← A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick

A Modest Proposal: For preventing the children of poor people in Ireland, from being a burden on their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to the publick — Page 9

English → It Full Text Level 9/10

But in order to justify my friend, he confessed, that this expedient was put into his head by the famous Psalmanaazor, a native of the island Formosa, who came from thence to London, above twenty years ago, and in conversation told my friend, that in his country, when any young person happened to be put to death, the executioner sold the carcass to persons of quality, as a prime dainty; and that, in his time, the body of a plump girl of fifteen, who was crucified for an attempt to poison the Emperor, was sold to his imperial majesty's prime minister of state, and other great mandarins of the court in joints from the gibbet, at four hundred crowns.

Ma al fine di giustificare il mio amico, egli confessò che questo espediente gli era stato suggerito dal famoso Psalmanaazor, un nativo dell'isola di Formosa, che era venuto da lì a Londra più di vent'anni fa, e in una conversazione disse al mio amico che nel suo paese, quando qualche giovane capitava di essere messo a morte, il boia vendeva il cadavere a persone di rango, come una prelibatezza di prima scelta; e che, ai suoi tempi, il corpo di una prosperosa ragazza di quindici anni, che era stata crocifissa per un tentativo di avvelenare l'Imperatore, fu venduto al primo ministro di stato di sua maestà imperiale, e ad altri grandi mandarini della corte a pezzi staccati dal patibolo, a quattrocento corone.

Neither indeed can I deny, that if the same use were made of several plump young girls in this town, who without one single groat to their fortunes, cannot stir abroad without a chair, and appear at a playhouse and assemblies in foreign fineries which they never will pay for, the kingdom would not be the worse.

Né posso davvero negare che, se lo stesso uso venisse fatto di alcune prosperose giovani ragazze di questa città, che senza un solo soldo nelle loro fortune, non possono muoversi fuori casa senza una portantina, e si mostrano a teatro e alle assemblee con abiti stranieri che non pagheranno mai, il regno non ne sarebbe peggio.

Some persons of a desponding spirit are in great concern about that vast number of poor people, who are aged, diseased, or maimed; and I have been desired to employ my thoughts what course may be taken, to ease the nation of so grievous an incumbrance.

Alcune persone di animo scoraggiato sono molto preoccupate per quel vasto numero di poveri, che sono anziani, malati o mutilati; e mi è stato chiesto di impiegare i miei pensieri su quale corso possa essere intrapreso per alleviare la nazione di un così grave peso.

Vocabulary

Ma
But; however; yet.
al
To the; at the (contraction of 'a il').
fine
End; purpose; goal; objective.
di
Of; from; by (preposition).
giustificare
To justify; to provide reasons for something.
il
The (masculine singular definite article).
mio
My; mine (possessive adjective).
amico
Friend; male friend; companion.
egli
He; him (third person singular pronoun).
confessò
Confessed; admitted; acknowledged something.
che
That; which; who (relative pronoun).
questo
This; this one (demonstrative adjective).
espediente
Expedient; device; stratagem; means.
gli
Him; to him; the (masculine plural article).
era
Was; existed; third person singular imperfect.
stato
State; condition; been (past participle).
suggerito
Suggested; proposed; recommended; advised.
dal
From the; by the (contraction).
famoso
Famous; renowned; well-known; celebrated.
un
A; an; one (indefinite article).
nativo
Native; indigenous inhabitant of place.
dell
Of the; from the (contraction).
isola
Island; land surrounded by water.
venuto
Come; arrived; having come from.
da
From; by; since (preposition).
lì
There; in that place; over there.
più
More; plus; additional; greater quantity.
vent
Twenty (abbreviated form of venti).
anni
Years; periods of twelve months.
fa
Ago; in the past; made.
in
In; into; within; during (preposition).
una
A; an; one (feminine singular article).
conversazione
Conversation; discussion; dialogue between people.
disse
Said; told; spoke; uttered words.
nel
In the; inside the (contraction).
suo
His; her; its (possessive adjective).
paese
Country; nation; village; homeland.
quando
When; at what time; while.
qualche
Some; any; a few; several.
giovane
Young; youth; young person; juvenile.
capitava
Happened; occurred; came about; chanced.
essere
To be; to exist; infinitive form.
messo
Put; placed; put on; arrested.
morte
Death; dying; end of life.
boia
Executioner; hangman; one who executes.
vendeva
Sold; used to sell; was selling.
cadavere
Corpse; dead body; human remains.
persone
People; persons; individuals; human beings.
rango
Rank; status; position; social standing.
come
As; like; how; in manner.
prelibatezza
Delicacy; delicious treat; choice morsel.
prima
First; before; previously; in front.
scelta
Choice; selection; picked; chosen item.
ai
To the; at the (plural contraction).
suoi
His; her; its; their (possessive).
tempi
Times; periods; eras; occasions; moments.
corpo
Body; physical form; main part.
prosperosa
Prosperous; flourishing; thriving; well-developed.
ragazza
Girl; young woman; female child.
quindici
Fifteen; the number 15.
crocifissa
Crucified; fastened to cross; executed.
per
For; by; through; in order.
tentativo
Attempt; try; effort; endeavor.
avvelenare
To poison; to make toxic; contaminate.
Imperatore
Emperor; supreme ruler; imperial monarch.
fu
Was; became; third person singular past.
venduto
Sold; betrayed; handed over; given.
primo
First; primary; principal; early; initial.
ministro
Minister; official; government representative; administrator.
maestà
Majesty; royal dignity; imperial authority.
imperiale
Imperial; of emperor; royal; regal.
ad
To; at; toward (preposition before vowel).
altri
Others; other people; different ones.
grandi
Great; large; big; important; grand.
mandarini
Mandarins; officials; high-ranking Chinese administrators.
← Previous Next →

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →