From whence had America its name? From Amerigo Vesputio, a Florentine,
avére América nome Amerigo Vespúzio Fiorentíno
in 1497; though Columbus was the first discoverer of it in 1492
[1]benchè Colómbo éssere primo scopritóre
How large is that country? How is that empire divided? What are the
grande paése impéro divíso
productions of it? What is there worthy of notice in that country? Are
prodótto degno notízia paése
there any European colonies in that part of the world?
Européa colónia parte mondo?
Who subdued the greatest part of the world in twelve years time?
soggiogáre grande parte mondo dódici anno
Alexander, king of Macedonia.
Alessándro Re Macedónia.
To whom do the Canary Islands belong, how many are there of them, and
Canárie Ísola appartenére quante [2]éssere
how do they lie?
éssere situáto?
[1] See _Gram._ p. 205, upon the conjunction _though_.
[2] See _Gram._ p. 147, upon the conjugation of the verb impersonal
_there is_.
Upon the Irregular Construction of Personal and Possessive PRONOUNS.
[See GRAM. p. 61, and 66.]
Most men worship love, to it they sacrifice their finest
la maggior parte uómo adoráre amóre sagrificáre bello
days, and from it they expect their greatest happiness.
giórno aspettáre grande felicità.
Glory makes the whole ambition of heroes; they thirst after nothing,
glória fare tutto ambizióne eróe respirare altro
they seek nothing else; they apply to it alone, it is to it alone they
cercáre altro indirizzársi solo solo
make vows.
fare voto.
Self-love is our primum mobile; it is that which rules our passions, and
amáre próprio primo móbile regoláre passióne
to it are men indebted for most of the services which they
éssere uómo debitóre maggior parte servízio
reciprocally render one another.
reciprocaménte réndere
Is that the tree you were speaking of? Yes, that is it.
éssere albéro parláre
It looks very fine, but its fruit is good for nothing.
parére bello ma frutto non vale níente.
This, on the contrary, has no appearance; it is a peach-tree, and the
contrário avére apparénza pérsico
peaches are delicious.
pésca éssere delizióso.
When general G. saw himself pursued so close, he, reaching the river,
quando generále G. vedére seguitáto così da vicíno arriváre fiúme
threw himself in it (on horseback), with a design to cross it over,
gettársi a cavállo intenzióne tráversáre
rapid as it was; when he came to the stream, for all he did to resist
[1] rápido éssere quando veníre corrénte tutto fare resístere
it, he could not get the better of it; he then resolved to go down with
potére superare allóra risólvere seguíre
it, and let himself be carried away; but his horse was too
lasciarsi portáre via ma cavállo éssere troppo
tired to be able to swim long; and as he endeavoured to quit the
stanco potére nuotáre molto come sforzársi lasciáre
stream, the animal, which had now lost all his strength, sunk under him;
corrénte bestia avére pérdere tutto forza sommergérsi
he expected it, therefore resigned himself to his fate; he still
aspettársi perciò rassegnársi destíno ancóra
swam (for a while) with the stream, but not being able to get out of it,
nuotáre (per un pezzo) corrénte ma potére sortire
he was drowned.
éssere annegato.
The water which you have recommended him to drink is not fit for him; I
acqua avére raccomandáto bere essere próprio
know all its qualities, and will never recommend it in such a case. Of
conóscere tutto qualità mai raccomandáre tale caso
these two rivers, one has its spring in the Alps, and the other in the
questo due fiúme avére sorgénte Alpi altro
Pyrenees.
Pirenéi.
I have bought a new sword, the hilt of it is silver, but I do not
avére compráre nuóvo spada guárdia éssere d’argénto ma
like its shell; I will not part with the old one; it has done me much
amáre cóccia disfársi della vécchio avére reso molto
service; I have twice owed my life to it; only I will get it cleaned,
servízio avére due volta dovuto vita solo fare ripulire
and get a new hilt to it, and it will still be of service to me
méttere nuóvo guárdia ancóra servíre
by night.
nottetempo.
Keep from the wall, do not lean upon it.
allontanársi muro appogiársi
If you sit in that arm-chair take care you do not hurt yourself,
sedére sédia d’appoggio badáre farsi male
for the back and elbows are broken.
perchè spalliera bracciuólo éssere rotto.
His house is fine, I like its situation, but the rooms are not
casa bello amáre situazióne ma stánza éssere
well contrived: he has spent a great deal of money upon it; he
bene regoláto avére fátto gran spesa
has altered the roof, and made a stately stair-case; it costs him much,
avére fatto cambiar tetto fatto supérbo scala costáre molto
but (upon the whole) he owes his health to it; he lives there the whole
ma per altro dovere salúte vívere tutto
year. The gardens are very fine; he has added groves and water spouts
anno giardíno éssere bello aver aggiúnto boschétto getto d’acqua
to them; there are fine meadows all around: he designs to make still
éssere bello prato all’intorno contáre fare
greater alterations.
maggióre cambiaménto.
