Cranford — Page 2
"A man," as one of them observed to me once, "is _so_ in the way in the house!"
«Un uomo», come una di loro mi fece osservare una volta, «è _così_ d'intralcio in casa!»
Although the ladies of Cranford know all each other's proceedings, they are exceedingly indifferent to each other's opinions.
Sebbene le signore di Cranford conoscano tutte le vicende reciproche, sono straordinariamente indifferenti alle opinioni altrui.
Indeed, as each has her own individuality, not to say eccentricity, pretty strongly developed, nothing is so easy as verbal retaliation; but, somehow, good-will reigns among them to a considerable degree.
In effetti, poiché ciascuna ha sviluppato in modo piuttosto marcato la propria individualità, per non dire eccentricità, nulla è più facile della ritorsione verbale; eppure, in qualche modo, tra loro regna la buona volontà in misura considerevole.
The Cranford ladies have only an occasional little quarrel, spirited out in a few peppery words and angry jerks of the head; just enough to prevent the even tenor of their lives from becoming too flat.
Le signore di Cranford hanno solo qualche piccola lite occasionale, sfogata in poche parole piccanti e scatti stizziti della testa; quanto basta per impedire che il tono uniforme delle loro vite diventi troppo piatto.
Their dress is very independent of fashion; as they observe, "What does it signify how we dress here at Cranford, where everybody knows us?"
Il loro abbigliamento è del tutto indipendente dalla moda; come osservano, «Che importanza ha come ci vestiamo qui a Cranford, dove tutti ci conoscono?»
And if they go from home, their reason is equally cogent, "What does it signify how we dress here, where nobody knows us?"
E se si allontanano da casa, la loro ragione è ugualmente valida: «Che importanza ha come ci vestiamo qui, dove nessuno ci conosce?»
The materials of their clothes are, in general, good and plain, and most of them are nearly as scrupulous as Miss Tyler, of cleanly memory; but I will answer for it, the last gigot, the last tight and scanty petticoat in wear in England, was seen in Cranford—and seen without a smile.
I tessuti dei loro abiti sono, in generale, buoni e semplici, e la maggior parte di loro è quasi scrupolosa quanto la signorina Tyler, di limpida memoria; ma posso garantirlo, l'ultima manica a gigot, l'ultima sottogonna stretta e misera ancora indossata in Inghilterra, fu vista a Cranford—e vista senza un sorriso.
[Picture: A magnificent family red silk umbrella]
[Immagine: Un magnifico ombrello di seta rossa di famiglia]
I can testify to a magnificent family red silk umbrella, under which a gentle little spinster, left alone of many brothers and sisters, used to patter to church on rainy days.
Posso testimoniare l'esistenza di un magnifico ombrello di seta rossa di famiglia, sotto il quale una dolce e minuta zitella, rimasta sola di molti fratelli e sorelle, era solita trotterellare in chiesa nei giorni di pioggia.
Vocabulary
- Un
- Indefinite article masculine singular; a, an
- uomo
- Man; adult male person
- come
- How; as; like; in what manner
- una
- Indefinite article feminine singular; a, an
- di
- Of; from; about; indicates possession or relationship
- loro
- Their; theirs; them (third person plural)
- mi
- Me; to me; myself (first person singular)
- fece
- Made; did (past tense of fare)
- osservare
- To observe; to notice; to watch carefully
- volta
- Time; turn; once; occasion
- così
- So; thus; in this way; like this
- in
- In; into; at; within a location or time
- casa
- House; home; household; domestic residence
- Sebbene
- Although; though; even if; despite that
- le
- The (feminine plural); her; them (feminine)
- signore
- Ladies; women; Mrs.; mistresses; female title
- conoscano
- Know; are acquainted with (subjunctive present)
- tutte
- All; all of them (feminine plural)
- reciproche
- Reciprocal; mutual; one another's; shared
- sono
- Am; are; is (present tense of essere)
- straordinariamente
- Extraordinarily; remarkably; unusually; in exceptional manner
- indifferenti
- Indifferent; unconcerned; apathetic; unmoved emotionally
- alle
- To the; at the (feminine plural contraction)
- opinioni
- Opinions; views; beliefs; judgments; perspectives
- altrui
- Others'; someone else's; other people's property
- In
- In; into; at; within a location
- effetti
- Effects; indeed; in fact; actually; results
- poiché
- Because; since; as; given that; for reason
- ciascuna
- Each one; each; every one (feminine singular)
- ha
- Has; have (third person singular of avere)
- sviluppato
- Developed; unfolded; grown; expanded; evolved
- modo
- Way; manner; mode; method; fashion
- piuttosto
- Rather; quite; somewhat; fairly; instead
- marcato
- Marked; pronounced; distinct; emphatic; notable
- la
- The (feminine singular); her; it
- propria
- Own; proper; one's own; self's
- individualità
- Individuality; uniqueness; distinct personal character
- per
- For; in order to; to; per; by
- non
- Not; no; negation particle in Italian
- dire
- To say; to tell; to speak; to mention
- eccentricità
- Eccentricity; oddness; quirks; peculiarities; oddities
- nulla
- Nothing; nothing at all; naught; zero
- più
- More; most; plus; additional; greater
- facile
- Easy; simple; uncomplicated; not difficult
- della
- Of the; from the (feminine singular contraction)
- verbale
- Verbal; spoken; oral; related to words
- eppure
- Yet; and yet; still; nevertheless; however
- qualche
- Some; a few; a certain; any
- tra
- Between; among; within; in the midst
- regna
- Reigns; rules; prevails; dominates; exists
- buona
- Good; well; favorable; positive (feminine)
- volontà
- Will; willingness; determination; intention; desire
- misura
- Measure; extent; degree; size; proportion
- considerevole
- Considerable; substantial; significant; notable; large
- Le
- The (feminine plural); her; them
- hanno
- Have; has (third person plural of avere)
- solo
- Only; sole; alone; just; merely
- piccola
- Small; little; tiny; young (feminine singular)
- lite
- Quarrel; dispute; argument; fight; contention
- occasionale
- Occasional; sporadic; infrequent; happening sometimes
- poche
- Few; some; a few; not many (feminine)
- parole
- Words; remarks; speech; statement; utterances
- piccanti
- Spicy; piquant; sharp; biting; witty
- testa
- Head; mind; person; chief; top
- quanto
- How much; as much; what; however much
- basta
- Enough; suffices; is enough; that's all
- impedire
- To prevent; to hinder; to obstruct; to stop
- che
- That; which; who; what; than
- il
- The (masculine singular); it; him
- tono
- Tone; sound; manner; accent; pitch
- uniforme
- Uniform; consistent; standardized; same throughout
- delle
- Of the; from the (feminine plural contraction)
- vite
- Lives; existences; biography; living (plural)
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