Giacomo Leopardi

CANTI

Giacomo Leopardi Introduction

Chronology

PARALLEL TEXT

Notes

Further Reading and Links

[The word NOTE in the text indicates a crux of translation, or a clarification of reference, that is explored further. Click on NOTE to be taken to the relevant discussion, and then on RETURN to come back to the text.]

moribunda e stanca, inerme, doma, vinta, smorta, sola, egra e franta, magra, sozza. The adjective solinga in the phrase solinga sede was reached only after rejecting inabitata, invernale, ispida, iberna, nubilosa, nevale, narica, squallida, sassosa, sbigottita, solitaria. In this context – INTRODUCTION of scrupulous sensitivity to the meaning and resonance of words – what then is Leopardi’s Italian like? TRANSLATING LEOPARDI In terms of the diction that he deploys in the Canti, one immediately apparent feature is its economy, simplicity, and restraint. For all the wealth and range of his linguistic knowledge, the actual size of his vocabulary in the Canti is surprisingly small. Moreover, crucial words in When, in 1830, the first collected edition of Giacomo Leopardi’s Canti his lexicon (night, moon, woods, beauty, fate), tend to be linked to the appeared in Florence, one of his friends, Pietro Colletta, voiced a telling same adjectives or verbs. As Iris Origo points out in her biography [see criticism. No longer, Colletta complained, was it possible to find pleasure Further Reading], the night is almost always placida or quieta; the moon in subjects and themes that were repeated time and again, or in an candida or tacita, solinga or pellegrina. Woods are invariably tacite, and imaginative tone that constantly expressed ‘the same eternal, and now fate acerbo or duro. The formulaic quality of such characterisations unbearable, melancholy’. This contemporary response to Leopardi’s seems further strengthened by his deliberate use of archaisms, rather than poetry is significant, because it indicates at once that the difficulties in words of his own contemporary Italian. Speranza (hope) is rendered as presenting his work to a modern audience are far from exclusively 21st speme or spene; giorno (day) as dì; giovanetta (young girl) as donzella; century. Then, as now, Leopardi seems haunted, even obsessed, by bellezza (beauty) as beltà. A bird is the antique augello, an animal a fera, central concerns that permeate all his verse: human loneliness, the a house an ostello. In these, and in many similar examples, Leopardi implacability of nature, the transience of lives controlled and ravaged by shows his philological training – the fond recognition of words in their time, the illusions and vacuity of existence. And these themes are earliest etymological sense, as well as in their contemporary usage. conveyed in what seems an unvarying tone of voice: however loud the cries of his rebellion against the gods, or nature, or the condition of Italy, In terms of form, on the other hand, the Canti seem less hide-bound, and or the hated neighbours of his home town, they all seem inevitably to more experimental. Although rhyme is not uncommon – either as a quieten into the whispers of personal disillusionment and mute despair. sustained pattern throughout an individual poem, or as an incidental Not without reason has he been considered, not simply a Romantic writer, effect in two or more lines – many of the Canti embrace versi sciolti, an but an existentialist before his time. 11-syllable version of blank verse. Such lines, in turn, become part of a canzone libera – an irregular stanzaic form, where long and short lines The principal events in Leopardi’s life are presented in the Chronology are interspersed with each other, and where not even the same number of section, and establish the broad biographical context of his writing. But in lines in a verse paragraph always acts as a steadying control. Whereas the this Introduction, I want to concentrate upon the distinctive qualities of range of Leopardi’s vocabulary may seem restrained, his use of poetic his poetic language, and the issues that they raise in any translation into form seems much more fluid and energised. It is almost as if his English, or indeed any other language. From an early age, it is clear, he philological training created a bed-rock of single words, upon which new, was fascinated by words. In an astonishing programme of adolescent self- experimental patterns of rhythm and sound could then be built. tuition, he taught himself Greek, Hebrew, English, German, and Spanish, as well as embarking on philological studies by translating and annotating The features of both diction and poetic form outlined above contribute the classics. The drafts of his poetry, furthermore, are full of painstaking towards a complex stylistic texture in the Canti. As a whole, indeed, the experiments with variant nouns, verbs, and adjectives. To take one poems express numerous dualities, which are never reconciled. On one example, in one early poem of fewer than 120 lines, no fewer than twelve level, there is a clear tension between particularisation and generalisation, hundred different variants are tried and rejected. To take another, before between the imaginative authority accorded to detail and that accorded to coming upon the epithet ignuda to describe the noun felicità, he tested concept. In a number of poems, there is no doubt, Leopardi shows his

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understanding of the quotidian, sensuous reality of human and natural forward, timeless English that gains authority from its simplicity and life. Poems like ‘The Evening of the Holiday’, ‘The Solitary Life’, naturalness, qualities to which Leopardi himself aspired. And so, ‘Memories’, ‘A Village Saturday’ depict a world closely observed, and in the interests of faithfulness, no attempt is made to particularise in the intimately known. Night-lights glimmer from balconies, hens leap up English what Leopardi renders as generalised in the Italian. That would with flapping wings, frogs croak from far-off in the countryside, girls be to mis-represent both his aesthetic and the effect his poetry generates. decorate their hair with violets and roses. But for all this rooted Likewise, the varying lineation of all his poems is here retained, in an immediacy, the pull towards ideas and abstractions is never held in check attempt to convey something of the pulse, pace and flow of his verse. I for long; and a view from over half a century earlier clearly indicates have judged this rhythmic feature to be more important than the Leopardi’s imaginative preferences: duplication of rhyme, which can often lead to the bathos of sound overpowering sense. And so, in each of the Canti, the translation The business of a poet…is to examine, not the individual, but the species, to comprises the same number of lines as the original. There is, however, remark general properties and large appearances: he does not number the one change I have consciously made, and that is to simplify Leopardi’s streaks of the tulip, or describe the different shades in the verdure of the often complex, even tortuous, syntax. To take a single, but representative forest… he must disregard present laws and opinions, and rise to general and transcendental truths, which will always be the same. example, consider the following:

The words are those of Samuel Johnson in his Rasselas (1759); and there Ma non cognate al nostro Il gener tuo; quelle tue varie note could be few more succinct statements of Leopardi’s emotional and Dolor non forma, e te di colpa ignudo, mental position. Idiomatic directness is countered by eloquence, even (at Men caro assai la bruna valle asconde. times) rhetoric. The sensuous and lyrical is countered by the abstract and Ahi ahi, poscia che vote philosophical. The commonplace is placed within the far larger context of Son le stanze d’Olimpo, e cieco il tuono the cosmic. Indeed, it is not insignificant that two of his favourite images Per l’atre nubi e le montagne errando, are the stars and the moon. In their cold, distant, and unforgiving beauty, Gl’iniqui petti e gl’innocenti a paro In freddo orror dissolve; e poi ch’estrano they demand that a suffering humanity acknowledge the power of things Il suol nativo, e di sua prole ignaro far beyond its control. Le meste anime educa; Tu le cure infelici e i fati indegni This tension between neo-classical generality and universality, and a Tu de’ mortali ascolta, more Romantic privacy and specificity, characterises many of the Canti. Vaga natura, e la favilla antica And it may help to explain, at least in part, why Leopardi has not entered Rendi allo spirto mio; se tu pur vivi, E se de’ nostri affanni significantly into English-language traditions, and why his work presents Cosa veruna in ciel, se nell’aprica more than usual problems of translation into English. In an Italian Terra s’alberga o nell’equoreo seno, context, his voice sounds with an imaginative strength and persuasiveness Pietosa no, ma spettatrice almeno. that are second, perhaps, only to Dante. It is a voice of quite exceptional range and flexibility, able to catch at the music of the spheres, as well as In these nineteen lines of poetry, there are just two sentences. The syntax the duller tones of ordinary human experience. And it can move between is cumulative, characteristically piling phrase upon phrase, clause upon these worlds, moreover, with remarkable fluency and ease. But to the clause, and often inverting natural word order. But although the effect in more pragmatic ears of English hearers, the voice can seem, in Eamon Italian may be of a rich, mosaic-like patterning, translated literally into Grennan words [see Further Reading], ‘excessive, cloudy, artificially English the effect is of clotted breathlessness, even uncontrol. And so the invocative, soft, sentimental, abstract or operatic’. In a blunt analogy, just translation here breaks the two long sentences into no fewer than nine as fine wine does not always travel well, so too Leopardi does not always shorter ones: translate well. But yet your race is not the same Given this context, what I have tried to capture in this new translation is a As ours. Grief does not modulate version of the Canti that is both faithful and clear, and in a straight- Your song. It rises upwards through the valley’s gloom,

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Free from all guilt – and so less loved for that. Oh no, the great halls of Olympus now Are desolate. Blind thunder wanders Through black clouds and hills, And fills both guilty hearts and innocent With similar cold terror. The very soil that nurtured us Is strange. It does not recognise The mourning souls it has brought up. Listen, nature, to our grievous cares, Our destiny quite undeserved. Rekindle now the ancient flame in me, If you still live, or if there is one being In heaven above, or on The naked earth or deepest sea, That does not pity us, but sees our pain.

Although the English translation in fact contains nine more words than the Italian (128 against 119), the average sentence length is just over 14 words, as opposed to nearly 60 in the original. The difference is substantial indeed. But by giving focus and ‘point’ to the translation in this way, I hope to have created a clarity and a cogency that a literal rendering of Leopardi’s words would never have achieved.

The list of translations presented in the Further Reading and Links section will indicate the range and variety of existing translations of Leopardi into English. There are three, however, to which I am particularly indebted: those of Eamon Grennan (1997), Tony Kline (2003), and J.G. Nichols (1994). Although substantially different from each other in accent and tone, each version was a most helpful guide, on occasion containing individual phrases or lines that could not be bettered. To all three translators, my warmest thanks. I hope that, in its turn, the version of the Canti presented here will provide similar moments of illumination for future translators of Leopardi.

Tim Chilcott February 2008

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1820 probably composes ‘To the Moon’, and possibly ‘The Evening of the Holiday’.

CHRONOLOGY 1821 writes ‘On the Marriage of his Sister Paolina’, and possibly also composes ‘The Solitary Life’.

1822 in November, is finally allowed to leave Recanati, and sets 1798 born on 29 June in Recanati, a small, parochial town in the off for Rome, though the city, which he finds frivolous and Marches, a region of Italy between the Apennines and the narrow, is a massive disappointment. Adriatic. His father is an aristocrat, and an outstandingly literate, though archconservative, man; his mother an austere 1823 returns to Recanati, and begins work on his Operette morali, and forbidding woman. a series of twenty-four essays and dialogues, intended as a complete exposition of his philosophy. He completes the 1809 composes his first poem, the sonnet La morte di Ettore. The work in the spring of 1825. beginning of a life of intense and prolonged study. 1825 accepts an invitation from his publisher to go to Milan, to 1810–14 receives an education of astonishing breadth, much of it self- superintend an edition of Cicero, and then moves on to taught from books. Reads in theology, archaeology, rhetoric, Bologna, where he becomes a frequent guest at the house of astronomy, philosophy, and languages, though always in the family Tommasini, whose friendship supports him for isolation. By the age of sixteen, has mastered Latin, French, the rest of his life. Greek, and Hebrew, and has a working knowledge of Spanish and German. 1826 meets and falls under the spell of Countess Teresa Carniani Malvezzi, an intelligent and gifted married woman. But the 1815–16 continues to immerse himself in books, and begins to relationship is one-sided, and short-lived. experience black, capricious bouts of depression, which remain with him for the rest of his life. Translates parts of 1828 writes ‘Re-awakening’ and ‘To Silvia’. Homer, Virgil, and Horace, among others. 1829 composes ‘Memories’, ‘The Calm after the Storm’, and ‘A 1817 his first romance: falls in love with the already married Village Saturday’. Gertrude Cassi Lazzari, who subsequently inspires several of the Canti, though the relationship is incredibly brief, and 1830 meets and falls in love with Fanny Targioni Tozzetti, the comes to nothing. wife of a celebrated Florentine doctor. Though the love is unrequited, it inspires him to write several of the most 1818 two further romances at arm’s length, which come to notable Canti. nothing. Composes his first two Canti, ‘To Italy’ and ‘On the Proposed Monument to Dante in Florence’. 1831 first edition of I Canti is published in April.

1819 tries to leave the ‘prison’ of Recanati, but is thwarted in his 1832-4 writes ‘Love and Death’, ‘Consalvo’, ‘To Himself’, and – attempts by his father. Writes 'The Infinite’. Ruined by the last of the Canti inspired by his love for Fanny in 1830 – excessive studying, his eyesight markedly worsens, and he is ‘Aspasia’. obliged to spend the year without reading at all. Sees 1819 as a turning point in his descent into depression. 1835 second edition of I Canti published.

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1836 probably composes two of his finest poems, ‘The Setting of the Moon’ and ‘Broom’. The final lines of ‘The Setting of the Moon’ are dictated only a few hours before his death.

1837 dies in Naples, where he has spent his last years, on 14 June, two weeks short of his 39th birthday.

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XVII Consalvo Consalvo

CONTENTS XVIII Alla sua donna To his lady

Al conte Carlo Pepoli XIX To Count Carlo Pepoli

XX Il risorgimento Re-awakening I All’Italia To Italy

XXI A Silvia To Silvia II Sopra il monumento di Dante On the proposed monument che si preparava in Firenze to Dante in Florence Le ricordanze XXII Memories

III Ad Angelo Mai, quand’ebbe To Angela Mai, on his Canto notturno trovato i libri di Cicerone discovering a copy of Cicero’s XXIII Night song di un pastore errante dell’Asia della Repubblica De Re Publica of a wandering shepherd of Asia

XXIV La quiete dopo la tempesta The calm after the storm IV Nelle nozze della sorella On the marriage of his sister Paolina Paulina Il sabato del villagio XXV A village Saturday

V A un vincitore nel pallone To a winner at the games Il pensiero dominante XXVI Sovereign thought

VI Bruto Minore Brutus the younger Amore e morte XXVII Love and death

VII Alla primavera To spring A se stesso o delle favole antiche or About the ancient fables XXVIII To himself

XXIX Aspasia Aspasia VIII Inno ai Patriarchi Hymn to the Patriarchs o de’ principii del or On the beginnings Sopra un bassorilievo antico genere umano of the human race XXX On the bas-relief on an ancient sepolecrale, dove una giovane tomb, showing a dead morta è rappresentata in atto girl departing and IX Ultimo canto di Saffo Sappho’s last song di partire, accommiatandosi taking leave dai suoi of her family X Il primo amore First love

XXXI Sopra il ritratto di una bella donna On the portrait of a beautiful lady XI Il passero solitario The solitary sparrow scolpito nel monumento sepolcrale carved upon her tomb della medesima XII L’infinito The infinite

XXXII Palinodia al marchese Palinode to the Marchese XIII La sera del dí di festa The evening of the holiday Gino Capponi Gino Capponi

XIV Alla luna To the moon Il tramonto della luna XXXIII The setting of the moon

XV Il sogno The dream XXXIV La ginestra o il fiore del deserto Broom or the flower of the desert XVI La vita solitaria The solitary life

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All'Italia To Italy

O patria mia, vedo le mura e gli archi My native land… I see the walls and arches, E le colonne e i simulacri e l'erme The columns and the statues, the lone Torri degli avi nostri, Ancestral towers. Ma la gloria non vedo, But I do not see the glory, Non vedo il lauro e il ferro ond'eran carchi I do not see the laurel and the iron I nostri padri antichi. Or fatta inerme, That our ancestors once bore. Defenceless now, Nuda la fronte e nudo il petto mostri. You show a forehead and a breast all bare. Oimè quante ferite, So many wounds, Che lividor, che sangue! oh qual ti veggio, Such bruises and such blood. Loveliest of ladies, Formosissima donna! Io chiedo al cielo That I should find you thus. I ask the heavens E al mondo: dite dite; And the earth to tell me, tell me, Chi la ridusse a tale? E questo è peggio, Who brought her down to this? And even worse, Che di catene ha carche ambe le braccia; Who bound her arms with heavy chains? Sì che sparte le chiome e senza velo Her hair dishevelled, without a veil, Siede in terra negletta e sconsolata, She sits there on the ground neglected, comfortless, Nascondendo la faccia And hides her face Tra le ginocchia, e piange. Between her knees, and weeps. Piangi, che ben hai donde, Italia mia, Weep, my Italy. You have good cause, Le genti a vincer nata Born to outdo nations E nella fausta sorte e nella ria. Both in good fortune and in misery.

Se fosser gli occhi tuoi due fonti vive, Even were your eyes two living springs, Mai non potrebbe il pianto Never could the tears be adequate Adeguarsi al tuo danno ed allo scorno; For all your hurt and your disgrace. Che fosti donna, or sei povera ancella. You were a lady once, and now a wretched slave. Chi di te parla o scrive, Who can speak or write of you, Che, rimembrando il tuo passato vanto, And bring your ancient glory into mind, Non dica: già fu grande, or non è quella? And not say: You once were great, but now no more. Perchè, perchè? dov'è la forza antica, Why, why is this so? Where is the ancient strength, Dove l'armi e il valore e la costanza? The weapons, courage, steadfastness? Chi ti discinse il brando? Who was it took your sword? Chi ti tradì? qual arte o qual fatica And who betrayed? What trickery or effort O qual tanta possanza Or so much greater force then Valse a spogliarti il manto e l'auree bende? Stripped you of your cloak and golden diadem? Come cadesti o quando How did you fall and when Da tanta altezza in così basso loco? From such a height to such a lowly place? Nessun pugna per te? non ti difende Will no one fight for you? Not one man of yours Nessun de' tuoi? L'armi, qua l'armi: io solo Defend you? To arms, to arms: I’ll fight

4 5 Combatterò, procomberò sol io. Alone, and fall alone. Dammi, o ciel, che sia foco And heaven, may my blood set Agl'italici petti il sangue mio. All Italian hearts on fire!

Dove sono i tuoi figli? Odo suon d'armi Where are your children now? I hear the sound of weapons, E di carri e di voci e di timballi: And the wagons, and the voices, and the drums. In estranie contrade Your young men fight Pugnano i tuoi figliuoli. In foreign lands. Attendi, Italia, attendi. Io veggio, o parmi, Listen, Italy, listen. I see, oh all around me, Un fluttuar di fanti e di cavalli, Horses and their riders surging on and on, E fumo e polve, e luccicar di spade And smoke and dust, the glittering of swords Come tra nebbia lampi. Like lightning in the mist. Nè ti conforti? e i tremebondi lumi Does this give comfort? Do you not fear to see Piegar non soffri al dubitoso evento? With trembling eyes how doubtful the result? A che pugna in quei campi What does the youth of Italy fight for L'Itala gioventude? O numi, o numi: On these battle-fields? You powers that be: Pugnan per altra terra itali acciari. That men of Italy should fight on foreign soil. Oh misero colui che in guerra è spento, How piteous that a man should die in war, Non per li patrii lidi e per la pia Not for his homeland or his faithful Consorte e i figli cari, Wife or much loved sons, Ma da nemici altrui, But for someone else’s enemies Per altra gente, e non può dir morendo: And race. He cannot say as he lies dying: Alma terra natia, ‘Sweet land where I was born, La vita che mi desti ecco ti rendo. I give you back the life you gave to me.’

Oh venturose e care e benedette How fortunate and dear and blessed, L'antiche età, che a morte Those ancient days, when whole battalions Per la patria correan le genti a squadre; Rushed to destruction for their native land. E voi sempre onorate e gloriose, And at Thermopylae, that narrow pass O tessaliche strette, For ever praised and glorious, Dove la Persia e il fato assai men forte Where fate and Persia were not strong enough Fu di poch'alme franche e generose! For some few men of brave and generous soul − Io credo che le piante e i sassi e l'onda There, I believe, the fields and rocks, E le montagne vostre al passeggere The waves and mountains, Con indistinta voce Quietly murmur to the passer-by Narrin siccome tutta quella sponda How all the shore Coprìr le invitte schiere Was covered with unconquered ranks De' corpi ch'alla Grecia eran devoti. Of bodies, sacrificed for Greece. Allor, vile e feroce, Then Xerxes, that ferocious coward, Serse per l'Ellesponto si fuggia, Fled back to the Hellespont, Fatto ludibrio agli ultimi nepoti; A laughing-stock for centuries to come. E sul colle d'Antela, ove morendo And on the hill of Antela, where in their dying Si sottrasse da morte il santo stuolo, The sacred band did steal themselves away from death,

6 7 Simonide salia, Simonides went up Guardando l'etra e la marina e il suolo. To gaze upon the sky, the sea, the earth. NOTE

E di lacrime sparso ambe le guance, Tears streaming down his face, E il petto ansante, e vacillante il piede, With beating heart and stumbling feet, Toglieasi in man la lira: He took his lyre between his hands: Beatissimi voi, ‘You are most blessed of all. Ch'offriste il petto alle nemiche lance You bared your breasts to enemy lances Per amor di costei ch'al Sol vi diede; For love of her who brought you into light. Voi che la Grecia cole, e il mondo ammira. You the Greeks revered, the world admired. Nell'armi e ne' perigli What was the mighty love that led Qual tanto amor le giovanette menti, You young ones into danger and to war? Qual nell'acerbo fato amor vi trasse? What love drew you to a bitter death? Come sì lieta, o figli, How, children, could you find such joy L'ora estrema vi parve, onde ridenti In that last hour, as you ran laughing Correste al passo lacrimoso e duro? To that harsh and mournful pass? Parea ch'a danza e non a morte andasse You seemed, each one of you, as if you went to dance Ciascun de' vostri, o a splendido convito: Or to a splendid feast, but not to die. Ma v'attendea lo scuro And yet dark Tartarus Tartaro, e l'onda morta; Awaited you, those deadly waves. NOTE Nè le spose vi foro o i figli accanto No wife or child was by your side Quando su l'aspro lito As on that rugged shore, Senza baci moriste e senza pianto. Without one kiss, without one tear, you died.’

Ma non senza de' Persi orrida pena ‘But not without great pain Ed immortale angoscia. And endless anguish to the Persians. Come lion di tori entro una mandra Just as a lion leaps on a herd of bulls Or salta a quello in tergo e sì gli scava And sinks its claws into the back of one, Con le zanne la schiena, Its teeth ripping Or questo fianco addenta or quella coscia; At a side or thigh, Tal fra le Perse torme infuriava So the fury and the fire of Grecian hearts L'ira de' greci petti e la virtute. Raged among the Persian hordes. Ve' cavalli supini e cavalieri; Look where the horses and their riders lie, Vedi intralciare ai vinti Look where the shattered tents and carts La fuga i carri e le tende cadute, Block the defeated in their flight. E correr fra' primieri Look at the first to run away, Pallido e scapigliato esso tiranno; The tyrant − dissolute and pale. Ve' come infusi e tinti Look how the Grecian heroes now, Del barbarico sangue i greci eroi, Drenched and stained with barbarous blood, Cagione ai Persi d'infinito affanno, Bring to the Persians endless grief, A poco a poco vinti dalle piaghe, As they fall down upon each other, L'un sopra l'altro cade. Oh viva, oh viva: Little by little vanquished by their wounds. Beatissimi voi Praise you, praise you, you are most blessed of all

8 9 Mentre nel mondo si favelli o scriva. As long as humankind can speak and write.’

Prima divelte, in mar precipitando, ‘Sooner shall stars be stripped off from the sky Spente nell'imo strideran le stelle, And hiss as down they plunge into the sea, Che la memoria e il vostro Than memory and our love for you Amor trascorra o scemi. Be spent or lose its strength. La vostra tomba è un'ara; e qua mostrando Your tomb’s an altar, where mothers Verran le madri ai parvoli le belle Come to show their little ones the glorious Orme del vostro sangue. Ecco io mi prostro, Traces of your blood. Look, I will bend, O benedetti, al suolo, You blessèd ones, down to the soil, E bacio questi sassi e queste zolle, And kiss the stony ground Che fien lodate e chiare eternamente That will for evermore be praised Dall'uno all'altro polo. And famed from pole to pole. Deh foss'io pur con voi qui sotto, e molle Ah, if I were only with you there below, Fosse del sangue mio quest'alma terra. The soft earth moistened with my blood. Che se il fato è diverso, e non consente But if a different fate does not allow Ch'io per la Grecia i moribondi lumi That I should fall in war Chiuda prostrato in guerra, And close my dying eyes for Greece, Così la vereconda Then may the lesser fame that I, Fama del vostro vate appo i futuri Your poet, have in future years − Possa, volendo i numi, Should the gods above permit − Tanto durar quanto la vostra duri. Endure as long as yours endures.’

[September–October 1818]

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Sopra il Monumento di Dante On the Proposed Monument che si preparava in Firenze to Dante in Florence

Perchè le nostre genti Our people shelter underneath Pace sotto le bianche ali raccolga, The white, white wing of peace, Non fien da' lacci sciolte And yet we’ll never see the spirit of Italians Dell'antico sopor l'itale menti Freed from the bonds of ancient sleep S'ai patrii esempi della prisca etade Till this unhappy country turns again Questa terra fatal non si rivolga. To the examples of her early days. O Italia, a cor ti stia Italy, be sure Far ai passati onor; che d'altrettali To honour heroes of the past. The land Oggi vedove son le tue contrade, Is widowed of such men today, Nè v'è chi d'onorar ti si convegna. When not a single one is worth your praise. Volgiti indietro, e guarda, o patria mia, My native land, turn back and look Quella schiera infinita d'immortali, At the immortals – that enormous band – E piangi e di te stessa ti disdegna; And grieve and hold yourself in scorn, Che senza sdegno omai la doglia è stolta: Since without scorn, such grief is foolish now. Volgiti e ti vergogna e ti riscuoti, Turn back and feel ashamed and rouse yourself E ti punga una volta And be spurred onward finally, Pensier degli avi nostri e de' nepoti. By thinking of our ancestors, and those to come.

D'aria e d'ingegno e di parlar diverso Foreign in looks, in character, in speech, Per lo toscano suol cercando gia The eager visitor on Tuscan soil L'ospite desioso Would search and search to find Dove giaccia colui per lo cui verso The poet’s grave whose verse Il meonio cantor non è più solo. Displaces Homer as supreme. Ed, oh vergogna! udia They’d find – the shame of it – Che non che il cener freddo e l'ossa nude Not only that his ashes and bare bones Giaccian esuli ancora Lie exiled still Dopo il funereo dì sott'altro suolo, In foreign soil long after burial, Ma non sorgea dentro a tue mura un sasso, But no stone, Florence, stands within your walls, Firenze, a quello per la cui virtude For him to whom you owe the honour Tutto il mondo t'onora. That you have throughout the world. Oh voi pietosi, onde sì tristo e basso And you who are compassionate, through whom Obbrobrio laverà nostro paese! Our land will wash away its sad and foul dishonour, Bell'opra hai tolta e di ch'amor ti rende, You’ve taken on a splendid work. Your love will be repaid – Schiera prode e cortese, You noble, generous band – Qualunque petto amor d'Italia accende. By everyone whom love of Italy inspires.

Amor d'Italia, o cari, Love of Italy – oh dear friends,

12 13 Amor di questa misera vi sproni, Let love of this unhappy land be now a spur. Ver cui pietade è morta Loyalty to her is dead In ogni petto omai, perciò che amari In every heart; and the skies give Giorni dopo il seren dato n'ha il cielo. Bitter days to follow lovely weather. Spirti v'aggiunga e vostra opra coroni My sons, let pity, Misericordia, o figli, Grief and anger at the pain E duolo e sdegno di cotanto affanno That wets her cheeks and veil Onde bagna costei le guance e il velo. Increase your bravery and crown your work. Ma voi di quale ornar parola o canto What words or songs are fit for you, Si debbe, a cui non pur cure o consigli, Who give not only greatest care and thought Ma dell'ingegno e della man daranno To win an everlasting glory, I sensi e le virtudi eterno vanto But also have the skill, as shown now Oprate e mostre nella dolce impresa? In this welcome enterprise? Quali a voi note invio, sì che nel core, What verses can I send that have the power Sì che nell'alma accesa To shed still greater light Nova favilla indurre abbian valore? Within your heart and in your kindled spirit?

Voi spirerà l'altissimo subbietto, What will inspire you is the greatest theme, Ed acri punte premeravvi al seno. A blade to cut and pierce your very breast. Chi dirà l'onda e il turbo Who could describe the waves and storms Del furor vostro e dell'immenso affetto? Of fury that you felt, your feeling’s boundlessness? Chi pingerà l'attonito sembiante? Who could paint the wonderstruck expression, Chi degli occhi il baleno? The lightning in the eyes? Qual può voce mortal celeste cosa How could a human voice capture, Agguagliar figurando? Image, things that are divine? Lunge sia, lunge alma profana. Oh quante Profanity, get far away from me. How many Lacrime al nobil sasso Italia serba! Tears have been held back for such a noble monument? Come cadrà? come dal tempo rosa How could it fall? When could your glory Fia vostra gloria o quando? Be erased by time? Voi, di ch'il nostro mal si disacerba, Art that is divine and loved, and ever-living, Sempre vivete, o care arti divine, You sweeten all our ills, Conforto a nostra sventurata gente, A comfort to our unlucky race, Fra l'itale ruine And among Italian ruins Gl'itali pregi a celebrare intente. Resolved to celebrate Italian worth.

Ecco voglioso anch'io Look then, I also want to give Ad onorar nostra dolente madre Some honour to our grieving mother. Porto quel che mi lice, I bring her what I can, E mesco all'opra vostra il canto mio, My song uniting with your work, Sedendo u' vostro ferro i marmi avviva. In which your chisel brings the stone to life. O dell'etrusco metro inclito padre, Dante, you are the glorious father of Tuscan poetry. Se di cosa terrena, If news of things on earth, Se di costei che tanto alto locasti Of her you raised so very high,

14 15 Qualche novella ai vostri lidi arriva, Ever reaches your Elysian shores, NOTE Io so ben che per te gioia non senti, I know that for yourself you’ll feel no joy, Che saldi men che cera e men ch'arena, Bronze and marble are far less Verso la fama che di te lasciasti, Strong than wax and sand, Son bronzi e marmi; e dalle nostre menti And all the fame you left behind. Se mai cadesti ancor, s'unqua cadrai, And if you ever are, or should be, absent from our minds, Cresca, se crescer può, nostra sciaura, I hope our ills will grow, if grow they can, E in sempiterni guai And in unending sorrow Pianga tua stirpe a tutto il mondo oscura. Your people weep, alone, unknown.

Ma non per te; per questa ti rallegri Yet you will feel such joy, not for yourself, Povera patria tua, s'unqua l'esempio But for your grievous land, if ever the example Degli avi e de' parenti Of her ancestors and forefathers Ponga ne' figli sonnacchiosi ed egri Rouses her sick and slumbering sons Tanto valor che un tratto alzino il viso. With its great worth, they raise their heads a moment. Ahi, da che lungo scempio Oh the drawn-out torment Vedi afflitta costei, che sì meschina You see afflicting her, who was so overwhelmed Te salutava allora When she said goodbye to you, Che di novo salisti al paradiso! And you rose up again to paradise. Oggi ridotta sì che a quel che vedi, Today, she must seem so reduced to you Fu fortunata allor donna e reina. When once she was so fortunate, a queen. Tal miseria l'accora Today, she bears such wretchedness Qual tu forse mirando a te non credi. That, almost stunned, you won’t believe. Taccio gli altri nemici e l'altre doglie; I’ll hold my peace on other enemies and pain, Ma non la più recente e la più fera, But not the latest and most cruel, Per cui presso alle soglie In which your native land has seen Vide la patria tua l'ultima sera. The final darkness nearly at her door.

Beato te che il fato You have been blessed. Fate has not made you A viver non dannò fra tanto orrore; Live among such horrors. Che non vedesti in braccio You have not seen Italian wives L'itala moglie a barbaro soldato; Clutched now by soldiers in their savagery. Non predar, non guastar cittadi e colti You have not seen our cities sacked, our countryside laid waste, L'asta inimica e il peregrin furore; By hostile lances and by foreign rage, Non degl'itali ingegni Nor seen divine works of Italian skill Tratte l'opre divine a miseranda Dragged into servitude beyond the Alps. Schiavitude oltre l'alpe, e non de' folti You have not seen the overloaded wagons Carri impedita la dolente via; Blocking up the roads of grief. Non gli aspri cenni ed i superbi regni; You have not heard the harsh commands of proud regimes, Non udisti gli oltraggi e la nefanda Not heard the insults and the filthy voice Voce di libertà che ne schernia Of freedom that mocks and sneers Tra il suon delle catene e de' flagelli. Among the sound of chains and whips. Chi non si duol? che non soffrimmo? intatto Who did not grieve? What did not suffer?

16 17 Che lasciaron quei felli? What did those criminals leave untouched? Qual tempio, quale altare o qual misfatto? What temple, what altar, what sin?

Perchè venimmo a sì perversi tempi? Why have we come to such perverted times? Perchè il nascer ne desti o perchè prima Oh bitter fate, why were we destined Non ne desti il morire, To be born, and not destined Acerbo fato? onde a stranieri ed empi To die before our birth? We’ve been compelled to see Nostra patria vedendo ancella e schiava, Our homeland made a servant, made a slave, E da mordace lima With all her worth eroded Roder la sua virtù, di null'aita As by a biting file − no aid, E di nullo conforto No comfort given us Lo spietato dolor che la stracciava To ease in any way at all Ammollir ne fu dato in parte alcuna. The ruthless grief that tore at her. Ahi non il sangue nostro e non la vita Ah dear country, we have given Avesti, o cara; e morto Neither blood nor life for you; Io non son per la tua cruda fortuna. I have not died because of your cruel fate. Qui l'ira al cor, qui la pietade abbonda: Our hearts are full of pity and of rage. Pugnò, cadde gran parte anche di noi: Many of us have fought and died, Ma per la moribonda But not for dying Italy − Italia no; per li tiranni suoi. No, for those oppressing her.

Padre, se non ti sdegni, Dante, if you do not feel contempt, Mutato sei da quel che fosti in terra. You must be changed from what you were alive. Morian per le rutene The bravest men of Italy lay dying Squallide piagge, ahi d'altra morte degni, On the dismal Russian plains, Gl'itali prodi; e lor fea l'aere e il cielo Worthy of a better death; and air and sky E gli uomini e le belve immensa guerra. And men and beasts waged ruthless war on them. Cadeano a squadre a squadre Troop after troop they fell, Semivestiti, maceri e cruenti, Half-clothed, exhausted, coated in their blood, Ed era letto agli egri corpi il gelo. Their only covering a sheet of ice. Allor, quando traean l'ultime pene, When they were close to their last breath, Membrando questa desiata madre, They called to mind the mother they desired, Diceano: oh non le nubi e non i venti, And said, ‘Belovèd country, if only we had died Ma ne spegnesse il ferro, e per tuo bene, For you by sword and steel, O patria nostra. Ecco da te rimoti, And not by cloud and wind. See, we are far from you, Quando più bella a noi l'età sorride, When time should sweetly smile on us. A tutto il mondo ignoti, We are ignored by all the world, Moriam per quella gente che t'uccide. Dying for those who are destroying you.’

Di lor querela il boreal deserto The northern wastes, the sounding woods, E conscie fur le sibilanti selve. Were witness to their grief. Così vennero al passo, They came up to the pass of death. E i negletti cadaveri all'aperto Abandoned corpses all exposed,

18 19 Su per quello di neve orrido mare Across a dreadful sea of snow, Dilaceràr le belve; Were torn apart by savage beasts. E sarà il nome degli egregi e forti The names of the noble and the brave Pari mai sempre ed uno Will always now be one Con quel de' tardi e vili. Anime care, With the cowardly and the low. Dear spirits, Bench'infinita sia vostra sciagura, Though your pain is everlasting, Datevi pace; e questo vi conforti Rest still, in peace. Let it comfort you to know Che conforto nessuno That you will have no comfort Avrete in questa o nell'età futura. In this or any future age. In seno al vostro smisurato affanno Against the breast of boundless wretchedness, Posate, o di costei veraci figli, Sleep on now. You are true sons of her, Al cui supremo danno Whose hurt is unsurpassed, Il vostro solo è tal che s'assomigli. Only equalled by your own.