[1] See _Gram._ p. 205, upon the conjunction _though_.
_On the verb to play, with the Particles at, and on._
Do you never play at cards? I play sometimes at piquet, and at
mai giuocáre carta qualche volta picchetto
quadrille, to oblige the company.
quartíglio obbligáre compagnía.
Let us play for a crown. I never play so high; I do not like to play for
giuocáre scudo fare mai grosso giuóco non piacére
so much money: I do not love to play at games of chance, as at dice, or
tanto danáro amáre giuóco di sorte come dado
even at cards; but I like to play sometimes at bowls, at billiards,
anche carta piacére qualche volta bocce bigliárdo
at tennis, or nine pins. We play at chess every night, my cousin and I.
pallacórda birillo scácchi ogni sera cugíno
Can you play on any instrument?
sapére suonáre qualche struménto?
I can play a little on the flute. I thought you could also play on the
potére suonáre poco flauto crédere anche suonáre
fiddle. No: but I know that you play very well on the bass-viol: if you
violíno ma sapere suonáre viola d’amore
please to come to our house, we will make a little concert: my sister
piacére veníre da noi fare píccolo concerto sorélla
will play on the piano-forte, you on your bass, and I will sing.
suonáre piano-forte basso cantare.
_We use the Verb avére, instead of éssere, in speaking of being hungry,
dry, cold, hot, or old._
You eat as if you were not hungry. Excuse me, I eat well enough, but
mangiáre avére fame scusáre assai bene
I am not very hungry; I am more dry than hungry. I have been thirsty
avére grande fame avére sete fame avere avúto sete
the whole day.
tutto giórno.
I am very cold, and very hungry. Are you cold? On the contrary
avére freddo fame avére freddo al contrário
I am very warm, but I am tired.
avére gran caldo ma stanco.
My hands are so cold that I cannot write.
mano avére freddo potére scrivére.
[1]I believe your head is always cold, for you seldom pull off your
crédere testa sempre freddo perchè raraménte leváre
hat.
cappéllo.
How old is your sister? She is not fifteen yet. I thought she
quanto anno avere sorélla avére quíndici anno crédere
was twenty; and you, sir, how old are you?
avére venti anno ed ella avére?
I was very cold this morning when I came: but I am very warm now.
avére freddo mattína quando veníre ma caldo adésso
You do not look so. You eat as if you were not hungry. I am more cold
parére mangiáre avére fame freddo
than hungry. I have been thirsty all the day.
fame ho avuto sete giórno.
[1] I believe, &c. _Credo che voi abbiate sempre freddo alla testa_.
_The Impersonal Verb must, is sometimes rendered by dovere, and
sometimes by bisognáre._
To make war plenty of money must be had.
fare guerra molto danáro bisógna avére.
Men must love virtue to be happy. One must be mad to think that men
si dovére amáre virtù felíce bisognáre pazzo crédere uómo
can be happy without loving virtue.
potére senza[1] amáre virtù.
Men should learn first the duties belonging to human nature.
dovére imparáre prima dovére appartenénte umáno natúra.
A woman must have a good deal of circumspection not to speak of herself.
donna bisógna avére circospezióne parláre
One must not hope to see men cured of the ill-habit they have of
bisognáre speráre uómo guarírsi cattivo abitúdine avére
speaking always of themselves, their adventures, and wealth; for
parláre sempre avventúra opulénza
nothing is more tiresome. One should impose upon one’s-self a law
niénte nojoso dovére farsi legge
never to speak of one’s-self, neither one way, nor another.
mái parláre [2]
We must not easily believe those who flatter us: neither must we
dovére facilménte crédere adulare
reject entirely the compliments that are paid to us, when
rigettáre compliménto fare quando
we think we deserve them; that mistaken modesty is hardly less
crédere meritáre malintesa modéstia poco meno
displeasing, than a foolish vanity. Much art and nicety are requisite
spiacévole sciócco vanità arte delicatézza necessário
to season praises well: but there is also a way of receiving them,
condire lode ma anche modo ricévere
when they are merited, that does not displease modesty. Praises are like
quando meritare offendere modéstia lode come
a sort of tribute paid to true merit: we must neither reject them
spécie tribúto réndere vero mérito dovére nè rigettáre
through affectation, nor hanker after them too eagerly.
per affettazióne nè ambíre con troppa premúra.
[1] _Senza_ governs the infinitive mood.
[2] _Neither one way, nor another_, i. e. _nè in bene, nè in male_.
