Cranford — Page 7
It was a word not to be mentioned to ears polite.
Era una parola che non doveva essere menzionata a orecchie educate.
We had tacitly agreed to ignore that any with whom we associated on terms of visiting equality could ever be prevented by poverty from doing anything that they wished.
Avevamo tacitamente concordato di ignorare che chiunque con cui ci associassimo in termini di uguaglianza nelle visite potesse mai essere impedito dalla povertà dal fare qualsiasi cosa desiderasse.
If we walked to or from a party, it was because the night was _so_ fine, or the air _so_ refreshing, not because sedan-chairs were expensive.
Se andavamo a piedi a una festa o ne tornavamo, era perché la notte era così bella, o l'aria così rinfrescante, non perché le portantine fossero costose.
If we wore prints, instead of summer silks, it was because we preferred a washing material; and so on, till we blinded ourselves to the vulgar fact that we were, all of us, people of very moderate means.
Se indossavamo stampati invece di sete estive, era perché preferivamo un tessuto lavabile; e così via, finché non ci celammo alla volgare realtà che eravamo, tutti noi, persone di mezzi molto modesti.
Of course, then, we did not know what to make of a man who could speak of poverty as if it was not a disgrace.
Naturalmente, dunque, non sapevamo cosa pensare di un uomo che poteva parlare della povertà come se non fosse una vergogna.
Yet, somehow, Captain Brown made himself respected in Cranford, and was called upon, in spite of all resolutions to the contrary.
Eppure, in qualche modo, il Capitano Brown si fece rispettare a Cranford, e fu visitato, nonostante tutte le risoluzioni contrarie.
I was surprised to hear his opinions quoted as authority at a visit which I paid to Cranford about a year after he had settled in the town.
Fui sorpresa di sentire le sue opinioni citate come autorità durante una visita che feci a Cranford circa un anno dopo che si era stabilito in città.
My own friends had been among the bitterest opponents of any proposal to visit the Captain and his daughters, only twelve months before; and now he was even admitted in the tabooed hours before twelve.
I miei stessi amici erano stati tra i più accaniti oppositori di qualsiasi proposta di far visita al Capitano e alle sue figlie, solo dodici mesi prima; e ora era persino ammesso nelle ore proibite prima di mezzogiorno.
Vocabulary
- Era
- Third person singular past tense of 'essere' (to be)
- una
- Indefinite article, feminine singular: 'a' or 'an'
- parola
- A word or spoken expression
- che
- Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that' or 'which'
- non
- Negation word meaning 'not'
- doveva
- Past imperfect of 'dovere': was supposed to, had to
- essere
- Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'
- menzionata
- Past participle of 'menzionare': mentioned, brought up
- a
- Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'
- orecchie
- Plural of 'orecchio': ears
- educate
- Adjective meaning refined, polite, well-mannered
- Avevamo
- First person plural past perfect of 'avere': we had
- tacitamente
- Adverb meaning silently, tacitly, without words
- concordato
- Past participle of 'concordare': agreed upon, mutually accepted
- di
- Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'to'
- ignorare
- To ignore or to be unaware of something
- chiunque
- Indefinite pronoun meaning 'anyone' or 'whoever'
- con
- Preposition meaning 'with'
- cui
- Relative pronoun meaning 'whom', 'which', or 'whose'
- ci
- Reflexive or indirect pronoun meaning 'us' or 'ourselves'
- associassimo
- Subjunctive imperfect of 'associare': that we associated with
- in
- Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'
- termini
- Plural of 'termine': terms, conditions, or words
- uguaglianza
- Noun meaning equality or sameness between parties
- nelle
- Contraction of 'in' and 'le': in the (feminine plural)
- visite
- Plural of 'visita': visits or social calls
- potesse
- Subjunctive imperfect of 'potere': could, might be able
- mai
- Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever'
- impedito
- Past participle of 'impedire': prevented, hindered, blocked
- dalla
- Contraction of 'da' and 'la': from the (feminine singular)
- povertà
- Noun meaning poverty or financial hardship
- dal
- Contraction of 'da' and 'il': from the (masculine singular)
- fare
- Infinitive verb meaning 'to do' or 'to make'
- qualsiasi
- Adjective meaning 'any', 'whatever', or 'whichever'
- cosa
- Noun meaning 'thing'; also used to mean 'what'
- desiderasse
- Subjunctive imperfect of 'desiderare': wished, desired
- Se
- Conjunction meaning 'if' or reflexive pronoun 'oneself'
- andavamo
- First person plural imperfect of 'andare': we went, used to go
- piedi
- Plural of 'piede': feet; 'a piedi' means on foot
- festa
- Noun meaning party, celebration, or holiday
- tornavamo
- First person plural imperfect of 'tornare': we returned
- era
- Third person singular imperfect of 'essere': it was
- perché
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'because' or 'why'
- la
- Feminine definite article meaning 'the'
- notte
- Noun meaning 'night'
- così
- Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'
- bella
- Adjective meaning beautiful or lovely (feminine)
- l'
- Elided definite article used before vowels: 'the'
- aria
- Noun meaning air, breeze, or atmosphere
- rinfrescante
- Adjective meaning refreshing or cooling
- le
- Feminine plural definite article or indirect pronoun 'to her'
- fossero
- Subjunctive imperfect of 'essere': were (third person plural)
- costose
- Adjective meaning expensive or costly (feminine plural)
- indossavamo
- First person plural imperfect of 'indossare': we wore
- stampati
- Past participle/adjective: printed (fabrics); prints
- invece
- Adverb meaning 'instead' or 'on the contrary'
- sete
- Noun meaning silk (fabric); also 'thirst' in other contexts
- estive
- Adjective meaning summery or of summer (feminine plural)
- preferivamo
- First person plural imperfect of 'preferire': we preferred
- un
- Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'
- tessuto
- Noun meaning fabric or woven material
- lavabile
- Adjective meaning washable or easy to clean
- e
- Conjunction meaning 'and'
- via
- Adverb meaning 'away'; noun meaning 'street' or 'way'
- finché
- Conjunction meaning 'as long as' or 'until'
- celammo
- First person plural past of 'celare': we concealed, hid
- alla
- Contraction of 'a' and 'la': to the (feminine singular)
- volgare
- Adjective meaning vulgar, common, or crude
- realtà
- Noun meaning reality or actual state of affairs
- eravamo
- First person plural imperfect of 'essere': we were
- tutti
- Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone'
- noi
- Personal pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'
- persone
- Plural of 'persona': people, persons, individuals
- mezzi
- Plural of 'mezzo': means, resources; also 'half'
- molto
- Adverb or adjective meaning 'very', 'much', or 'many'
- modesti
- Adjective meaning modest, humble, or limited (masculine plural)
- Naturalmente
- Adverb meaning naturally, of course, or obviously
- dunque
- Conjunction or adverb meaning 'therefore', 'so', 'then'
- sapevamo
- First person plural imperfect of 'sapere': we knew
- pensare
- Infinitive verb meaning 'to think' or 'to consider'
- uomo
- Noun meaning man or human being
- poteva
- Third person singular imperfect of 'potere': could, was able
- parlare
- Infinitive verb meaning 'to speak' or 'to talk'
- della
- Contraction of 'di' and 'la': of the (feminine singular)
- come
- Adverb or conjunction meaning 'how', 'as', or 'like'
- se
- Conjunction meaning 'if'; reflexive pronoun 'himself/herself'
- fosse
- Subjunctive imperfect of 'essere': were (third person singular)
- vergogna
- Noun meaning shame or disgrace
- Eppure
- Conjunction meaning 'and yet', 'nevertheless', 'still'
- qualche
- Adjective meaning 'some', 'a few', or 'some kind of'
- modo
- Noun meaning way, manner, or method
- il
- Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- Capitano
- Noun meaning captain (military or naval rank)
- si
- Reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself', 'herself', or 'oneself'
- fece
- Third person singular past of 'fare': made, did
- rispettare
- To respect or to earn respect from others
- fu
- Third person singular passato remoto of 'essere': was
- visitato
- Past participle of 'visitare': visited, received as a guest
- nonostante
- Preposition or conjunction meaning 'despite' or 'notwithstanding'
- tutte
- Feminine plural of 'tutto': all, every (feminine plural)
- risoluzioni
- Plural of 'risoluzione': resolutions, decisions, or determinations
- contrarie
- Adjective meaning contrary, opposing, or against (feminine plural)
- Fui
- First person singular passato remoto of 'essere': I was
- sorpresa
- Noun or adjective: surprise; surprised (feminine)
- sentire
- Infinitive verb meaning to hear, feel, or sense
- sue
- Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural)
- opinioni
- Plural of 'opinione': opinions, views, or beliefs
- citate
- Past participle of 'citare': quoted, cited (feminine plural)
- autorità
- Noun meaning authority, power, or an authoritative source
- durante
- Preposition meaning 'during' a period of time
- visita
- Noun meaning visit or social call
- feci
- First person singular passato remoto of 'fare': I did, made
- circa
- Preposition or adverb meaning 'about', 'approximately', 'around'
- anno
- Noun meaning year
- dopo
- Preposition or adverb meaning 'after' or 'later'
- stabilito
- Past participle of 'stabilire': established, settled, set up
- città
- Noun meaning city or town
- I
- Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'
- miei
- Masculine plural possessive adjective meaning 'my'
- stessi
- Adjective meaning 'same' or 'themselves' (masculine plural)
- amici
- Plural of 'amico': friends, companions
- erano
- Third person plural imperfect of 'essere': they were
- stati
- Past participle of 'essere': been (masculine plural)
- tra
- Preposition meaning 'between', 'among', or 'in'
- i
- Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'
- più
- Adverb or adjective meaning 'more' or 'most'
- accaniti
- Adjective meaning fierce, stubborn, or tenacious (masculine plural)
- oppositori
- Plural of 'oppositore': opponents, those who oppose
- proposta
- Noun meaning proposal or suggestion
- far
- Shortened form of 'fare': to do or to make
- al
- Contraction of 'a' and 'il': to the (masculine singular)
- alle
- Contraction of 'a' and 'le': to the (feminine plural)
- figlie
- Plural of 'figlia': daughters
- solo
- Adjective or adverb meaning 'alone', 'only', or 'just'
- dodici
- Cardinal number meaning twelve
- mesi
- Plural of 'mese': months
- prima
- Adverb or adjective meaning 'before', 'earlier', or 'first'
- ora
- Noun meaning 'hour'; adverb meaning 'now'
- persino
- Adverb meaning 'even', emphasizing something unexpected
- ammesso
- Past participle of 'ammettere': admitted, allowed, granted
- ore
- Plural of 'ora': hours or times of day
- proibite
- Past participle/adjective: forbidden, prohibited (feminine plural)
- mezzogiorno
- Noun meaning midday, noon, or the midday hour
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