Di voi già non si lagna Your country does not complain La patria vostra, ma di chi vi spinse Of you, but of those who sent you A pugnar contra lei, To wage war on her, Sì ch'ella sempre amaramente piagna So that she has to mourn most bitterly, E il suo col vostro lacrimar confonda. And mingle all her tears with yours. Oh di costei ch'ogni altra gloria vinse She dims all others’ glory. Oh that pity for her Pietà nascesse in core Might be born in someone’s heart A tal de' suoi ch'affaticata e lenta To raise her, slow and tired, Di sì buia vorago e sì profonda From so dark and deep a chasm. La ritraesse! O glorioso spirto, Dante, glorious spirit, Dimmi: d'Italia tua morto è l'amore? Tell me, has love of Italy now died? Dì: quella fiamma che t'accese, è spenta? Say, is the flame that fired you spent? Dì: nè più mai rinverdirà quel mirto Say, will the myrtle never green again Ch'alleggiò per gran tempo il nostro male? Which lightened all our troubles for so long? Nostre corone al suol fien tutte sparte? Will our wreaths be scattered on the soil? Nè sorgerà mai tale Will no one ever rise Che ti rassembri in qualsivoglia parte? To be like you in any way at all?

In eterno perimmo? e il nostro scorno Are we forever lost? And is our shame Non ha verun confine? Completely limitless? Io mentre viva andrò sclamando intorno, While I have life in me, I’ll shout, Volgiti agli avi tuoi, guasto legnaggio; ‘You broken branches, turn back to your ancestors, Mira queste ruine And gaze upon these ruins, E le carte e le tele e i marmi e i templi; On words and paintings, marbles, temples. Pensa qual terra premi; e se destarti Just think what earth you tread. And if the light Non può la luce di cotanti esempli, Of these examples does not rouse, Che stai? levati e parti. Why stay here any more? Get up and go. Non si conviene a sì corrotta usanza This nursery, this school of noble spirits, Questa d'animi eccelsi altrice e scola: Is not a place for such corrupted ways.

20 21 Se di codardi è stanza, If she makes room for cowards, Meglio l'è rimaner vedova e sola. Then better she were widowed, and alone.

[September–October 1818]

22 23 III III

Ad Angelo Mai, quand'ebbe trovato i Libri di To Angela Mai, on his discovering Cicerone della Repubblica a copy of Cicero’s De Re Publica

Italo ardito, a che giammai non posi You bold Italian, NOTE do you never tire Di svegliar dalle tombe Of raising up our ancestors I nostri padri? ed a parlar gli meni From the tomb? Of bringing them A questo secol morto, al quale incombe To speak to this dead age that’s overcast Tanta nebbia di tedio? E come or vieni With such a cloud of boredom? Why do they come Sì forte a' nostri orecchi e sì frequente, So strongly, so often, to our ears, Voce antica de' nostri, Those old ancestral voices, Muta sì lunga etade? e perchè tanti Silent so very long? Why so many Risorgimenti? In un balen feconde Reawkenings? In a lightning flash, Venner le carte; alla stagion presente Pages have sprung to life. For this age alone, I polverosi chiostri The dusty cloisters Serbaro occulti i generosi e santi Have safely kept our fathers’ sacred, Detti degli avi. E che valor t'infonde, Generous words. What courage, Italo egregio, il fato? O con l'umano Bold Italian, does fate inspire in you? Or does, perhaps, Valor forse contrasta il fato invano? Fate fight with human courage all in vain?

Certo senza de' numi alto consiglio It must be by the gods’ most high command Non è ch'ove più lento That, when our desperate neglect E grave è il nostro disperato obblio, Grows heavier, more dull, A percoter ne rieda ogni momento Each moment, almost, strikes us with our fathers’ Novo grido de' padri. Ancora è pio Fresh, new cries. The heavens show Dunque all'Italia il cielo; anco si cura Some kindness still to Italy. Some god Di noi qualche immortale: Still takes us in his care. Ch'essendo questa o nessun'altra poi Now or never is the time L'ora da ripor mano alla virtude To trust ourselves again to long-corroded Rugginosa dell'itala natura, Virtues of our native Italy. Veggiam che tanto e tale We hear how great the clamour is E' il clamor de' sepolti, e che gli eroi That rises from the grave, and why the earth Dimenticati il suol quasi dischiude, Reveals to us these long-forgotten heroes, A ricercar s'a questa età sì tarda Who ask at this late hour Anco ti giovi, o patria, esser codarda. Whether our country still delights in cowardice.

Di noi serbate, o gloriosi, ancora You who live in glory, do you still nourish Qualche speranza? in tutto Hopes of us? Are we Non siam periti? A voi forse il futuro Not ruined every way? The future is, perhaps, Conoscer non si toglie. Io son distrutto Not quite unknown to you. I am destroyed, Nè schermo alcuno ho dal dolor, che scuro Unshielded from distress. For me, the future

24 25 M'è l'avvenire, e tutto quanto io scerno Is obscure, and everything I see E' tal che sogno e fola Makes hope seem foolish Fa parer la speranza. Anime prodi And a dream. Oh noble souls, Ai tetti vostri inonorata, immonda A foul, disreputable rabble Plebe successe; al vostro sangue è scherno Takes your place. Your descendants E d'opra e di parola Now mock all value in both Ogni valor; di vostre eterne lodi Work and word. There is no shame Nè rossor più nè invidia; ozio circonda Nor envy of your lasting fame. Idleness surround I monumenti vostri; e di viltade Your monumental tombs. We have become Siam fatti esempio alla futura etade. A base example for all future time.

Bennato ingegno, or quando altrui non cale Noblest of minds, no one now cares De' nostri alti parenti, About our glorious ancestry. A te ne caglia, a te cui fato aspira So you, on whom fate breathes Benigno sì che per tua man presenti So kindly, must care for it, and hand us back Paion que' giorni allor che dalla dira Those former times when all the ancients raised Obblivione antica ergean la chioma, Their heads from dark oblivion Con gli studi sepolti, And studies buried deep − I vetusti divini, a cui natura Those godlike ancestors to whom nature Parlò senza svelarsi, onde i riposi Spoke from behind her veil. In them, the generous Magnanimi allegràr d'Atene e Roma. Calm of Rome and Athens was enclosed. Oh tempi, oh tempi avvolti Oh times, oh times for ever In sonno eterno! Allora anco immatura Lost in sleep − when Italy’s ruin La ruina d'Italia, anco sdegnosi Was not yet quite complete, and we were scornful still Eravam d'ozio turpe, e l'aura a volo Of shameful idleness, and the flying wind Più faville rapia da questo suolo. Drew sparks more fiercely from this soil.

Eran calde le tue ceneri sante, Dante, your sacred ashes still were warm. Non domito nemico You were the undefeated enemy Della fortuna, al cui sdegno e dolore Of fate. To your unhappiness and scorn, Fu più l'averno che la terra amico. Hell was more friendly than the earth. L'averno: e qual non è parte migliore Hell: is that not a better place Di questa nostra? E le tue dolci corde Than this? And Petrarch, Sussurravano ancora Most unhappy lover, Dal tocco di tua destra, o sfortunato Sweet strings still trembled Amante. Ahi dal dolor comincia e nasce From your touch. Italian song L'italo canto. E pur men grava e morde Was born in grief. And yet the ills Il mal che n'addolora That grieve us weigh down and hurt us less Del tedio che n'affoga. Oh te beato, Than the boredom where we drown. You blessed ones, A cui fu vita il pianto! A noi le fasce Your life was lived in tears! Our swaddling bands Cinse il fastidio; a noi presso la culla Were bound for us by boredom; from the cradle Immoto siede, e su la tomba, il nulla. To the grave, always still, sits nothingness.

26 27 Ma tua vita era allor con gli astri e il mare, And you, Columbus, Liguria’s daring son, Ligure ardita prole, All your life was with the stars and sea. Quand'oltre alle colonne, ed oltre ai liti Beyond the Pillars NOTE and the lands Cui strider l'onde all'attuffar del sole Where men once thought they heard the billows Parve udir su la sera, agl'infiniti Roar, extinguishing the sun, you ventured on Flutti commesso, ritrovasti il raggio The boundless waste, and found again Del Sol caduto, e il giorno The dead sun’s rays. Daylight was Che nasce allor ch'ai nostri è giunto al fondo; Born again as ours merged with the deep. E rotto di natura ogni contrasto, All nature’s barriers overcome at last, Ignota immensa terra al tuo viaggio Immense and unknown lands were the glory Fu gloria, e del ritorno Of your voyage and your return, Ai rischi. Ahi ahi, ma conosciuto il mondo With all their risks. The world, though, does not grow more vast Non cresce, anzi si scema, e assai più vasto By being known. It shrinks. The sounding air, L'etra sonante e l'alma terra e il mare The fertile earth, the sea, seem so much bigger Al fanciullin, che non al saggio, appare. To the child than to the sage.

Nostri sogni leggiadri ove son giti Our lovely dreams, where have they vanished to? Dell'ignoto ricetto The undiscovered harbours D'ignoti abitatori, o del diurno Of undiscovered peoples? The daily Degli astri albergo, e del rimoto letto Houses of the stars? The young Aurora’s Della giovane Aurora, e del notturno Distant bed? The hidden, nightly Occulto sonno del maggior pianeta? Slumber of the biggest star? Ecco svaniro a un punto, See, they vanish in a flash. E figurato è il mondo in breve carta; The world is pictured on a piece of paper. Ecco tutto è simile, e discoprendo, Look, everything’s the same. From our discoveries, Solo il nulla s'accresce. A noi ti vieta Nothing comes but nothingness. Oh sweet imagination, Il vero appena è giunto, You are forbidden us O caro immaginar; da te s'apparta Once truth arrives. Our minds remain Nostra mente in eterno; allo stupendo Apart from you for ever. Your first stupendous Poter tuo primo ne sottraggon gli anni; Powers are taken from us by the years. E il conforto perì de' nostri affanni. The solace for our trouble disappears.

Nascevi ai dolci sogni intanto, e il primo But Ariosto, NOTE you were then born Sole splendeati in vista, To lovely dreams. The primal sunlight lit your face, Cantor vago dell'arme e degli amori, Carefree singer of battles and of love. Che in età della nostra assai men trista In an age less sad than ours, Empièr la vita di felici errori: You filled our lives with happy fantasies, Nova speme d'Italia. O torri, o celle, Italy’s new hope. The towers and chambers, O donne, o cavalieri, Ladies and their knights, O giardini, o palagi! a voi pensando, The gardens and the palaces! − I think of you In mille vane amenità si perde And my mind is lost in a thousand La mente mia. Di vanità, di belle Empty pleasures. Vanities, and lovely Fole e strani pensieri Foolishness, and unreal thoughts,

28 29 Si componea l'umana vita: in bando Once made up human life. Now that Li cacciammo: or che resta? or poi che il verde We’ve driven them away, what’s left − now that the leaves E' spogliato alle cose? Il certo e solo Are stripped from everything? Only the certainty Veder che tutto è vano altro che il duolo. Of finding everything is vain but misery.

O Torquato, o Torquato, a noi l'eccelsa Torquato Tasso! NOTE Heaven then gave Tua mente allora, il pianto Your splendid mind to us, A te, non altro, preparava il cielo. And grievous life, with nothing else for you. Oh misero Torquato! il dolce canto Wretched Torquato. Your sweetest song Non valse a consolarti o a sciorre il gelo Could not console you, nor melt the ice Onde l'alma t'avean, ch'era sì calda, About your soul, that had been warm, but then Cinta l'odio e l'immondo Was chilled by hate, befouled Livor privato e de' tiranni. Amore, By envy from both citizen and tyrant. Love, Amor, di nostra vita ultimo inganno, Love, the ultimate deceit of life, T'abbandonava. Ombra reale e salda Abandoned you. Nothingness seemed real, Ti parve il nulla, e il mondo A solid shade to you, the world Inabitata piaggia. Al tardo onore An uninhabitable waste. Your eyes Non sorser gli occhi tuoi; mercè, non danno, Did not look up for honours overdue; your final hour L'ora estrema ti fu. Morte domanda Brought mercy to you, not harm. Whoever knows Chi nostro mal conobbe, e non ghirlanda. Our pain seeks death, and not a laurel wreath.

Torna torna fra noi, sorgi dal muto If you seek anguish, you piteous example E sconsolato avello, Of calamity, come back, come back to us; Se d'angoscia sei vago, o miserando Rise from your mute and melancholy Esemplo di sciagura. Assai da quello Tomb. The life that seemed to you Che ti parve sì mesto e sì nefando, So wretched and so vile E' peggiorato il viver nostro. O caro, Has only grown much worse. Dear heart, Chi ti compiangeria, Who will sympathise with you Se, fuor che di se stesso, altri non cura? When we care for no one but ourselves? Chi stolto non direbbe il tuo mortale Today, who would not call your human anguish Affanno anche oggidì, se il grande e il raro Quite absurd, when everything that is great and rare Ha nome di follia; Is called insanity? Nè livor più, ma ben di lui più dura When something worse La noncuranza avviene ai sommi? o quale, Than envy − indifference − greets the best? Se più de' carmi, il computar s'ascolta, When measurement, not poetry, now reigns, Ti appresterebbe il lauro un'altra volta? Who would dare offer you the laurel wreath again?

Da te fino a quest'ora uom non è sorto, And from your time till now, O sventurato ingegno, Sad soul, one famed Italian alone Pari all'italo nome, altro ch'un solo, Has risen up, above his shameful, Solo di sua codarda etate indegno Cowardly age. Alfieri, NOTE Allobrogo feroce, a cui dal polo The fierce Piedmontese, to whom Maschia virtù, non già da questa mia A heart of manly bravery was given by heaven,

30 31 Stanca ed arida terra, Not by this waste and arid land of mine. Venne nel petto; onde privato, inerme, He, alone and quite unarmed (Memorando ardimento) in su la scena (What burning memory!), made war on tyrants Mosse guerra a' tiranni: almen si dia Through his plays. At least the world Questa misera guerra Was shown what miserable wars, E questo vano campo all'ire inferme What futile battlefields for ineffectual rage. Del mondo. Ei primo e sol dentro all'arena He was the first to enter on that stage, Scese, e nullo il seguì, che l'ozio e il brutto And no one followed him. Idleness and Silenzio or preme ai nostri innanzi a tutto. Brute silence now have taken hold of all.

Disdegnando e fremendo, immacolata In scorn and anger, and without a stain, Trasse la vita intera, He lived his whole life through. E morte lo scampò dal veder peggio. Death alone prevented him from seeing worse. Vittorio mio, questa per te non era Vittorio, this was not the time for you, Età nè suolo. Altri anni ed altro seggio Nor place. Different places, different years, Conviene agli alti ingegni. Or di riposo Are what the highest minds require. We live content Paghi viviamo, e scorti With idleness; we’re led by Da mediocrità: sceso il sapiente Mediocrity. The wise have fallen now, E salita è la turba a un sol confine, And the mob has risen to a single space Che il mondo agguaglia. O scopritor famoso, Where all things level out. Famous discoverer, NOTE Segui; risveglia i morti, Go on now. Wake up the dead, Poi che dormono i vivi; arma le spente Now that the living sleep. Arm the mute Lingue de' prischi eroi; tanto che in fine Tongues of those once heroes, so that at last Questo secol di fango o vita agogni This age of mud may stir to life E sorga ad atti illustri, o si vergogni. And rise to noble acts, or else sink down in shame.

[January 1820]

32 33 IV IV

Nelle Nozze della Sorella Paolina On the Marriage of his Sister Paulina

Poi che del patrio nido Leaving at last the silence I silenzi lasciando, e le beate Of your native home, the blessed dreams, Larve e l'antico error, celeste dono, And the old illusion, NOTE heaven’s gift, that makes Ch'abbella agli occhi tuoi quest'ermo lido, These lonely shores more lovely to your eyes, Te nella polve della vita e il suono Fate draws you to the dust Tragge il destin; l'obbrobriosa etate And noise of life. You’ll learn, my sister, Che il duro cielo a noi prescrisse impara, The grievous state harsh skies prescribe for us, Sorella mia, che in gravi And in a grave E luttuosi tempi And mournful time, L'infelice famiglia all'infelice You’ll add unhappy children Italia accrescerai. Di forti esempi To sad Italy. Give a good example Al tuo sangue provvedi. Aure soavi To your children. Our cruel fate L'empio fato interdice Forbids that kindly breezes All'umana virtude, Blow on human goodness. Nè pura in gracil petto alma si chiude. A pure soul cannot live within a feeble breast.

O miseri o codardi Either your sons will be unhappy or Figliuoli avrai. Miseri eleggi. Immenso They’ll be cowards. Choose unhappy sons. Tra fortuna e valor dissidio pose Corrupted habits make a massive gulf Il corrotto costume. Ahi troppo tardi, Between true worth and fortune. The child E nella sera dell'umane cose, That’s born today, in the twilight of humanity, Acquista oggi chi nasce il moto e il senso. Acquires its life and senses much too late. Al ciel ne caglia: a te nel petto sieda Birth belongs to fate. And yet to you belongs Questa sovr'ogni cura, The heart’s all-sovereign care, Che di fortuna amici That your sons will not grow up Non crescano i tuoi figli, e non di vile To be the friends of fortune, or the playthings Timor gioco o di speme: onde felici Of base fear and hope. Then future times Sarete detti nell'età futura: Will say that you were happy. Poiché (nefando stile, The sinful habit Di schiatta ignava e finta) Of a lazy, lying race is that Virtù viva sprezziam, lodiamo estinta. The worth we scorned alive, we praise once dead.

Donne, da voi non poco Ladies, our country expects La patria aspetta; e non in danno e scorno So much from you. It was not to harm Dell'umana progenie al dolce raggio Or shame the human race that the sweet rays Delle pupille vostre il ferro e il foco Of your eyes were given power Domar fu dato. A senno vostro il saggio To tame both steel and fire. The strong and wise E il forte adopra e pensa; e quanto il giorno Both act and think according to your nature, and everything

34 35 Col divo carro accerchia, a voi s'inchina. Encircled by the sun’s bright chariot bows to you. Ragion di nostra etate I ask you for the reason why our times Io chieggo a voi. La santa Are as they are. Were they your hands Fiamma di gioventù dunque si spegne That quenched the sacred flames Per vostra mano? attenuata e franta That were our youth? Did you Da voi nostra natura? e le assonnate Thin out our nature, break it up? The mind Menti, e le voglie indegne, Asleep, the will ignoble, E di nervi e di polpe Our native courage nerveless, Scemo il valor natio, son vostre colpe? Without a sinew left − should we blame you?

Ad atti egregi è sprone If we consider carefully, love is the spur Amor, chi ben l'estima, e d'alto affetto To noble action, and beauty the teacher Maestra è la beltà. D'amor digiuna Of deep affections. That spirit must be Siede l'alma di quello a cui nel petto Ignorant of love whose heart’s core does not Non si rallegra il cor quando a tenzone Quicken when all the winds are moved to war, Scendono i venti, e quando nembi aduna When high Olympus gathers up the clouds, L'olimpo, e fiede le montagne il rombo And the roaring of the thunderstorm Della procella. O spose, Strikes the mountain-side. You are brides O verginette, a voi And virgins. I think that he Chi de' perigli è schivo, e quei che indegno Who flinches from a fight, who’s so unworthy E' della patria e che sue brame e suoi Of this land of ours to place Volgari affetti in basso loco pose, All his affections on lowly things, Odio mova e disdegno; Moves you to hatred and to scorn. Se nel femmineo core He must − if women’s hearts are fired by love D'uomini ardea, non di fanciulle, amore. For men, and not mere children. NOTE

Madri d'imbelle prole May you loathe to be known V'incresca esser nomate. I danni e il pianto As the mothers of cowards. May your children Della virtude a tollerar s'avvezzi Accept that they must bear the pain and grief La stirpe vostra, e quel che pregia e cole Of goodness. May they abhor and scorn La vergognosa età, condanni e sprezzi; All that is honoured in this shameful age. Cresca alla patria, e gli alti gesti, e quanto May they live for their country, and learn how much Agli avi suoi deggia la terra impari. It owes to their ancestors’ glorious deeds. Qual de' vetusti eroi In the tales of glory Tra le memorie e il grido Told of old, heroic men, Crescean di Sparta i figli al greco nome; The sons of Sparta grew to honour Greece, Finché la sposa giovanetta il fido Until the day a youthful bride strapped on Brando cingeva al caro lato, e poi Her husband’s sword for him, Spandea le negre chiome Only to loosen her long dark hair Sul corpo esangue e nudo Over his naked, bloodless corpse, Quando e' reddia nel conservato scudo. That was returned to her upon his shield.

36 37 Virginia, a te la molle Virginia, NOTE your soft cheek Gota molcea con le celesti dita Was touched by beauty’s Beltade onnipossente, e degli alteri Powerful hand; and your noble scorn Disdegni tuoi si sconsolava il folle Discomforted the foolish Signor di Roma. Eri pur vaga, ed eri Lord of Rome. You were so pure, Nella stagion ch'ai dolci sogni invita, And at an age enchanting dreams abound. Quando il rozzo paterno acciar ti ruppe But then the harsh steel of your father pierced Il bianchissimo petto, That whitest of all breasts, E all'Erebo scendesti And willingly you went down Volonterosa. A me disfiori e scioglia To Erebus. NOTE ‘Father,’ you said, ‘let time Vecchiezza i membri, o padre; a me s'appresti, Loosen now and melt my limbs. Prepare Dicea, la tomba, anzi che l'empio letto A tomb for me, before a godless Del tiranno m'accoglia. Tyrant’s bed possesses me. E se pur vita e lena If Rome gains life and breath Roma avrà dal mio sangue, e tu mi svena. From blood I shed, let me bleed dry.

O generosa, ancora Virginia, though the sun Che più bello a' tuoi dì splendesse il sole Shone far more brightly on you than Ch'oggi non fa, pur consolata e paga It does today, let your solace, your recompense, E' quella tomba cui di pianto onora Be that tomb your native country honours L'alma terra nativa. Ecco alla vaga With its tears. Look how the sons of Rome, Tua spoglia intorno la romulea prole Fired up with new-found rage, Di nova ira sfavilla. Ecco di polve Gather around your grave. Look how the dust Lorda il tiranno i crini; Smothers the tyrant’s head, E libertade avvampa And freedom burns again Gli obbliviosi petti; e nella doma In forgetful hearts, and flaming Roman arms Terra il marte latino arduo s'accampa Advance upon defeated lands Dal buio polo ai torridi confini. From the equator to the northern pole. Così l'eterna Roma And so a woman’s fate In duri ozi sepolta Rouses eternal Rome once more Femmineo fato avviva un'altra volta. Out of its hard and deathly ease.

[October–November 1821]

38 39 V V

A un Vincitore nel Pallone To a Winner at the Games

Di gloria il viso e la gioconda voce, Noble young man, you’ve come to recognise Garzon bennato, apprendi, The face of glory and the glorious applause, E quanto al femminile ozio sovrasti And how unmanly idleness is far surpassed La sudata virtude. Attendi attendi, By hard-won honour. Generous champion, Magnanimo campion (s'alla veloce Listen, listen (your courage sets Piena degli anni il tuo valor contrasti The reward of fame against the swift La spoglia di tuo nome), attendi e il core Passing of the years), listen and raise your mind Movi ad alto desio. Te l'echeggiante To high desire. For you, the arena Arena e il circo, e te fremendo appella And the stadium sound and tremble Ai fatti illustri il popolar favore; As the cheers of everyone call you to glory. Te rigoglioso dell'età novella You are resplendent in your youthfulness, Oggi la patria cara And now, the country that we love Gli antichi esempi a rinnovar prepara. Shows how its old examples can be renewed.

Del barbarico sangue in Maratona Whoever saw the naked athletes at Olympia Non colorò la destra Would never stain his hands Quei che gli atleti ignudi e il campo eleo, At Marathon with the blood of the barbarians; Che stupido mirò l'ardua palestra, Nor ever gaze indifferently at the gymnast’s sweat Né la palma beata e la corona Without the wish to emulate D'emula brama il punse. E nell'Alfeo The glorious palm and crown. He might perhaps Forse le chiome polverose e i fianchi Have washed the dusty flanks and manes Delle cavalle vincitrici asterse Of his victorious horses in the river Alpheus, Tal che le greche insegne e il greco acciaro And now led the flags of Greece, the spears of Greece, Guidò de' Medi fuggitivi e stanchi Against the weary, fleeing Persians Nelle pallide torme; onde sonaro In their pale swarms, until the sounds Di sconsolato grido Of unconsolable distress L'alto sen dell'Eufrate e il servo lido. Filled the Euphates’ banks and servile shore.

Vano dirai quel che disserra e scote Is it a useless act to free and kindle Della virtù nativa The hidden spark Le riposte faville? e che del fioco Of natural goodness? Revive the dying Spirto vital negli egri petti avviva Heat of vital spirits, that fade now in the sick, Il caduco fervor? Le meste rote Enfeebled breast? Since Phoebus’ melancholy wheels Da poi che Febo instiga, altro che gioco Began to turn, has human effort Son l'opre de' mortali? ed è men vano Been ever other than a game? Is truth Della menzogna il vero? A noi di lieti Less vain than lies? Nature herself gave Inganni e di felici ombre soccorse Glad illusions and shades of happiness Natura stessa: e là dove l'insano To succour us. And yet when foolish custom

40 41 Costume ai forti errori esca non porse, Could not shake off such forceful error, Negli ozi oscuri e nudi Our nation changed its study Mutò la gente i gloriosi studi. Of the glorious to dark, bleak idleness.

Tempo forse verrà ch'alle ruine Perhaps a time will come when Delle italiche moli Careless herds will graze upon Insultino gli armenti, e che l'aratro A ruined Italy, and the seven hills Sentano i sette colli; e pochi Soli Will feel the plough. Perhaps the sun will not have traced Forse fien volti, e le città latine Too many years before the cunning fox Abiterà la cauta volpe, e l'atro Creeps through Italian cities, and dark woods Bosco mormorerà fra le alte mura; Murmur amid the great, high walls − Se la funesta delle patrie cose If fate cannot rid perverted minds Obblivion dalle perverse menti Of this sad forgetfulness Non isgombrano i fati, e la matura For our country’s things, Clade non torce dalle abbiette genti If heaven does not recall past greatnesses, Il ciel fatto cortese Is not benign, and fails to change Dal rimembrar delle passate imprese. The final ruin of this abject race.

Alla patria infelice, o buon garzone, My goodly friend, if you outlive Sopravviver ti doglia. Our wretched country, grieve. Chiaro per lei stato saresti allora One time she bore the palm, which she has lost − Che del serto fulgea, di ch'ella è spoglia, Our fatal fault. Then, you would have Nostra colpa e fatal. Passò stagione; Brought her fame. That age has passed away. Che nullo di tal madre oggi s'onora: No one now looks for honour from her motherhood. Ma per te stesso al polo ergi la mente. Raise your mind to heaven for yourself alone. Nostra vita a che val? solo a spregiarla: What is our life here worth? Only contempt. Beata allor che ne' perigli avvolta, Blessed only when there is no danger round Se stessa obblia, nè delle putri e lente And we forget ourselves, and when we do not count Ore il danno misura e il flutto ascolta; The hurt of slow, destructive hours, or hear their flow. Beata allor che il piede Blessed only when we shudder back Spinto al varco leteo, più grata riede. From Lethe’s shores, and seek a better grace.

[October–November 1821]

43 42 VI VI

Bruto Minore Brutus the Younger NOTE

Poi che divelta, nella tracia polve Now that Rome’s pride lies there, rooted up, Giacque ruina immensa A massive ruin in the Thracian dust, L'italica virtute, onde alle valli And destiny prepares D'Esperia verde, e al tiberino lido, The tramp of barbarous cavalry Il calpestio de' barbari cavalli For green Italy and the Tiber’s banks, Prepara il fato, e dalle selve ignude Calling upon a host of Goths, Cui l'Orsa algida preme, From barren woods beneath A spezzar le romane inclite mura The freezing Bear, to batter down Chiama i gotici brandi; The noble walls of Rome − Sudato, e molle di fraterno sangue, Brutus, sweat-covered, drenched with his brothers’ blood, Bruto per l'atra notte in erma sede, In gloomy night and in a lonely place, Fermo già di morir, gl'inesorandi And ready now to die, curses Numi e l'averno accusa, All hell, the unrelenting gods. E di feroci note And yet his fierce and angry cries Invan la sonnolenta aura percote. Strike vainly on the slumber-laden air.

Stolta virtù, le cave nebbie, i campi ‘What foolish bravery! The hollow mists, Dell'inquiete larve The fields of troubled shadows, Son le tue scole, e ti si volge a tergo Are now your haunts. Hard on your heels, Il pentimento. A voi, marmorei numi, Repentance comes. And you, you marble gods (Se numi avete in Flegetonte albergo (If gods there are, at home by Phlegethon NOTE O su le nubi) a voi ludibrio e scherno Or in the clouds), you mock and scorn E' la prole infelice This wretched human race A cui templi chiedeste, e frodolenta From whom you look for temples, but whom you Legge al mortale insulta. Mortally affront with false, defrauding laws. Dunque tanto i celesti odii commove Does all our piety on earth create La terrena pietà? dunque degli empi Just heavenly hate? Do you, Jove, sit in state Siedi, Giove, a tutela? e quando esulta To guard the godless? And when the clouds Per l'aere il nembo, e quando Split in the air, and when you hurl Il tuon rapido spingi, Your lightning flash, is it against Ne' giusti e pii la sacra fiamma stringi? The godly that you wield the sacred fire?’

Preme il destino invitto e la ferrata ‘Unconquerable fate, and iron Necessità gl'infermi Necessity, oppress the sickly Schiavi di morte: e se a cessar non vale Slaves of death. The wretch who stands Gli oltraggi lor, de' necessarii danni Against them and yet fails, takes comfort Si consola il plebeo. Men duro è il male In inevitable ruin. Are ills that cannot be Che riparo non ha? dolor non sente Withstood less harsh? Do those who are

44 45 Chi di speranza è nudo? Devoid of hope feel no distress? Guerra mortale, eterna, o fato indegno, O vicious fate, the brave are not accustomed Teco il prode guerreggia, To defeat, and wage on you Di cedere inesperto; e la tiranna Unending, total war. And when the tyranny Tua destra, allor che vincitrice il grava, Of your right hand weighs down on them, Indomito scrollando si pompeggia, They shrug it off, quite unsubdued. In ceremony, Quando nell'alto lato They plunge the bitter steel L'amaro ferro intride, Deep in their sides, E maligno alle nere ombre sorride. And greet the darkness with a mocking smile.’

Spiace agli Dei chi violento irrompe ‘Whoever enters Tartarus NOTE by force Nel Tartaro. Non fora Upsets the gods. Such daring Tanto valor ne' molli eterni petti. Is not found in their soft eternal hearts. Forse i travagli nostri, e forse il cielo Perhaps the gods created all our pain, I casi acerbi e gl'infelici affetti Our bitter fate, and sad affections, Giocondo agli ozi suoi spettacol pose? As pleasing dramas for their idle hours? Non fra sciagure e colpe, Nature, once goddess-queen, Ma libera ne' boschi e pura etade Did not ordain this grief and guilt Natura a noi prescrisse, For us, but freedom in the woods, Reina un tempo e Diva. Or poi ch'a terra A life of innocence. Now godless ways Sparse i regni beati empio costume, Have razed her sacred kingdom to the ground, E il viver macro ad altre leggi addisse; Subjecting all our lives to alien laws. Quando gl'infausti giorni And when the bold reject Virile alma ricusa, Their grievous days, does nature rise Riede natura, e il non suo dardo accusa? And blame an arrow not her own?’

Di colpa ignare e de' lor proprii danni ‘Wild creatures, happy, ignorant of guilt Le fortunate belve And their own misery, Serena adduce al non previsto passo Are led serenely by a slow old age La tarda età. Ma se spezzar la fronte To their unsuspected end. But should their pain Ne' rudi tronchi, o da montano sasso Persuade them now to smash their heads Dare al vento precipiti le membra, Against rough trees, or hurl their bodies Lor suadesse affanno; To the winds, down stony mountainsides, Al misero desio nulla contesa No secret law would set its face Legge arcana farebbe Against their wretched wish, O tenebroso ingegno. A voi, fra quante No shadowy intelligence. Sons of Prometheus, NOTE Stirpi il cielo avvivò, soli fra tutte, Of all the many species heaven creates, Figli di Prometeo, la vita increbbe; You alone find life is burdensome. A voi le morte ripe, Should slowly moving fate delay, Se il fato ignavo pende, To you alone, sad, wretched human race, Soli, o miseri, a voi Giove contende. Does Jupiter refuse the shores of death.’

E tu dal mar cui nostro sangue irriga, ‘And you, bright moon, who rise from out

46 47 Candida luna, sorgi, A sea so watered with our blood, E l'inquieta notte e la funesta You search this unquiet night and this sad plain All'ausonio valor campagna esplori. Where all of Italy’s bravest met their end. Cognati petti il vincitor calpesta, The victor treads his closest kindred down, Fremono i poggi, dalle somme vette The hillsides tremble, and from their heights, Roma antica ruina; Old Rome sinks into ruin. Tu sì placida sei? Tu la nascente How can you stay so calm? You saw Lavinia prole, e gli anni The Roman people born, the years Lieti vedesti, e i memorandi allori; Of joy, the laurels that would never fade. E tu su l'alpe l'immutato raggio And you will shed your silent, changeless rays Tacita verserai quando ne' danni Upon the peaks, when to the shame Del servo italo nome, Of servile Italy, Sotto barbaro piede Those lonely places sound once more Rintronerà quella solinga sede. To the marching of barbarians.’

Ecco tra nudi sassi o in verde ramo ‘Look how, among bare rocks or on green boughs, E la fera e l'augello, Wild animals and birds, Del consueto obblio gravido il petto, Oblivious in their hearts as normally, L'alta ruina ignora e le mutate Ignore the great disaster, the world’s Sorti del mondo: e come prima il tetto Changed fate. And when the roofs Rosseggerà del villanello industre, Of labouring farmers first turn red, Al mattutino canto The birds will rouse the valleys Quel desterà le valli, e per le balze With their morning songs, Quella l'inferma plebe And through the rocks, the wild beasts chase Agiterà delle minori belve. The weaker herds of feebler animals. Oh casi! oh gener vano! abbietta parte What fate… what vain humanity… How poor Siam delle cose; e non le tinte glebe, A part of things we are. Our wretchedness Non gli ululati spechi Has never moved the blood-stained grass, Turbò nostra sciagura, The caverns full of groans; Né scolorò le stelle umana cura. And human anguish has not dimmed the stars.’

Non io d'Olimpo o di Cocito i sordi ‘I do not call upon Olympus, or Cocytus, NOTE and their Regi, o la terra indegna, Deaf kings, nor on the shameful earth, E non la notte moribondo appello; Or deadening of the night. Non te, dell'atra morte ultimo raggio, I do not call upon that final ray of hope in death − Conscia futura età. Sdegnoso avello A future age of knowledge. Can tears Placàr singulti, ornàr parole e doni Assuage a wretched grave, or words and presents Di vil caterva? In peggio From the rabble crowd embellish it? Time Precipitano i tempi; e mal s'affida Changes for the worse. It would be wrong A putridi nepoti To trust to our corrupted heirs L'onor d'egregie menti e la suprema The honour of such noble minds, De' miseri vendetta. A me dintorno Our last revenge for misery. Let the dark bird Le penne il bruno augello avido roti; Hang over me with greedy wings.

48 49 Prema la fera, e il nembo Let wild beasts crush and tempests Tratti l'ignota spoglia; Scatter wide my unmarked bones, E l'aura il nome e la memoria accoglia. And winds bear off my name, and all memory of me.

