| NEL TEMPO SANTO ... | WHEN HIS CLOTHES WERE GONE | ||
| Cecco Nuccoli | tr. Dante Gabriel Rossetti | ||
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Nel tempo santo non viddio mai petra Nuda e scoperta come el mio farsecto E porto una gonella senza ochiecto Che chi la mira lem par cosa tetra. Ma s'io arresse i de la poletra La qual vendei e misi à minorecto Io più nascosto non staria sol tecto A far sonette ne dolente metra. E mille fiade el giorno mi coruzzo Chollo mio padre, che no voi vestirme Va la poledra e questo el mio riproccio Ond io m'accorgo che non val piu dirme Che d'ei mi vesta, ch esso se disposto Di no mettere in me un denaro di costo. Perche mi se un farsetto, et io gli promise Di non giuchar ne à ttauolene à dazara Dou'o perduta la poletra chara. |
Never so bare and naked was church-stone As is my clean-stripped doublet in my grasp; Also I wear a shirt without a clasp, Which is a dismal thing to look upon. Ah! had I still but the sweet coins I won That time I sold my nag and staked the pay, I'd not lie hid beneath the roof to-day And eke out sonnets with this moping moan. Daily a thousand times stark mad am I At my dad's meanness who won't clothe me now, For ‘How about the horse?’ is still his cry. Till one thing strikes me as clear anyhow, - No rag I'll get. The wretch has sworn, I see, Not to invest another doit in me. And all because of the fine doublet's price He gave me, when I vowed to throw no dice, And for his damned nag's sake! Well, this is nice! |