_On the negative Particles and Adverbs._
No one knows the sufferings of lovers, unless he himself has loved.
nissúno sapére sofferénza amánte se non
I have always loved her very much.
sempre amáto molto.
To court with respect and attention, is the best means of being
far la corte rispétto attenzióne mezzo
loved again. I have found nobody of your opinion.
riamáto avére trovare nessúno opinione.
I by no means believe what he says; nor I neither.
in nessún modo credere dire nemméno io.
She always comes unseasonably, as well as her sister.
sempre veníre fuór di tempo come anche sorélla.
He has not yet received an answer.
avére ancóra ricevúto rispósta.
Is there any thing more wonderful, than the virtue of the loadstone?
niente ammirábile virtù calamíta?
Did he ever mention it?
mai mentováre?
We have done nothing that ought to make you angry.
avére fatto niénte dovére andar in colera.
I am going there, lest he should come.
andáre per timor veníre.
I tell you, that, if henceforth I perceive that you attempt to play
dire se da quì innánzi accorgérsi tentáre fare
any trick to hinder me from marrying my son, I will complain to the
tiro a impedíre maritáre figlio lagnarsi
magistrate, and get you punished severely.--I promise you I will
magistrato fare punire severamente prométtere
never do it.
mai fare.
She is indifferent to me; and I neither love, nor hate her.
indifferénte amáre odiáre.
Now that they are under my care, they behave very prudently.
ora éssere sotto cura comportársi prudentémente.
She has neither relations, nor friends.
avére nè parénte nè amíco.
I will never forgive you, unless you promise to see her: she is so ill
mai perdonáre se non prométtere vedere stare male
that she can take nothing, neither can she have any rest.
potére pigliáre nè potére avére ripóso.
I will not take any physic before the winter is quite out.
pigliáre medicína prima invérno affátto passáto.
Why does not he boldly tell her his reasons?
perchè liberaménte dire ragióne?
He knows not where to meet her now.
sapére dove incontráre adésso.
I ask nothing but what is just; I cannot pay others, if I am not paid
domandáre che giústo non potére pagáre altro pagáre
what is due to me.
éssere dovúto.
On the CONJUNCTIONS.
Although I have no money, I cannot resolve to borrow any
benchè avére danáro non potére risólvere prenderne ad imprestito
of my friends. Obey, or else you shall be whipped.
da amico obbedíre altrimente [1]staffiláte.
When I punish you for your faults, you think I hate you; whereas
quando puníre fallo crédere odiáre in vece
it is only because I love you, I take that trouble.
che perchè amáre préndere incómodo.
Your brother came to see me yesterday as soon as you were gone. If he
fratello veníre vedére jéri súbito che partíre
come again, be so good as to tell him that I have waited for him
ritornáre avére bontà dire avére aspettáto
till now.
fin’ora.
Though I used my utmost endeavours, and neglected nothing to please him,
benchè fare tutto i miei sforzi trascuráre niénte piacere
yet he was constantly scolding me.
nientediméno continuaménte sgridáre.
That Adriana, whether she is Pamphilus’s wife, or whether she is but his
Adriána che Pamfílo moglie o che
mistress, she is always with him.
amorósa sempre con lui.
Either through reason, or caprice, she has married him.
sia per ragióne capríccio sposáre.
Wars are not so bloody since the invention of gunpowder.
guerra sanguinóso dopo invenzióne pólvere da schioppo.
Unless a book be instructive or entertaining, I do not wish to read it.
a meno che libro istruttívo piacévole
Whether she is writing, or reading, she will have her parrot with her.
che scrívere léggere volére avére pappágallo
Since you have forbidden him, he does it no more.
dacchè avére proibíto
If he should call at my house, while I am out, my
passáre da me mentre éssere fuóri
people would tell him where I am.
gente dire dove
Whether he wins, or loses, he is always the same.
sia guadagnáre pérdere sempre l’istesso.
I will not go there, unless you go along with me.
andáre a meno meco.
You must not play before you can say your lesson.
dovére giuocáre prima sapére lezióne.
Why do you not learn it then, instead of losing your time? He is
perchè imparáre dunque in vece pérdere tempo
so far from being forward, that he knows nothing at all. Far from
in vece éssere avanzáto sapére niénte affátto lungi
following my advice, he does not mind what I say to him.
seguíre consíglio badáre dire
I will rather consent to lose all, than give up my right.
piuttósto consentíre pérdere rinunziáre.
Though you were a king, I would not marry you.
se éssere Re sposáre.
Would to God I still were under his tuition, and my father had never
volére éssere sotto condótta padre avére mai
removed me from his school.
ritiráto scuóla.
It avails nothing to a girl to be young, without being handsome, nor
servíre niénte ragázza gióvine senza bello nè
to be handsome without being wise.
éssere senza saggio.