[December 1821]

50 51 VII VII

Alla Primavera To Spring o or Delle Favole Antiche About the Ancient Fables

Perchè i celesti danni However much the sun Ristori il sole, e perchè l'aure inferme Renews the ruined sky, the western wind breathes life Zefiro avvivi, onde fugata e sparta Into the sickly air, the heavy shadows of the clouds Delle nubi la grave ombra s'avvalla; Are driven off and scattered down the valley floor; Credano il petto inerme However much the birds now trust Gli augelli al vento, e la diurna luce Their frailty to the wind, and day and light Novo d'amor desio, nova speranza That penetrate the woods and melting frost Ne' penetrati boschi e fra le sciolte Bring fresh desire for love, fresh hope Pruine induca alle commosse belve; To waking animals; Forse alle stanche e nel dolor sepolte Can human spirits − Umane menti riede Tired, and entombed in grief − La bella età, cui la sciagura e l'atra Return to that first lovely age, which misery Face del ver consunse And the dark torch of truth destroyed Innanzi tempo? Ottenebrati e spenti Before its time? Are Phoebus’ rays Di febo i raggi al misero non sono Truly quenched in darkness In sempiterno? ed anco, For all eternity? Sweet-scented spring, Primavera odorata, inspiri e tenti Can you not rouse and breathe upon Questo gelido cor, questo ch'amara This frozen heart, that knows how bitter Nel fior degli anni suoi vecchiezza impara? Old age is among the flowers of youth.

Vivi tu, vivi, o santa Sacred Nature, are you alive, Natura? vivi e il dissueto orecchio Alive? And can our ears, unused to listening, Della materna voce il suono accoglie? Catch your maternal voice? Già di candide ninfe i rivi albergo, Your rivers once were home to dazzling nymphs, Placido albergo e specchio Your crystal springs their peaceful haunt Furo i liquidi fonti. Arcane danze And looking-glass. The rugged mountain ridges, D'immortal piede i ruinosi gioghi The deepest woods (today the lonely haunt of winds), Scossero e l'ardue selve (oggi romito Shuddered beneath the secret dancing Nido de' venti): e il pastorel ch'all'ombre Of immortal feet. The shepherd led Meridiane incerte ed al fiorito His thirsty flock through Margo adducea de' fiumi Flickering, noon-day shadows Le sitibonde agnelle, arguto carme On the flowering river-banks, and heard Sonar d'agresti Pani The shrill piping from woodland Pans Udì lungo le ripe; e tremar l'onda Sounding on the stream. He saw the waves Vide, e stupì, che non palese al guardo All trembling, and wondered as, invisibly, La faretrata Diva The goddess with her arrows

52 53 Scendea ne' caldi flutti, e dall'immonda Went down into the water’s warmth, Polve tergea della sanguigna caccia To wash the chase’s blood and grime and dust Il niveo lato e le verginee braccia. From off her virgin arms and snow-white side.

Vissero i fiori e l'erbe, There was a time when grass and flowers breathed, Vissero i boschi un dì. Conscie le molli Just like the woods. The gentle air, Aure, le nubi e la titania lampa The clouds, the bright lamp of the sun, Fur dell'umana gente, allor che ignuda Were mindful of humanity. And naked there, Te per le piagge e i colli, Above the hills and shores, the Cyprian star of Venus − Ciprigna luce, alla deserta notte The traveller through the lonely night followed you Con gli occhi intenti il viator seguendo, With staring eyes, and made you his companion Te compagna alla via, te de' mortali On the way, the image of his Pensosa immaginò. Che se gl'impuri Mortal thought. Others who fled Cittadini consorzi e le fatali The wickedness of cities, Ire fuggendo e l'onte, Their deadly anger and their shame, Gl'ispidi tronchi al petto altri nell'ime Deep in the forests clasped Selve remoto accolse, The rugged trunks of trees, Viva fiamma agitar l'esangui vene, And thought the flame of life coursed through Spirar le foglie, e palpitar segreta Their bloodless veins. They thought the foliage Nel doloroso amplesso Breathed, and that they felt, hidden in their arms, Dafne o la mesta Filli, o di Climene The beating heart of Daphne sorrowing, or sad Phyllis, NOTE Pianger credè la sconsolata prole Or heard Clymene’s daughters weeping for their brother, NOTE Quel che sommerse in Eridano il sole. Drowned in the Italian river by the sun.

Nè dell'umano affanno, And, steep cliffs, the mournful sounds Rigide balze, i luttuosi accenti Of human misery were not quite lost Voi negletti ferìr mentre le vostre As they struck you, while lonely Echo Paurose latebre Eco solinga, Lived within your fearful hiding-place. Non vano error de' venti, It was not some trick played by the wind, Ma di ninfa abitò misero spirto, But the unhappy spirit of a nymph Cui grave amor, cui duro fato escluse Whom grievous love and fate too harsh Delle tenere membra. Ella per grotte, Had robbed her of her limbs. From caves, Per nudi scogli e desolati alberghi, From naked rocks and wasted dwelling-places, Le non ignote ambasce e l'alte e rotte She made our sorrows known, Nostre querele al curvo Our broken, high lament to the skies Etra insegnava. E te d'umani eventi That arched above. And nightingales − you too, Disse la fama esperto, So legend runs, knew much about the things Musico augel che tra chiomato bosco That happen to humanity. Amid the leafy woods, Or vieni il rinascente anno cantando, You sing now of the re-born year; E lamentar nell'alto But in the deep quiet of the countryside, Ozio de' campi, all'aer muto e fosco, In dark and silent air, you mourn Antichi danni e scellerato scorno, Your ancient wrong, the wicked vengeance done, NOTE E d'ira e di pietà pallido il giorno. When rage and pity made the sun turn pale.

54 55 Ma non cognato al nostro But yet your race is not the same Il gener tuo; quelle tue varie note As ours. Grief does not modulate Dolor non forma, e te di colpa ignudo, Your song. It rises upwards through the valley’s gloom, Men caro assai la bruna valle asconde. Free from all guilt − and so less loved for that. Ahi ahi, poscia che vote Oh no, the great halls of Olympus now Son le stanze d'Olimpo, e cieco il tuono Are desolate. Blind thunder wanders Per l'atre nubi e le montagne errando, Through black clouds and hills, Gl'iniqui petti e gl'innocenti a paro And fills both guilty hearts and innocent In freddo orror dissolve; e poi ch'estrano With similar cold terror. The very soil that nurtured us Il suol nativo, e di sua prole ignaro Is strange. It does not recognise Le meste anime educa; The mourning souls it has brought up. Tu le cure infelici e i fati indegni Listen, nature, to our grievous cares, Tu de' mortali ascolta, Our destiny quite undeserved. Vaga natura, e la favilla antica Rekindle now the ancient flame in me, Rendi allo spirto mio; se tu pur vivi, If you still live, or if there is one being E se de' nostri affanni In heaven above, or on Cosa veruna in ciel, se nell'aprica The naked earth or deepest sea, Terra s'alberga o nell'equoreo seno, That does not pity us, Pietosa no, ma spettatrice almeno. But sees our pain. [January 1822]

56 57 VIII VIII

Inno al Patriarchi Hymn to the Patriarchs o or De' Principii del Genere Umano On the Beginnings of the Human Race

E voi de' figli dolorosi il canto, You glorious fathers of the human race, Voi dell'umana prole incliti padri, In your unhappy children’s song, you will Lodando ridirà; molto all'eterno Be spoken of with praise. You were more dear Degli astri agitator più cari, e molto To the eternal mover of the stars, and to be pitied Di noi men lacrimabili nell'alma So much less than us, you who were Luce prodotti. Immedicati affanni Brought up in a gentler time. The helpless griefs Al misero mortal, nascere al pianto, Of wretched mortals − born to weep, E dell'etereo lume assai più dolci Who find their final end and darkened tomb Sortir l'opaca tomba e il fato estremo, More sweet than all celestial light − Non la pietà, non la diritta impose Were not ordained by pity or the law Legge del cielo. E se di vostro antico Of heaven. And though your ancient error that Error che l'uman seme alla tiranna Delivered us, the human race, to tyrannous Possa de' morbi e di sciagura offerse, Disease and brute calamity, Grido antico ragiona, altre più dire Is famous from on old, the worse crimes Colpe de' figli, e irrequieto ingegno, Of your children, their restless minds E demenza maggior l'offeso Olimpo And greater madnesses, put them in conflict with N'armaro incontra, e la negletta mano Olympus and the neglected hand Dell'altrice natura; onde la viva Of nature, our kindly nurse. The flame of life Fiamma n'increbbe, e detestato il parto Turned odious, our coming from our mother’s womb Fu del grembo materno, e violento Became a source of hate, and in violent Emerse il disperato Erebo in terra. Despair, Erebus emerged upon the earth. NOTE

Tu primo il giorno, e le purpuree faci Ancient head and father of the human Delle rotanti sfere, e la novella Family, you were the first to see the sun, Prole de' campi, o duce antico e padre The splendid torches of the turning spheres, Dell'umana famiglia, e tu l'errante The early greenery of the fields, the first to watch Per li giovani prati aura contempli: The breezes wander through the new-born meadows. Quando le rupi e le deserte valli The crags and unfrequented valleys Precipite l'alpina onda feria Then echoed to the rushing mountain streams, D'inudito fragor; quando gli ameni Their roar unheard. The pleasant Futuri seggi di lodate genti Sites of honoured people in the future, E di cittadi romorose, ignota Their cities full of noise, were ruled Pace regnava; e gl'inarati colli By an unnoticed peace. And silent and alone, Solo e muto ascendea l'aprico raggio The crystal rays of Phoebus and the golden moon Di febo e l'aurea luna. Oh fortunata, Climbed up the unploughed hills. How happy then Di colpe ignara e di lugubri eventi, The empty places of the earth, untouched by sin

58 59 Erma terrena sede! Oh quanto affanno And sad event. But Adam, wretched father, Al gener tuo, padre infelice, e quale What pain now for your heritage, D'amarissimi casi ordine immenso How vast the chain of bitter things Preparano i destini! Ecco di sangue That destiny prepared. Look there − the greedy field Gli avari colti e di fraterno scempio Is stained with blood, a brother’s massacre, Furor novello incesta, e le nefande Unprecedented rage; and brightest air Ali di morte il divo etere impara. Now knows the evil wings of death. Trepido, errante il fratricida, e l'ombre The fearful, wandering fratricide, who flees Solitarie fuggendo e la secreta The lonely shadows and hidden anger Nelle profonde selve ira de' venti, Of the winds in deepest woods, Primo i civili tetti, albergo e regno Builds the first city roofs, the home and kingdom Alle macere cure, innalza; e primo Of all-consuming care. For the first time ever, Il disperato pentimento i ciechi Desperate remorse − breathless and ailing − Mortali egro, anelante, aduna e stringe Brings blind humankind together, and shuts them up Ne' consorti ricetti: onde negata In shelters that they share. So wicked hands L'improba mano al curvo aratro, e vili Reject the curving plough. It is a shameful thing Fur gli agresti sudori; ozio le soglie To sweat among the fields. The idle occupy Scellerate occupò; ne' corpi inerti The doorways of the wicked. The bodies of the slothful Domo il vigor natio, languide, ignave Tame natural energy. Minds are languid Giacquer le menti; e servitù le imbelli And indolent. And human life grows weak, Umane vite, ultimo danno, accolse. Falls prey to slavery, the worst of fates.

E tu dall'etra infesto e dal mugghiante And Noah − from hostile skies and howling waves Su i nubiferi gioghi equoreo flutto On clouded mountain ridges, you saved Scampi l'iniquo germe, o tu cui prima That wicked generation. To you, a white dove Dall'aer cieco e da' natanti poggi Brought the first undoubted sign of hope reborn, Segno arrecò d'instaurata spene Out of blind air and the rain-soaked hills. La candida colomba, e delle antiche For you, the drowning sun rose up Nubi l'occiduo Sol naufrago uscendo, One evening from the ancient clouds L'atro polo di vaga iri dipinse. And painted then a rainbow on the gloomy sky. Riede alla terra, e il crudo affetto e gli empi The people saved repopulate the earth, Studi rinnova e le seguaci ambasce Renew again their raw affections, wicked works, La riparata gente. Agl'inaccessi And all the pain that follows. Impious hands Regni del mar vendicatore illude Mock at the inaccessible kingdoms Profana destra, e la sciagura e il pianto Of the vengeful sea, and tears and wickedness A novi liti e nove stelle insegna. Are taught to other shores and other stars.

Or te, padre de' pii, te giusto e forte, Abraham, I also think of you, just and powerful father E di tuo seme i generosi alunni Of the chosen race, and of the generous children Medita il petto mio. Dirò siccome Born from your seed. I’ll tell of how Sedente, oscuro, in sul meriggio all'ombre You sat once, resting, screened by the noonday shade Del riposato albergo, appo le molli Of your tent door, upon the gentle plain Rive del gregge tuo nutrici e sedi, Of Mamre, with space and pasture for your flocks;

60 61 Te de' celesti peregrini occulte How angels in the guise of travellers Beàr l'eteree menti; e quale, o figlio Gave you a blessing till the end of time; and how, Della saggia Rebecca, in su la sera, You son of wise Rebecca, as evening fell, Presso al rustico pozzo e nella dolce Beside the rustic well in Haran’s lovely vale, Di pastori e di lieti ozi frequente That haunt of shepherds and of easeful hours, Aranitica valle, amor ti punse Your love for Laban’s charming daughter Della vezzosa Labanide: invitto Pierced you through. Unconquered love Amor, ch'a lunghi esigli e lunghi affanni That damned your proud and willing soul E di servaggio all'odiata soma To exile long drawn out, to long distress, Volenteroso il prode animo addisse. And to the hated weight of servitude. NOTE

Fu certo, fu (nè d'error vano e d'ombra There was a time (the Muses’ songs, or cries for fame, L'aonio canto e della fama il grido Have never fed the greedy crowd Pasce l'avida plebe) amica un tempo On empty shadows or mistakes), a time Al sangue nostro e dilettosa e cara When this poor earth was precious, full of delight Questa misera piaggia, ed aurea corse To all the human race: our fallen age Nostra caduca età. Non che di latte Flowed by in gold. Not that streams Onda rigasse intemerata il fianco Of pure milk ran down the sides of cliffs Delle balze materne, o con le greggi From which they sprang, or that the shepherd Mista la tigre ai consueti ovili Led the tiger to his familiar folds Nè guidasse per gioco i lupi al fonte Together with his flock, or drove the wolf Il pastorel; ma di suo fato ignara To water-springs just as a game. But human beings E degli affanni suoi, vota d'affanno Lived then in ignorance of their fate Visse l'umana stirpe; alle secrete And their distress, and free from misery. Leggi del cielo e di natura indutto A sweet and primal veil of kind illusion Valse l'ameno error, le fraudi, il molle Was drawn across the secret laws of nature Pristino velo; e di sperar contenta And of heaven. Content with hope, Nostra placida nave in porto ascese. Our peaceful ship reached port.

Tal fra le vaste californie selve And in the boundless Californian woods, Nasce beata prole, a cui non sugge A happy race still lives, whose hearts pale care Pallida cura il petto, a cui le membra Has not dried up, whose limbs severe disease Fera tabe non doma; e vitto il bosco, Has not consumed. The woodlands give them food, Nidi l'intima rupe, onde ministra The hollowed rock a home, the watered valley L'irrigua valle, inopinato il giorno Freshens them, and death’s dark day Dell'atra morte incombe. Oh contra il nostro Hangs over them still unseen. And yet Scellerato ardimento inermi regni Against our wicked daring, wise nature’s realms Della saggia natura! I lidi e gli antri Cannot defend themselves. The shores and caves E le quiete selve apre l'invitto And peaceful woods lie open to our tireless Nostro furor; le violate genti Rage. Those violated people learn of Al peregrino affanno, agl'ignorati Misery unknown before, unprecedented greed; Desiri educa; e la fugace, ignuda And happiness, flying nakedly away, Felicità per l'imo sole incalza. Is chased to the furthest reaches of the sun.

62 63 IX IX

Ultimo Canto di Saffo Sappho’s Last Song NOTE

Placida notte, e verecondo raggio O tranquil night, and shy beams Della cadente luna; e tu che spunti Of the waning moon; and you who rise Fra la tacita selva in su la rupe, Above this cliff among the silent woods, Nunzio del giorno; oh dilettose e care The herald of the day − how dear and pleasing Mentre ignote mi fur l'erinni e il fato, Were your faces to my eyes, while I Sembianze agli occhi miei; già non arride Was ignorant of the Furies and of fate. Spettacol molle ai disperati affetti. But now no gentle prospect smiles on my despair. Noi l'insueto allor gaudio ravviva For me unwonted joy can live again Quando per l'etra liquido si volve Only when the south wind’s dusty surge E per li campi trepidanti il flutto Blows through the liquid air and through Polveroso de' Noti, e quando il carro, The trembling fields, and when the chariot, Grave carro di Giove a noi sul capo, The heavy chariot of Jove above our heads, Tonando, il tenebroso aere divide. Thunders and splits the darkening sky apart. Noi per le balze e le profonde valli Upon the cliff-tops, deep down in the vale, Natar giova tra' nembi, e noi la vasta We find a joy in storms, in the massive Fuga de' greggi sbigottiti, o d'alto Flight of terror-stricken flocks, or on Fiume alla dubbia sponda The swollen river’s shifting banks, Il suono e la vittrice ira dell'onda. In all the roar and conquering fury of the waves.

Bello il tuo manto, o divo cielo, e bella Fair is your mantle, heavenly sky, and fair Sei tu, rorida terra. Ahi di cotesta Are you, the dew-wet earth. Yet not one part Infinita beltà parte nessuna Of all this endless beauty was given Alla misera Saffo i numi e l'empia To wretched Sappho by the gods Sorte non fenno. A' tuoi superbi regni And cruel fate. In your proud kingdom, Vile, o natura, e grave ospite addetta, Nature, I have become a dull, unwelcome guest, E dispregiata amante, alle vezzose A lover scorned. I turn my heart and eyes Tue forme il core e le pupille invano Towards your lovely forms in supplication − Supplichevole intendo. A me non ride It is in vain. No sunlit place, L'aprico margo, e dall'eterea porta No light of dawn at heaven’s gate, Il mattutino albor; me non il canto Now smiles on me. The brightly coloured birds De' colorati augelli, e non de' faggi May sing, but not for me. The murmuring Il murmure saluta: e dove all'ombra Of beech trees does not greet me. And where, Degl'inchinati salici dispiega Beneath the weeping willows’ shade, Candido rivo il puro seno, al mio The bright stream shows its surface shimmering, Lubrico piè le flessuose linfe It draws away its rippling waters in disdain Disdegnando sottragge, From my unsteady foot, E preme in fuga l'odorate spiagge. Hugging the scented banks in its retreat.

64 65 Qual fallo mai, qual sì nefando eccesso What crime, what abominable excess Macchiommi anzi il natale, onde sì torvo Stained me before my birth, and made the heavens Il ciel mi fosse e di fortuna il volto? Frown on me, and fortune turn her face away? In che peccai bambina, allor che ignara How did I sin in childhood, when life Di misfatto è la vita, onde poi scemo Is ignorant of wrong? Once stripped of Di giovanezza, e disfiorato, al fuso All the bloom of youth, how was my dark grey Dell'indomita Parca si volvesse Thread of life wound round the spindle Il ferrigno mio stame? Incaute voci Of implacable fate? But reckless words Spande il tuo labbro: i destinati eventi Are spilling from my lips: events of destiny Move arcano consiglio. Arcano è tutto, Move in hidden ways. And everything is hidden Fuor che il nostro dolor. Negletta prole But our pain. We are neglected children, Nascemmo al pianto, e la ragione in grembo Born to weep; the reason for it all De' celesti si posa. Oh cure, oh speme Rests with the gods. And yet the cares and hopes De' più verd'anni! Alle sembianze il Padre, Of greener years… To appearances, Alle amene sembianze eterno regno To fine and pleasing looks, Zeus NOTE gave Diè nelle genti; e per virili imprese, Dominion over humankind. However brave the deeds, Per dotta lira o canto, However skilled the poem or the song, Virtù non luce in disadorno ammanto. Goodness does not shine forth when clothed in rags.

Morremo. Il velo indegno a terra sparto, I die. Its worthless veil once scattered on the earth, Rifuggirà l'ignudo animo a Dite, The naked spirit will fly to Dis, NOTE E il crudo fallo emenderà del cieco And right the cruel wrong that chance Dispensator de' casi. E tu cui lungo Once blindly handed out. And you − for whom Amore indarno, e lunga fede, e vano Long hopeless love, long faithfulness, and the vain D'implacato desio furor mi strinse, Frenzy of unsatisfied desire, have bound tight − Vivi felice, se felice in terra Live happily, if ever on this earth Visse nato mortal. Me non asperse A happy human being lived. God Del soave licor del doglio avaro Did not sprinkle me with happiness Giove, poi che perìr gl'inganni e il sogno From his miser’s jar. My illusions perished Della mia fanciullezza. Ogni più lieto With my childhood dreams. The happiest days Giorno di nostra età primo s'invola. Of all our lives are first to fly away. Sottentra il morbo, e la vecchiezza, e l'ombra Sickness comes after, old age, and then the shade Della gelida morte. Ecco di tante Of icy death. See, of all those Sperate palme e dilettosi errori, Longed-for prizes, sweet illusions, Il Tartaro m'avanza; e il prode ingegno Only Tartarus remains. Brave spirits Han la tenaria Diva, Are in thrall to Proserpine, NOTE E l'atra notte, e la silente riva. To blackest night, and to the silent shore.

[May 1822]

66 67 X X

Il Primo Amore First Love

Tornami a mente il dì che la battaglia There comes to mind that day D'amor sentii la prima volta, e dissi: When first I felt love war in me. I said, Oimè, se quest'è amor, com'ei travaglia! ‘Oh no, if this is love, the torment that I feel.’

Che gli occhi al suol tuttora intenti e fissi, My eyes fixed firmly on the ground, Io mirava colei ch'a questo core I thought of her who was the first Primiera il varco ed innocente aprissi. To open up, unknowingly, the way into my heart.

Ahi come mal mi governasti, amore! Ah Love, how badly you have treated me. Perchè seco dovea sì dolce affetto Why should such sweet affection bring Recar tanto desio, tanto dolore? So much desire, and so much pain?

E non sereno, e non intero e schietto, Why should such joy sink deep into my heart, Anzi pien di travaglio e di lamento Not peacefully, not whole and unalloyed, Al cor mi discendea tanto diletto? But full of anguish and lament?

Dimmi, tenero core, or che spavento, So tell me, gentle heart, what fear, Che angoscia era la tua fra quel pensiero What pain came with that thought, Presso al qual t'era noia ogni contento? Compared with which all pleasures were a curse?

Quel pensier che nel dì, che lusinghiero By day, that thought would flatter me Ti si offeriva nella notte, quando And bring you close. By night, when all seemed Tutto queto parea nell'emisfero: Peaceful in the world around,

Tu inquieto, e felice e miserando, You troubled me, happy and yet wretched still. M'affaticavi in su le piume il fianco, You made me toss and turn upon my bed, Ad ogni or fortemente palpitando. Your throbbing strong at every hour.

E dove io tristo ed affannato e stanco And if I ever closed my eyes in sleep, Gli occhi al sonno chiudea, come per febre So weary, sad and worn, sleep vanished from me, Rotto e deliro il sonno venia manco. Consumed with fever, delirious.

Oh come viva in mezzo alle tenebre How clearly from amid the shadows, Sorgea la dolce imago, e gli occhi chiusi The sweet and living image rose, and how, La contemplavan sotto alle palpebre! Beneath my eyelids, my closed eyes gazed at it.

Oh come soavissimi diffusi How sweetly did a shaking spread Moti per l'ossa mi serpeano, oh come Shivering through my limbs, and oh how many,

68 69 Mille nell'alma instabili, confusi Many thoughts, confused, ran through

Pensieri si volgean! qual tra le chiome My trembling soul, just as a breeze D'antica selva zefiro scorrendo, Flows through the treetops of an ancient wood Un lungo, incerto mormorar ne prome. And stirs them to a long, uncertain murmuring.

E mentre io taccio, e mentre io non contendo, But while I held my peace, and failed to fight, Che dicevi, o mio cor, che si partia What did you say, my heart, as she went off, Quella per che penando ivi e battendo? For whom you suffered and you throbbed?

Il cuocer non più tosto io mi sentia No sooner had I felt the burning Della vampa d' amor, che il venticello Of that blaze of love, than the small breeze Che l'aleggiava, volossene via. That fanned the flame flew on its way.

Senza sonno io giacea sul dì novello, I lay there sleepless as the new day dawned, E i destrier che dovean farmi deserto, And heard the horses who would leave me lost, Battean la zampa sotto al patrio ostello. Stamping their hooves outside our ancient home.

Ed io timido e cheto ed inesperto, Fearful, silent, and unsure, my ears Ver lo balcone al buio protendea Alert, my eyes that opened vainly, I turned L'orecchio avido e l'occhio indarno aperto, Towards the balcony in the darkness,

La voce ad ascoltar, se ne dovea Hoping to hear her voice, should any words Di quelle labbra uscir, ch'ultima fosse; Fall from her lips as she departed − La voce, ch'altro il cielo, ahi, mi togliea. Her voice alone, since heaven took all else away.

Quante volte plebea voce percosse The servants’ voices jabbered on, deafening Il dubitoso orecchio, e un gel mi prese, My ears. I felt so cold, E il core in forse a palpitar si mosse! My heart beat ever fiercely.

E poi che finalmente mi discese And when, at last, that precious voice La cara voce al core, e de' cavai Sank down into my heart, mixed E delle rote il romorio s'intese; With the noise of horses’ hooves and carriage-wheels,

Orbo rimaso allor, mi rannicchiai Then I was left bereaved; and huddled Palpitando nel letto e, chiusi gli occhi, Trembling on my bed, my eyes tight shut, Strinsi il cor con la mano, e sospirai. I pressed my hand upon my heart and wept.

Poscia traendo i tremuli ginocchi And later, as I dragged my trembling legs Stupidamente per la muta stanza, In stupor round the silent room, Ch'altro sarà, dicea, che il cor mi tocchi? ‘What else,’ I asked, ‘could ever touch my heart?’

Amarissima allor la ricordanza And then the bitterest memory took root

70 71 Locommisi nel petto, e mi serrava Inside my mind, and closed my heart Ad ogni voce il core, a ogni sembianza. To every other voice, to every other face.

E lunga doglia il sen mi ricercava, A long, long sorrow swept my heart, Com'è quando a distesa Olimpo piove As when it rains and rains and rains Malinconicamente e i campi lava. And all the fields are washed with melancholy.

Ned io ti conoscea, garzon di nove I was a young man, eighteen summers old − E nove Soli, in questo a pianger nato How could I know you, Love, when you first tried Quando facevi, amor, le prime prove. Your power on someone born to weep?

Quando in ispregio ogni piacer, nè grato I scorned all joy. The smiles the stars gave M'era degli astri il riso, o dell'aurora Did not please, nor dawn’s calm silence, Queta il silenzio, o il verdeggiar del prato. Nor the greenness of the fields.

Anche di gloria amor taceami allora Even the love of glory was silent Nel petto, cui scaldar tanto solea, In my heart, that once it used to warm, Che di beltade amor vi fea dimora. Where once the love of beauty lived.

Nè gli occhi ai noti studi io rivolgea, I did not return to studying any more. E quelli m'apparian vani per cui The very thing I thought had made Vano ogni altro desir creduto avea. All longings vain, seemed vain itself.

Deh come mai da me sì vario fui, Oh how could I have altered so from what I was? E tanto amor mi tolse un altro amore? How could one love take many loves away? Deh quanto, in verità, vani siam nui! Oh how in truth, how changeable we are.

Solo il mio cor piaceami, e col mio core The only thing that pleased me was my heart, In un perenne ragionar sepolto, And buried there, that constant dialogue Alla guardia seder del mio dolore. That kept a watch upon my grief.

E l'occhio a terra chino o in se raccolto, The eyes that searched the earth or inwardly Di riscontrarsi fuggitivo e vago Allowed no fleeting, wandering glance Nè in leggiadro soffria nè in turpe volto: To light on any face, ugly or fair.

Che la illibata, la candida imago They feared to shake the bright and shining Turbare egli temea pinta nel seno, Image that I held within my heart, Come all'aure si turba onda di lago. As breezes stir the waters of a lake.

E quel di non aver goduto appieno And that regret for never having fully Pentimento, che l'anima ci grava, Delighted in those fleeting days, weighed down E il piacer che passò cangia in veleno, On me, and changed past pleasure into poison.

72 73 Per li fuggiti dì mi stimolava It stung into my heart all of the time, Tuttora il sen: che la vergogna il duro While shame, for all its strength to wound, Suo morso in questo cor già non oprava. Still had no power at all.

Al cielo, a voi, gentili anime, io giuro To heaven I swear, to you most noble spirits − Che voglia non m'entrò bassa nel petto, No vile desire was ever in my heart. Ch'arsi di foco intaminato e puro. It burned with pure, untainted fire.

Vive quel foco ancor, vive l'affetto, That fire is living still, love is alive. Spira nel pensier mio la bella imago, The lovely image breathes still in my thought Da cui, se non celeste, altro diletto From which I never have the least delight.

Giammai non ebbi, e sol di lei m'appago. It is not heavenly. And yet, with that alone, I’m satisfied.

[first drafted December 1817; subsequently revised]

74 75 XI XI

Il Passero Solitario The Solitary Sparrow

D'in su la vetta della torre antica, From the very topmost of this ancient tower, Passero solitario, alla campagna You sing out, solitary sparrow, to the countryside Cantando vai finchè non more il giorno; Around, as long as daylight lasts; Ed erra l'armonia per questa valle. And through the valley drifts your melody. Primavera dintorno On every side, spring sparkles Brilla nell'aria, e per li campi esulta, In the air, and riots through the fields − Sì ch'a mirarla intenerisce il core. A sight to soften any heart. Odi greggi belar, muggire armenti; Listen to the bleating sheep, the lowing herds, Gli altri augelli contenti, a gara insieme While all the other birds wheel round Per lo libero ciel fan mille giri, The open sky a thousand times in joy, Pur festeggiando il lor tempo migliore: To celebrate their happiest of all hours. Tu pensoso in disparte il tutto miri; Pensive, you watch it all apart. Non compagni, non voli, No friends at all, no flight, Non ti cal d'allegria, schivi gli spassi; No pleasures call you, and no play. Canti, e così trapassi You sing, and so live through Dell'anno e di tua vita il più bel fiore. The year, and sweet blooming of your life.

Oimè, quanto somiglia How similar they are, your way of life Al tuo costume il mio! Sollazzo e riso, And mine. Pleasure and laughter, Della novella età dolce famiglia, Those sweet companions of our early years, E te german di giovinezza, amore, And love itself, inseparable from youth, Sospiro acerbo de' provetti giorni That sighs in bitterness at passing days − Non curo, io non so come; anzi da loro They do not interest me, I don’t know why. Quasi fuggo lontano; In truth, I seem to flee from them. Quasi romito, e strano I seem to be a stranger in this place, Al mio loco natio, The town where I was born. Passo del viver mio la primavera. The springtime of my life has passed away. Questo giorno ch'omai cede alla sera, This day, that yields to evening now, Festeggiar si costuma al nostro borgo. Our town keeps as a holiday. Odi per lo sereno un suon di squilla, You hear bells ringing in the cloudless sky, Odi spesso un tonar di ferree canne, Hear repeated thunder from the guns Che rimbomba lontan di villa in villa. Booming away from farm to farm. Tutta vestita a festa Dressed up for the festival, La gioventù del loco Young people here Lascia le case, e per le vie si spande; Leave home behind and pour into the streets, E mira ed è mirata, e in cor s'allegra. To see, and to be seen, rejoicing in their hearts. Io solitario in questa I go out by myself, alone, Rimota parte alla campagna uscendo, Out into distant countryside,

76 77 Ogni diletto e gioco And leave all joy and all delight Indugio in altro tempo: e intanto il guardo Until some other time. Meanwhile, Steso nell'aria aprica I gaze upon the radiant air Mi fere il Sol che tra lontani monti, And see the sun that, after this cloudless day, Dopo il giorno sereno, Now sets and vanishes Cadendo si dilegua, e par che dica Among the distant hills. It seems to say Che la beata gioventù vien meno. That youth’s beauty will always pass away.

Tu, solingo augellin, venuto a sera Small, lonely bird, when you reach the evening Del viver che daranno a te le stelle, Of the life the stars have given you, Certo del tuo costume You’ll not grieve, surely, Non ti dorrai; che di natura è frutto For the life you’ve led, since everything you do Ogni vostra vaghezza. Is nature’s way. A me, se di vecchiezza But as for me, should prayers fail La detestata soglia And I must cross the awful threshold Evitar non impetro, Of old age, my eyes no longer Quando muti questi occhi all'altrui core, Speaking out to other hearts, E lor fia voto il mondo, e il dì futuro The whole world empty, the future Del dì presente più noioso e tetro, More bleak and tedious than the present day − Che parrà di tal voglia? What will I make of these desires? Che di quest'anni miei? che di me stesso? Of all the years I’ve spent? Of me myself? Ahi pentirommi, e spesso, Oh, I will repent, and often then Ma sconsolato, volgerommi indietro. Look back, uncomforted.

[possibly first drafted in 1819; subsequently revised in 1829-30]

78 79 XII XII

L'infinito The Infinite

Sempre caro mi fu quest'ermo colle, I’ve always loved this lonely hill, E questa siepe, che da tanta parte This hedgerow too, that shuts so much Dell'ultimo orizzonte il guardo esclude. Of the far-off sky-line from my sight. Ma sedendo e mirando, interminati But as I sit and gaze, I picture in my mind Spazi di là da quella, e sovrumani The endless spaces far beyond, Silenzi, e profondissima quiete The more than human silences, Io nel pensier mi fingo; ove per poco The deepest quiet − and my heart Il cor non si spaura. E come il vento All but gives in to fear. And as I hear Odo stormir tra queste piante, io quello The wind come rustling through the leaves, Infinito silenzio a questa voce I place that everlasting silence against Vo comparando: e mi sovvien l'eterno, The sound. I call to mind eternity, E le morte stagioni, e la presente The seasons that are dead, the living present E viva, e il suon di lei. Così tra questa Now, and all the sound of it. In this Immensità s'annega il pensier mio: Immensity, my thoughts are drowned; E il naufragar m'è dolce in questo mare. And sweet to me is shipwreck in this sea.

[spring–autumn 1819]

80 81 XIII XIII

La Sera del Dì di Festa The Evening of the Holiday

Dolce e chiara è la notte e senza vento, The night is windless, soft and clear; E queta sovra i tetti e in mezzo agli orti Upon the rooftops and the gardens now, the moonlight Posa la luna, e di lontan rivela Quietly lingers, revealing far away Serena ogni montagna. O donna mia, The peaceful mountains. O sweetheart, Già tace ogni sentiero, e pei balconi The paths are quiet, and here and there, Rara traluce la notturna lampa: Some night-lights glimmer from the balconies. Tu dormi, che t'accolse agevol sonno You sleep, and sleep has gently welcomed you Nelle tue chete stanze; e non ti morde To your silent room. No worry Cura nessuna; e già non sai nè pensi Troubles you at all. You do not know or guess Quanta piaga m'apristi in mezzo al petto. How deep a wound you’ve opened in my heart. Tu dormi: io questo ciel, che sì benigno You sleep. I gaze up at the sky Appare in vista, a salutar m'affaccio, That seems so kindly to my eyes, E l'antica natura onnipossente, And on all-powerful Nature, old as time, Che mi fece all'affanno. A te la speme That shaped me so for suffering. She told me, Nego, mi disse, anche la speme; e d'altro ‘I refuse you even hope. Your eyes will Non brillin gli occhi tuoi se non di pianto. Never shine except with tears.’ Questo dì fu solenne: or da' trastulli Today it was a holy day, so rest Prendi riposo; e forse ti rimembra From pleasure now, perhaps remembering In sogno a quanti oggi piacesti, e quanti In dream how many men you pleased, Piacquero a te: non io, non già, ch'io speri, How many pleased you too. I’m not − I couldn’t hope Al pensier ti ricorro. Intanto io chieggo To be − among your thoughts. I ask instead Quanto a viver mi resti, e qui per terra How long I have to be alive, and sink down Mi getto, e grido, e fremo. Oh giorni orrendi To the ground, and cry out, trembling. In così verde etate! Ahi, per la via The awful days of greenest youth. Along the road Odo non lunge il solitario canto Not far away, I hear the lonely singing Dell'artigian, che riede a tarda notte, Of a workman, returning late at night Dopo i sollazzi, al suo povero ostello; After some pleasure to his wretched home. E fieramente mi si stringe il core, And desperately, it wrings my heart A pensar come tutto al mondo passa, To think how all things in the world pass by E quasi orma non lascia. Ecco è fuggito And leave so little trace behind. See, the holiday Il dì festivo, ed al festivo il giorno Is over now; tomorrow follows, Volgar succede, e se ne porta il tempo Commonplace. Time carries off Ogni umano accidente. Or dov'è il suono All human things. Where is the sound Di que' popoli antichi? or dov'è il grido Of ancient peoples now? Where is the shout De' nostri avi famosi, e il grande impero Our great ancestors made? Where is Rome’s Di quella Roma, e l'armi, e il fragorio Vast empire now, the clash of arms Che n'andò per la terra e l'oceano? That rang once over land and sea? Tutto è pace e silenzio, e tutto posa All is at peace, all silent, the whole

82 83 Il mondo, e più di lor non si ragiona. World rests, and they are spoken of no more. Nella mia prima età, quando s'aspetta When I was young, we waited for the holiday Bramosamente il dì festivo, or poscia So eagerly; and I remember how, Ch'egli era spento, io doloroso, in veglia, Once it had passed, I’d lie awake and clutch Premea le piume; ed alla tarda notte My pillow, broken-hearted. And deep into the night, Un canto che s'udia per li sentieri A song I heard along the paths Lontanando morire a poco a poco, Died in the distance, bit by bit, Già similmente mi stringeva il core. And tore my heart apart, as it does now.

