Original Italian:

lucevan le stelle ...
 ed olezzava la terra
 stridea l'uscio dell'orto ...
 e un passo sfiorava la rena ...
 Entrava ella fragrante,
 mi cadea fra le braccia.
 
O! dolci baci, o languide carezze,
 mentr'io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli!
 Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d'amore.
 L'ora è fuggita, e muoio disperato!
 muoio disperato!
 non ho amato mai tanto la vita,
 tanto la vita!

Litaral Translation:

The stars were shining,
 And the earth was scented.
 The gate of the garden creaked
 And a footstep touched the sand...
 Fragrant, she entered
 And fell into my arms.
 
Oh, sweet kisses and languorous caresses,
 While feverishly I stripped the beautiful form of its veils!
 Forever, my dream of love has vanished.
 That moment has fled, and I die in desperation.
 And I die in desperation!
 And I never before loved life so much,
 Loved life so much!

English Rhyme:

When the stars were brightly shining ...
 And faint perfumes the air pervaded,
 Creaked the gate of the garden ...
 And footstep its precincts invaded ...
 'Twas hers, the fragant creature.
 In her soft arms she clasped me..
 
With sweetest kisses, tenderest caresses,
 thing of beauty, of matchless symmetry in form and feature!
 My dream of love is now disspelled forever.
 I lived uncaring and now I die despairing!
 Alas I die despairing!
 And never was life so dear to me, no never,
 So dear, no never!