| VULUMBRELLA | VULUMBRELLA |
| Anon. (Neapolitan, 14c.) | tr. Alan Crosier |
|
Fatte molla e no cchiù ddura mò ca si' formosa e bella ca ogne fica vulumbrella a 'sto tiempo s'ammatura. Fatte doce e no cchiù amara nun te fa vedere acerba e non esser tanto brava fatte umile e no superba. Mò ca è verde la toja erba e lu munno renovella ca ogne fica vulumbrella a 'sto tiempo s'ammatura. Mò ca sė 'mmeza ammullata e tra fionne fai la guerra nun aspettare ca si' seccata e che cade in chiana terra. Fa' ca' ppo' da te se sferra ca si' tosta fredda e bella ca ogne fica vulumbrella a 'sto tiempo s'ammatura. |
O, be soft! and yield to reason, while your beauty's gifts abound; every fig so sweet and round grows and ripens in this season. Gentle be: make no display of bitterness, nor show disdain; in haughtiness you'll find no gain, so meekly make your daily way. While your grass is green, go tell the slumbering world to wake anew - O, figs so moist, and soft like dew! they sweeten at this time, and swell. Now that you're embroiled and cast in life's long battle, desolate - lest you wither, do not wait! Among the graves we'll grieve at last. To hoard yourself I call a treason - comely, cold, and ever chaste! The fig so juicy, bliss to taste, bursts with ripeness - now's her season. |
Trans. copyright © Alan Crosier 2005