[almost certainly 1820]

84 85 XIV XIV

Alla Luna To the Moon

O graziosa luna, io mi rammento O lovely moon, I remember that Che, or volge l'anno, sovra questo colle It was a year ago I climbed this hill Io venia pien d'angoscia a rimirarti: To gaze upon you in my agony. E tu pendevi allor su quella selva And then, as now, you hung above that wood Siccome or fai, che tutta la rischiari. Suffusing everything with light. Ma nebuloso e tremulo dal pianto And yet your face seemed misty, shimmering, Che mi sorgea sul ciglio, alle mie luci From all the tears that welled up Il tuo volto apparia, che travagliosa In my eyes. My life was full of anguish then, Era mia vita: ed è, nè cangia stile, And is so still. It has not changed, O mia diletta luna. E pur mi giova O moon of my delight. And yet it helps La ricordanza, e il noverar l'etate To recollect and count the seasons Del mio dolore. Oh come grato occorre Of my grief. When we are young, Nel tempo giovanil, quando ancor lungo And hope has such great distance still to run, La speme e breve ha la memoria il corso, And memory’s so short, how welcome then Il rimembrar delle passate cose, The remembering of things now past − Ancor che triste, e che l'affanno duri! Though they were sad, and the hurt still lasts.

[almost certainly 1820, perhaps July]

86 87 XV XV

Il Sogno The Dream

Era il mattino, e tra le chiuse imposte It was morning, and through closed shutters Per lo balcone insinuava il sole On the balcony, the sun slipped into my blind room Nella mia cieca stanza il primo albore; The first light of the day. Quando in sul tempo che più leve il sonno And at that hour, when sleep shadows E più soave le pupille adombra, Our eyelids in a lighter and a gentler way, Stettemi allato e riguardommi in viso There stood beside me, gazing on my face, Il simulacro di colei che amore The image of the girl who taught me first Prima insegnommi, e poi lasciommi in pianto. What love could be, and then left me to grieve. Morta non mi parea, ma trista, e quale It seemed she was not dead, but saddened, Degl'infelici è la sembianza. Al capo A picture of unhappiness. She stretched Appressommi la destra, e sospirando, Her right hand to my cheek, and sighed and said, Vivi, mi disse, e ricordanza alcuna ‘And are you still alive? Do you remember me Serbi di noi? Donde, risposi, e come At all?’ ‘Oh my dear love,’ I replied, Vieni, o cara beltà? Quanto, deh quanto ‘Where have you come from? How are you here? Di te mi dolse e duol: nè mi credea How much I grieved for you, grieve for you still. Che risaper tu lo dovessi; e questo I thought that you would never know, Facea più sconsolato il dolor mio. And so my grief was made more desolate. Ma sei tu per lasciarmi un'altra volta? But will you leave me once again? Io n'ho gran tema. Or dimmi, e che t'avvenne? I shudder at the thought. Tell me, what happened to you? Sei tu quella di prima? E che ti strugge Are you as you were before? What is it that torments you so Internamente? Obblivione ingombra Within?’ She said, ‘Forgetfulness has blocked I tuoi pensieri, e gli avviluppa il sonno; Your thoughts, sleep wraps them round. Disse colei. Son morta, e mi vedesti I am dead. Some moons ago, L'ultima volta, or son più lune. Immensa You saw me for the last time.’ And at those words, Doglia m'oppresse a queste voci il petto. Vast sorrow weighed down heavy on my heart. Ella seguì: nel fior degli anni estinta, She said, ‘I perished in the bloom of youth, Quand'è il viver più dolce, e pria che il core When life is sweetest, before the heart Certo si renda com'è tutta indarno Has yet to learn and know the vanities L'umana speme. A desiar colei Of human hope. No mortal being Che d'ogni affanno il tragge, ha poco andare Need wait long for what will free them L'egro mortal; ma sconsolata arriva From distress. But to the young, La morte ai giovanetti, e duro è il fato Death brings no comfort, and fate is harsh Di quella speme che sotterra è spenta. When hope lies buried in the earth. Vano è saper quel che natura asconde Knowledge of what nature hides is of no use Agl'inesperti della vita, e molto To those untried by life. Blind grief All'immatura sapienza il cieco Can easily prevail upon a wisdom Dolor prevale. Oh sfortunata, oh cara, That is immature.’ ‘Hush,’ I said, Taci, taci, diss'io, che tu mi schianti ‘My poor dear, hush. You break my heart

88 89 Con questi detti il cor. Dunque sei morta, With words like these. So you are dead, O mia diletta, ed io son vivo, ed era My sweet delight, while I still live. Pur fisso in ciel che quei sudori estremi Did heaven decree your warm and cherished flesh Cotesta cara e tenerella salma Should feel the sweat of death, Provar dovesse, a me restasse intera While this wretched frame of mine Questa misera spoglia? Oh quante volte Should stay untouched? Despite those moments In ripensar che più non vivi, e mai When I thought that you were dead, Non avverrà ch'io ti ritrovi al mondo, That I would never see you in the world again − Creder nol posso. Ahi ahi, che cosa è questa Believe it, I could not. What is this thing Che morte s'addimanda? Oggi per prova Called death? If only I could know today, Intenderlo potessi, e il capo inerme And so protect this helpless self Agli atroci del fato odii sottrarre. From the appalling hatred that is fate. Giovane son, ma si consuma e perde I’m young, and yet my youth is withering La giovanezza mia come vecchiezza; And wastes away like age. I dread that, La qual pavento, e pur m'è lunge assai. However far off it may be from me. Ma poco da vecchiezza si discorda And yet the bloom of youth is little Il fior dell'età mia. Nascemmo al pianto, Different to age.’ She said, ‘The two of us Disse, ambedue; felicità non rise Were born to weep. Joy never smiled Al viver nostro; e dilettossi il cielo Upon our lives. Heaven took such pleasure De' nostri affanni. Or se di pianto il ciglio, In our pain.’ I answered, ‘But if these eyes Soggiunsi, e di pallor velato il viso Are wet with tears, and my face pales Per la tua dipartita, e se d'angoscia As now we part, and still I bear this weight Porto gravido il cor; dimmi: d'amore Of anguish in my heart, tell me: Favilla alcuna, o di pietà, giammai While you were living, did one single spark Verso il misero amante il cor t'assalse Of love, of pity even, ever touch your heart Mentre vivesti? Io disperando allora For me, your wretched lover? In despair, E sperando traea le notti e i giorni; I dragged myself, still hoping, through the nights Oggi nel vano dubitar si stanca And days; and now my mind is tired La mente mia. Che se una volta sola With empty doubt. If but just once, Dolor ti strinse di mia negra vita, You felt some pity for my darkened life, Non mel celar, ti prego, e mi soccorra Don’t hide it from me now, I beg you. The memory La rimembranza or che il futuro è tolto Will comfort me, now that our future Ai nostri giorni. E quella: ti conforta, Has been wiped away.’ ‘Unhappy man,’ O sventurato. Io di pietade avara She said, ‘be comforted. I did not grudge you pity Non ti fui mentre vissi, ed or non sono, While I was still alive, nor do I now. Che fui misera anch'io. Non far querela I was wretched too. Do not complain Di questa infelicissima fanciulla. Of this unhappy child.’ And yet I cried, Per le sventure nostre, e per l'amore ‘For the sake of our unhappiness, and the love Che mi strugge, esclamai; per lo diletto That is destroying me, for the sake Nome di giovanezza e la perduta Of our beloved youth, and the lost hope Speme dei nostri dì, concedi, o cara, Of the days we shared, let me, my love, Che la tua destra io tocchi. Ed ella, in atto Just touch your hand.’ And she, in gentle sadness, Soave e tristo, la porgeva. Or mentre Held it out to me. I covered it

90 91 Di baci la ricopro, e d'affannosa With kisses, and held it to my pounding heart Dolcezza palpitando all'anelante Trembling with sweet distress. My face Seno la stringo, di sudore il volto Was in a sweat, my voice caught Ferveva e il petto, nelle fauci stava In my throat, and what I looked at seemed to sway. La voce, al guardo traballava il giorno. Then tenderly, she fixed her eyes on mine, Quando colei teneramente affissi And said, ‘My dear, have you so soon forgotten now Gli occhi negli occhi miei, già scordi, o caro, That I’ve been stripped of beauty? Poor thing, Disse, che di beltà son fatta ignuda? You tremble and you burn with love, E tu d'amore, o sfortunato, indarno In vain. This is the last goodbye. Ti scaldi e fremi. Or finalmente addio. Our wretched minds and bodies Nostre misere menti e nostre salme Are severed for eternity. You are not alive Son disgiunte in eterno. A me non vivi For me, and never will be. Fate has already E mai più non vivrai: già ruppe il fato Shattered the vows you made to me.’ And then, La fe che mi giurasti. Allor d'angoscia I tried to cry out in my agony. Gridar volendo, e spasimando, e pregne Shuddering from head to foot, Di sconsolato pianto le pupille, My eyes swollen with hopeless tears, Dal sonno mi disciolsi. Ella negli occhi I roused myself from sleep. She stood there still Pur mi restava, e nell'incerto raggio Before my eyes, and in the sunlight’s Del Sol vederla io mi credeva ancora. Shimmering rays, I thought I saw her still.

[end of 1820–beginning of 1821]

92 93 XVI XVI

La Vita Solitaria The Solitary Life

La mattutina pioggia, allor che l'ale The morning rain − and now the little hen Battendo esulta nella chiusa stanza Leaps up with flapping wings La gallinella, ed al balcon s'affaccia In her closed run. From his window, L'abitator de' campi, e il Sol che nasce The labourer looks out; the rising sun I suoi tremuli rai fra le cadenti Casts its shimmering rays upon the falling Stille saetta, alla capanna mia Drops of morning rain that softly patter Dolcemente picchiando, mi risveglia; On my cabin roof, and waken me. E sorgo, e i lievi nugoletti, e il primo I rise, and bless the tiny wisps of cloud, Degli augelli susurro, e l'aura fresca, The first murmurings of the birds, E le ridenti piagge benedico: The freshening breeze, the smiling hills. Poiché voi, cittadine infauste mura, Because, sad city walls, I’ve seen and known you Vidi e conobbi assai, là dove segue All too well, where hatred follows grief Odio al dolor compagno; e doloroso As its companion. I live in grief, Io vivo, e tal morrò, deh tosto! Alcuna And soon enough in grief will die. Benchè scarsa pietà pur mi dimostra Though nature shows some trace of pity still Natura in questi lochi, un giorno oh quanto Here in this place, how much more kind Verso me più cortese! E tu pur volgi Was she once to me. Nature, you turn Dai miseri lo sguardo; e tu, sdegnando From the wretched of the earth; you scorn Le sciagure e gli affanni, alla reina Calamity and pain; you serve your queen Felicità servi, o natura. In cielo, Called happiness. In heaven, on earth, In terra amico agl'infelici alcuno There’s no friend or refuge left E rifugio non resta altro che il ferro. The wretched, but the knife.

Talor m'assido in solitaria parte, Sometimes, I sit down in a lonely place, Sovra un rialto, al margine d'un lago Upon a sloping bank beside a lake Di taciturne piante incoronato. Engarlanded with silent trees. Ivi, quando il meriggio in ciel si volve, As noonday rolls across the sky, La sua tranquilla imago il Sol dipinge, The sun reflects an image of tranquillity. Ed erba o foglia non si crolla al vento, No blade of grass, no leaf, stirs in a breath of wind, E non onda incresparsi, e non cicala No wave now ripples, no cicada chirps, Strider, nè batter penna augello in ramo, No bird lifts a feather on the bough, Nè farfalla ronzar, nè voce o moto No butterfly flits by, no sound or movement Da presso nè da lunge odi nè vedi. Can be heard or seen, from near or far. Tien quelle rive altissima quiete; The deepest stillness settles on these banks. Ond'io quasi me stesso e il mondo obblio I stay so motionless I almost lose myself Sedendo immoto; e già mi par che sciolte And all the world. It seems to me Giaccian le membra mie, nè spirto o senso My limbs are now so still, no sense or soul Più le commova, e lor quiete antica Can make them stir again. Their ancient calm

94 95 Co' silenzi del loco si confonda. Is merged now with the silence of this place.

Amore, amore, assai lungi volasti Love, love − how far you’ve flown off Dal petto mio, che fu sì caldo un giorno, From my heart, which used to be so warm, Anzi rovente. Con sua fredda mano So burning even. With freezing hand, Lo strinse la sciaura, e in ghiaccio è volto Disaster gripped it, and turned it into ice Nel fior degli anni. Mi sovvien del tempo Just as youth bloomed. I can remember Che mi scendesti in seno. Era quel dolce The day you came into my heart. It was that sweet, E irrevocabil tempo, allor che s'apre Irrevocable time when, to young eyes, Al guardo giovanil questa infelice The sad landscape of this world Scena del mondo, e gli sorride in vista Seems a paradise of smiles. Di paradiso. Al garzoncello il core A young man’s heart leaps up Di vergine speranza e di desio With virgin hope and with desire. Balza nel petto; e già s'accinge all'opra And he prepares himself how he should Di questa vita come a danza o gioco Live, like some wretched human Il misero mortal. Ma non sì tosto, For a joyful dance. And yet no sooner did Amor, di te m'accorsi, e il viver mio I know you, love, than fortune broke my life Fortuna avea già rotto, ed a questi occhi Apart, and nothing for my eyes Non altro convenia che il pianger sempre. Seemed right but endless tears. Pur se talvolta per le piagge apriche, Yet there are times when, in the open fields, Su la tacita aurora o quando al sole The silences of dawn, the shining Brillano i tetti e i poggi e le campagne, Of the sun on roofs and hills and meadows, Scontro di vaga donzelletta il viso; I catch sight of a young girl, beautiful. O qualor nella placida quiete Or times when, in the drowsy stillness D'estiva notte, il vagabondo passo Of a summer’s night, my wandering footsteps Di rincontro alle ville soffermando, Stop at some cottage in the countryside. L'erma terra contemplo, e di fanciulla I gaze upon the lonely land, and hear Che all'opre di sua man la notte aggiunge The clear sweet singing of a young girl Odo sonar nelle romite stanze In her hidden room, adding the hours of night L'arguto canto; a palpitar si move Upon her daytime labour. I feel this heart of stone Questo mio cor di sasso: ahi, ma ritorna Begin to throb again. But all too soon, Tosto al ferreo sopor; ch'è fatto estrano It sinks back into leaden sleep. All gentle feelings Ogni moto soave al petto mio. Are strangers to my heart.

O cara luna, al cui tranquillo raggio O precious moon − beneath your peaceful light, Danzan le lepri nelle selve; e duolsi The hares dance in the wood. At dawn, Alla mattina il cacciator, che trova The hunter curses when he finds L'orme intricate e false, e dai covili Their intricate false tracks have led him Error vario lo svia; salve, o benigna Quite astray, further from their burrows still. Delle notti reina. Infesto scende Welcome, gentle queen of night. Your light Il raggio tuo fra macchie e balze o dentro Shines down, a trouble to the bushes and the crags A deserti edifici, in su l'acciaro And lonely ruins, on to the knife Del pallido ladron ch'a teso orecchio Of the pale-faced thief whose ears catch at

96 97 Il fragor delle rote e de' cavalli The sound of wheels and horses Da lungi osserva o il calpestio de' piedi A far way off, or else the crunch of steps Su la tacita via; poscia improvviso Upon the silent road. Then all at once, Col suon dell'armi e con la rauca voce With weapons rattling and harsh hoarse voice E col funereo ceffo il core agghiaccia And deadly face, he turns the traveller’s heart Al passegger, cui semivivo e nudo To ice, and quickly leaves him there Lascia in breve tra' sassi. Infesto occorre Half dead and naked among the rocks. Per le contrade cittadine il bianco Your white light is a trouble Tuo lume al drudo vil, che degli alberghi To the city streets, where lechers Va radendo le mura e la secreta Hug the walls of houses, or lurk Ombra seguendo, e resta, e si spaura In secret shadows, and stop, Delle ardenti lucerne e degli aperti Afraid of any burning lamp or open window. Balconi. Infesto alle malvage menti, Unwelcome to all wicked souls, A me sempre benigno il tuo cospetto The sight of you will always be to me Sarà per queste piagge, ove non altro A blessing, among these landscapes where you Che lieti colli e spaziosi campi Show nothing but lovely hills and open countryside M'apri alla vista. Ed ancor io soleva, Wherever I may look. Once there was a time Bench'innocente io fossi, il tuo vezzoso When I was innocent, and used to hate Raggio accusar negli abitati lochi, Your charming light in busy places Quand'ei m'offriva al guardo umano, e quando Where I became exposed to human eyes, Scopriva umani aspetti al guardo mio. And human faces were exposed for me to see. Or sempre loderollo, o ch'io ti miri But now I’ll always praise you, when I watch you Veleggiar tra le nubi, o che serena Sailing through the clouds, or when − Dominatrice dell'etereo campo, Serene highness of the fields of heaven − Questa flebil riguardi umana sede. You gaze upon this wretched human world. Me spesso rivedrai solingo e muto You’ll often see me, silent and alone, Errar pe' boschi e per le verdi rive, Wandering the woods and these green banks, O seder sovra l'erbe, assai contento Or sitting on the grass, content enough Se core e lena a sospirar m'avanza. If heart and breath are left for me to sigh.

[summer 1821]

98 99 XVII XVII

Consalvo Consalvo

Presso alla fin di sua dimora in terra, Close to the ending of his life on earth, Giacea Consalvo; disdegnoso un tempo Consalvo NOTE lay. Once he had been scornful Del suo destino; or già non più, che a mezzo Of his fate, but now no more. In the first years Il quinto lustro, gli pendea sul capo Of his manhood, NOTE longed-for oblivion Il sospirato obblio. Qual da gran tempo, Hung above his head. That fatal day, Così giacea nel funeral suo giorno He lay abandoned by his dearest friends, Dai più diletti amici abbandonato: As he had been left so long a time. Ch'amico in terra al lungo andar nessuno No friend on earth remains at last Resta a colui che della terra è schivo. To those who scorn the very earth itself. Pur gli era al fianco, da pietà condotta There was however by his side Elvira − NOTE A consolare il suo deserto stato, Famed for loveliness divine − whom pity Quella che sola e sempre eragli a mente, Had drawn near to soothe him in his loneliness. Per divina beltà famosa Elvira; She was the single thing for ever in his mind. Conscia del suo poter, conscia che un guardo He knew her power; he knew one look from her, Suo lieto, un detto d'alcun dolce asperso, One single happy look, one sweet and longed-for word, Ben mille volte ripetuto e mille Recalled a thousand times and thousands more Nel costante pensier, sostegno e cibo In his unwavering mind, had always been Esser solea dell'infelice amante: The food and sustenance of his unhappy love, Benchè nulla d'amor parola udita Though she had never heard one loving word Avess'ella da lui. Sempre in quell'alma From him. Always in his soul, Era del gran desio stato più forte And stronger than his deep desires, had been Un sovrano timor. Così l'avea An overpowering dread. He had become Fatto schiavo e fanciullo il troppo amore. A slave, a child, through loving overmuch.

Ma ruppe alfin la morte il nodo antico But finally, death loosed the old, old knot Alla sua lingua. Poichè certi i segni That tied his tongue. Sensing by certain signs Sentendo di quel dì che l'uom discioglie, The closeness of that hour which sets men free, Lei, già mossa a partir, presa per mano, He took her hand − she was about to leave − E quella man bianchissima stringendo, And clinging tightly to that whitest hand, Disse: tu parti, e l'ora omai ti sforza: He said, ‘You go, Elvira. The time now forces Elvira, addio. Non ti vedrò, ch'io creda, You from me. Good bye. I do not think to see you Un'altra volta. Or dunque addio. Ti rendo Ever more. And so good bye. I give Qual maggior grazia mai delle tue cure The greatest thanks to you that lips could give Dar possa il labbro mio. Premio daratti For all your care. He who can reward you, will, Chi può, se premio ai pii dal ciel si rende. If virtue gets reward from heaven.’ Impallidia la bella, e il petto anelo She had grown pale. Her breast began Udendo le si fea: che sempre stringe To heave on hearing this: for human hearts All'uomo il cor dogliosamente, ancora Are always seized with grief when anyone,

100 101 Ch'estranio sia, chi si diparte e dice, A stranger even, leaves and says Addio per sempre. E contraddir voleva, Good bye for ever more. She tried to contradict Dissimulando l'appressar del fato, The dying man, and hide Al moribondo. Ma il suo dir prevenne Death coming close. But he prevented her Quegli, e soggiunse: desiata, e molto, And spoke again, ‘You know that death now Come sai, ripregata a me discende, Comes to me like one desired, and prayed for Non temuta, la morte; e lieto apparmi Many times. It is not feared. This day I die Questo feral mio dì. Pesami, è vero, Seems joyful. And yet in truth, it tortures me Che te perdo per sempre. Oimè per sempre To lose you now for ever more. For ever now, Parto da te. Mi si divide il core I go away from you. My heart is broken In questo dir. Più non vedrò quegli occhi, At those words. Never to see those eyes again, Nè la tua voce udrò! Dimmi: ma pria To hear that voice. Elvira, tell me…before you Di lasciarmi in eterno, Elvira, un bacio Leave me to eternity, will you not give me Non vorrai tu donarmi? un bacio solo Just one kiss? A single kiss In tutto il viver mio? Grazia ch'ei chiegga For all my life? No dying man’s request Non si nega a chi muor. Nè già vantarmi Should be refused. Nor will I ever boast Potrò del dono, io semispento, a cui About the gift − I, all but dead, whose lips Straniera man le labbra oggi fra poco Will soon be closed by stranger hands Eternamente chiuderà. Ciò detto Eternally.’ When that was said, he sighed Con un sospiro, all'adorata destra And pressed cold lips in supplication Le fredde labbra supplicando affisse. On the hand that he adored.

Stette sospesa e pensierosa in atto The loveliest of women stayed motionless, La bellissima donna; e fiso il guardo, Her features full of thought, and fixed her gaze, Di mille vezzi sfavillante, in quello That sparkled with a thousand charms, on that Tenea dell'infelice, ove l'estrema Unhappy man, where now a final tear Lacrima rilucea. Nè dielle il core Was glistening. She did not have the heart Di sprezzar la dimanda, e il mesto addio To scorn his plea, and make the last good bye Rinacerbir col niego; anzi la vinse More bitter by denial. She was overcome Misericordia dei ben noti ardori. By pity for that love long known to her. E quel volto celeste, e quella bocca, And that face from heaven and that mouth − Già tanto desiata, e per molt'anni Desired so much, for countless years Argomento di sogno e di sospiro, The object of his dreaming and his sighs − Dolcemente appressando al volto afflitto Leaned down gently to his face, so drawn E scolorato dal mortale affanno, And drained of colour in his agony, Più baci e più, tutta benigna e in vista And kissed and kissed again, in sheerest kindliness D'alta pietà, su le convulse labbra And the depth of pity, her lover’s Del trepido, rapito amante impresse. Trembling lips, unquiet, enraptured.

Che divenisti allor? quali appariro What happened to you then, Consalvo? Vita, morte, sventura agli occhi tuoi, How did you see your life and death and wretchedness, Fuggitivo Consalvo? Egli la mano, As you lay dying there? With beloved Elvira’s Ch'ancor tenea, della diletta Elvira Hand that he still held,

102 103 Postasi al cor, che gli ultimi battea Pressed close against his heart that beat Palpiti della morte e dell'amore, The final pulse of love and death, Oh, disse, Elvira, Elvira mia! ben sono He said, ‘Elvira, my Elvira. So I am In su la terra ancor; ben quelle labbra Still on earth. Those lips then were Fur le tue labbra, e la tua mano io stringo! Truly yours; it is your hand I grasp. Ahi vision d'estinto, o sogno, o cosa It seems a dead man’s vision, or a dream, Incredibil mi par. Deh quanto, Elvira, A thing incredible. Ah, Elvira, how much Quanto debbo alla morte! Ascoso innanzi I owe to death. My love has not been hidden Non ti fu l'amor mio per alcun tempo; From you ever, for any time at all − Non a te, non altrui; che non si cela Not from you or anyone. In truth, love cannot Vero amore alla terra. Assai palese Be concealed on earth. My actions, Agli atti, al volto sbigottito, agli occhi, My troubled look, my eyes − all made it Ti fu: ma non ai detti. Ancora e sempre Clear to you. But not my words. The love so infinite Muto sarebbe l'infinito affetto That dominates my heart would still have been Che governa il cor mio, se non l'avesse For ever silent, if dying had not made Fatto ardito il morir. Morrò contento My heart more bold. I’ll die now happy Del mio destino omai, nè più mi dolgo With my destiny, nor do I now regret Ch'aprii le luci al dì. Non vissi indarno, I ever saw the light of day. Life was not vain; Poscia che quella bocca alla mia bocca It granted that my mouth should kiss Premer fu dato. Anzi felice estimo Your mouth. Indeed, I think my fate La sorte mia. Due cose belle ha il mondo: A happy one. The world has two splendid things: Amore e morte. All'una il ciel mi guida And they are love and death. Fate brings me death In sul fior dell'età; nell'altro, assai In the flowering of youth. In love, I have been Fortunato mi tengo. Ah, se una volta, Fortunate enough. Oh, if you had once, Solo una volta il lungo amor quieto Just once, calmed and rewarded E pago avessi tu, fora la terra My great love, then to my altered eyes, Fatta quindi per sempre un paradiso Earth would have changed Ai cangiati occhi miei. Fin la vecchiezza, To paradise for ever. Even old age, L'abborrita vecchiezza, avrei sofferto Old age that is abhorred, I would have suffered Con riposato cor: che a sostentarla With a quiet heart. The memory Bastato sempre il rimembrar sarebbe Of one moment would have been enough D'un solo istante, e il dir: felice io fui To bear it, and to say, “I have been happy Sovra tutti i felici. Ahi, ma cotanto Beyond all others’ happiness.” Esser beato non consente il cielo But heaven does not allow such blessedness A natura terrena. Amar tant'oltre To those on earth. No one is permitted Non è dato con gioia. E ben per patto To love with such a joy. And yet I would In poter del carnefice ai flagelli, Have had the strength to bear Alle ruote, alle faci ito volando The hangman’s whips, the wheel, the flames, Sarei dalle tue braccia; e ben disceso And from your arms have flown to them, Nel paventato sempiterno scempio. Even gone down to fearful, everlasting dark.

O Elvira, Elvira, oh lui felice, oh sovra Oh Elvira, Elvira, happy the man, Gl'immortali beato, a cui tu schiuda Beyond the immortals blessed, who’s seen

104 105 Il sorriso d'amor! felice appresso Your smile of love. Happy next the man Chi per te sparga con la vita il sangue! Who sheds his blood and dies for you. Lice, lice al mortal, non è già sogno We human beings are allowed, allowed − Come stimai gran tempo, ahi lice in terra Not just a dream as long I thought − Provar felicità. Ciò seppi il giorno Allowed to know a happiness. I knew it so Che fiso io ti mirai. Ben per mia morte When first I set my eyes on you. It’s happening Questo m'accadde. E non però quel giorno As I die. And even in this pain, Con certo cor giammai, fra tante ambasce, I cannot find it in my heart Quel fiero giorno biasimar sostenni. To curse this fatal day.

Or tu vivi beata, e il mondo abbella, Now you lived blessed, Elvira, Elvira mia, col tuo sembiante. Alcuno And your face adorns the world. No one Non l'amerà quant'io l'amai. Non nasce Will love you as I loved. A love like that Un altrettale amor. Quanto, deh quanto Will never live again. How many, many times Dal misero Consalvo in sì gran tempo Did miserable Consalvo call to you, Chiamata fosti, e lamentata, e pianta! How long a time he grieved, and wept. Come al nome d'Elvira, in cor gelando, And at your name, how pale I grew, quite Impallidir; come tremar son uso Frozen at the heart. And how I used to tremble All'amaro calcar della tua soglia, At the harsh stone of your doorstep, A quella voce angelica, all'aspetto At your angelic voice, and at your face − Di quella fronte, io ch'al morir non tremo! I who do not tremble on the brink of death. Ma la lena e la vita or vengon meno But breath and life are failing me, Agli accenti d'amor. Passato è il tempo, Even to speak of love. My time has passed. Nè questo dì rimemorar m'è dato. I am not granted to remember this. Elvira, addio. Con la vital favilla Elvira, I say good bye. My vital flame, La tua diletta immagine si parte The cherished images of you, now leave Dal mio cor finalmente. Addio. Se grave My heart at last. Good bye. If my love Non ti fu quest'affetto, al mio feretro Did not distress you, then send a sigh tomorrow Dimani all'annottar manda un sospiro. To my tomb, when darkness falls.’ Tacque: nè molto andò, che a lui col suono He fell silent. It was not long before his spirit Mancò lo spirto; e innanzi sera il primo Ebbed with the sound; and his first day Suo dì felice gli fuggia dal guardo. Of happiness fled from sight, before the evening came.

[probably between 1831 and 1833, perhaps autumn 1832]

106 107 XVIII XVIII

Alla sua Donna To his Lady

Cara beltà che amore Dearest beauty, you rouse Lunge m'inspiri o nascondendo il viso, My love from far away, and hide your face Fuor se nel sonno il core Except when, deep in sleep, Ombra diva mi scuoti, Your sacred image moves my heart, O ne' campi ove splenda Or in the fields where daylight Più vago il giorno e di natura il riso; And the smiles of nature are more bright. Forse tu l'innocente Did you once bless that age of innocence Secol beasti che dall'oro ha nome, That’s known now as a golden time? Or leve intra la gente Or fly now as an airy spirit Anima voli? o te la sorte avara Among mankind? Or does mean-handed fate Ch'a noi t'asconde, agli avvenir prepara? Hide you from us for some later time?

Viva mirarti omai I have no hope of ever Nulla speme m'avanza; Seeing you in living form, S'allor non fosse, allor che ignudo e solo Unless it be when, naked and alone, Per novo calle a peregrina stanza My spirit walks those new-found paths Verrà lo spirto mio. Già sul novello Towards an unknown place. Once, in the dawn Aprir di mia giornata incerta e bruna, Of my dark, uncertain life, I thought Te viatrice in questo arido suolo You travelled through this arid land Io mi pensai. Ma non è cosa in terra As a companion. But nothing on this earth Che ti somigli; e s'anco pari alcuna Resembles you. If ever one were like you Ti fosse al volto, agli atti, alla favella, In her face, or gestures, or her voice, Saria, così conforme, assai men bella. Her beauty, though so similar, would still be less.

Fra cotanto dolore For all the suffering Quanto all'umana età propose il fato, That fate prescribes for humankind, Se vera e quale il mio pensier ti pinge, If anyone could love you now Alcun t'amasse in terra, a lui pur fora As I have pictured you, his life Questo viver beato: Would still be rapturous. E ben chiaro vegg'io siccome ancora And I see clearly how your love might make me Seguir loda e virtù qual ne' prim'anni Seek out honour, virtue, as in L'amor tuo mi farebbe. Or non aggiunse My younger days. But heaven gives Il ciel nullo conforto ai nostri affanni; No solace for our miseries. E teco la mortal vita saria A human life with you would be Simile a quella che nel cielo india. Like that which heaven reveals.

Per le valli, ove suona Through all the valleys, where the song Del faticoso agricoltore il canto, Of weary farmers sounds,

108 109 Ed io seggo e mi lagno I sit and mourn how youth’s illusions Del giovanile error che m'abbandona; Have now abandoned me. E per li poggi, ov'io rimembro e piagno And on the hills, where I recall in tears I perduti desiri, e la perduta The lost desires, the lost hope Speme de' giorni miei; di te pensando, Of my life, I think of you, A palpitar mi sveglio. E potess'io, And feeling stirs again. If only, Nel secol tetro e in questo aer nefando, In this dark age and poisoned atmosphere, L'alta specie serbar; che dell'imago, I could hold your wondrous image, and be content Poi che del ver m'è tolto, assai m'appago. With vision rather than the truth.

Se dell'eterne idee If you are one of those L'una sei tu, cui di sensibil forma Eternal ideas, that everlasting wisdom Sdegni l'eterno senno esser vestita, Scorns to clothe in human form, E fra caduche spoglie To bear the pain of life and its mortality Provar gli affanni di funerea vita; In bodies fallen to the earth; O s'altra terra ne' superni giri Or if your home is on another world, Fra' mondi innumerabili t'accoglie, One world of countless worlds that whirl and whirl, E più vaga del Sol prossima stella And one star close to you that’s brighter than the sun T'irraggia, e più benigno etere spiri; Shines down on you, who breathe a purer air − Di qua dove son gli anni infausti e brevi, From here on earth, where years are short and sad, Questo d'ignoto amante inno ricevi. Accept your unknown lover, in this hymn.

