[Canio and his wife, and their troupe perform adulterous comedies in their travelling shows. This time, though, life imitates art. Canio has just been warned that Nedda is in the arms of another man. When Canio arrives, the man is gone. "Tell me his name!" He threatens. Just at that moment, they announce, "It's show time!"]

Recitar!...mentre preso dal delirio
Non so piu quel che dico e quel che faccio!
Eppur...e d'uopa...sforzati!
Bah, se tu forse un uom?
Tu se' Pagliaccio!
Vesti la giubba e la faccia infarina
La gente paga e rider vuole qua
E se Arlecchin t'invola Colombina
Ridi, Pagliaccio...e ognun applaudira!
Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto
In una smorfia il singhiozzo e'l dolor
Ridi Pagliaccio, sul tuo amore infranto!
Ridi del duol che t'avvelena il cor!

[English translation:]

[On With The Show]

Go on stage, while I'm nearly delirious?
I don't know what I'm saying or what I'm doing!
And yet, chin up! I'll try harder
Bah, you think you're a man?
You're just a clown!
On with the show, man, and put on your white-face
The people pay you and you must make them laugh
And if Harlequin should steal your Columbine
Laugh, you're Pagliaccio, and the world will clap for you!
Turn into banter all your pain and sorrow
And with your clown's face hide grief and distress
Laugh loud, Pagliaccio, forget all your troubles
Laugh off the pain that so empoisons your heart