks out the door
she talks to the halfopen envelope      zeal writes my titles      he grows flush in the background
she powders her knee      curtains obey my commands      he buys appearances
she hopes for trickery      playfulness is my love affair      he climbs a soliloquy
she hates her captivity      I steal from despair      risk keeps him sharp
imprudence makes her hungry      appetite increases my benediction      he beams at reproaches
she refuses empty speculation      I mislead polite conversation      he buttons neat ceremonies
her captivity requires constant vigilance      I surprise enigmas      he frightens his duties with shelter
she grows more beautiful with stratagems      I imprison boredom      he pretends to discover whatever's not there
she imitates deception      I make up mischievousness news      he hums in his glove
she mimics conceited illusions      I conduct public excitement      he twirls his mustachios
she's not overwhelmed with ancient agreements      I inspire impudence      he's not put off by shady arrangements
she pulls off gravitation      I prevent chance from escaping      he turns disaster to his advantage
she sleeps in a nest of conspiracy      I torment anxiety      obstacles quicken his nerves
frivolity brings roses to her cheeks      I dismiss livid care      his posture insults slander
her beauty mystifies tyrants      I teach money to sing      he still trusts social status
she releases prearranged doves      dialogue pleases my harpist      he sips on his flask
she tickles a feather      flight thanks my orchestra      he sings himself out of breath
she playfully kisses her songs      I invent their libretto      he plays at being a rogue
she persists in her aria      I concoct human madrigals      he whistles a prelude
she whispers symphonies      brides praise my theater      he plays his violin softly
she sings with eyes of different colors      I spy on astonishment      he thumbs the book of possible happiness
she catches images of love in live coals      passion asks my permission      he takes up the thread of unlikely chance
she follows the lattice-work of hope      habit protects my revenue      he jumps at the hint of opportunity
she waits on the promise      thresholds give me opportunity      he eats a piece of cheese
she hears metallic onions      I frighten remorse      he counts his trophies
she numbers her victories      I deserve my magnificence      he dotes on vintage memories
they meet in the open      I arrange engagements for angels      the garden grows quiet
she smiles at his shoes      I celebrate conspiracy      he bows with elegant care
she curtsies pleasantly      I formulate crazy agendas      he clears his throat
she gives him permission to follow      I scatter reluctance like birds      they stroll in a logical meadow
they follow a sociable stream      I authorize cardboard      he promises regular habits
she replies neatly      I love detaching scenery      he walks confidently
she blushes on tiptoe      I perpetrate pleasant embarrassment      he echoes her sentiments
she sighs carefully      I ferment faithful trickery      he turns to his right
she turns to her left      I suggest immense requests      he relies on surprise
she loves sweet chaos      whims are my revelations      he measures the dance step
she clings to the dance      health smiles at my bribes      light dapples his sleeve
the wind ruffles her gown      I relieve awkward monopolies      he wins honors from clouds
she turns trinkets to gems      success serves for today      he gathers smiling roses

she summons preludes      conceit invites my shrewdness      he hunts opportunity
her pulse is her melody      scorn furthers my mission      he fancies loyal adventures
she dreams of satin and order      glory visits my drawingroom      they hope for more skillful trickery
delay makes them hungry      torment flees from my tolerance      risk gives them appetites
her tapestry hides itself      farsighted pretexts jump from my wallpaper      his treasure surrounds them
they purge themselves of meanness      I repair the rain      they free themselves from gratitude
they wait for the right signals      I refresh the wind      they expect rhetorical grandeur
they share a soliloquy      I rehabilitate sunlight      they sing their duet
they demand correct posture      I reestablish the sky      they assure proper stature
they turn disaster to their advantage      I invite the wine      he dispenses with dull intermissions
she reassures nervous seasons      courtesy gives me impunity      he commands luminous shadows
she brings on orange storms      I ruffle the ethics of irritation      he gambles the sunlight
she charms electricity      I guarantee fate's thunderbolts      he invites lightning
she pleases thunder      I like to untie whatever's removed      he salutes fortune
she laughs at his thrilling delivery      imps urge me on      he's greedy for her dainty amusements
she observes his ardent trifles      motives submit to my scoffing      he traces her sonorous ingenuity
she considers his comic maneuvers      I win freedom for suitors      her extravagant fainting attracts him
she likes his gallant tone      I serve amusing solutions      he likes the brim of her cadences
she loves his vivacious courtesy      I pantomime hooting      he likes the bouquet of her rumors
she loves his typical oaths      I ring the bells in full regalia      he likes her charming agitation
she yields to his skillful worship      I bet on sweet rhythms      he loves her fresh looking mirror
she loves his perfect behavior      (the guardian and I)      he loves her pleasant weapons
she accepts his position      (are only two faces)      he takes off her hat
she undoes his vest      (of the same person)      they walk off stage




The vocabulary for this poem was drawn from English equivalents of words found in Beaumarchais's Le Barbier de Séville.

This is the original play, not the opera.

next