[September 1823]

110 111 XIX XIX

Al Conte Carlo Pepoli To Count Carlo Pepoli NOTE

Questo affannoso e travagliato sonno This wearisome and troubled sleep Che noi vita nomiam, come sopporti, That we call life − how do you, Pepoli mio? di che speranze il core Dear Pepoli, endure it all? What hopes Vai sostentando? in che pensieri, in quanto Sustain your heart? What thoughts, O gioconde o moleste opre dispensi What happy or what tedious tasks fill up L'ozio che ti lasciàr gli avi remoti, The leisure your far-distant ancestors bequeathed − Grave retaggio e faticoso? E' tutta, That heavy and exhausting gift? All human life, In ogni umano stato, ozio la vita, Whatever state we live it in, is idle, Se quell'oprar, quel procurar che a degno If all of the exertion has Obbietto non intende, o che all'intento No worthy aim, or has no power Giunger mai non potria, ben si conviene To realise its intent. It’s rightly called Ozioso nomar. La schiera industre Mere idleness. Those labouring crowds, Cui franger glebe o curar piante e greggi Seen in the peace of dawn and seen at eventide, Vede l'alba tranquilla e vede il vespro, Ploughing the soil, or tending crops and herds − Se oziosa dirai, da che sua vita I would be right to call them idle, E' per campar la vita, e per se sola Since their lives are spent sustaining life, La vita all'uom non ha pregio nessuno, And in itself, life has no value Dritto e vero dirai. Le notti e i giorni To the human race. The skilful sailor spends Tragge in ozio il nocchiero; ozio il perenne His days and nights in idleness. Idle, the endless Sudar nelle officine, ozio le vegghie Sweat inside the workshops; idle, the soldier Son de' guerrieri e il perigliar nell'armi; On his watch, and the dangers of a life in arms. E il mercatante avaro in ozio vive: The greedy merchant lives in idleness. Che non a se, non ad altrui, la bella Whatever is the care, the sweat, the watch, Felicità, cui solo agogna e cerca The danger, no-one can gain the joy La natura mortal, veruno acquista Of happiness, for themselves or others − though that is all Per cura o per sudor, vegghia o periglio. That human nature wants and searches for. Pure all'aspro desire onde i mortali And yet for all the longing that has led us, Già sempre infin dal dì che il mondo nacque From the first day that the world was born, D'esser beati sospiraro indarno, To yearn for blessedness and yearn in vain, Di medicina in loco apparecchiate Nature has made a medicine of sorts, Nella vita infelice avea natura A balm for life’s unhappiness. Necessità diverse, a cui non senza Different needs there are that must be met Opra e pensier si provvedesse, e pieno, With thought and toil, so though Poi che lieto non può, corresse il giorno The human race’s day may not run joyfully, All'umana famiglia; onde agitato It’s full and occupied. What we desire E confuso il desio, men loco avesse Is troubled and confused, but has less scope Al travagliarne il cor. Così de' bruti To agitate the heart. In every animal, La progenie infinita, a cui pur solo, This one desire for happiness lives too,

112 113 Nè men vano che a noi, vive nel petto And no less vainly than it does in us. Desio d'esser beati; a quello intenta But they’re intent on what is needed Che a lor vita è mestier, di noi men tristo To survive, and spend their time less sadly Condur si scopre e men gravoso il tempo, And less burdened than we do ours. Nè la lentezza accagionar dell'ore. They do not mourn the slowness of the hours. Ma noi, che il viver nostro all'altrui mano But we, who trust to other people’s hands Provveder commettiamo, una più grave To help us live, are left with still a greater Necessità, cui provveder non puote Need, that no-one but ourselves Altri che noi, già senza tedio e pena Can answer, and then in tedium Non adempiam: necessitate, io dico, And in pain: the need, I mean, Di consumar la vita: improba, invitta Of getting through our lives, the cruel unyielding Necessità, cui non tesoro accolto, Need from which no mass of wealth, Non di greggi dovizia, o pingui campi, Rich flocks or fertile fields, Non aula puote e non purpureo manto No palaces or purple robes, Sottrar l'umana prole. Or s'altri, a sdegno Can free the human race. When one of us, I vóti anni prendendo, e la superna In scorn for all the empty years and hate Luce odiando, l'omicida mano, For heaven’s light, is tempted to anticipate I tardi fati a prevenir condotto, The tardiness of death, yet fails to turn In se stesso non torce; al duro morso His murderous hand against himself, Della brama insanabile che invano The bitter sting of that incurable desire Felicità richiede, esso da tutti That longs in vain for happiness Lati cercando, mille inefficaci Makes him search all Italy for a thousand Medicine procaccia, onde quell'una Ineffectual cures which cannot compensate Cui natura apprestò, mal si compensa. For that one remedy Nature gives to us.

Lui delle vesti e delle chiome il culto One man devotes his days and nights E degli atti e dei passi, e i vani studi To the cult of clothes and hair, Di cocchi e di cavalli, e le frequenti Of gesture and deportment, the vanity Sale, e le piazze romorose, e gli orti, Of coach and horse, of crowded Lui giochi e cene e invidiate danze Salons, noisy squares and public parks, Tengon la notte e il giorno; a lui dal labbro And gambling, dining, envied dancing. Mai non si parte il riso; ahi, ma nel petto, A smile is always on his lips; but in his heart, Nell'imo petto, grave, salda, immota Deep down there − heavy, fixed, immovable, Come colonna adamantina, siede Like a column of steel − eternal boredom Noia immortale, incontro a cui non puote Sits enthroned, which will not be disturbed Vigor di giovanezza, e non la crolla By all youth’s energy, nor shaken by Dolce parola di rosato labbro, Sweet words from rosebud lips E non lo sguardo tenero, tremante, Or tender, trembling glances Di due nere pupille, il caro sguardo, From two dark eyes − the precious glance, La più degna del ciel cosa mortale. The human thing that’s worthiest of heaven.

Altri, quasi a fuggir volto la trista Another man, as if to leave our wretched Umana sorte, in cangiar terre e climi Human fate behind, spends all his time in different

114 115 L'età spendendo, e mari e poggi errando, Countries, different climes, and wanders over Tutto l'orbe trascorre, ogni confine Seas and hills. He crosses the whole globe, Degli spazi che all'uom negl'infiniti Through all the breadth of space, the endless fields Campi del tutto la natura aperse, That nature opens up for humankind, Peregrinando aggiunge. Ahi ahi, s'asside And adds them to his wandering. But blackest care Su l'alte prue la negra cura, e sotto Sits high upon the prow. In every weather, Ogni clima, ogni ciel, si chiama indarno Every sky, happiness is called upon Felicità, vive tristezza e regna. In vain, and sadness lives and reigns.

Havvi chi le crudeli opre di marte Then there are those who choose to spend their time Si elegge a passar l'ore, e nel fraterno In the cruel work of war, and idly steep Sangue la man tinge per ozio; ed havvi Their hands in brothers’ blood. And there are those, Chi d'altrui danni si conforta, e pensa Comforted by other people’s pain, who think Con far misero altrui far se men tristo, That making others wretched will make themselves less sad, Sì che nocendo usar procaccia il tempo. And so they use the time to do their harm. E chi virtute o sapienza ed arti And there are those who seek out goodness, Perseguitando; e chi la propria gente Wisdom, art, to persecute; those who trample on Conculcando e l'estrane, o di remoti Their own and other races, troubling Lidi turbando la quiete antica The ancient peace of foreign shores Col mercatar, con l'armi, e con le frodi, With trade and war and fraud. La destinata sua vita consuma. So they consume the life they have been given.

Te più mite desio, cura più dolce Gentler desires, concerns more sweet, Regge nel fior di gioventù, nel bello Hold sway with you, though, in the flower of youth − April degli anni, altrui giocondo e primo The lovely April of your years, for some Dono del ciel, ma grave, amaro, infesto The very best gift heaven gives, but heavy, bitter, A chi patria non ha. Te punge e move Hostile to those without a home. You have been Studio de' carmi e di ritrar parlando Moved to study poetry, to tell in words Il bel che raro e scarso e fuggitivo The beauty which seems so rare and slight and fugitive Appar nel mondo, e quel che più benigna Throughout the world, but which our fantasy Di natura e del ciel, fecondamente And our own mistakes (kinder than nature A noi la vaga fantasia produce And the gods) produce so richly for us. E il nostro proprio error. Ben mille volte The man is blessed a thousand times Fortunato colui che la caduca Who does not lose the fading power Virtù del caro immaginar non perde Of sweet imagination through the years; Per volger d'anni; a cui serbare eterna Whom fate allows to keep a youthful heart for ever; La gioventù del cor diedero i fati; Who in his strong and in his failing years Che nella ferma e nella stanca etade, Makes nature beautiful, deep down in his mind, Così come solea nell'età verde, As once he used to do in his green age, In suo chiuso pensier natura abbella, Making dead things and the desert bloom. Morte, deserto avviva. A te conceda May heaven grant you this, and may the flame Tanta ventura il ciel; ti faccia un tempo That warms your heart today keep you in love La favilla che il petto oggi ti scalda, With poetry till you grow grey. Already now,

116 117 Di poesia canuto amante. Io tutti I feel the sweet deceptions Della prima stagione i dolci inganni Of my youth are failing me. The images Mancar già sento, e dileguar dagli occhi Of such delight fade from my eyes. Le dilettose immagini, che tanto So much did I love them that, Amai, che sempre infino all'ora estrema Remembering them until my final hour Mi fieno, a ricordar, bramate e piante. Will always make me yearn for them, and weep. Or quando al tutto irrigidito e freddo And when my heart is hard and chilled Questo petto sarà, nè degli aprichi All through, and neither the quiet Campi il sereno e solitario riso, And solitary smile of sunlit meadows, Nè degli augelli mattutini il canto Nor the dawn song of the birds Di primavera, nè per colli e piagge In spring, nor yet the silent moon above Sotto limpido ciel tacita luna The hills and ridges in a limpid sky, Commoverammi il cor; quando mi fia Can touch my heart; when to my mind Ogni beltate o di natura o d'arte, All beauty found in nature or in art Fatta inanime e muta; ogni alto senso, Is lifeless, stilled; when every noble feeling, Ogni tenero affetto, ignoto e strano; All sweet affections, are alien and strange − Del mio solo conforto allor mendico, Then beggared of my only source of solace, Altri studi men dolci, in ch'io riponga I’ll turn to other studies, much less dear, L'ingrato avanzò della ferrea vita, On which the thankless remnant of a life Eleggerò. L'acerbo vero, i ciechi Of iron can then be based. I will search out Destini investigar delle mortali The bitter truths, the hidden destiny E dell'eterne cose; a che prodotta, Of human and eternal things; the reason why A che d'affanni e di miserie carca The human race was born, and why so burdened L'umana stirpe; a quale ultimo intento With such pain and misery; to what last goal Lei spinga il fato e la natura; a cui Fate and nature drive us; who takes delight Tanto nostro dolor diletti o giovi: Or profits from our pain; Con quali ordini e leggi a che si volva By what principles or laws this mysterious Questo arcano universo; il qual di lode Universe is moving, on which the wise Colmano i saggi, io d'ammirar sono pago. Heap praise, and I am satisfied to marvel at.

In questo specolar gli ozi traendo In questions such as these, I’ll spend Verrò: che conosciuto, ancor che tristo, My idle days; for truth, though sad, Ha suoi diletti il vero. E se del vero Has its delights once known. And if at times, Ragionando talor, fieno alle genti Others do not like or understand O mal grati i miei detti o non intesi, My speculations about such truth, Non mi dorrò, che già del tutto il vago I shall not grieve. All of my old desire Desio di gloria antico in me fia spento: For glory will have long been spent. Vana Diva non pur, ma di fortuna Glory − that goddess vain, more blind E del fato e d'amor, Diva più cieca. Than even chance, or fate, or love.

[March 1826]

118 119 XX XX

Il Resorgimento Re-awakening

Credei ch'al tutto fossero My flowering springtime gone, In me, sul fior degli anni, I’d thought the sweet troubles Mancati i dolci affanni Of my early youth were lost, Della mia prima età: The sweet troubles I dolci affanni, i teneri And tender movements Moti del cor profondo, Of my deepest heart, Qualunque cosa al mondo All that in this world Grato il sentir ci fa. Makes us glad to feel.

Quante querele e lacrime What grief and tears were Sparsi nel novo stato, Scattered then in that new life, Quando al mio cor gelato When first the pain had ended Prima il dolor mancò! Within my frozen heart. Mancàr gli usati palpiti, The constant throbbing ceased, L'amor mi venne meno, And love came less and less. E irrigidito il seno There was an end to sighing di sospirar cessò! Within my tightening breast.

Piansi spogliata, esanime I wept for life, made Fatta per me la vita; Desolate for me, La terra inaridita, And for the earth, now barren, Chiusa in eterno gel; Clamped in eternal cold; Deserto il dì; la tacita The empty day, the silent Notte più sola e bruna; Night, more dark and lonelier; Spenta per me la luna, The moon for me extinguished, Spente le stelle in ciel. The stars spent in the sky.

Pur di quel pianto origine And yet the source of weeping Era l'antico affetto: Still remained: the old capacity to feel. Nell'intimo del petto Deep in my troubled spirit, Ancor viveva il cor. My heart was still alive. Chiedea l'usate immagini The tired imagination La stanca fantasia; Sought out old fantasies, E la tristezza mia And still my sadness came Era dolore ancor. With its distress and pain.

Fra poco in me quell'ultimo Soon that last grief dolore anco fu spento, Was also quenched in me;

120 121 E di più far lamento No strength was left in me Valor non mi restò. To mourn now any more. Giacqui: insensato, attonito, I lay there, senseless, stunned, Non dimandai conforto: Not even seeking calm. Quasi perduto e morto, Dead almost, forsaken, Il cor s'abbandonò. My heart gave up itself.

Qual fui! quanto dissimile How changed I was. How different Da quel che tanto ardore, From him who used to nourish once Che sì beato errore Such fire, such marvellous Nutrii nell'alma un dì! Illusions in his soul. La rondinella vigile, The early-waking swallow, Alle finestre intorno Singing outside my window Cantando al novo giorno, In the new day’s light, Il cor non mi ferì: Did not move my heart.

Non all'autunno pallido Nor did the pallid autumn In solitaria villa, In the solitary farms, La vespertina squilla, Nor yet the chimes of evening Il fuggitivo Sol. Or the sun that stole away. Invan brillare il vespero I saw the twilight shine Vidi per muto calle, In vain on silent roads. Invan sonò la valle In vain the valley echoed Del flebile usignol. The plaintive nightingale.

E voi, pupille tenere, And you − those caring eyes Sguardi furtivi, erranti, And sidelong, wandering glance; Voi de' gentili amanti And you, immortal love, Primo, immortale amor, The god of kindly lovers; Ed alla mano offertami And you, the white and naked Candida ignuda mano, Hand placed in my hand; Foste voi pure invano You tried in vain to break Al duro mio sopor. This stupor, fixed and hard.

D'ogni dolcezza vedovo, Robbed of every gentleness Tristo; ma non turbato, And sad, but not upset, Ma placido il mio stato, My whole estate was peaceful, Il volto era seren. My features were serene. Desiderato il termine I might have wished to see Avrei del viver mio; The ending of my life; Ma spento era il desio But all desire had vanished quite Nello spossato sen. In my exhausted heart.

122 123 Qual dell'età decrepita Just like the poor and bare remains L'avanzo ignudo e vile, Of a decrepit time, Io conducea l'aprile This was the way I lived Degli anni miei così: The April of my life. Così quegl'ineffabili This was the way, my heart, Giorni, o mio cor, traevi, I went through days that cannot be described, Che sì fugaci e brevi Those days so short and fleeting Il cielo a noi sortì. That heaven gives us as our fate.

Chi dalla grave, immemore Yet who is this who rouses me Quiete or mi ridesta? From long, forgetful peace? Che virtù nova è questa, What new power is it Questa che sento in me? That I feel inside? Moti soavi, immagini, Images, and sweet motions, Palpiti, error beato, The throbbing, blessed illusions − Per sempre a voi negato Are you to be denied Questo mio cor non è? My heart for ever more?

Siete pur voi quell'unica Are you indeed to be Luce de' giorni miei? That single light for all my days? Gli affetti ch'io perdei The affection that I lost Nella novella età? In earliest years? Se al ciel, s'ai verdi margini, Throughout the sky, along green banks, Ovunque il guardo mira, Wherever vision gazes, Tutto un dolor mi spira, All breathes an anguish to me. Tutto un piacer mi dà. All gives a joy.

Meco ritorna a vivere The fields, the woods, the mountains, La piaggia, il bosco, il monte; Return to life, like me. Parla al mio core il fonte, The springs talk to my heart, Meco favella il mar. The ocean speaks to me. Chi mi ridona il piangere Who gives me back my crying Dopo cotanto obblio? After so long away? E come al guardo mio How can the world appear Cangiato il mondo appar? So changed to me?

Forse la speme, o povero Perhaps, you sorry heart, Mio cor, ti volse un riso? Hope turned to you and laughed. Ahi della speme il viso Oh, I shall never see Io non vedrò mai più. The face of hope again. Proprii mi diede i palpiti, The feelings, sweet illusions, that Natura, e i dolci inganni. Nature gave, were innate. Sopiro in me gli affanni My suffering lulled

124 125 L'ingenita virtù; My inborn powers to sleep.

Non l'annullàr: non vinsela But fate and misadventure Il fato e la sventura; Did not destroy that energy, Non con la vista impura Nor did the darkened face L'infausta verità. Of miserable truth. Dalle mie vaghe immagini I know truth does not match So ben ch'ella discorda: My wandering imaginings, So che natura è sorda, That nature does not hear us Che miserar non sa. And will not sympathise.

Che non del ben sollecita She does not truly care for us, Fu, ma dell'esser solo: Providing we survive. Purchè ci serbi al duolo, Provided that we suffer, Or d'altro a lei non cal. She cares for nothing else. So che pietà fra gli uomini The wretched man discovers Il misero non trova; No pity from his kind; Che lui, fuggendo, a prova And every human being Schernisce ogni mortal. Holds him up to scorn.

Che ignora il tristo secolo And this sad century ignores Gl'ingegni e le virtudi; Both goodness and the mind. Che manca ai degni studi There is no true concern L'ignuda gloria ancor. For even simple glory now. E voi, pupille tremule, And here, these trembling eyes Voi, raggio sovrumano, That are the light of heaven, So che splendete invano, I know you sparkle vainly, Che in voi non brilla amor. Love cannot shine in you.

Nessuno ignoto ed intimo No secret, no intimate Affetto in voi non brilla: Affection can shine in you. Non chiude una favilla That white breast does not hide Quel bianco petto in se. A single tiny spark. Anzi d'altrui le tenere It rather mocks at others Cure suol porre in gioco; Who have some tenderness. E d'un celeste foco Disdain is the reward Disprezzo è la mercè. For the fire that comes from heaven.

Pur sento in me rivivere And yet I feel revive in me Gl'inganni aperti e noti; The age-old, known illusions; E de' suoi proprii moti My soul is full of wonder Si maraviglia il sen. At the tremor that it feels. Da te, mio cor, quest'ultimo In you, my heart, this final

126 127 Spirto, e l'ardor natio, Burning spirit now is born, Ogni conforto mio And every comfort that I have Solo da te mi vien. Now comes from you alone.

Mancano, il sento, all'anima I know that fate and nature, Alta, gentile e pura, And beauty and the world, La sorte, la natura, All fail the noble spirit, Il mondo e la beltà. So gentle and so pure. Ma se tu vivi, o misero, But if, poor heart, you’re still alive, Se non concedi al fato, If you’ve not given in to fate, Non chiamerò spietato I will not call her pitiless chi lo spirar mi dà. Who first breathed life in me.

[April 1828]

128 129 XXI XXI

A Silvia To Silvia

Silvia, rimembri ancora Silvia, NOTE do you remember still Quel tempo della tua vita mortale, That time in your life here, Quando beltà splendea When beauty shone so brightly Negli occhi tuoi ridenti e fuggitivi, In the shy laughter of your eyes, E tu, lieta e pensosa, il limitare And you were pensive, and yet full of joy, Di gioventù salivi? At the threshold of your youth?

Sonavan le quiete The hushed rooms and all Stanze, e le vie dintorno, The streets around rang out Al tuo perpetuo canto, With your continual song, Allor che all'opre femminili intenta As you sat at your woman’s work, Sedevi, assai contenta Intent, happy enough with that vague Di quel vago avvenir che in mente avevi. Future that you dreamed in mind. Era il maggio odoroso: e tu solevi It was sweet-scented May; like that, Così menare il giorno. You used to pass the day.

Io gli studi leggiadri I’d sometimes leave upon one side Talor lasciando e le sudate carte, My pleasant studies and the well-worn page, Ove il tempo mio primo On which my early youth, E di me si spendea la miglior parte, And all the best in me, was spent. D'in su i veroni del paterno ostello And from the terrace of my father’s house, Porgea gli orecchi al suon della tua voce, I’d listen to the music of your voice Ed alla man veloce And the quick clicking of your hand Che percorrea la faticosa tela. As it raced across the tiring loom. Mirava il ciel sereno, I’d gaze out at the stillness of the sky, Le vie dorate e gli orti, At gardens and at golden roads, E quinci il mar da lungi, e quindi il monte. This side the mountains, and that the far-off sea. Lingua mortal non dice No human voice could speak Quel ch'io sentiva in seno. The feelings I felt then.

Che pensieri soavi, What tender thoughts we had, Che speranze, che cori, o Silvia mia! My sweetest Silvia, what hope, what heart. Quale allor ci apparia How fair did human life La vita umana e il fato! And fate seem to us then. Quando sovviemmi di cotanta speme, When I think back on all that hope, Un affetto mi preme A feeling overwhelms me. Acerbo e sconsolato, Bitter, unconsolable, E tornami a doler di mia sventura. I turn again to mourn my wretched life.

130 131 O natura, o natura, Ah nature, nature, why Perchè non rendi poi Did you not keep the promises Quel che prometti allor? perchè di tanto You gave? Why so deceive Inganni i figli tuoi? The children who are yours?

Tu pria che l'erbe inaridisse il verno, Before the winter’s cold had seared the grass, Da chiuso morbo combattuta e vinta, Some hidden sickness struck and conquered you. Perivi, o tenerella. E non vedevi You died, sweet gentle child, and never saw Il fior degli anni tuoi; Your years burst into bloom. Non ti molceva il core Nor did men move your heart La dolce lode or delle negre chiome, With sweet praises of your dark, black hair, Or degli sguardi innamorati e schivi; Or of the winning shyness in your eyes. Nè teco le compagne ai dì festivi Nor did your friends on holidays Ragionavan d'amore Talk longingly with you of love.

Anche peria fra poco And not long after, my own fond hopes La speranza mia dolce: agli anni miei Died too. The fates denied Anche negaro i fati To me, too, any youth. La giovanezza. Ahi come, How you have gone away Come passata sei, And vanished quite, Cara compagna dell'età mia nova, Beloved companion of my early years: Mia lacrimata speme! The hope that I now mourn. Questo è quel mondo? questi Is this the world? Are these I diletti, l'amor, l'opre, gli eventi The joys, the love, the work, and all the things Onde cotanto ragionammo insieme? We used to talk about so much together? Questa la sorte dell'umane genti? Is this the fate of humankind? All'apparir del vero The moment truth appeared, Tu, misera, cadesti: e con la mano You fell apart, poor thing; and pointed La fredda morte ed una tomba ignuda Far away towards the cold of death, Mostravi di lontano. And a tomb, unmarked.

[April 1828]

132 133 XXII XXII

Le Ricordanze Memories

Vaghe stelle dell'Orsa, io non credea Lovely constellation of the Plough, I never thought Tornare ancor per uso a contemplarvi I would return to gaze at you, Sul paterno giardino scintillanti, Glittering above my father’s garden, E ragionar con voi dalle finestre Or talk with you from the windows Di questo albergo ove abitai fanciullo, Of this same house I lived in as a boy, E delle gioie mie vidi la fine. And where I saw my joy come to an end. Quante immagini un tempo, e quante fole What imaginings, what flights of fancy, Creommi nel pensier l'aspetto vostro The sight of you and your companion stars E delle luci a voi compagne! allora Would quicken in me then. Che, tacito, seduto in verde zolla, Silent, I’d sit down on the grass Delle sere io solea passar gran parte And spend the best part of each evening Mirando il cielo, ed ascoltando il canto Watching the sky, and listening to the croaking Della rana rimota alla campagna! Of the frogs far distant in the countryside. E la lucciola errava appo le siepi The fireflies flickered here and there E in su l'aiuole, susurrando al vento Among the hedges and the flowers, I viali odorati, ed i cipressi While scented avenues and woods of cypresses Là nella selva; e sotto al patrio tetto Were murmuring in the wind. Inside my father’s house, Sonavan voci alterne, e le tranquille Voices floated back and forth, as servants Opre de' servi. E che pensieri immensi, Quietly went about their work. But what vast thoughts Che dolci sogni mi spirò la vista And what sweet visions breathed in me at the sight Di quel lontano mar, quei monti azzurri, Of the far-off sea, and those blue mountains Che di qua scopro, e che varcare un giorno I can see from here, and that I hoped Io mi pensava, arcani mondi, arcana To cross one day. I conjured up mysterious worlds Felicità fingendo al viver mio! And secret happiness for myself. Ignaro del mio fato, e quante volte I did not know my fate, nor how often Questa mia vita dolorosa e nuda I would have willingly exchanged Volentier con la morte avrei cangiato. That bare and sorry life for death.

Nè mi diceva il cor che l'età verde My heart had never warned that my green youth Sarei dannato a consumare in questo Would be condemned to wither in this barbarous Natio borgo selvaggio, intra una gente Town where I was born − among these boors Zotica, vil; cui nomi strani, e spesso And louts − where knowledge, wisdom, Argomento di riso e di trastullo, Are just foreign words, a cause for laughter Son dottrina e saper; che m'odia e fugge, And for mockery. They hate and shun me, Per invidia non già, che non mi tiene Not out of envy, for they don’t think me Maggior di se, ma perchè tale estima Better than themselves. But they consider Ch'io mi tenga in cor mio, sebben di fuori That I think so, deep down in my heart, A persona giammai non ne fo segno. Though I give no sign of that to anyone.

134 135 Qui passo gli anni, abbandonato, occulto, And so I spend the years, alone, obscure, Senz'amor, senza vita; ed aspro a forza No love, no life. I’m forced to grow Tra lo stuol de' malevoli divengo: Resentful to this crowd who wish me ill. Qui di pietà mi spoglio e di virtudi, Taught by these animals, I’m stripped of kindliness E sprezzator degli uomini mi rendo, And goodness, and made to scorn Per la greggia ch'ho appresso: e intanto vola All humankind. And all the while, Il caro tempo giovanil; più caro My precious hours of youth fly by, dearer Che la fama e l'allor, più che la pura Than any laurel crown, dearer than the light Luce del giorno, e lo spirar: ti perdo Of day, or breath itself. In this inhuman place, Senza un diletto, inutilmente, in questo I lose my youth, without one sole delight, Soggiorno disumano, intra gli affanni, Quite pointlessly, with trouble all around − O dell'arida vita unico fiore. The only flower in all my barren life.

Viene il vento recando il suon dell'ora Borne on the wind from the town clock tower Dalla torre del borgo. Era conforto Comes the striking of the hour. I remember how Questo suon, mi rimembra, alle mie notti, It used to comfort me, that sound, those nights Quando fanciullo, nella buia stanza, Of boyhood when I lay in my dark room, Per assidui terrori io vigilava, Waiting through the terrors of the night Sospirando il mattin. Qui non è cosa And longing for the dawn. In this place, nothing that Ch'io vegga o senta, onde un'immagin dentro I see or hear does not bring back some image Non torni, e un dolce rimembrar non sorga. Once again, or waken some sweet memory. Dolce per se; ma con dolor sottentra Dear in themselves; but thoughts of the present Il pensier del presente, un van desio Creep back with pain, vain longing for times past, Del passato, ancor tristo, e il dire: io fui. Sad though they were, and the words, I was. Quella loggia colà, volta agli estremi The loggia over there, facing the last rays Raggi del dì; queste dipinte mura, Of the sun, those painted walls, and herds of cattle Quei figurati armenti, e il Sol che nasce Pictured there, the daylight dawning over Su romita campagna, agli ozi miei Open countryside − all offered to my leisure time Porser mille diletti allor che al fianco Innumerable delights. Yet always, by my side, M'era, parlando, il mio possente errore I had a strong illusion that talked to me, Sempre, ov'io fossi. In queste sale antiche, Wherever I might be. In these old rooms, Al chiaror delle nevi, intorno a queste Lit by the snow outside, the wind would whistle Ampie finestre sibilando il vento, Round the windows and their ample frame. Rimbombaro i sollazzi e le festose Our games and playful voices echoed, Mie voci al tempo che l'acerbo, indegno And at a time when all the bitter, shameful Mistero delle cose a noi si mostra Mystery of things still seemed to us Pien di dolcezza; indelibata, intera So full of sweetness. Like some virgin lover, Il garzoncel, come inesperto amante, The boy gazes on deceptive life, La sua vita ingannevole vagheggia, Untasted and untried, imagining E celeste beltà fingendo ammira. A beauty from the heavens that he may marvel at.

O speranze, speranze; ameni inganni O hope, dear hope − the sweet illusion Della mia prima età! sempre, parlando, Of my early years. My talk keeps on

136 137 Ritorno a voi; che per andar di tempo, Circling back to you. For all time’s changes, Per variar d'affetti e di pensieri, For all the change in thoughts and feelings, Obbliarvi non so. Fantasmi, intendo, I can’t forget you. Honour and glory, I know well, Son la gloria e l'onor; diletti e beni Are merest phantoms; joy and goodness Mero desio; non ha la vita un frutto, Mere desire; and life, a worthless misery Inutile miseria. E sebben vóti That bears no fruit. And yet, however empty Son gli anni miei, sebben deserto, oscuro My years may be, however dark and arid Il mio stato mortal, poco mi toglie The condition of my life, fate, I know, robs me La fortuna, ben veggo. Ahi, ma qualvolta Of little. Whenever, though, I think A voi ripenso, o mie speranze antiche, Of you, my hopes of long ago, Ed a quel caro immaginar mio primo; And of those first dear dreams of youth, Indi riguardo il viver mio sì vile And then regard my vile, unhappy E sì dolente, e che la morte è quello Life, and realise that death Che di cotanta speme oggi m'avanza; Is what remains of all that hope, Sento serrarmi il cor, sento ch'al tutto I feel my heart close up, and feel that never Consolarmi non so del mio destino. Could I be at one with such a destiny. E quando pur questa invocata morte And when at last this long-entreated death Sarammi allato, e sarà giunto il fine Is by my side, and my misfortunes Della sventura mia; quando la terra Are at an end, and when this earth Mi fia straniera valle, e dal mio sguardo Becomes a valley strange to me, the future Fuggirà l'avvenir; di voi per certo Vanishing from sight, I know for sure Risovverrammi; e quell'imago ancora I’ll still remember you. Your image still Sospirar mi farà, farammi acerbo Will make me yearn, and feel the bitterness L'esser vissuto indarno, e la dolcezza Of having lived in vain. The sweetness Del dì fatal tempererà d'affanno. Of my dying day will mingle with distress.

E già nel primo giovanil tumulto Already, in the first tumultuous years of youth, Di contenti, d'angosce e di desio, Of happiness, and anguish, and desire, Morte chiamai più volte, e lungamente I’d often call on death, and sit Mi sedetti colà su la fontana A long time there beside the garden pool, Pensoso di cessar dentro quell'acque And think to end beneath its waters La speme e il dolor mio. Poscia, per cieco All my hopes and griefs. Then, when a unknown Malor, condotto della vita in forse, Illness struck, endangering my life, Piansi la bella giovanezza, e il fiore I mourned for lovely youth, for the flower De' miei poveri dì, che sì per tempo Of my poor days, fading away Cadeva: e spesso all'ore tarde, assiso Before their time. And often, late at night, Sul conscio letto, dolorosamente Sitting upon the bed that was the only witness, Alla fioca lucerna poetando, I sadly wrote my poetry by the dim light of the lamp. Lamentai co' silenzi e con la notte And in the silence of the night, I mourned Il fuggitivo spirto, ed a me stesso My spirit as it slipped from me, and sang In sul languir cantai funereo canto. To my enfeebled self a song of death.

Chi rimembrar vi può senza sospiri, Who can remember you and not lament −

138 139 O primo entrar di giovinezza, o giorni Youth, when you first appear? The wondrous Vezzosi, inenarrabili, allor quando Days that cannot be described, when girls Al rapito mortal primieramente Start smiling at the lovestruck boy, Sorridon le donzelle; a gara intorno And everything is smiling as it gathers Ogni cosa sorride; invidia tace, Round. Envy is silent − Non desta ancora ovver benigna; e quasi Not wakened yet or still in friendly mood. (Inusitata maraviglia!) il mondo It seems as if the world (what unaccustomed miracle!) La destra soccorrevole gli porge, Holds out its hand to help him, Scusa gli errori suoi, festeggia il novo Excuses his mistakes, applauds his first Suo venir nella vita, ed inchinando Appearance on the stage of life, and bowing low, Mostra che per signor l'accolga e chiami? Shows that she knows him as her lord, and calls him so. Fugaci giorni! a somigliar d'un lampo Days quick as lightning, vanished Son dileguati. E qual mortale ignaro In a flash. What human being cannot know Di sventura esser può, se a lui già scorsa Misfortune, once that brief and brilliant time Quella vaga stagion, se il suo buon tempo, Has gone, and when the best of times − Se giovanezza, ahi giovanezza, è spenta? Youth, youth, youth − has passed away.

O Nerina! e di te forse non odo And you, Nerina. NOTE Do I not hear these places Questi luoghi parlar? caduta forse Speak as much of you? Could you have ever Dal mio pensier sei tu? Dove sei gita, Vanished from my mind? Where have you gone, Che qui sola di te la ricordanza My sweetest one, that all I find of you Trovo, dolcezza mia? Più non ti vede Are memories? The countryside where you were born Questa Terra natal: quella finestra, No longer sees you. The window there, Ond'eri usata favellarmi, ed onde From which you used to talk to me, Mesto riluce delle stelle il raggio, That now reflects the sad light of the stars, E' deserta. Ove sei, che più non odo Is empty now. Where are you? No longer La tua voce sonar, siccome un giorno, Do I hear your voice as once I did, Quando soleva ogni lontano accento When the faintest sound that your lips made Del labbro tuo, ch'a me giungesse, il volto Would, as I came to hear it, make my face Scolorarmi? Altro tempo. I giorni tuoi Turn pale. It was another time. Your days, sweet love, Furo, mio dolce amor. Passasti. Ad altri Have been and gone. You passed away. Now others Il passar per la terra oggi è sortito, Have their turn to walk upon the earth E l'abitar questi odorati colli. And make a home among these fragrant hills. Ma rapida passasti; e come un sogno You passed so quickly by. Your life was like Fu la tua vita. Ivi danzando; in fronte A dream. Dancing you went, your face La gioia ti splendea, splendea negli occhi Alight with joy. And shining in your eyes, Quel confidente immaginar, quel lume That vision of such confidence, that light Di gioventù, quando spegneali il fato, Of youth, until fate quenched them, E giacevi. Ahi Nerina! In cor mi regna And you lay still. Oh Nerina… the age-old love L'antico amor. Se a feste anco talvolta, Still reigns within my heart. If ever I go Se a radunanze io movo, infra me stesso To parties or where there’s celebration, Dico: o Nerina, a radunanze, a feste I say to myself, ‘Nerina, you can never dress Tu non ti acconci più, tu più non movi. For parties or for celebrations now.’

140 141 Se torna maggio, e ramoscelli e suoni And when May comes round again, and lovers Van gli amanti recando alle fanciulle, Greet their girls with songs and branches full of flowers, Dico: Nerina mia, per te non torna I say to her, ‘Nerina, never will the spring Primavera giammai, non torna amore. Return for you, never will love return.’ Ogni giorno sereno, ogni fiorita With every cloudless day and every flowering Piaggia ch'io miro, ogni goder ch'io sento, Field I see, and every joy I feel, Dico: Nerina or più non gode; i campi, I say, ‘Nerina now feels joy no more. She cannot L'aria non mira. Ahi tu passasti, eterno See the fields or sky.’ Ah you have gone Sospiro mio: passasti: e fia compagna As my eternal sigh. You have gone. And all my D'ogni mio vago immaginar, di tutti Fair illusions, all my tender feelings, I miei teneri sensi, i tristi e cari And the dear, sad stirrings Moti del cor, la rimembranza acerba. Of my heart, have as companions now Nothing but the bitter memory.

[August − September 1829]

142 143 XXIII XXIII

Canto Notturno Night Song di un Pastore Errante dell' Asia of a Wandering Shepherd of Asia

Che fai tu, luna, in ciel? dimmi, che fai, Why are you there, moon, in the sky? Tell me, Silenziosa luna? Silent moon, why are you there? Sorgi la sera, e vai, You rise at eventide, and go Contemplando i deserti; indi ti posi. To contemplate deserted places; and then you set. Ancor non sei tu paga Have you not yet had enough Di riandare i sempiterni calli? Of travelling these everlasting ways? Ancor non prendi a schivo, ancor sei vaga Are you not tired of it, or are you still content Di mirar queste valli? To gaze down on these valleys? Somiglia alla tua vita A shepherd’s life La vita del pastore. Is like the life you live. Sorge in sul primo albore He rises at first light, Move la greggia oltre pel campo, e vede And leads his flock across the fields. He sees Greggi, fontane ed erbe; The flocks, the streams, the grass. Poi stanco si riposa in su la sera: Then tired out, he takes his rest as evening falls. Altro mai non ispera. He hopes for nothing more. Dimmi, o luna: a che vale Moon, tell me what worth Al pastor la sua vita, The shepherd’s life to him, La vostra vita a voi? dimmi: ove tende Or yours to you? Tell me: where Questo vagar mio breve, Does my brief wandering lead Il tuo corso immortale? Or your immortal course?

