Entertainment Music "Quel Guardo, Il Cavaliere" Lyrics and English Translation Norina's aria from Donizetti's Opera, Don Pasquale Share PINTEREST Email Print Hulton Archive/Getty Images Music Classical Music Lyrics Basics Operas Rock Music Pop Music Alternative Music Country Music Folk Music Rap & Hip Hop Rhythm & Blues World Music Punk Music Heavy Metal Jazz Latin Music Oldies Learn More By Aaron Green Aaron Green Music Expert B.A., Classical Music and Opera, Westminster Choir College of Rider University Aaron M. Green is an expert on classical music and music history, with more than 10 years of both solo and ensemble performance experience. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on 02/24/19 Sung towards the end of the first act of Donizetti's opera, Don Pasquale, Norina is reading a passage about love from a novel. She is approached by Dr. Malatesta who is crafting a plan to fool Don Pasquale into bending to the will of a woman. Norina sings this delightful aria describing her know-how to make a man do as she pleases. This is considered one of the most famous arias, along with Caro Nome from Verdi's Rigoletto, Flower Duet from Delibes' Lakme, Sempre Libera from Verdi's La Traviata, and Vissi D'Arte from Puccini's Tosca. Italian Lyrics "Quel guardo,il cavaliere in mezzo al cor trafisse,Piegò i lginocchio e disse:Son vostro cavalier.E tanto era in quel guardoSapor di paradiso,Che il cavalier Riccardo,Tutto d'amor conquiso,Giurò che ad altra mai,Non volgeria il pensier."Ah, ah!So anch'io la virtu magicaD'un guardo a tempo e loco,So anch'io come si brucianoI cori a lento foco,D'un breve sorrisettoConosco anch'io l'effetto,Di menzognera lagrima,D'un subito languor,Conosco i mille modiDell'amorose frodi,I vezzi e l'arti faciliPer adescare un cor.Ho testa bizzarra,son pronta vivace,Brillare mi piace scherzar:Se monto in furoreDi rado sto al segno,Ma in riso lo sdegno fo presto a cangiar,Ho testa bizzarra,Ma core eccellente, ah! English Translation That look,pierced the knight in the middle of the heart,He folded his body, bent at his knees and saidI am your knight.And so it was in that looka taste of paradise,That the knight Richard,Conquered by love,Swore that never to another,Woman would he ever think about."Ah, ah!I too know the magical powerof a look at the right time and place,I know how the heart burnsin slow fires,of a brief smileI know the effect,Of lying tears,On a sudden languor,I know a thousand wayslove can fraud,The charms and arts are easyTo fool the heart.I have a bizarre mindI possess a ready wit,I like joking:If I get furiousI'm rarely able to remain calm,But my disdain can soon turn to laughter,I have a bizarre mindBut an excellent heart, ah!