ANTONIO VIVALDI ~SUMMER~ (full)

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) is known for his inspirational songs called "The Four Seasons". "Spring" ("La primavera"), "Summer" ("L'estate"), "Autumn" ("L'autunno") and "Winter" ("L'inverno") are some of the his most popular creations and they were written to go along with four sonnets called, of course, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

Summer Sonnet:
"Under a hard Season, fired up by the Sun
Languishes man, languishes the flock and burns the pine
We hear the cuckoo's voice; then sweet songs of the turtledove and finch are heard.
Soft breezes stir the air... but threatening north wind sweeps them suddenly aside.
The shepherd trembles, fearing violent storms and his fate.
The fear of lightning and fierce thunder
Robs his tired limbs of rest
As gnats and flies buzz furiously around.
Alas, his fears were justified
The Heavens thunders and roar and majestically
Cuts the head off the wheat and damages the grain."