Vecchierel bianco, infermo, A sick, white-haired old man − Mezzo vestito e scalzo, Half naked, with bare feet, Con gravissimo fascio in su le spalle, A heavy load upon his shoulders, Per montagna e per valle, Across mountains and the valleys, Per sassi acuti, ed alta rena, e fratte, Across sharp rocks, deep sands and thickets, Al vento, alla tempesta, e quando avvampa In wind and storm, in days of scorching L'ora, e quando poi gela, Heat and then of bitter frost − Corre via, corre, anela, Runs on and on, runs gasping Varca torrenti e stagni, Through the swamps and raging streams, Cade, risorge, e più e più s'affretta, Falls down, gets up again, and rushes on Senza posa o ristoro, Without a pause for rest, Lacero, sanguinoso; infin ch'arriva Tattered and streaming blood, until at last Colà dove la via He comes to that place where all his efforts, E dove il tanto affaticar fu volto: All the roads, have led: Abisso orrido, immenso, A ghastly, bottomless abyss Ov'ei precipitando, il tutto obblia. In which he flings himself, into oblivion.

144 145 Vergine luna, tale Virgin moon, such E' la vita mortale. Is human life.

Nasce l'uomo a fatica, Mankind is born through labour. Ed è rischio di morte il nascimento. There is a risk of death in being born. Prova pena e tormento The very first things that we feel Per prima cosa; e in sul principio stesso Are pain and suffering; and from the start, La madre e il genitore Our mothers and our fathers Il prende a consolar dell'esser nato. Comfort us for being born. Poi che crescendo viene, Then, as we grow, L'uno e l'altro il sostiene, e via pur sempre They both support us, Con atti e con parole And try through word and deed Studiasi fargli core, To give us heart, E consolarlo dell'umano stato: And to console us for our human state. Altro ufficio più grato No kinder deed is done Non si fa da parenti alla lor prole. By parents for their children. Ma perchè dare al sole, Yet why bring babies to the light Perchè reggere in vita Of day, and keep them then alive, Chi poi di quella consolar convenga? If they need consolation all their lives? Se la vita è sventura, If life is nothing but misfortune, Perchè da noi si dura? Why must we bear it all? Intatta luna, tale Such is, unblemished moon, E' lo stato mortale. The state of humankind. Ma tu mortal non sei, But yet you are not mortal, E forse del mio dir poco ti cale. May give small heed to what I say.

Pur tu, solinga, eterna peregrina, And yet a lonely, everlasting wanderer like you, Che sì pensosa sei, tu forse intendi, So full of thought, perhaps may understand Questo viver terreno, The lives we lead on earth: Il patir nostro, il sospirar, che sia; The ways we suffer, why we grieve, Che sia questo morir, questo supremo And what our dying means, the final Scolorar del sembiante, Whitening of our features, E perir dalla terra, e venir meno The vanishing from earth, the loss Ad ogni usata, amante compagnia. Of all familiar, loving friends. E tu certo comprendi You surely understand Il perchè delle cose, e vedi il frutto The reason for it all, and see the fruit Del mattin, della sera, That morning and the evening bring, Del tacito, infinito andar del tempo. The endless, silent stream of time. Tu sai, tu certo, a qual suo dolce amore You know, you surely know, on what sweet love Rida la primavera, Of hers the springtime smiles, A chi giovi l'ardore, e che procacci Who benefits from scorching heat, Il verno co' suoi ghiacci. And from the winter with its frosts. Mille cose sai tu, mille discopri, You know and show a thousand things

146 147 Che son celate al semplice pastore. Still hidden from a simple shepherd. Spesso quand'io ti miro Often, as I gaze on you, hanging Star così muta in sul deserto piano, So silently above the empty plain Che, in suo giro lontano, al ciel confina; That in its distant sweep meets with the sky, Ovver con la mia greggia Or when I see you follow, Seguirmi viaggiando a mano a mano; Step by step, my flock and me, E quando miro in cielo arder le stelle; Or when I watch the stars blaze in the sky, Dico fra me pensando: I think to myself: A che tante facelle? ‘Why so many sparks of light? Che fa l'aria infinita, e quel profondo Why this everlasting air, this deep and endless Infinito Seren? che vuol dir questa Clarity of sky? What is the meaning Solitudine immensa? ed io che sono? Of this vast solitude? And what am I?’ Così meco ragiono: e della stanza I ponder on this measureless Smisurata e superba, And wondrous space, the countless E dell'innumerabile famiglia; Company of stars, Poi di tanto adoprar, di tanti moti The vast workings and the endless motion D'ogni celeste, ogni terrena cosa, Of everything on earth or in the sky, Girando senza posa, Circling around unceasingly Per tornar sempre là donde son mosse; To come back always to their starting place − Uso alcuno, alcun frutto And I cannot see the point Indovinar non so. Ma tu per certo, Or purpose of it all. But you for sure − a girl Giovinetta immortal, conosci il tutto. Who will not die − will understand it all. Questo io conosco e sento, Only this I know and feel: Che degli eterni giri, These ever-turning spheres, Che dell'esser mio frale, And I, who am so frail, Qualche bene o contento May bring about some good, perhaps, Avrà fors'altri; a me la vita è male. For someone else. And yet for me, life is an evil.

O greggia mia che posi, oh te beata, My flock, you lie at ease, happy, I think, Che la miseria tua, credo, non sai! Because you do not know your wretchedness. Quanta invidia ti porto! How much I envy you − Non sol perchè d'affanno Not just because you live Quasi libera vai; Almost free of all distress, Ch'ogni stento, ogni danno, And soon forget all hardship, Ogni estremo timor subito scordi; Each hurt, each terrifying fear, Ma più perchè giammai tedio non provi. But more, because you feel no tedium. Quando tu siedi all'ombra, sovra l'erbe, When you lie down in the shade, upon the grass, Tu se' queta e contenta; You’re peaceful and content. E gran parte dell'anno You spend a large part of the year Senza noia consumi in quello stato. In that untroubled state. Ed io pur seggo sovra l'erbe, all'ombra, But if I sit upon the grass, and in the shade, E un fastidio m'ingombra A weariness will cloud my mind, La mente, ed uno spron quasi mi punge As if a thorn had pricked me.

148 149 Sì che, sedendo, più che mai son lunge Sitting there, I’m further still Da trovar pace o loco. From finding peace or rest. E pur nulla non bramo, And yet there’s nothing that I need, E non ho fino a qui cagion di pianto. And up to now, no reason for complaint. Quel che tu goda o quanto, I cannot tell the things that you enjoy, Non so già dir; ma fortunata sei. Or why. And yet, my flock, Ed io godo ancor poco, You’re fortunate. There’s little still O greggia mia, nè di ciò sol mi lagno. That I enjoy, though that’s not all I mourn. Se tu parlar sapessi, io chiederei: If you could speak, I’d ask you this: Dimmi: perchè giacendo ‘Why can all animals A bell'agio, ozioso, Lie down in peaceful idleness, S'appaga ogni animale; And take their ease? Yet why, if I lie down Me, s'io giaccio in riposo, il tedio assale? To rest, does boredom overwhelm?’

Forse s'avess'io l'ale If I had wings, perhaps, Da volar su le nubi, To soar above the clouds E noverar le stelle ad una ad una, And count the stars there, one by one, O come il tuono errar di giogo in giogo, Or like the thunder roam from peak to peak, Più felice sarei, dolce mia greggia, I would be happier, gentle flock, Più felice sarei, candida luna. I would be happier, radiant moon. O forse erra dal vero, But then, perhaps I’ve simply missed the truth Mirando all'altrui sorte, il mio pensiero: By looking in this way at other people’s lives. Forse in qual forma, in quale Perhaps whatever form, whatever state Stato che sia, dentro covile o cuna, It’s in, whether in a cradle or a lair, E' funesto a chi nasce il dì natale. The day that each of us is born is dark.

[October 1829 − April 1830]

150 151 XXIV XXIV

La Quiete dopo la Tempesta The Calm after the Storm

Passata è la tempesta: The storm is over now. Odo augelli far festa, e la gallina, I hear the birds sing out in joy. The hen, Tornata in su la via, Back now upon the path, begins her cackling Che ripete il suo verso. Ecco il sereno Once again. Look how the clear sky Rompe là da ponente, alla montagna; Opens from the west above the mountain-tops. Sgombrasi la campagna, The countryside begins to clear, E chiaro nella valle il fiume appare. And down there in the valley, the river gleams. Ogni cor si rallegra, in ogni lato All hearts are glad again, and far and wide, Risorge il romorio The noise of work starts up Torna il lavoro usato. As business resumes. L'artigiano a mirar l'umido cielo, The craftsman comes out singing Con l'opra in man, cantando, At his door, his work in hand, Fassi in su l'uscio; a prova And gazes at the glistening sky. Vien fuor la femminetta a còr dell'acqua A girl runs out to draw the water, Della novella piova; Fresh from the recent rain. E l'erbaiuol rinnova From street to street, Di sentiero in sentiero The vegetable seller Il grido giornaliero. Takes up his daily cry again. Ecco il Sol che ritorna, ecco sorride Look − the sun’s come back. Look Per li poggi e le ville. Apre i balconi, How it smiles on hills and farms. Servants throw Apre terrazzi e logge la famiglia: The windows, terraces, loggias, open wide; E, dalla via corrente, odi lontano And far off on the highway, you can hear Tintinnio di sonagli; il carro stride The jingle of a harness, the creaking of a coach, Del passegger che il suo cammin ripiglia. As travellers start off again upon the road.

Si rallegra ogni core. Every heart is light with joy. Sì dolce, sì gradita When was life as sweet, Quand'è, com'or, la vita? As welcoming as now? Quando con tanto amore When else did mankind bend L'uomo a' suoi studi intende? To studying, or turn to work, O torna all'opre? o cosa nova imprende? With so much love? Start something new, Quando de' mali suoi men si ricorda? Or ever think less of its own distress? Piacer figlio d'affanno; Joy is born of pain, Gioia vana, ch'è frutto But it is hollow joy, the fruit of Del passato timore, onde si scosse Terror that has passed, E paventò la morte Making even those who loathed their lives Chi la vita abborria; Shiver with the fear of death. Onde in lungo tormento, And so, in long-drawn torment,

152 153 Fredde, tacite, smorte, People sweat and tremble, Sudàr le genti e palpitàr, vedendo Shivering, silent, pale, while they see, Mossi alle nostre offese Against them gathering round, Folgori, nembi e vento. Lightning, clouds, and wind.

O natura cortese, Kindly nature, Son questi i doni tuoi, These are the gifts you give, Questi i diletti sono These the delights you offer Che tu porgi ai mortali. Uscir di pena Humankind. Freedom from pain E' diletto fra noi. Is such delight for us. Pene tu spargi a larga mano; il duolo You scatter suffering with a generous hand. Spontaneo sorge: e di piacer, quel tanto Sorrow springs up of its own accord; Che per mostro e miracolo talvolta Whatever pleasure, by some miracle or magic, Nasce d'affanno, è gran guadagno. Umana Is born of grief, is a great gain. The human Prole cara agli eterni! assai felice Race, the darling of the gods! Just happy Se respirar ti lice If we find a breathing space D'alcun dolor: beata Between our griefs; and blessed Se te d'ogni dolor morte risana. When all our pain is healed by death.

[September 1829]

154 155 XXV XXV

Il Sabato del Villaggio A Village Saturday

La donzelletta vien dalla campagna, The country girl comes in now from the fields, In sul calar del sole, Before the sun goes down, Col suo fascio dell'erba; e reca in mano Carrying her truss of hay, and in her hand, Un mazzolin di rose e di viole, A bunch of roses and of violets. Onde, siccome suole, As is the way, she’ll decorate Ornare ella si appresta Her bodice and her hair with them Dimani, al dì di festa, il petto e il crine. To celebrate tomorrow’s holiday. Siede con le vicine With all her neighbours round, Su la scala a filar la vecchierella, The old woman sits spinning on the steps, Incontro là dove si perde il giorno; Turning towards the dying light, E novellando vien del suo buon tempo, Telling the tale of her young days Quando ai dì della festa ella si ornava, When she dressed up for holidays, Ed ancor sana e snella And how, still slim and lovely then, Solea danzar la sera intra di quei She used to dance the evenings away Ch'ebbe compagni dell'età più bella. With all her boyfriends in her shining youth. Già tutta l'aria imbruna, The whole sky now begins to gloom, Torna azzurro il sereno, e tornan l'ombre Air turns a deeper blue, and shadows Giù da' colli e da' tetti, Stretch out from the hills and roofs Al biancheggiar della recente luna. Beneath the whiteness of the rising moon. Or la squilla dà segno And now the bells announce Della festa che viene; The coming holiday; Ed a quel suon diresti And at that sound, it seems, Che il cor si riconforta. Each heart is comforted once more. I fanciulli gridando A gang of little boys shout out Su la piazzuola in frotta, Around the tiny square, E qua e là saltando, Jumping here and jumping there, Fanno un lieto romore: Making a cheerful din. E intanto riede alla sua parca mensa, Meanwhile, the labourer goes whistling home, Fischiando, il zappatore, Back to his simple meal, E seco pensa al dì del suo riposo. And thinks about his day of rest.

Poi quando intorno è spenta ogni altra face, Then, when all the other lights around are out, E tutto l'altro tace, And all things else are quiet, Odi il martel picchiare, odi la sega You hear a hammer tapping, hear a saw. Del legnaiuol, che veglia The carpenter is still awake. Nella chiusa bottega alla lucerna, His shop is shut; but in the lamplight, E s'affretta, e s'adopra He sweats and strains Di fornir l'opra anzi il chiarir dell'alba. To get things finished before the dawn.

156 157 Questo di sette è il più gradito giorno, This is the best-loved day of all the week, Pien di speme e di gioia: So full of hope and joy. Diman tristezza e noia Tomorrow, the hours will bring back Recheran l'ore, ed al travaglio usato Sadness, boredom, and make each person Ciascuno in suo pensier farà ritorno. Turn to think of their accustomed toil.

Garzoncello scherzoso, You lively little lad, Cotesta età fiorita This blossom-time of yours E' come un giorno d'allegrezza pieno, Is like a day of pure delight, Giorno chiaro, sereno, A clear and cloudless day Che precorre alla festa di tua vita. That heralds your life’s festival. Godi, fanciullo mio; stato soave, Enjoy it, little boy. This is a state Stagion lieta è cotesta. Of bliss, a glad and pleasant season. Altro dirti non vo'; ma la tua festa I’ll say no more. But if your festival Ch'anco tardi a venir non ti sia grave. Seems a long time in arriving, let that not make you grieve.

[September 1829]

158 159 XXVI XXVI

Il Pensiero Dominante Sovereign Thought

Dolcissimo, possente Sweetest and most powerful Dominator di mia profonda mente; Ruler of my inmost mind, Terribile, ma caro Terrible yet cherished Dono del ciel; consorte Gift from heaven, companion Ai lúgubri miei giorni, Of my darkest days − Pensier che innanzi a me sì spesso torni. Thought, so often do you stir inside of me.

Di tua natura arcana Who does not talk about Chi non favella? Il suo poter fra noi The mystery of your being? And who among us Chi non sentì? Pur sempre Has not felt your power? And yet whenever Che in dir gli effetti suoi Our own feelings spur our tongues Le umane lingue il sentir propio sprona, To tell of your effects, Par novo ad ascoltar ciò ch'ei ragiona. You always seem to speak as something new.

Come solinga è fatta How lonely has my mind La mente mia d'allora Become, since you began Che tu quivi prendesti a far dimora! To take it for your home. Ratto d'intorno intorno al par del lampo Swift as a lightning flash from all around, Gli altri pensieri miei My other thoughts Tutti si dileguàr. Siccome torre All disappeared. And like a tower In solitario campo, Upon an empty plain, Tu stai solo, gigante, in mezzo a lei. You stood gigantic, and alone.

Che divenute son, fuor di te solo, What meaning now have Tutte l'opre terrene, All the world’s affairs Tutta intera la vita al guardo mio! And even life itself, compared with you? Che intollerabil noia How tedious and unbearable Gli ozi, i commerci usati, Our amusements seem − the daily intercourse, E di vano piacer la vana spene, The vain pleasures that we hope in vain − Allato a quella gioia, Beside that joy, Gioia celeste che da te mi viene! The heavenly joy that comes from you.

Come da' nudi sassi Just as the traveller is glad Dello scabro Apennino To turn his eyes from bare rock A un campo verde che lontan sorrida In the rugged Apennines Volge gli occhi bramoso il pellegrino; Towards a green field sunlit far away, Tal io dal secco ed aspro So eagerly I turn away Mondano conversar vogliosamente, From arid, strident conversations with the world

160 161 Quasi in lieto giardino, a te ritorno, Towards a lovely garden − return to you E ristora i miei sensi il tuo soggiorno. And stay, and so restore my soul.

Quasi incredibil parmi It seems well nigh incredible Che la vita infelice e il mondo sciocco That I’ve endured this wretched life Già per gran tempo assai And foolish world Senza te sopportai; So long a time without you. Quasi intender non posso And scarcely can I understand Come d'altri desiri, Why other people yearn for anything Fuor ch'a te somiglianti, altri sospiri. That does not seem like you.

Giammai d'allor che in pria Since first I learned through living Questa vita che sia per prova intesi, What life was like, the fear of death Timor di morte non mi strinse il petto. Has never gripped my heart. Oggi mi pare un gioco It seems a joke today − Quella che il mondo inetto, That last necessity Talor lodando, ognora abborre e trema, Which this foolish world, that sometimes Necessitade estrema; Praises it, still abhors and trembles at. E se periglio appar, con un sorriso Should danger come, I pause Le sue minacce a contemplar m'affiso. And contemplate its menace with a smile.

Sempre i codardi, e l'alme I always have despised the coward, Ingenerose, abbiette And anyone of selfish heart. Ebbi in dispregio. Or punge ogni atto indegno But now, each shameful act Subito i sensi miei; Stings me instantly. Move l'alma ogni esempio Now, each human act that’s vile Dell'umana viltà subito a sdegno. Rouses my heart at once to scorn. Di questa età superba, I feel I am above Che di vote speranze si nutrica, This haughty age that feeds Vaga di ciance, e di virtù nemica; Itself on empty hopes, Stolta, che l'util chiede, In love with gossip, loathing virtue, E inutile la vita And asking foolishly for useful things, Quindi più sempre divenir non vede; Not seeing how our lives grow useless Maggior mi sento. A scherno More and more. Human judgments Ho gli umani giudizi; e il vario volgo I truly scorn. I trample on A' bei pensieri infesto, The motley crowds who hate E degno tuo disprezzator, calpesto. True thought, and who despise your worth.

A quello onde tu movi, What feeling is not inferior Quale affetto non cede? To that which gave you birth? Anzi qual altro affetto In truth, what other feeling, Se non quell'uno intra i mortali ha sede? Save this one, holds power in human hearts? Avarizia, superbia, odio, disdegno, Avarice, ambition, hate, disdain,

162 163 Studio d'onor, di regno, Love of honour, and of power − Che sono altro che voglie What are they but mere appetites Al paragon di lui? Solo un affetto Compared with this? Only one feeling Vive tra noi: quest'uno, Is alive to us. Eternal law Prepotente signore, Has given us a single lord Dieder l'eterne leggi all'uman core. To reign inside the human heart.

Pregio non ha, non ha ragion la vita Life has no worth or meaning Se non per lui, per lui ch'all'uomo è tutto; Save in this, which to us is everything. Sola discolpa al fato, It alone can pardon fate Che noi mortali in terra For putting human beings on the earth Pose a tanto patir senz'altro frutto; To no avail but suffering. Solo per cui talvolta, In this one feeling, Non alla gente stolta, al cor non vile Life seems more kind than death, La vita della morte è più gentile. If not to fools, then to the generous heart.

Per còr le gioie tue, dolce pensiero, Because of all the joy you brought, sweet thought, Provar gli umani affanni, The human grief we have endured, E sostener molt'anni This mortal life borne for so many years, Questa vita mortal, fu non indegno; Have not been all in vain. Ed ancor tornerei, And expert though I am in pain, Così qual son de' nostri mali esperto, I should be willing still Verso un tal segno a incominciare il corso: To start again upon the road for such an end. Che tra le sabbie e tra il vipereo morso, Across the sands, where adders lie Giammai finor sì stanco In wait to bite, I’ve never come Per lo mortal deserto So wearily to you but that Non venni a te, che queste nostre pene Your greatest blessings Vincer non mi paresse un tanto bene. Eased my pain.

Che mondo mai, che nova And what a world, what new Immensità, che paradiso è quello Immensity, what paradise it is, Là dove spesso il tuo stupendo incanto To which your marvellous enchantment Parmi innalzar! dov'io, So often raises me. I wander there, Sott'altra luce che l'usata errando, Beneath a light that’s strange, Il mio terreno stato Forgetting all my earthly state E tutto quanto il ver pongo in obblio! And everything that’s real. Tali son, credo, i sogni Such are the dreams, I think, Degl'immortali. Ahi finalmente un sogno That the immortals know. But in the end, In molta parte onde s'abbella il vero You are, sweet thought, in large part Sei tu, dolce pensiero; Just a dream, embellishing the truth, Sogno e palese error. Ma di natura, A dream, a clear illusion. And yet, Infra i leggiadri errori, Mid other fair illusions, you are Divina sei; perchè sì viva e forte, Divine. Because you are so live and strong,

164 165 Che incontro al ver tenacemente dura, You can meet truth and still tenaciously E spesso al ver s'adegua, Survive, and even seem like truth, Nè si dilegua pria, che in grembo a morte. And never vanish till you meet with death.

E tu per certo, o mio pensier, tu solo You are, my thought, the only thing Vitale ai giorni miei, That’s vital to my days; Cagion diletta d'infiniti affanni, The sweetest cause of endless pain Meco sarai per morte a un tempo spento: Will only be extinguished when I die. Ch'a vivi segni dentro l'alma io sento I feel the signs of you alive within my soul, Che in perpetuo signor dato mi sei. Such that you’ll be my lord for ever more. Altri gentili inganni Other illusions, however noble they may be, Soleami il vero aspetto Will often fade and fail before Più sempre infievolir. Quanto più torno The face of truth. And yet the more A riveder colei I turn to gaze at her − Della qual teco ragionando io vivo, And speaking of her to you keeps me alive − Cresce quel gran diletto, The greater grows delight, Cresce quel gran delirio, ond'io respiro. The greater the delirium, and I can breathe. Angelica beltade! Angelic loveliness! Parmi ogni più bel volto, ovunque io miro, Wherever I may turn, each lovely face Quasi una finta imago Seems but an image painted now Il tuo volto imitar. Tu sola fonte To copy you. You are the source D'ogni altra leggiadria, Of every other loveliness, Sola vera beltà parmi che sia. Of all true beauty, so it seems to me.

Da che ti vidi pria, From the time that I first saw you, Di qual mia seria cura ultimo obbietto When were you not the final object Non fosti tu? quanto del giorno è scorso, Of my deepest cares? When has an hour Ch'io di te non pensassi? ai sogni miei Gone by when I did not think of you? La tua sovrana imago How often was your sovereign image Quante volte mancò? Bella qual sogno, Absent from my dreams? Fair as a dream, Angelica sembianza, In semblance like an angel − Nella terrena stanza, In all the places of the earth, Nell'alte vie dell'universo intero, Or on the pathways to the universe, Che chiedo io mai, che spero What do I ask or hope to see Altro che gli occhi tuoi veder più vago? That is more lovely than your eyes, Altro più dolce aver che il tuo pensiero? More sweet than is the thought of you?

[probably 1830 − 1832, perhaps spring and summer 1831]

166 167 XXVII XXVII

Amore e Morte Love and Death

muor giovane colui ch'al cielo è caro Those whom the gods love die young (Menandro) (Menander)

Fratelli, a un tempo stesso, Amore e Morte Fate gave birth together Ingenerò la sorte. To the brothers Love and Death. Cose quaggiù sì belle Nothing is so fair in this world here, Altre il mondo non ha, non han le stelle. Nor in the stars above. Nasce dall'uno il bene, From one is born a good, Nasce il piacer maggiore A happiness more deep than any Che per lo mar dell'essere si trova; Found within the sea of being. L'altra ogni gran dolore, The other annihilates our greatest Ogni gran male annulla. Pain, and all our greatest sin. Bellissima fanciulla, The boy Love often takes delight Dolce a veder, non quale In keeping company La si dipinge la codarda gente, With a fair young girl, Gode il fanciullo Amore So sweet to see, and not Accompagnar sovente; As cowardly people think that she must be. E sorvolano insiem la via mortale, They fly together through their human lives, Primi conforti d'ogni saggio core. The deepest comfort there can be to all wise hearts. Nè cor fu mai più saggio No heart was ever wiser Che percosso d'amor, nè mai più forte Than when struck by love, nor stronger Sprezzò l'infausta vita, In scorning this unhappy life, Nè per altro signore Nor so prepared to face all danger, Come per questo a perigliar fu pronto: For any other lord but him. Ch'ove tu porgi aita, Love, where you give your help, Amor, nasce il coraggio, Courage is born or wakes again; O si ridesta; e sapiente in opre, And then all humankind is wise Non in pensiero invan, siccome suole, In what it does; not, as so often, Divien l'umana prole. Wise only in the mind.

Quando novellamente When a new affection, Nasce nel cor profondo Full of love, is born Un amoroso affetto, Deep within the heart, Languido e stanco insiem con esso in petto Then at the same time in our souls Un desiderio di morir si sente: We feel the languorous desire to die. Come, non so: ma tale Who can say how? Yet such D'amor vero e possente è il primo effetto. Is the first effect of love’s true power.

168 169 Forse gli occhi spaura Perhaps the desolation here Allor questo deserto: a se la terra Terrifies our eyes. Perhaps we humans Forse il mortale inabitabil fatta Find the world cannot be habited Vede omai senza quella Without that new, unique and everlasting Nova, sola, infinita Happiness that we generate Felicità che il suo pensier figura: Inside our minds. Ma per cagion di lei grave procella Because of the great storm Presentendo in suo cor, brama quiete, Foreshadowed in our hearts, Brama raccorsi in porto We long for quiet, long for a haven, Dinanzi al fier disio, Before the fierceness of desire Che già, rugghiando, intorno intorno oscura. Roars and darkens everything about.

Poi, quando tutto avvolge And when that awesome power La formidabil possa, Envelops everything, E fulmina nel cor l'invitta cura, And lightning passion triumphs in the heart, Quante volte implorata How often, Death, are you implored Con desiderio intenso, With desperate desire Morte, sei tu dall'affannoso amante! By all the troubled lovers. Quante la sera, e quante How often in the evening, how often Abbandonando all'alba il corpo stanco, When the sleepless body yields to the dawn, Se beato chiamò s'indi giammai Lovers might say that they were blessed Non rilevasse il fianco, If they were never roused again Nè tornasse a veder l'amara luce! Or saw again the bitter light of day. E spesso al suon della funebre squilla, And at the ringing of the funeral bell, Al canto che conduce The chant that takes La gente morta al sempiterno obblio, The dead to their eternal quiet, Con più sospiri ardenti With many ardent sighs Dall'imo petto invidiò colui They envy from the bottom of their hearts Che tra gli spenti ad abitar sen giva. The ones who go to join the ancient dead. Fin la negletta plebe, Even poor, untutored folk − L'uom della villa, ignaro The peasant unaware D'ogni virtù che da saper deriva, Of any virtue knowledge can bestow − Fin la donzella timidetta e schiva, Even the shy and timid country girl Che già di morte al nome Who feels, at death’s mere name, Sentì rizzar le chiome, Her hair stand up on end, Osa alla tomba, alle funeree bende Now dares to gaze with tranquil constancy Fermar lo sguardo di costanza pieno, Upon the tomb, upon the winding sheet, Osa ferro e veleno Now dares to meditate Meditar lungamente, On poison and the knife, E nell'indotta mente And learned though she be, La gentilezza del morir comprende. Comprehends the gentleness of death. Tanto alla morte inclina How much do the harshnesses of love D'amor la disciplina. Anco sovente, Point to death. Often, too,

170 171 A tal venuto il gran travaglio interno The huge internal struggle is so great Che sostener nol può forza mortale, That human beings cannot bear it any more. O cede il corpo frale Either their feeble bodies give in then Ai terribili moti, e in questa forma To all those awful forces, and in that way, Pel fraterno poter Morte prevale; Death wins, supported by his brother’s power, O così sprona Amor là nel profondo, Or else Love drives them down into the depths. Che da se stessi il villanello ignaro, And then the poor unlettered peasant, La tenera donzella And the gentle country girl, Con la man violenta Kill themselves with violent hand Pongon le membra giovanili in terra. And let their youthful bodies fall to earth. Ride ai lor casi il mondo, The world, to which heaven grants A cui pace e vecchiezza il ciel consenta. Peace and ripe old age, derides them all.

Ai fervidi, ai felici, Sweet lords, friends Agli animosi ingegni Of the human family, L'uno o l'altro di voi conceda il fato, Nothing in this vast universe Dolci signori, amici Compares with you. No power All'umana famiglia, But fate can conquer you. Al cui poter nessun poter somiglia And so let fate give one of you Nell'immenso universo, e non l'avanza, To burning, happy Se non quella del fato, altra possanza. And courageous minds. E tu, cui già dal cominciar degli anni And you, sweet Death, on whom Sempre onorata invoco, I’ve always called upon and honoured Bella Morte, pietosa From my earliest years, you are alone Tu sola al mondo dei terreni affanni, On earth in pitying human grief. Se celebrata mai If I have ever celebrated you Fosti da me, s'al tuo divino stato And tried to offer recompense L'onte del volgo ingrato For the crowd’s ingratitude Ricompensar tentai, To your divinity, Non tardar più, t'inchina Delay no more. Just hear A disusati preghi, This unfamiliar prayer Chiudi alla luce omai And close these grieving eyes Questi occhi tristi, o dell'età reina. Against the light, you queen of time. Me certo troverai, qual si sia l'ora And when the hour strikes that you come Che tu le penne al mio pregar dispieghi, In answer to my prayer, you’ll find me Erta la fronte, armato, Armed, my head held high, E renitente al fato, Rebelling now against my fate. La man che flagellando si colora I shall not heap with praise Nel mio sangue innocente The scourging hand that drips now Non ricolmar di lode, With my guiltless blood. Non benedir, com'usa I shall not bless you, out of cowardice, Per antica viltà l'umana gente; As did the human race before. Ogni vana speranza onde consola I’ll cast aside all foolish hope,

172 173 Se coi fanciulli il mondo, All foolish comforts, Ogni conforto stolto That console our childish world. Gittar da me; null'altro in alcun tempo I shall not hope Sperar, se non te sola; For any other moment but for yours. Solo aspettar sereno In calm, I only wait until that day Quel dì ch'io pieghi addormentato il volto When I can lay my sleeping head Nel tuo virgineo seno. Upon your virgin breast.

[probably autumn 1832]

174 175 XXVIII XXVIII

A se stesso To Himself

Or poserai per sempre, Now you may rest, tired heart, Stanco mio cor. Perì l'inganno estremo, For evermore. The last illusion that Ch'eterno io mi credei. Perì. Ben sento, I had believed eternal now is dead. Quite dead. In noi di cari inganni, In truth, I feel not only hope, but even the desire Non che la speme, il desiderio è spento. For sweet illusions has gone from us. Posa per sempre. Assai Rest still for evermore. You’ve beaten Palpitasti. Non val cosa nessuna Long enough. Not one single thing is worth I moti tuoi, nè di sospiri è degna Your throbbing now. The earth’s not worthy La terra. Amaro e noia Of your sighs. A bitter boredom La vita, altro mai nulla; e fango è il mondo. Is all life is, and nothing more. The world is dirt. T'acqueta omai. Dispera Be quiet now. Despair L'ultima volta. Al gener nostro il fato For the final time. Fate gave our kind Non donò che il morire. Omai disprezza No gift but death. So now hold Nature Te, la natura, il brutto In contempt, the brutal force Poter che, ascoso, a comun danno impera, That furtively ordains our human pain, E l'infinita vanità del tutto. And all the vast futility of everything.

[probably spring 1833]

176 177 XXIX XXIX

Aspasia Aspasia NOTE

Torna dinanzi al mio pensier talora From time to time, Aspasia, your image Il tuo sembiante, Aspasia. O fuggitivo Comes into my mind. It may gleam Per abitati lochi a me lampeggia Fleetingly, in strangers’ faces In altri volti; o per deserti campi, Amidst the busy crowds. Or in the empty fields, Al dì sereno, alle tacenti stelle, Beneath a cloudless sky or silent stars, Da soave armonia quasi ridesta, Like some sweet harmony awakening Nell'alma a sgomentarsi ancor vicina Within my nearly spell-bound soul, Quella superba vision risorge. Your glorious vision rises once again. Quanto adorata, o numi, e quale un giorno How much adored, dear gods, how much one time Mia delizia ed erinni! E mai non sento My whole delight and pain. I never Mover profumo di fiorita piaggia, Smell the fragrance of a bank of flowers Nè di fiori olezzar vie cittadine, Or catch the scent of blooms in city streets, Ch'io non ti vegga ancor qual eri il giorno But that I see you as you were that day. Che ne' vezzosi appartamenti accolta, Nestling in your apartment’s charm, Tutti odorati de' novelli fiori Which was perfumed by all the newest flowers Di primavera, del color vestita Of spring, and dressed in colours Della bruna viola, a me si offerse Of dark violet, your angel shape L'angelica tua forma, inchino il fianco Was offered me, your curving thigh Sovra nitide pelli, e circonfusa On gleaming furs, and all around, D'arcana voluttà; quando tu, dotta A dark voluptuousness. And you − Allettatrice, fervidi sonanti The skilful temptress that you were − pressed hot, Baci scoccavi nelle curve labbra Resounding kisses on your children’s De' tuoi bambini, il niveo collo intanto Curving lips, and kept on stretching out Porgendo, e lor di tue cagioni ignari Your snow-white neck and gently holding them − Con la man leggiadrissima stringevi They not knowing why − against Al seno ascoso e desiato. Apparve Your hidden breast, so much desired. Novo ciel, nova terra, e quasi un raggio New heaven and new earth appeared to me Divino al pensier mio. Così nel fianco In light almost divine. And so it was Non punto inerme a viva forza impresse Your hand, with living force, Il tuo braccio lo stral, che poscia fitto Drove that arrow into my defended heart. Ululando portai finch'a quel giorno I carried it, fixed there, crying out in pain, Si fu due volte ricondotto il sole. Until the sun had come full circle twice.

Raggio divino al mio pensiero apparve, Lady, your beauty seemed to me Donna, la tua beltà. Simile effetto A light divine within my mind. Beauty Fan la bellezza e i musicali accordi, Has the same effect as music’s harmony. Ch'alto mistero d'ignorati Elisi Both may reveal, it seems, the deep mystery Paion sovente rivelar. Vagheggia Of unknown Elysium. The stricken man

178 179 Il piagato mortal quindi la figlia Must then live on in longing for the child Della sua mente, l'amorosa idea, Of his own mind, that idea of love, Che gran parte d'Olimpo in se racchiude, Built up from so many Olympian ideals. Tutta al volto ai costumi alla favella, In looks and dress and speech, it seems Pari alla donna che il rapito amante So like the woman the enraptured lover Vagheggiare ed amar confuso estima. Desires, and thinks confusedly he loves. Or questa egli non già, ma quella, ancora But it is then an idea he serves and loves, Nei corporali amplessi, inchina ed ama. And not the woman whose body he embraces. Alfin l'errore e gli scambiati oggetti Seeing at last his error and mistaken aim, Conoscendo, s'adira; e spesso incolpa His anger flares, and often blames La donna a torto. A quella eccelsa imago His lady − wrongly so. A woman’s mind Sorge di rado il femminile ingegno; But seldom rises to such a high ideal. E ciò che inspira ai generosi amanti What her great beauty can inspire La sua stessa beltà, donna non pensa, In noble lovers, she cannot think of Nè comprender potria. Non cape in quelle Or start to understand. No such idea Anguste fronti ugual concetto. E male Finds room in her small mind. Al vivo sfolgorar di quegli sguardi And in the vivid flashes of her glances, Spera l'uomo ingannato, e mal richiede Men are deceived, and wrong to hope, Sensi profondi, sconosciuti, e molto Wrong to expect deep feelings that are strange Più che virili, in chi dell'uomo, al tutto And more than human, in one who all Da natura è minor. Che se più molli Her nature makes less than man. E più tenui le membra, essa la mente Just as her limbs are softer and more tender, Men capace e men forte anco riceve. So is her mind less capable and weaker.

