Something for the weekend. What is a Youth from Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo and Juliet (1968). I think this film is the most beautiful adaptation of Shakespeare’s paean to young love.
“What is a Youth”
by Nino Rota, words by Eugene Walter
What is a youth? Impetuous fire.
What is a maid? Ice and desire.
The world wags on,
a rose will bloom….
It then will fade:
so does a youth,
so does the fairest maid.
Comes a time when one sweet smile
has a season for a while….
Then love’s in love with me.
Some they think only to marry,
others will tease and tarry.
Mine is the very best parry.
Cupid he rules us all.
Caper the cape, but sing me the song,
Death will come soon to hush us along.
Sweeter than honey… and bitter as gall,
Love is a task and it never will pall.
Sweeter than honey and bitter as gall.
Cupid rules us all.”
I like how Joe Pesci answers the question. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpNgONH2ncI
Ah, restrainedradical, you mention my favorite film about the law!
I rather follow the Joe Pesci mode of less is more in opening statement, although when I was a young attorney I am afraid that my openings my first time or two resembled those of the hapless public defender.
Ha. That was my first thought when I saw the title of the post too, restrained. Great movie. Not familiar with this version of Romeo & Juliet.
“I remember my youth and the feeling that will never come back any more –the feeling that I could last for ever, outlast the sea, the earth, and all men; the deceitful feeling that lures us on to joys, to perils, to love, to vain effort –to death; the triumphant conviction of strength, the heat of life in the handful of dust, the glow in the heart that with every year grows dim, grows cold, grows small, and expires –and expires, too soon, too soon –before life itself.”
Conrad, Joseph
“Youth is wasted on the young.” Yogi Berra