After you have done your exercise, you must read it over two or three
dopo fare tema dovére ripassare due tre
times, to correct the faults you may have made in it.
volta corréggere erróre potére fare.
Remember what I told you several times, that you will never be able
ricordársi dire parrécchie volte mai potére
to speak, or write Italian, unless you are master of the rules.
parláre scrívere Italiáno a meno possédere régola.
I will take so much pains that I hope I shall speak it
darsi tanto pena speráre
before it is long; though I am convinced it is very difficult
fra poco benchè convínto diffícile
to learn the Italian tongue perfectly well.
imparáre Italiáno lingua perfettaménte.
You will not find it so hard, if you learn the rules well.
trováre diffícile régola bene.
The narrowness of the mind, ignorance and presumption produce
picolezza ánimo ignoránza presunzióne
stubbornness; because obstinate people will believe nothing but what
ostinazióne perchè ostináto crédere che quel
they understand, and they understand but very few things.
compréndere ben poco cosa.
[1] Render, _avréte le staffiláte_.
On most PREPOSITIONS.
I rather choose to live in the country than in town, especially
amáre meglio vívere campágna città sopra tutto
at Florence: therefore I intend to set out to-morrow for my
Firénze perciò fare conto partire dománi
country-house, and then I will send my eldest son to Sicily for
casa di campagna e poi mandáre maggiore figlio Sicília
the summer.
state.
Where will you go to-night? To the play.
dove andáre staséra commédia.
When shall I dance, sir? You shall dance in your turn, and not before.
quando balláre quando vi toccáre prima.
Where do you live, sir? I live in St. James’s street, near
star di casa San Giácomo strada vicíno
a fruiterer’s, opposite a taylor’s. The best way to go to my house, is
fruttajuólo dirimpétto sartóre via venir da me
to pass through the Park, since you live in Westminster.
passáre attravérso Parco giacchè stare in Westminster
I intend to travel first all over England, and France, and then to
far conto viaggiáre tutto Inghilterra Fráncia poi
Germany, and Italy; from Italy to Spain, where I shall embark
Germánia Itália Spagna dove imbarcársi
to return to England.
ritornáre Inghilterra.
I shall go to Scotland in six months, or thereabouts.
andáre Scózia fra sei mesi incírca.
I will call upon your partners within twelve days; and I will
passáre socio fra dódici giórno
wait upon them as far as their seat, which is magnificent; were you ever
accompagnáre infíno villa manífico éssere mai
there? Yes. The walls are inlaid with marble; the stair-case is painted
si paréte lamináre marmo scala dipínto
in oil; all the furniture is worked with the needle; in short, nothing
a ólio tutto tapezzeria fatto ad ago in somma
richer can be seen.
ricco potére vedére.
I should be very glad to spend a few days at that wonderful seat.
avére ben caro passáre alcuno giórno maraviglióso villa
How far is it?
lontáno?
It is a great way: it is about a hundred and twenty miles off.
molto lontáno di qui incírca miglio.
The most uneasy situation is to be between fear and hope.
spiacevole situazióne lo stare fra timóre speránza
Heroes formerly sacrificed themselves for their country and their
eróe anticaménte sacrificársi patria
mistress; now-a-days nothing is done but for fortune and pleasure.
bella oggidì niénte farsi fortúna piacére.
A woman can please without beauty, but she can hardly do it without
donna potére piacére senza bellezza difficilmente
sense and amiability.
sénso amabilità.
There is no less eloquence in the tone of the voice, the eyes, and
meno eloquenza tuóno voce ócchio
the countenance, than in the choice of words.
aspétto scelta paróla.
Europe, in relation to the other parts of the world, lies
Európa rispetto altro parte mondo éssere situáto
northward; it is bounded on the east by Asia, and the Black Sea, which
settentrióne confináto oriente Ásia Nero Mare
communicates with the Mediterranean by the Straits of Constantinople;
comunicáre Mediterranéo Stretto Costantinópoli
on the south by Africa, from which it is separated by the Mediterranean
mezzogiórno Áffrica quale separáre
Sea; on the west by the Atlantic ocean; and on the north by the
mare occidénte Atlantíco oceáno settentrióne
Frozen Sea: its extent taken from Cape St. Vincent to the frontiers of
Mar Glaciále estensione prendere Capo San Vincénzio frontiera
Asia, is about 3,600 English miles: and from Cape North to Greece
Ásia incírca Inglése miglio Capo Norte Grécia
is about 2,200 miles.
France has Spain towards the south, from which it is divided by the
Fráncia Spagna verso mezzogiórno divíso
Pyrenean mountains, which are of a surprising height, and extend from
Pirenéo stupéndo altézza stendérsi
the ocean to the Mediterranean; a tract of about 220 miles.
oceano Mediterraneo tratto incirca miglia.
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