Nè tu finor giammai quel che tu stessa And so, Aspasia, you were never able Inspirasti alcun tempo al mio pensiero, To conceive what you inspired Potesti, Aspasia, immaginar. Non sai For some time in my mind. You never knew Che smisurato amor, che affanni intensi, The boundless love, the racking pain, Che indicibili moti e che deliri The delirium, and frenzy beyond words, Movesti in me; nè verrà tempo alcuno You stirred in me; nor will there ever come Che tu l'intenda. In simil guisa ignora A time when you will understand. Esecutor di musici concenti In just this way, the musician is never able Quel ch'ei con mano o con la voce adopra To conceive what he creates, by hand or voice, In chi l'ascolta. Or quell'Aspasia è morta In those who hear. But that Aspasia I loved so much Che tanto amai. Giace per sempre, oggetto Is dead. Once the only purpose of my life, Della mia vita un dì: se non se quanto, She now lies in her grave, except when, Pur come cara larva, ad ora ad ora Like a cherished ghost, she comes back Tornar costuma e disparir. Tu vivi, From time to time, then vanishes. But you still live, Bella non solo ancor, ma bella tanto, Not merely beautiful, but lovelier, Al parer mio, che tutte l'altre avanzi. It seems to me, than every other. Pur quell'ardor che da te nacque è spento: Only the fire that’s born of you is spent. Perch'io te non amai, ma quella Diva It was not you I loved. It was that goddess Che già vita, or sepolcro, ha nel mio core. Who once had life, and now a burial, in me.

180 181 Quella adorai gran tempo; e sì mi piacque I worshipped her so long a time; her heavenly beauty Sua celeste beltà, ch'io, per insino Pleased me so that − though from the first Già dal principio conoscente e chiaro I could clearly see just what Dell'esser tuo, dell'arti e delle frodi, You were, your arts and wiles − Pur ne' tuoi contemplando i suoi begli occhi, When I saw her lovely eyes in yours, Cupido ti seguii finch'ella visse, I joyed to follow you while she still lived. Ingannato non già, ma dal piacere I was not deceived, and yet my pleasure Di quella dolce somiglianza, un lungo In that sweet resemblance, drove me on Servaggio ed aspro a tollerar condotto. To suffer long and bitter slavery to you.

Or ti vanta, che il puoi. Narra che sola So boast of it. You may. Tell how you were Sei del tuo sesso a cui piegar sostenni The only one of all your sex to whom L'altero capo, a cui spontaneo porsi I bowed my head of pride, to whom I gladly L'indomito mio cor. Narra che prima, Gave my unconquerable heart. Tell how you were E spero ultima certo, il ciglio mio The first (I hope the last) to see my brow Supplichevol vedesti, a te dinanzi Bend down entreatingly, and stand before you, Me timido, tremante (ardo in ridirlo Timid and trembling (I burn with scorn Di sdegno e di rossor), me di me privo, And shame to tell of it), beside myself, Ogni tua voglia, ogni parola, ogni atto Hanging so slavishly on all your wishes, Spiar sommessamente, a' tuoi superbi Your every word, your every deed, paling Fastidi impallidir, brillare in volto At your great disdain, my face aglow Ad un segno cortese, ad ogni sguardo At any sign of kindness, my colour changing Mutar forma e color. Cadde l'incanto, And my look at every glance from you. The spell E spezzato con esso, a terra sparso Was broken, my chains were shattered too, and both Il giogo: onde m'allegro. E sebben pieni Fell to the earth. And I am glad. However full Di tedio, alfin dopo il servire e dopo Of tedium, I’m happy − after such long slavery, Un lungo vaneggiar, contento abbraccio Such delirium − to embrace Senno con libertà. Che se d'affetti Good sense and liberty. And though a life Orba la vita, e di gentili errori, Bereft of feeling and of fine illusion E' notte senza stelle a mezzo il verno, Is like a winter’s night where no star shines, Già del fato mortale a me bastante It is my solace and my recompense E conforto e vendetta è che su l'erba For the harsh fate of mankind that here Qui neghittoso immobile giacendo, Upon the grass, idle and still, I can gaze Il mar la terra e il ciel miro e sorrido. At sea and land and sky, and I can smile.

[perhaps spring 1834, certainly before summer 1835]

182 183 XXX XXX

Sopra un Bassorilievo Antico Sepolcrale On the Bas-relief on an Ancient Tomb, dove una giovane morta è rappresentata in atto di showing a Dead Girl Departing partire, accomiatandosi dai suoi and Taking Leave of her Family

Dove vai? chi ti chiama Where are you going, lovely girl? Lunge dai cari tuoi, Who is calling you away Bellissima donzella? From those you love? Sola, peregrinando, il patrio tetto Why do you leave your father’s house Sì per tempo abbandoni? a queste soglie So soon and wander off alone? Tornerai tu? farai tu lieti un giorno Will you come back ever, and fill with joy Questi ch'oggi ti son piangendo intorno? Those who stand weeping round you now?

Asciutto il ciglio ed animosa in atto, Your eyes are dry, your attitude is brave, Ma pur mesta sei tu. Grata la via And yet you still seem sad. Whether the road O dispiacevol sia, tristo il ricetto You take is rough or smooth, the place A cui movi o giocondo, You make for, happiness or grief, Da quel tuo grave aspetto It would be hard to tell now Mal s'indovina. Ahi ahi, nè già potria From your face of stone. Myself, I could not Fermare io stesso in me, nè forse al mondo Ever judge, nor ever could perhaps S'intese ancor, se in disfavore al cielo The world, whether we should think you Se cara esser nomata, Cursed by heaven, or beloved, Se misera tu debbi o fortunata. Full of misery, or fortunate.

Morte ti chiama; al cominciar del giorno Death calls for you. At the dawning of the day, L'ultimo istante. Al nido onde ti parti, The final moment comes. The nest you leave Non tornerai. L'aspetto You will not find again. The sight De' tuoi dolci parenti Of your sweet parents Lasci per sempre. Il loco Is lost for ever more. The place A cui movi, è sotterra: You go lies underground, Ivi fia d'ogni tempo il tuo soggiorno. And that will be your home for all of time. Forse beata sei; ma pur chi mira, You may be blessed; and yet whoever Seco pensando, al tuo destin, sospira. Contemplates your destiny, cannot but sigh.

Mai non veder la luce Never to see the light Era, credo, il miglior. Ma nata, al tempo Would be, I think, the best. But, being born, Che reina bellezza si dispiega To vanish at the time when beauty Nelle membra e nel volto, First displays her face and limbs, Ed incomincia il mondo And when the world begins Verso lei di lontano ad atterrarsi; To kneel before her, worshipping from far, In sul fiorir d'ogni speranza, e molto When every hope is flowering,

184 185 Prima che incontro alla festosa fronte Long before truth has flashed its sombre I lùgubri suoi lampi il ver baleni; Lightning on her joyful brow − Come vapore in nuvoletta accolto To vanish then, like mist condensing Sotto forme fugaci all'orizzonte, Into fleeting clouds on the horizon’s edge, Dileguarsi così quasi non sorta, As though she had not ever been, E cangiar con gli oscuri To give up all her future Silenzi della tomba i dì futuri, For the dark, black silence of the grave − Questo se all'intelletto This to our minds may seem the best, Appar felice, invade And yet it moves the bravest heart D'alta pietade ai più costanti il petto. To a pitying that is profound.

Madre temuta e pianta Mother Nature, bewailed and feared Dal nascer già dell'animal famiglia, By every creature born into the world, Natura, illaudabil maraviglia, You are a marvel that’s not worth our praise. Che per uccider partorisci e nutri, You bring to birth and nourish, just to kill. Se danno è del mortale If it’s a human grief Immaturo perir, come il consenti To die before our time, why bring it In quei capi innocenti? On the innocent? Se ben, perchè funesta, If it is good, why make Perchè sovra ogni male, This parting such a sorrow, A chi si parte, a chi rimane in vita, So unconsolable beyond all other ills, Inconsolabil fai tal dipartita? For those who go, and those who stay behind.

Misera ovunque miri, Wretched wherever we may look, Misera onde si volga, ove ricorra, Wretched whether we turn or run − Questa sensibil prole! This sensitive humanity! Piacqueti che delusa It pleased you, Nature, that Fosse ancor dalla vita All the hopes of youth should be deceived La speme giovanil; piena d'affanni By life’s experience, the swelling tide of years L'onda degli anni; ai mali unico schermo Be full of grief, our one defence against all evils La morte; e questa inevitabil segno, Should be death − the inevitable goal, Questa, immutata legge The unalterable law Ponesti all'uman corso. Ahi perchè dopo That you impose on human life. After Le travagliose strade, almen la meta The anguish of our journey, why not make Non ci prescriver lieta? anzi colei At least the ending joyous? Rather than Che per certo futura This future, sure to come, Portiam sempre, vivendo, innanzi all'alma, That we living keep before our eyes, Colei che i nostri danni The only comfort Ebber solo conforto, For our miseries, Velar di neri panni, Clothed in black robes, Cinger d'ombra sì trista, Veiled in such mournful shade? E spaventoso in vista Why make the harbour seem more terrible Più d'ogni flutto dimostrarci il porto? Than all the storm-tossed seas?

186 187 Già se sventura è questo Yet grievous though this dying is, Morir che tu destini That you decree for all of us whom − guiltless A tutti noi che senza colpa, ignari, Unaware, against our will − you abandon into life, Nè volontari al vivere abbandoni, He who dies is still more enviable Certo ha chi more invidiabil sorte Than he who witnesses the death A colui che la morte Of those he loves. And though it’s true, Sente de' cari suoi. Che se nel vero, As I fervently believe, Com'io per fermo estimo, That life is pain, Il vivere è sventura, And death a gift, who could desire Grazia il morir, chi però mai potrebbe, What yet he ought: Quel che pur si dovrebbe, The final day of those he loves, Desiar de' suoi cari il giorno estremo, While he remains behind Per dover egli scemo Deprived of half himself? Rimaner di se stesso, He sees the person whom he loves, Veder d'in su la soglia levar via With whom he’s spent so many years, La diletta persona Borne now across the threshold and away, Con chi passato avrà molt'anni insieme, And says goodbye without the hope E dire a quella addio senz'altra speme Of ever meeting once again Di riscontrarla ancora Upon the paths of life. Per la mondana via; And then alone, abandoned on this earth, Poi solitario abbandonato in terra, He gazes round, and in familiar places, Guardando attorno, all'ore ai lochi usati Remembers the companion he has lost. Rimemorar la scorsa compagnia? How, Nature, how could you have the heart Come, ahi come, o natura, il cor ti soffre To break apart such sweet embrace, Di strappar dalle braccia Of friend from friend, All'amico l'amico, Or brother from a brother, Al fratello il fratello, Or children from their parents, La prole al genitore, Or loved one from a lover − to have one dead, All'amante l'amore: e l'uno estinto, And keep the other living? How could you L'altro in vita serbar? Come potesti Make us live through this great grief: Far necessario in noi That human beings should live on Tanto dolor, che sopravviva amando When those they love have died? Al mortale il mortal? Ma da natura But Nature cares for something else Altro negli atti suoi Than us, for other things Che nostro male o nostro ben si cura. Than any good or ill that comes to us.

[1834–35]

188 189 XXXI XXXI

Sopra il Ritratto di una Bella Donna On the Portrait of a Beautiful Lady Scolpito nel Monumento Sepolcrale della Medesima Carved upon her Tomb

Tal fosti: or qui sotterra Such you were, who now are buried Polve e scheletro sei. Su l'ossa e il fango Dust and skeleton. Above the bones and dirt, Immobilmente collocato invano, Set helpless, motionless, Muto, mirando dell'etadi il volo, Gazing in silence at the flight of time, Sta, di memoria solo There stands this single guardian E di dolor custode, il simulacro Of grief and memory, the simulacrum Della scorsa beltà. Quel dolce sguardo, Of a beauty gone. That sweetest glance Che tremar fe, se, come or sembra, immoto That made men tremble as it looked at them, In altrui s'affisò; quel labbro, ond'alto Quite motionless, as now; those lips, Par, come d'urna piena, From where deep pleasure overflowed, Traboccare il piacer; quel collo, cinto As from a brimming urn; that neck, Già di desio; quell'amorosa mano, Once circled by desire; that loving hand Che spesso, ove fu porta, Held out in greeting, which often Sentì gelida far la man che strinse; Felt the hand it clasped grow cold; E il seno, onde la gente And then the breast, at which men Visibilmente di pallor si tinse, Visibly turned pale − all of these things Furo alcun tempo: or fango Once lived, and now are dirt Ed ossa sei: la vista And bone. A stone conceals Vituperosa e trista un sasso asconde. The sad and loathsome sight.

Così riduce il fato So fate diminishes Qual sembianza fra noi parve più viva That image, that seemed to us Immagine del ciel. Misterio eterno A living vision of heaven. Eternal mystery Dell'esser nostro. Oggi d'eccelsi, immensi Of our being. Beauty holds sway today, Pensieri e sensi inenarrabil fonte, The source of vast, exalted thoughts Beltà grandeggia, e pare, And feelings beyond words. Quale splendor vibrato Like some tremulous radiance Da natura immortal su queste arene, Cast by immortal nature on these shores, Di sovrumani fati, It seems a sign and certain hope Di fortunati regni e d'aurei mondi Of superhuman destiny, Segno e sicura spene Of blessed realms and worlds of gold, Dare al mortale stato: Granted to our human state. Diman, per lieve forza, Tomorrow, at a touch, Sozzo a vedere, abominoso, abbietto What was a while ago Divien quel che fu dianzi A face close to an angel’s Quasi angelico aspetto, Turns dirty, hateful, base. E dalle menti insieme The marvellous vision

190 191 Quel che da lui moveva It inspired vanishes Ammirabil concetto, si dilegua. Just as quickly from the mind.

Desiderii infiniti Yearning that has no end E visioni altere And visions soaring high Crea nel vago pensiere, Are born within the mind Per natural virtù, dotto concento; By the good of natural harmony. Onde per mar delizioso, arcano The human spirit wanders through Erra lo spirto umano, Delightful and uncharted seas, Quasi come a diporto Just as a swimmer keenly goes Ardito notator per l'Oceano: Into the ocean for his sport. Ma se un discorde accento And yet it needs just one Fere l'orecchio, in nulla False note to strike the ear, Torna quel paradiso in un momento. And in a flash, that paradise is dust.

Natura umana, or come, How do we humans reach Se frale in tutto e vile, So high, if we are simply Se polve ed ombra sei, tant'alto senti? Frail and wretched, dust and shadows? Se in parte anco gentile, If we are somehow noble, Come i più degni tuoi moti e pensieri How can our finest acts and thoughts Son così di leggeri So readily be kindled and then quenched Da sì basse cagioni e desti e spenti? For such slight reason?

[1834–35]

192 193 XXXII XXXII

Palinodia al Marchese Gino Capponi Palinode to the Marchese Gino Capponi NOTE

Il sempre sospirar nulla rileva This constant sighing doesn’t help at all (Petrarch) (Petrarch)

Errai, candido Gino; assai gran tempo, Honest Gino, I was wrong. Wrong for ages, E di gran lunga errai. Misera e vana Wildly wrong. I thought that life was Stimai la vita, e sovra l'altre insulsa Wretched, empty, and the age unfolding now La stagion ch'or si volge. Intolleranda The stupidest of all. My language seemed, Parve, e fu, la mia lingua alla beata And was, intolerant of this blessèd Prole mortal, se dir si dee mortale Human race, if we ever ought or dare to name L'uomo, o si può. Fra maraviglia e sdegno, Ourselves as human. In wonderment and scorn, Dall'Eden odorato in cui soggiorna, Noble people laughed at me from that scented Eden Rise l'alta progenie, e me negletto Where they lived. I really must be Disse, o mal venturoso, e di piaceri Lonely, unfortunate, and so incapable O incapace o inesperto, il proprio fato Of pleasure, or so unused to it, to think Creder comune, e del mio mal consorte My own fate universal, the human race L'umana specie. Alfin per entro il fumo A partner in my ills. At last, though, through the smoke De' sígari onorato, al romorio From superior cigars, the sounds De' crepitanti pasticcini, al grido Of crackling pastries, the martial Militar, di gelati e di bevande Bellow that orders drinks and ices, Ordinator, fra le percosse tazze And in among the clash of cups E i branditi cucchiai, viva rifulse And brandished spoons, I was Agli occhi miei la giornaliera luce Dazzled by the daily living light Delle gazzette. Riconobbi e vidi From newspapers. I could see, I realised, La pubblica letizia, e le dolcezze That happiness was public, that human Del destino mortal. Vidi l'eccelso Destiny was sweet. I saw the excellence Stato e il valor delle terrene cose, And the worth of earthly things, E tutto fiori il corso umano, e vidi The course of human life all flowers. Come nulla quaggiù dispiace e dura. I saw how nothing here can jar and long survive. Nè men conobbi ancor gli studi e l'opre Nor did I fail to see the studies and the mighty Stupende, e il senno, e le virtudi, e l'alto Works, the good sense, virtues, and deep Saver del secol mio. Nè vidi meno Wisdom of my century. From Morocco to Cathay, Da Marrocco al Catai, dall'Orse al Nilo The pole down to the Nile, from Boston east to Goa, E da Boston a Goa, correr dell'alma I saw how empires, kingdoms, dukedoms, Felicità su l'orme a gara ansando Were racing fiercely on the track Regni, imperi e ducati; e già tenerla Of glorious happiness. I saw them seize her O per le chiome fluttuanti, o certo By her streaming hair, or at the least Per l'estremo del boa. Così vedendo, The tail-end of her boa. Seeing all this,

194 195 E meditando sovra i larghi fogli I meditated deeply on the broad and spread-out Profondamente, del mio grave, antico Pages. I was ashamed of my grave, long-standing Errore, e di me stesso, ebbi vergogna. Error, ashamed indeed of me, myself.

Aureo secolo omai volgono, o Gino, Oh Gino, it is a golden century I fusi delle Parche. Ogni giornale, The Fates are spinning now. The newspapers all, Gener vario di lingue e di colonne, In many tongues and many columns, Da tutti i lidi lo promette al mondo Pledge it to the world from every shore Concordemente. Universale amore, With one accord. Now universal love, Ferrate vie, moltiplici commerci, The railway, so many various trades, Vapor, tipi e choléra i più divisi Steam-power, the printing press, and cholera − Popoli e climi stringeranno insieme: All bind together people and climates far apart. Nè maraviglia fia se pino o quercia It is no miracle if pines and oaks Suderà latte e mele, o s'anco al suono Sweat milk and honey, or if they dance now D'un walser danzerà. Tanto la possa To the music of a waltz. The power Infin qui de' lambicchi e delle storte, Of alembics and retorts has so increased, E le macchine al cielo emulatrici Of machines that rival heaven − Crebbero, e tanto cresceranno al tempo Far will they grow in ages Che seguirà; poiché di meglio in meglio Yet unborn. To greater and still greater things, Senza fin vola e volerà mai sempre The seed of Shem and Ham and Japheth Di Sem, di Cam e di Giapeto il seme. Flies, and flies for evermore.

Ghiande non ciberà certo la terra The earth can’t live on acorns − true − Però, se fame non la sforza: il duro Unless it’s forced by hunger. Nor stop Ferro non deporrà. Ben molte volte The use of iron. But it will often Argento ed or disprezzerà, contenta Scoff at gold and silver, and be content A polizze di cambio. E già dal caro With paper money. Nor will Sangue de' suoi non asterrà la mano This noble race hold back its hand La generosa stirpe: anzi coverte From blood spilled by its own. Strife Fien di stragi l'Europa e l'altra riva Will spread through Europe to the far side Dell'atlantico mar, fresca nutrice Of the Atlantic (that youngest nurse Di pura civiltà, sempre che spinga Of true community), whenever this band Contrarie in campo le fraterne schiere Of brothers take the field against each other. Di pepe o di cannella o d'altro aroma They die for pepper, or for cinnamon, Fatal cagione, o di melate canne, Or for some other smell − for sugar canes, O cagion qual si sia ch'ad auro torni. Or anything that they can turn to gold. Valor vero e virtù, modestia e fede Whatever rule or state of politics, E di giustizia amor, sempre in qualunque True worth and goodness, modesty and faith, Pubblico stato, alieni in tutto e lungi And love of justice, will always be estranged Da' comuni negozi, ovvero in tutto And out of public life, or rather, will be totally Sfortunati saranno, afflitti e vinti; Unhappy, afflicted, and oppressed. For nature has, Perchè diè lor natura, in ogni tempo In every age, placed them at the bottom Starsene in fondo. Ardir protervo e frode, Of all things. Bold impudence,

196 197 Con mediocrità, regneran sempre, Deceit, and mediocrity will always reign, A galleggiar sortiti. Imperio e forze, Fated to rise on top. Authority and power, Quanto più vogli o cumulate o sparse, Whether held by one or many, whatever you may choose, Abuserà chiunque avralle, e sotto Will be abused by those who have it, beneath Qualunque nome. Questa legge in pria Whatever name. Nature and fate Scrisser natura e il fato in adamante; Engraved this primal law in adamant; E co' fulmini suoi Volta nè Davy And neither Volta nor Davy can cancel it Lei non cancellerà, non Anglia tutta With electricity, nor all England Con le macchine sue, nè con un Gange With its machines, nor this new century Di politici scritti il secol novo. With its very Ganges of tracts on politics. Sempre il buono in tristezza, il vile in festa The good will always grieve, the bad Sempre e il ribaldo: incontro all'alme eccelse Find fun in mockery. The world will plot In arme tutti congiurati i mondi And take up arms against noble souls Fieno in perpetuo: al vero onor seguaci Until the end of time. True honour will be Calunnia, odio e livor: cibo de' forti Pursued by slander, hate, and envy. The weak Il debole, cultor de' ricchi e servo Will feed the strong. The poor beggar must cultivate Il digiuno mendico, in ogni forma And serve the rich, whatever kind Di comun reggimento, o presso o lungi Of government there is, however near or far Sien l'eclittica o i poli, eternamente The equator or the poles. And this will be eternal, Sarà, se al gener nostro il proprio albergo Unless the day should come when the human race E la face del dì non vengon meno. No longer has the sunlight or a natural home.

Queste lievi reliquie e questi segni These slight remains and signs Delle passate età, forza è che impressi Of ages that are past must still impress Porti quella che sorge età dell'oro: Themselves on this, that rises as an age of gold. Perchè mille discordi e repugnanti For our humanity has in its nature L'umana compagnia principii e parti A thousand discordant and conflicting Ha per natura; e por quegli odii in pace Parts and principles. From the day our glorious Non valser gl'intelletti e le possanze Race was born, human intellect and power Degli uomini giammai, dal dì che nacque Have never been enough to make peace L'inclita schiatta, e non varrà, quantunque From hatred − and never will be, Saggio sia nè possente, al secol nostro However wise or powerful our century’s Patto alcuno o giornal. Ma nelle cose Newspapers and pacts. Human happiness Più gravi, intera, e non veduta innanzi, Will be found in wholesome and more serious Fia la mortal felicità. Più molli Things, not seen before. Day by day, Di giorno in giorno diverran le vesti Our clothes of wool or silk will turn O di lana o di seta. I rozzi panni More soft. Farmers and craftsmen Lasciando a prova agricoltori e fabbri, Will rush to cast coarse clothing off, Chiuderanno in coton la scabra pelle, And hide their coarsened skin in cotton E di castoro copriran le schiene. And clothe their backs in beaver fur. Meglio fatti al bisogno, o più leggiadri Carpets and blankets, settees and chairs, Certamente a veder, tappeti e coltri, Stools and dining tables, beds and other Seggiole, canapè, sgabelli e mense, Kinds of furniture will be more usable,

198 199 Letti, ed ogni altro arnese, adorneranno More pleasing to the eye at least, as they Di lor menstrua beltà gli appartamenti; Adorn apartments with this month’s loveliness. E nove forme di paiuoli, e nove The wondrous kitchen will be ablaze Pentole ammirerà l'arsa cucina. With new-found shapes for pots and pans. Da Parigi a Calais, di quivi a Londra, Journeys or rather flights will be more swift Da Londra a Liverpool, rapido tanto Than anyone could dare to hope − Sarà, quant'altri immaginar non osa, Paris to Calais, then on to London; Il cammino, anzi il volo: e sotto l'ampie London to Liverpool. And underneath the wide Vie del Tamigi fia dischiuso il varco, Bed of the Thames, the tunnel will be open, Opra ardita, immortal, ch'esser dischiuso A daring, everlasting work that should Dovea, già son molt'anni. Illuminate Have been accomplished years ago. Meglio ch'or son, benchè sicure al pari, Though just as safe, the less frequented streets Nottetempo saran le vie men trite Of major capitals will be better lit Delle città sovrane, e talor forse Than now, and perhaps at times Di suddita città le vie maggiori. The major roads in less important towns. Tali dolcezze e sì beata sorte Such the delights and blessed destiny Alla prole vegnente il ciel destina. That heaven for future ages has ordained.

Fortunati color che mentre io scrivo How happy those whom, even as I write, Miagolanti in su le braccia accoglie The midwife holds mewling La levatrice! a cui veder s'aspetta In her arms. For them, the vision is reserved Quei sospirati dì, quando per lunghi Of long-awaited days when lengthy study Studi fia noto, e imprenderà col latte Will reveal (and every child Dalla cara nutrice ogni fanciullo, Absorb it with its nurse’s milk) Quanto peso di sal, quanto di carni, What weight of salt, what weight of meat, E quante moggia di farina inghiotta How many tons of flour each month Il patrio borgo in ciascun mese; e quanti Its native town consumes; how many In ciascun anno partoriti e morti Births and deaths the old priest registers Scriva il vecchio prior: quando, per opra Each year. Then, I believe, by means Di possente vapore, a milioni Of steam so powerful it can print a million Impresse in un secondo, il piano e il poggio, Copies in a second, the hills and plains, E credo anco del mar gl'immensi tratti, The vast tracts, even, of the seas − Come d'aeree gru stuol che repente Just like a flight of cranes that all at once Alle late campagne il giorno involi, Steals daylight from the great, wide landscape − Copriran le gazzette, anima e vita Will be covered up by magazines, the life and spirit Dell'universo, e di savere a questa Of the universe, sole fount of wisdom Ed alle età venture unica fonte! For our age and all the ages yet to come!

Quale un fanciullo, con assidua cura, Just like a child who builds a structure Di fogliolini e di fuscelli, in forma With the greatest care out of twigs O di tempio o di torre o di palazzo, And pieces of paper, in the shape Un edificio innalza; e come prima Of a temple, or a tower, or a palace, Fornito il mira, ad atterrarlo è volto, And then, when it’s done, knocks it all down,

200 201 Perchè gli stessi a lui fuscelli e fogli Because the paper and the twigs Per novo lavorio son di mestieri; Are needed for some other enterprise, Così natura ogni opra sua, quantunque So with any work of hers, however D'alto artificio a contemplar, non prima Marvellous to contemplate, as soon as nature Vede perfetta, ch'a disfarla imprende, Sees it perfect, she starts to break it up, Le parti sciolte dispensando altrove. Giving the pieces now to something else. E indarno a preservar se stesso ed altro So, to preserve themselves from such Dal gioco reo, la cui ragion gli è chiusa A wicked game, whose meaning is Eternamente, il mortal seme accorre For all time hidden, human beings use Mille virtudi oprando in mille guise Their talents in a thousand ways, Con dotta man: che, d'ogni sforzo in onta, And with such skill. Yet for all their efforts, La natura crudel, fanciullo invitto, Brutal nature, like some insistent child, Il suo capriccio adempie, e senza posa Indulges her caprice, creates and then Distruggendo e formando si trastulla. Destroys unceasingly, and stays amused. Indi varia, infinita una famiglia And so an infinitely varied family Di mali immedicabili e di pene Of ills and troubles that are incurable Preme il fragil mortale, a perir fatto Oppresses frail humankind, born to die Irreparabilmente: indi una forza Irreparably. From the day that we are born, Ostil, distruggitrice, e dentro il fere A hostile force of sheer destructiveness E di fuor da ogni lato, assidua, intenta Strikes us from within and from without on every side, Dal dì che nasce; e l'affatica e stanca, Relentless and intense. Itself unwearied, Essa indefatigata; insin ch'ei giace It wears us down and tires us out, until we lie Alfin dall'empia madre oppresso e spento. Crushed and exhausted beside our cruel mother. Queste, o spirto gentil, miserie estreme Gino, you gentle soul − these final miseries Dello stato mortal; vecchiezza e morte, Of this our human state, old age and death, Ch'han principio d'allor che il labbro infante That start soon as a baby’s mouth Preme il tenero sen che vita instilla; Sucks at the tender breast that gives it life, Emendar, mi cred'io, non può la lieta Are things this happy nineteenth century Nonadecima età più che potesse Can no more end, I think, than could La decima o la nona, e non potranno The ninth or tenth, no more than Più di questa giammai l'età future. Future ages ever will. Però, se nominar lice talvolta And so, if just occasionally we’re allowed Con proprio nome il ver, non altro in somma To speak the truth, all who are born Fuor che infelice, in qualsivoglia tempo, Cannot ever be anything but wretched, E non pur ne' civili ordini e modi, Not only in the public world, but in Ma della vita in tutte l'altre parti, Every other circumstance of life. Per essenza insanabile, e per legge This essence that’s incurable is a universal Universal, che terra e cielo abbraccia, Law that embraces all of heaven Ogni nato sarà. Ma novo e quasi And of earth. But now the greatest spirits Divin consiglio ritrovàr gli eccelsi Of my century have found a new way forward, Spirti del secol mio: che, non potendo Almost divine. Unable, even, Felice in terra far persona alcuna, To make a single person happy, L'uomo obbliando, a ricercar si diero They ignore the individual to seek

202 203 Una comun felicitade; e quella Collective happiness. They find it easily Trovata agevolmente, essi di molti Among the sad and wretched, Tristi e miseri tutti, un popol fanno And make one happy, smiling people. Lieto e felice: e tal portento, ancora This miracle, not yet announced Da pamphlets, da riviste e da gazzette In pamphlets, newspapers, or in Non dichiarato, il civil gregge ammira. Magazines, the mob can marvel at.

Oh menti, oh senno, oh sovrumano acume The brains, good sense, the superhuman insight Dell'età ch'or si volge! E che sicuro Of the age that now unfolds! Oh Gino, Filosofar, che sapienza, o Gino, What firm philosophy, what wisdom In più sublimi ancora e più riposti In subjects quite sublime and even more Subbietti insegna ai secoli futuri Abstruse, my century and yours will teach Il mio secolo e tuo! Con che costanza The coming ages! With what constancy Quel che ieri schernì, prosteso adora It admires today what yesterday it mocked, Oggi, e domani abbatterà, per girne And what tomorrow it will smash, Raccozzando i rottami, e per riporlo Then scrape the bits together and put them Tra il fumo degl'incensi il dì vegnente! In some incense smoke the following day! Quanto estimar si dee, che fede inspira How we should treasure, what faith it now inspires, Del secol che si volge, anzi dell'anno, The sense of harmony in this century, Il concorde sentir! con quanta cura Or just this year, that now unfolds. When we Convienci a quel dell'anno, al qual difforme Compare our feelings with this year’s feelings, Fia quel dell'altro appresso, il sentir nostro Which must be different from next year’s feelings, Comparando, fuggir che mai d'un punto How carefully we should avoid the slightest Non sien diversi! E di che tratto innanzi, Sign of difference! And when we contrast Se al moderno si opponga il tempo antico, Modern against ancient times, how far ahead Filosofando il saper nostro è scorso! Our wisdom and our philosophy have gone!

Un già de' tuoi, lodato Gino; un franco One of your friends, NOTE dear Gino, a true Di poetar maestro, anzi di tutte Master of poetry, learnèd in the arts Scienze ed arti e facoltadi umane, And sciences and human disciplines, E menti che fur mai, sono e saranno, A critic of all minds that have been, Dottore, emendator, lascia, mi disse, Are, and will be, once said to me, ‘Forget I propri affetti tuoi. Di lor non cura Your private feelings. This virile age Questa virile età, volta ai severi Is not concerned with them. It’s changed Economici studi, e intenta il ciglio To steely studies such as economics; its gaze Nelle pubbliche cose. Il proprio petto Is fixed on public things. What is the point Esplorar che ti val? Materia al canto Of searching your own soul? Don’t look inside yourself Non cercar dentro te. Canta i bisogni For the subject of a song. Sing of the needs Del secol nostro, e la matura speme. Our century has. Sing the maturing of our hope.’ Memorande sentenze! ond'io solenni What memorable sentences! They raised a solemn Le risa alzai quando sonava il nome Smile. When ‘hope’ was spoken of, Della speranza al mio profano orecchio It almost seemed to my unholy ear Quasi comica voce, o come un suono A comic word, just like the gurgling

204 205 Di lingua che dal latte si scompagni. Of a baby’s voice as it is being weaned. Or torno addietro, ed al passato un corso Now I’ve reversed my course, taking a road Contrario imprendo, per non dubbi esempi Opposite to that before, quite clear at last Chiaro oggimai ch'al secol proprio vuolsi, From signs I can’t mistake that one should not Non contraddir, non repugnar, se lode Contradict or differ from one’s century Cerchi e fama appo lui, ma fedelmente If one wants praise and fame, but conform to it Adulando ubbidir: così per breve With faithful flattery. So by a short Ed agiato cammin vassi alle stelle. And easy road we travel to the stars. Ond'io, degli astri desioso, al canto But though I desire the stars, I cannot think Del secolo i bisogni omai non penso I’ll ever make a song about the needs Materia far; che a quelli, ognor crescendo, Our century has, since ever-growing markets Provveggono i mercati e le officine And the workshops provide so generously Già largamente; ma la speme io certo For them. But certainly, I’ll sing of hope, Dirò, la speme, onde visibil pegno Hope for which the gods now give Già concedon gli Dei; già, della nova An obvious pledge. Now young men’s lips Felicità principio, ostenta il labbro And cheeks display, as signs of new De' giovani, e la guancia, enorme il pelo. Felicity, enormous lengths of hair.

O salve, o segno salutare, o prima All hail, the sign of our salvation, the first Luce della famosa età che sorge. Lights of the glorious age that rises now. Mira dinanzi a te come s'allegra See how the heavens and the earth rejoice La terra e il ciel, come sfavilla il guardo Before you, how glances from the girls Delle donzelle, e per conviti e feste Now sparkle, and how, through feasts and festivals, Qual de' barbati eroi fama già vola. The fame of bearded heroes now already flies. Cresci, cresci alla patria, o maschia certo Flourish, flourish, for our country’s sake, Moderna prole. All'ombra de' tuoi velli You modern race of real, true men. Italia crescerà, crescerà tutta In your woolly shade, Italy will flourish Dalle foci del Tago all'Ellesponto And all of Europe, from the Tagus Europa, e il mondo poserà sicuro. To the Hellespont, and all the earth will rest secure. E tu comincia a salutar col riso And you, you infant race, destined for golden days, Gl'ispidi genitori, o prole infante, Begin by greeting with a smile Eletta agli aurei dì: nè ti spauri Your bristly fathers; and do not fear L'innocuo nereggiar de' cari aspetti. The harmless gloom on those dear faces. Ridi, o tenera prole: a te serbato Smile, you loving race. The fruit of so much E' di cotanto favellare il frutto; Talk has been preserved for you: Veder gioia regnar, cittadi e ville, To see joy reign, cities and towns Vecchiezza e gioventù del par contente, And age and youth contented equally, E le barbe ondeggiar lunghe due spanne. With flowing beards quite eighteen inches long.

[spring 1835]

206 207 XXXIII XXXIII

Il Tramonto della Luna The Setting of the Moon

Quale in notte solinga, When, on a lonely night, Sovra campagne inargentate ed acque, Above the silvered fields and streams, Là 've zefiro aleggia, Where light winds rustle, E mille vaghi aspetti And distant shadows make E ingannevoli obbietti A thousand images Fingon l'ombre lontane And phantom shapes Infra l'onde tranquille Among the tranquil waves, E rami e siepi e collinette e ville; Among the trees and hedges, hills and villages − Giunta al confin del cielo, When now the moon has reached Dietro Apennino od Alpe, o del Tirreno The very edge of sky, behind the Alps or Appennines, Nell'infinito seno Or soundless depths of the Tyrrhenian sea, Scende la luna; e si scolora il mondo; It drops down, and the world grows dim. Spariscon l'ombre, ed una The shadows vanish; a single Oscurità la valle e il monte imbruna; Darkness falls on vale and mountain. Orba la notte resta, The night is left alone; E cantando, con mesta melodia, And with his mournful melody, L'estremo albor della fuggente luce, The carter on the road salutes Che dianzi gli fu duce, The last gleam of the fleeting light Saluta il carrettier dalla sua via; That had so safely led him on.

Tal si dilegua, e tale Just so, youth melts away Lascia l'età mortale And leaves behind our lives La giovinezza. In fuga In time. The shadows and the shapes Van l'ombre e le sembianze Of beautiful illusions now Dei dilettosi inganni; e vengon meno Take flight, and all those far-off hopes, Le lontane speranze, In which we human beings Ove s'appoggia la mortal natura. Put our trust, grow dim. Abbandonata, oscura Our lives remain abandoned, Resta la vita. In lei porgendo il guardo, Dark. Straining his eyes, Cerca il confuso viatore invano The bewildered traveller tries in vain Del cammin lungo che avanzar si sente To find some goal or reason in the road Meta o ragione; e vede That stretches out ahead. He only sees Che a se l'umana sede, How alien human places have become Esso a lei veramente è fatto estrano. To him, how alien he has become to them.

Troppo felice e lieta To the gods above, our wretched lives Nostra misera sorte Would then have seemed too sweet, Parve lassù, se il giovanile stato, Too full of joy, if youthfulness,

208 209 Dove ogni ben di mille pene è frutto, When every good is born of countless pains, Durasse tutto della vita il corso. Had been allowed to last a lifetime long. Troppo mite decreto The law that sentences all living things Quel che sentenzia ogni animale a morte, To death would seem too mild, S'anco mezza la via If half our life before that time Lor non si desse in pria Had not been even worse Della terribil morte assai più dura. Than dreaded death itself. D'intelletti immortali A fine discovery the immortals Degno trovato, estremo Made, the worst of all the evils Di tutti i mali, ritrovàr gli eterni That we face. Their everlasting minds La vecchiezza, ove fosse Gave us old age − that time when Incolume il desio, la speme estinta, Desire lives still, but hope is quenched. Secche le fonti del piacer, le pene The fountainheads of joy run dry, and every pain Maggiori sempre, e non più dato il bene. Grows ever worse. Good will never come again.

Voi, collinette e piagge, You slopes and little hills, Caduto lo splendor che all'occidente The brightness in the western sky Inargentava della notte il velo, That silvered over once the veil of night Orfane ancor gran tempo Has gone. But orphaned you will not long Non resterete; che dall'altra parte Remain. Soon you will see Tosto vedrete il cielo The eastern sky becoming Imbiancar novamente, e sorger l'alba: White again, and dawn will rise. Alla qual poscia seguitando il sole, The sun will quickly follow, E folgorando intorno And shining out Con sue fiamme possenti, With its all-powerful flame, Di lucidi torrenti Will flood you and the everlasting realms Inonderà con voi gli eterei campi. With torrents of pure light. Ma la vita mortal, poi che la bella But human life, once lovely youth Giovinezza sparì, non si colora Has gone, will not be touched again D'altra luce giammai, nè d'altra aurora. By any other light, or other dawn. Vedova è insino al fine; ed alla notte It will be lonely to the end. To the night Che l'altre etadi oscura, That darkens our old age, Segno poser gli Dei la sepoltura. The gods have set no limit but the tomb.

[spring 1836]

210 211 XXXIV XXXIV

La Ginestra Broom o or Il Fiore del Deserto The Flower of the Desert

E gli uomini vollero piuttosto le tenebre che la luce. And men loved darkness rather than light (Giovanni III, 19) (John 3:19)

Qui su l'arida schiena Sweet-scented broom, Del formidabil monte Here, on the barren slopes Sterminator Vesevo, Of this most fearful mountain, La qual null'altro allegra arbor nè fiore, Vesuvius the destroyer, Tuoi cespi solitari intorno spargi, And brightened by no other tree or flower, Odorata ginestra, You spread in isolated tufts, Contenta dei deserti. Anco ti vidi At home here in the desert. I’ve seen De' tuoi steli abbellir l'erme contrade Your shoots make beauteous too the lonely ways Che cingon la cittade Which circle round the city, that once La qual fu donna de' mortali un tempo, Was mistress of the whole, wide world. E del perduto impero Their solemn, ever-silent features Par che col grave e taciturno aspetto Bear witness, and remind the passer-by Faccian fede e ricordo al passeggero. Of the empire that was lost. Or ti riveggo in questo suol, di tristi And now again I see you on this soil, Lochi e dal mondo abbandonati amante, The lover of sad places abandoned by the world, E d'afflitte fortune ognor compagna. The faithful friend of fortunes overthrown. Questi campi cosparsi These fields now scattered Di ceneri infeconde, e ricoperti With a lifeless ash, and covered up Dell'impietrata lava, With lava turned to stone, Che sotto i passi al peregrin risona; That rings beneath the passing traveller’s feet, Dove s'annida e si contorce al sole Where snakes twist and nestle La serpe, e dove al noto In the sun, and rabbits seek Cavernoso covil torna il coniglio; The hollow burrows that they know − Fur liete ville e colti, These fields were once prosperous, happy E biondeggiàr di spiche, e risonaro Farms, golden with corn, echoing Di muggito d'armenti; To lowing herds of cows. Fur giardini e palagi, There were gardens here and palaces, Agli ozi de' potenti Welcome retreats for the leisure hours Gradito ospizio; e fur città famose Of mighty lords. There were great cities here Che coi torrenti suoi l'altero monte Which the towering mountain, belching Dall'ignea bocca fulminando oppresse Streams of flame from out its mouth, Con gli abitanti insieme. Or tutto intorno Crushed with all their people.

212 213 Una ruina involve, Now, all around, there is one single ruin. Dove tu siedi, o fior gentile, e quasi You take root there, gentle flower, and as though I danni altrui commiserando, al cielo In sympathy with other people’s grief, you send Di dolcissimo odor mandi un profumo, Into the skies a perfume of the sweetest scent, Che il deserto consola. A queste piagge And make the desert glad. Let those Venga colui che d'esaltar con lode Who praise our human lives come Il nostro stato ha in uso, e vegga quanto To these slopes, and see how much E' il gener nostro in cura A loving Nature cares for All'amante natura. E la possanza Our humanness. In this place, Qui con giusta misura They can justly estimate Anco estimar potrà dell'uman seme, And gauge the power of humankind. Cui la dura nutrice, ov'ei men teme, When least expected, with a little shrug, Con lieve moto in un momento annulla The heartless nurse can obliterate In parte, e può con moti A part of us; and with a hardly Poco men lievi ancor subitamente Larger shrug, can suddenly Annichilare in tutto. Annihilate us altogether. Dipinte in queste rive Depicted in this place Son dell'umana gente Is the ‘splendid, progressive destiny’ NOTE Le magnifiche sorti e progressive. Of the human race.

Qui mira e qui ti specchia, Look at yourself reflected here, Secol superbo e sciocco, You proud and stupid century − Che il calle insino allora You who abandoned the trail Dal risorto pensier segnato innanti Blazed by advancing thought, Abbandonasti, e volti addietro i passi, And travelled backwards, Del ritornar ti vanti, Boasting of your retreat E proceder il chiami. As so-called progress. Al tuo pargoleggiar gl'ingegni tutti, All those fine intellects, whose fate Di cui lor sorte rea padre ti fece, It was to have you for a father, Vanno adulando, ancora May praise your babbling, though Ch'a ludibrio talora They often make a laughing-stock of you T'abbian fra se. Non io Among themselves. But I Con tal vergogna scenderò sotterra; Will not go to my grave in so much shame. Ma il disprezzo piuttosto che si serra I will proclaim, as loudly as I can, Di te nel petto mio, The deep contempt for you Mostrato avrò quanto si possa aperto: I feel within my heart, Ben ch'io sappia che obblio Although I know oblivion Preme chi troppo all'età propria increbbe. Buries those hated by their times. Di questo mal, che teco But I have learned to laugh Mi fia comune, assai finor mi rido. At fate, a fate I share with you. Libertà vai sognando, e servo a un tempo You dream of freedom, and yet place Vuoi di novo il pensiero, Shackles upon thought once more. Sol per cui risorgemmo Only through thought have we crawled up

214 215 Della barbarie in parte, e per cui solo From barbarism, only through thought has Si cresce in civiltà, che sola in meglio Civilisation grown, only through thought Guida i pubblici fati. Has public life been guided towards good. Così ti spiacque il vero You hate the truth of this harsh Dell'aspra sorte e del depresso loco Destiny, the lowly place that Nature Che natura ci diè. Per questo il tergo Gives to you. And so, you turn Vigliaccamente rivolgesti al lume Your cowardly back upon the light Che il fe palese: e, fuggitivo, appelli That shone on you. You run away, Vil chi lui segue, e solo Call those who follow it debased. Magnanimo colui The only ones considered great of soul Che se schernendo o gli altri, astuto o folle, Are those who, cunningly or mad, deceive themselves Fin sopra gli astri il mortal grado estolle. And others, and praise our human state above the stars.

Uom di povero stato e membra inferme A man of weakened limbs, and slender means, Che sia dell'alma generoso ed alto, Yet tall and generous in his soul, Non chiama se nè stima Does not pretend and say Ricco d'or nè gagliardo, That he is rich and strong. E di splendida vita o di valente He doesn’t make a silly show Persona infra la gente Of living splendidly, or cutting Non fa risibil mostra; A fine figure with the crowd. Ma se di forza e di tesor mendico He’s not ashamed to let himself Lascia parer senza vergogna, e noma Appear as weak and penniless. Parlando, apertamente, e di sue cose He says so openly, and rates his worth Fa stima al vero uguale. According to the truth. Magnanimo animale A creature who is born to die, Non credo io già, ma stolto, Brought up in pain, and yet says Quel che nato a perir, nutrito in pene, He is made for joy − I don’t consider Dice, a goder son fatto, Him great-hearted, just a fool. E di fetido orgoglio His stinking pride fills page on page Empie le carte, eccelsi fati e nove With promises of great destiny on earth, Felicità, quali il ciel tutto ignora, New happiness, which Heaven itself Non pur quest'orbe, promettendo in terra Knows nothing of, still less the earth − A popoli che un'onda And all this to a people whom one wave Di mar commosso, un fiato Of surging sea, one breath D'aura maligna, un sotterraneo crollo Of poisoned air, one tremor underground, Distrugge sì, che avanza Would so utterly destroy A gran pena di lor la rimembranza. That scarce a memory is left behind. Nobil natura è quella Yet he will truly have a noble soul Che a sollevar s'ardisce Who dares to raise his human eyes Gli occhi mortali incontra And face our common fate, Al comun fato, e che con franca lingua, Who speaks quite honestly Nulla al ver detraendo, And tells the naked truth, Confessa il mal che ci fu dato in sorte, Admits the evil fate allotted us,

216 217 E il basso stato e frale; The abject, feeble state we’re in. Quella che grande e forte He shows himself, in suffering, Mostra se nel soffrir, nè gli odii e l'ire To be both great and strong, Fraterne, ancor più gravi And does not add fraternal hate and wrath − D'ogni altro danno, accresce That worst of ills − to all his other Alle miserie sue, l'uomo incolpando Miseries. He does not blame mankind Del suo dolor, ma dà la colpa a quella For his unhappiness, but places guilt Che veramente è rea, che de' mortali Where it belongs: on her who is our mother Madre è di parto e di voler matrigna. Giving life, our step-mother in her malice. Costei chiama inimica; e incontro a questa She is the one he calls the enemy; Congiunta esser pensando, And since he believes all humankind Siccome è il vero, ed ordinata in pria Has from the start been joined in ranks L'umana compagnia, Against her − as indeed it has − Tutti fra se confederati estima He counts all men his allies, Gli uomini, e tutti abbraccia Embraces them with unfeigned love, Con vero amor, porgendo Offers and expects Valida e pronta ed aspettando aita Instinctive, quick support, Negli alterni perigli e nelle angosce In all the many dangers and anguish Della guerra comune. Ed alle offese Of the common war on her. But he believes Dell'uomo armar la destra, e laccio porre It madness to take up arms against Al vicino ed inciampo, One’s neighbour, to set up snares Stolto crede così, qual fora in campo And obstacles as if it were a war, Cinto d'oste contraria, in sul più vivo With enemies all round, Incalzar degli assalti, And battle at its height − Gl'inimici obbliando, acerbe gare A madness to forget the enemy Imprender con gli amici, And start fierce struggles with one’s friends, E sparger fuga e fulminar col brando To brandish swords against one’s own compatriots Infra i propri guerrieri. And cause them all to flee. Così fatti pensieri When thoughts like these are known, Quando fien, come fur, palesi al volgo, As once they were, to ordinary people, E quell'orror che primo And when the horror that first forged Contra l'empia natura For humankind a social bond Strinse i mortali in social catena, Against the savagery of nature Fia ricondotto in parte Is in part restored Da verace saper, l'onesto e il retto By knowledge of the truth, then Conversar cittadino, An honest, open civil life, E giustizia e pietade, altra radice Justice and mercy, will then take root Avranno allor che non superbe fole, In other soil than foolish pride, Ove fondata probità del volgo On which the morals of the crowd Così star suole in piede Are as firmly founded Quale star può quel ch'ha in error la sede. As anything that’s built on sand.

Sovente in queste rive, Often I sit out at night upon these barren

218 219 Che, desolate, a bruno Slopes, that hardened lava-flows have clothed Veste il flutto indurato, e par che ondeggi, With brown, and yet that seem to ripple still; Seggo la notte; e sulla mesta landa And over this gloomy waste, high In purissimo azzurro In the purest blue, I see the stars Veggo dall'alto fiammeggiar le stelle, Aflame, now mirrored in the distant sea. Cui di lontan fa specchio The universe is glittering with sparks Il mare, e tutto di scintille in giro That wheel around a perfect void. Per lo vòto Seren brillar il mondo. And then I fix my eyes upon those lights E poi che gli occhi a quelle luci appunto, That seem mere pin-pricks, Ch'a lor sembrano un punto, And yet which are so vast in form E sono immense, in guisa That earth and sea appear to them Che un punto a petto a lor son terra e mare As pin-pricks too. For them, not just Veracemente; a cui Mankind, but even this great globe L'uomo non pur, ma questo Where mankind counts for nothing, Globo ove l'uomo è nulla, Are utterly unknown. And then I gaze Sconosciuto è del tutto; e quando miro At those still infinitely more remote, Quegli ancor più senz'alcun fin remoti Those clustering knots of stars Nodi quasi di stelle, That look to us like mist. To them, Ch'a noi paion qual nebbia, a cui non l'uomo Not only man and earth, but all our stars, E non la terra sol, ma tutte in uno, So infinite in number and in size, Del numero infinite e della mole, Together with the golden-shining sun, Con l'aureo sole insiem, le nostre stelle Are quite unknown, or seem as they themselves O sono ignote, o così paion come Appear from earth − a smudge Essi alla terra, un punto Of misted light. How, then, you Di luce nebulosa; al pensier mio Children of mankind, do you appear Che sembri allora, o prole To me? I’m mindful of Dell'uomo? E rimembrando The state you live in here, shown by Il tuo stato quaggiù, di cui fa segno The earth I tread upon. And yet Il suol ch'io premo; e poi dall'altra parte, You still believe you are the lord and end Che te signora e fine Of everything. How often do you love Credi tu data al Tutto, e quante volte To talk of how, for you alone, Favoleggiar ti piacque, in questo oscuro The founders of the universe themselves Granel di sabbia, il qual di terra ha nome, Came down to this dark grain of sand Per tua cagion, dell'universe cose Called earth, and how they often Scender gli autori, e conversar sovente Had sweet talk with you. Co' tuoi piacevolmente, e che i derisi Reviving once again these long-derided dreams, Sogni rinnovellando, ai saggi insulta In times that seem ahead of all Fin la presente età, che in conoscenza In knowledge and the ways of civil life, Ed in civil costume You heap insults on the wise. Sembra tutte avanzar; qual moto allora, And so, you wretched human race, Mortal prole infelice, o qual pensiero What feeling is it then, what thought of you, Verso te finalmente il cor m'assale? That pierces finally my heart? Non so se il riso o la pietà prevale. I do not know if I should laugh or cry.

220 221 Come d'arbor cadendo un picciol pomo, A little apple falls from a tree, Cui là nel tardo autunno Nothing but the ripeness of Maturità senz'altra forza atterra, Late autumn bringing it to earth. D'un popol di formiche i dolci alberghi, At a stroke, it crushes, wastes and buries Cavati in molle gleba The loving homes that a colony of ants Con gran lavoro, e l'opre Has so laboriously burrowed out E le ricchezze che adunate a prova Of yielding clay, together with Con lungo affaticar l'assidua gente The work and wealth these careful Avea provvidamente al tempo estivo, Creatures have worked to garner Schiaccia, diserta e copre Throughout the summer long. In un punto; così d'alto piombando, In just this way, the cities that the sea Dall'utero tonante Once washed along the edges Scagliata al ciel, profondo Of their shores, were smashed, Di ceneri e di pomici e di sassi Destroyed and covered Notte e ruina, infusa In just seconds Di bollenti ruscelli, By a night of ruin − O pel montano fianco By ashes, pumice-stones, and rocks, Furiosa tra l'erba Hurled to the height of heaven Di liquefatti massi From a thundering womb, E di metalli e d'infocata arena Then plummeting down, Scendendo immensa piena, Riddled with boiling streams of lava, Le cittadi che il mar là su l'estremo With molten metal, scorching sand, Lido aspergea, confuse Pouring down the mountainside E infranse e ricoperse And raging over all the grass. In pochi istanti: onde su quelle or pasce Upon these places now, La capra, e città nove Goats graze, and on the other side, Sorgon dall'altra banda, a cui sgabello New cities rise, built upon Son le sepolte, e le prostrate mura Those razed and buried walls L'arduo monte al suo piè quasi calpesta. The rugged mountain trampled underfoot. Non ha natura al seme Nature has no more love nor care Dell'uom più stima o cura For the seed of humankind Che alla formica: e se più rara in quello Than for the ants. If she destroys Che nell'altra è la strage, The one more rarely than the other, Non avvien ciò d'altronde The only reason is that Fuor che l'uom sue prosapie ha men feconde. We breed much less than them.

Ben mille ed ottocento Eighteen hundred years or more Anni varcàr poi che spariro, oppressi Have passed by since these places, peopled once, Dall'ignea forza, i popolati seggi, Were wiped out by the force of fire. E il villanello intento And yet the peasant now, who tends Ai vigneti, che a stento in questi campi His vines upon this dead and ashen Nutre la morta zolla e incenerita, Soil that can scarce support them,

222 223 Ancor leva lo sguardo Still casts a wary eye upon Sospettoso alla vetta That peak of death. It has not turned Fatal, che nulla mai fatta più mite More gentle, and sits there brooding, Ancor siede tremenda, ancor minaccia Still threatening to destroy him, his children, A lui strage ed ai figli ed agli averi And their scant possessions. Often enough, Lor poverelli. E spesso Lying sleepless on the roof Il meschino in sul tetto Of his poor house, where restless Dell'ostel villereccio, alla vagante Breezes blow by night, the wretched man Aura giacendo tutta notte insonne, Starts up to check the course E balzando più volte, esplora il corso The dreadful boiling takes, Del temuto bollor, che si riversa As it pours from its untiring womb Dall'inesausto grembo On to its sandy slopes, and lights up Sull'arenoso dorso, a cui riluce The shores around Capri, Di Capri la marina And Mergellina, and the port of Naples. E di Napoli il porto e Mergellina. And if he sees it nearing, or hears E se appressar lo vede, o se nel cupo The water bubbling feverishly in the darkness Del domestico pozzo ode mai l'acqua Of his well, he quickly wakes his children Fervendo gorgogliar, desta i figliuoli, And his wife, and flees with as much Desta la moglie in fretta, e via, con quanto Of what they have as can be held. Di lor cose rapir posson, fuggendo, From far away, he watches his familiar Vede lontano l'usato Home, the little field that alone Suo nido, e il picciol campo, Kept hunger from the door, Che gli fu dalla fame unico schermo, Fall victim to the burning wave Preda al flutto rovente That comes crackling down and spreads Che crepitando giunge, e inesorato Inexorably over them for ever. Durabilmente sovra quei si spiega. What was Pompeii once Torna al celeste raggio Returns from old oblivion to the light Dopo l'antica obblivion l'estinta Of heaven, a buried skeleton Pompei, come sepolto That either greed or piety Scheletro, cui di terra Returns now to the open air. Avarizia o pietà rende all'aperto; From the empty forum, E dal deserto foro Between the rows of broken Diritto infra le file Columns, the traveller can Dei mozzi colonnati il peregrino Gaze and gaze upon the forked peak Lunge contempla il bipartito giogo And the smoking crest E la cresta fumante, That threaten still the ruins scattered round. Ch'alla sparsa ruina ancor minaccia. And, like a secret horror of the night, E nell'orror della secreta notte Through theatres that stand empty, Per li vacui teatri, per li templi Through temples all disfigured, through shattered Deformi e per le rotte Houses where bats now hide their young, Case, ove i parti il pipistrello asconde, The glow of deadly lava runs, Come sinistra face Like some eerie flaming torch Che per voti palagi atra s'aggiri, That flickers darkly

224 225 Corre il baglior della funerea lava, Through deserted palaces, Che di lontan per l'ombre Reddening the shadows from far away, Rosseggia e i lochi intorno intorno tinge. And colouring every place in sight. Così, dell'uomo ignara e dell'etadi And so, indifferent to man and the ages Ch'ei chiama antiche, e del seguir che fanno He calls ancient, to the long succession Dopo gli avi i nepoti, Of human generations, Sta natura ognor verde, anzi procede Nature stays forever green, and moves Per sì lungo cammino, Along so vast a road, she does not seem Che sembra star. Caggiono i regni intanto, To move at all. While empires fall, Passan genti e linguaggi: ella nol vede: And tongues and peoples pass, she does not see a thing. E l'uom d'eternità s'arroga il vanto. And Man boasts that he owns eternity.

E tu, lenta ginestra, And you too, tender broom, Che di selve odorate Whose sweetly scented thickets Queste campagne dispogliate adorni, Adorn this wasted countryside, Anche tu presto alla crudel possanza You too will soon succumb before Soccomberai del sotterraneo foco, The cruel force of fire from underground. Che ritornando al loco As it returns to places that it knows, Già noto, stenderà l'avaro lembo The fire will stretch its greedy edge Su tue molli foreste. E piegherai Upon your tender shrubs. Sotto il fascio mortal non renitente Beneath its fatal weight, you’ll bend Il tuo capo innocente: Your guiltless, unresisting head. Ma non piegato insino allora indarno But till that time, you will not bow in vain, Codardamente supplicando innanzi In cowardly supplication to Al futuro oppressor; ma non eretto Oppression yet to come. Nor will you look Con forsennato orgoglio inver le stelle, In mindless pride towards the stars, Nè sul deserto, dove Or on this desert-place where chance, E la sede e i natali Not choice, allotted you Non per voler ma per fortuna avesti; A birthplace and a home. Ma più saggia, ma tanto You have been wiser, so much Meno inferma dell'uom, quanto le frali Less feeble than mankind. You never Tue stirpi non credesti Did believe that fate or you had given O dal fato o da te fatte immortali. Your frail species immortality.

[1836]

226 227 NOTES

beyond the Pillars the Pillars of Hercules, which correspond to the modern-day Straits of Gibraltar, were the furthest known limit of the ancient world. Beyond NOTES them lay, to the ancient mind, an unformed, watery chaos RETURN

Ariosto How fortunate and dear and blessed … the sky, the sea, the earth. born in 1474, he is celebrated for one long, kaleidoscopic poem, Orlando the whole of this verse paragraph evokes the battle in 480 BCE, when a Furioso, one of the greatest works of the Italian Renaissance. Probably small Greek force under the Spartan king Leonidas defended Attica and begun about 1503, it was first published in 1516; and Leopardi’s lines Boeotia against the advance of the Persian army, led by Xerxes. capture many of its dominant themes. Ariosto died in 1533. RETURN Leonidas’ troops held the pass of Thermopylae for three days before being betrayed and outflanked. But although the Persians gained a Torquato Tasso nominal victory, it was at great cost, not least in the subsequent Born in 1544, his most famous work is Gerusalemme Liberata, celebration of the battle as an example of heroic resistance against completed by 1575. Leopardi’s characterisation of his life aptly great odds. summarises the distress, fear, and mental disorder that Tasso faced in the Simonides (born about 556 BCE, and died 468? BCE) wrote a later years of his life. He died in 1595. RETURN memorable poetic epitaph on the Spartan rear guard that held the pass at Thermopylae. RETURN Alfieri, / The fierce Piedmontese Victorio Alfieri (1749–1803) was in many ways the archetypal Romantic: And yet dark Tartarus / Awaited you, those deadly waves. idealistic, profoundly melancholy, hating oppression and tyranny, sensing At first a primordial force or deity in Greek mythology, Tartarus soon a fundamental emptiness and loneliness at the centre of things. He is became synonymous with a place. With its gates of bronze, it was the celebrated chiefly for the nineteen tragedies he wrote between 1776 and deepest region of the world, far beneath the Underworld itself. Variously 1786. RETURN described as a pit or a dungeon, it was inhabited by all those who had committed crimes against the gods. Here, they were tortured and suffered Famous discoverer everlastingly. It was surrounded by a triple wall, around which the waters it is at this point in the poem that Leopardi returns to addressing Angelo of the river Phlegethon ran. RETURN Mai directly. RETURN your Elysian shores the old illusion the Elysian fields were the antitype of Tartarus (see above), and a Leopardi’s antico error is almost certainly a reference to the age-old paradise inhabited by the blessed and good after their death. The gentlest hopes and dreams of youth, which are found to be illusory. RETURN of breezes constantly refreshed this place of complete happiness, where snow and rain and tempests, or any discomfort, were unknown. RETURN For men, and not mere children the contrast in the Italian between d’uomini and di fanciulle might also bold Italian hint at a difference between ‘men’ and ‘effeminate men’, as well as Angelo Mai (1782–1854), who was custodian of the Vatican library from between ‘men’ and ‘children’. RETURN 1819, was a brilliant antiquary and editor of ancient texts, among them Cicero’s De Re Publica, celebrated in this poem. RETURN Virginia the daughter of a Roman centurion, she was killed by her father in order to save her from the lust of the decemvir Appius Claudius. Her death provoked an uprising of all the Roman people in 449 BC, in which the decemviri were overthrown. RETURN

228 229 NOTES NOTES

Erebus ground. Phyllis was the daughter of a king of Thrace who was in Greek mythology, Erebus was the son of the primordial god Chaos, disappointed in love, and who hanged herself. RETURN and personified darkness and shadow. In later legends, he became synonymous with Hades, the underworld. RETURN Clymene’s daughters weeping for their brother Drowned in the Italian river by the sun. Brutus the Younger Clymene’s son was Phaethon, who asked his father, the sun-god Helios, the reference is to Marcus Junius Brutus, one of the murderers of Julius to let him drive his chariot across the sky. But Phaethon’s inexperience Caesar. After his defeat at Philippi in 42 BC, he committed suicide, an nearly ended in the whole world being set on fire, until Zeus killed him event that is presented by Leopardi in this poem as the end of the with a thunderbolt. He fell into the Eridanus (‘the Italian river’), and his Republic, and the beginning of Rome’s decline. RETURN sisters, mourning for him, turned into amber-dropping trees. RETURN at home by Phlegethon your ancient wrong, the wicked vengeance done the Phlegethon was one of the five subterranean rivers that ran through an allusion to the myth of Philomela and her sister Procne. Philomela was the underworld, together with the Styx, Lethe, Cocytus, and Acheron. In raped by Tereus, who cut out her tongue so that she could not betray him. Dante’s Inferno, it is described as a river of blood so hot that it boils But Philomela revealed his crime to Procne by embroidering what had souls. RETURN happened on a piece of material. Procne took revenge by killing Itys, her son by Tereus, and serving him up to his father. Tereus pursued the two ‘Whoever enters Tartarus… women to punish them; but the gods took pity on them, and changed at first a primordial force or deity in Greek mythology, Tartarus soon Procne into a nightingale and Philomela into a swallow. RETURN became synonymous with a place. With its gates of bronze, it was the deepest region of the world, far beneath the Underworld itself. Variously Erebus emerged upon the earth described as a pit or a dungeon, it was inhabited by all those who had in Greek mythology, Erebus was the son of the primordial god Chaos, committed crimes against the gods. Here, they were tortured and suffered and personified darkness and shadow. In later legends, he became everlastingly. It was surrounded by a triple wall, around which the waters synonymous with Hades, the underworld. RETURN of the river Phlegethon ran. RETURN Abraham, I also think…hated weight of servitude Sons of Prometheus The events evoked by Leopardi in this verse paragraph can be found in Prometheus famously stole fire from Zeus, and gave it to human beings Genesis 18: 1-22. RETURN for their use, for which crime he was chained to a rock where he was tortured by an eagle daily eating upon his regenerating liver. A symbol of Sappho both rebellion and resistance against the gods, Prometheus bears ‘sons’ though only a small quantity of her work survives, Sappho continues to that are the whole of humankind. RETURN be celebrated as a poet of love and passion, particularly in lesbian relationships. She was born between about 630 and 612 BCE, and died ‘I do not call upon Olympus, or Cocytus…’ about 570 BCE. RETURN the contrast Leopardi draws here is between heights and depths, Olympus being the mountain in North Thessaly on which the chief Greek gods Zeus were thought to dwell, Cocytus the river of lamentation in the generally regarded as the greatest of all the gods in the Greek pantheon. underworld, which flowed into the Acheron. RETURN As such, his function and power cuts across all areas of divine and human activity. Presiding usually on Mount Olympus, he is the god of light and The beating heart of Daphne sorrowing, or sad Phyllis, of natural phenomena such as rain, thunder and lightning, but he also The nymph Daphne was known for her chastity as well as beauty, and maintains order and justice in the human world. RETURN was the object of an attempted rape by Apollo. She escaped and disappeared into the earth, and in her place a laurel tree sprang from the

230 231 NOTES NOTES

The naked spirit will fly to Dis And you, Nerina in Dante’s Divine Comedy, Dis is the city of the dead, located in the sixth another girl – though her actual name is this time unknown – who may circle of the rings of hell. It is guarded by fallen angels, and punished have said a few words of greeting to Leopardi, but whom he was fated to inside are those whose lives have been marked by active (rather than by worship from afar. She too seems to have died young. RETURN passive) sins. RETURN Aspasia Are in thrall to Proserpine Leopardi may have derived the name from the friend, or wife, of Pericles; also known as Persephone, Proserpine was queen of the underworld, once but it refers in this poem to Fanny Targioni-Tozzetti, the inspiration for abducted by Hades as she was gathering flowers in a field, and taken into five of the Canti. RETURN the depths of the earth. Unable to regain full possession of her daughter, her mother Demeter accepted the gods’ proposal that Proserpine should Marchese Gino Capponi spend part of the year in the underworld, and part on earth. RETURN A Tuscan aristocrat who, together with Gian-Petro Vieusseux, founded a reading-room, and later a magazine, that were to become the centre of Consalvo intellectual and literary life in Florence. He remained on friendly terms there are several literary antecedents for the emotional situation described with Leopardi. RETURN in Consalvo, though the name ‘Consalvo’ is best applied to Leopardi himself. RETURN One of your friends despite several supposed possibilities, the ‘friend’ has never convincingly In the first years / Of his manhood been identified. Given the immense wealth of skills ascribed to the the Italian che a mezzo / Il quinto lustro literally, and rather ponderously, ‘friend’, it is at least possible that he was a composite figure, rather than a means in the middle of his fifth lustrum, a lustrum being a period of five single individual. RETURN years. Consalvo is therefore twenty-two and a half. Rendering his age in this way in English, though, seems unnecessarily precise. I have therefore preferred the slightly looser phrasing in the first years / Of his manhood. RETURN

Elvira the name Leopardi gives to the inspiration of this poem, Fanny Targioni Tozzetti, to whom he had been introduced in 1830, and with whom he fell fruitlessly in love. RETURN

Carlo Pepoli born in 1796, Pepoli was a lively, gifted young man of Leopardi’s age, with similarly strong patriotic feelings. A warm and affectionate friendship developed between them, and Pepoli invited Leopardi to read the poem at a literary society of which he was vice-president. Pepoli lived until 1881. RETURN

Silvia the name given by Leopardi to one his earliest loves, the coachman’s daughter, Teresa Fattorini, who lived in the square opposite Leopardi’s family home. She died of consumption at an early age. RETURN

232 233 FURTHER READING AND LINKS

Tony Kline Poems of Leopardi, Chapbook no. 46, Brindin Press; http://www.brindin.com [the complete Canti, together with the Italian original]. FURTHER READING AND LINKS Paul Lawton Canti, ed. Franco Fortini, Dublin, 1996.

J.G. Nichols Giacomo Leopardi: The Canti, with a selection Translations of his prose, Manchester: Carcanet Press, 1994 [a complete version, though without the Italian The following translations of Leopardi’s work into English are worth original]. consulting: R.C. Trevelyan Translations from Leopardi, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1941 [a selection Jean-Pierre Baricelli Giacomo Leopardi: Poems Translated and with of 14 of the Canti, without the Italian original]. an Introduction, New York, 1963. Arturo Vivante Giacomo Leopardi: Poems, Wellfleet, Mass.: Geoffrey L. Bickersteth The Poems of Leopardi, Cambridge, 1923 Delphinium Press, 1988; 2nd ed. 1994 [a [offers the originals and verse translations on selection of Canti, with the Italian original]. facing pages, as well as an introduction and notes]. J.H. Whitfield Leopardi’s Canti, translated into English Verse, Naples, 1962 [bilingual version]. Alistair Elliot Italian Landscape Poems, Newcastle upon Tyne: Bloodaxe Books, 1993 [versions of three Canti, with the Italian original]. Books, Articles and Reviews Angel Flores (ed.) Leopardi: Poems and Prose, Bloomington and London: Indiana University Press, 1966 [a There is a wealth of printed material available concerned with Leopardi’s selection of Canti, translated by various hands, life and work, a great deal of it (understandably) in Italian. But for two with the Italian text]. pieces specifically concerned with the issues of translating his work into English, see Eamon Grennan Leopardi: Selected Poems, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997 [a dual-language version Robert Cummings review of the Elliot, Grennan, Lawton, and of selected Canti]. Nichols translations listed above, in Translation & Literature, vol. 6 (1997). John Heath-Stubbs Poems from Giacomo Leopardi, London: John Lehmann, 1946 [a selection of 17 poems, Nicolas J. Perella ‘Translating Leopardi’, in Italica, 2000 (July- without the Italian original]. September), 77, no. 3, pp. 357-85.

R.D.S. Jack, M.L. Leopardi: A Scottis Quair, Edinburgh: McLaughlin and C. Edinburgh University Press, 1987 [a selection Whyte (eds.) of Canti, with the Italian original, translated into English, Scots, and Gaelic].

234 235 FURTHER READING AND LINKS

Internet resources

Two major resources that can easily be accessed on the web are:

Centro nazionale di studi leopardiana, at http://www.mercurio.it/as/leopardi.

Leopardi centre at the University of Birmingham, England, at http://www.leopardi.bham.ac.uk.

Three further links that contain interesting material are:

John Holcombe http://www.textetc.com presents a fascinating discussion of the problems in translating ‘L’Infinito’.

J.G. Nichols http://www.oneworldclassics.com/E- Newsletters/OWCnewsletter_June07.pdf presents a short article ‘Translator, Traitor?’ in the newsletter of the Calder publishing group, with an insight into translating the title of Leopardi’s Sopra il monumento di Dante che si preparava in Firenze.

Anne Paolucci http://www.nyu.edu/pages/casaitaliana/past_events refers to a discussion of a recent translation of Leopardi (Selected Poems of Giacomo Leopardi, Bagehot Council and Griffon House, 2003), yet to be traced.

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