Leviathan — Page 3

English → It Preface Level 9/10

Neither Thomas Hobbes nor his typesetters seem to have had many inhibitions about spelling and punctuation.

Né Thomas Hobbes né i suoi tipografi sembrano aver avuto molte inibizioni riguardo all'ortografia e alla punteggiatura.

I have tried to reproduce both exactly, with the exception of the introduction of quotation marks.

Ho cercato di riprodurre entrambe con esattezza, con l'eccezione dell'introduzione delle virgolette.

In preparing the text, I have found that it has much more meaning if I read it with sub-vocalization, or aloud, rather than trying to read silently.

Nel preparare il testo, ho scoperto che esso acquista molto più significato se lo leggo con sub-vocalizzazione, o ad alta voce, piuttosto che cercando di leggerlo in silenzio.

Hobbes' use of emphasis and his eccentric punctuation and construction seem then to work.

L'uso dell'enfasi da parte di Hobbes e la sua eccentrica punteggiatura e costruzione sembrano allora funzionare.

TO MY MOST HONOR'D FRIEND Mr. FRANCIS GODOLPHIN of GODOLPHIN

AL MIO ONORATISSIMO AMICO Il Signor FRANCIS GODOLPHIN di GODOLPHIN

HONOR'D SIR.

ONORATO SIGNORE.

Your most worthy Brother Mr SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, when he lived, was pleas'd to think my studies something, and otherwise to oblige me, as you know, with reall testimonies of his good opinion, great in themselves, and the greater for the worthinesse of his person.

Il vostro degnissimo fratello il Signor SIDNEY GODOLPHIN, quando era in vita, si compiacque di ritenere i miei studi degni di qualcosa, e in altro modo di obbligarmi, come voi sapete, con reali testimonianze della sua buona opinione, grandi in se stesse, e tanto più grandi per la dignità della sua persona.

For there is not any vertue that disposeth a man, either to the service of God, or to the service of his Country, to Civill Society, or private Friendship, that did not manifestly appear in his conversation, not as acquired by necessity, or affected upon occasion, but inhaerent, and shining in a generous constitution of his nature.

Poiché non vi è alcuna virtù che disponga un uomo, sia al servizio di Dio, sia al servizio del suo Paese, alla Società Civile, o all'amicizia privata, che non apparisse manifestamente nella sua condotta, non come acquisita per necessità, o affettata per l'occasione, ma inerente, e risplendente in una generosa costituzione della sua natura.

Therefore in honour and gratitude to him, and with devotion to your selfe, I humbly Dedicate unto you this my discourse of Common-wealth.

Perciò in onore e gratitudine verso di lui, e con devozione verso voi stesso, dedico umilmente a voi questo mio discorso sul Commonwealth.

I know not how the world will receive it, nor how it may reflect on those that shall seem to favour it.

Non so come il mondo lo accoglierà, né come potrà ricadere su coloro che sembreranno favorirlo.

Vocabulary

Né: neh — Neither; used to negate two elements together.
né: neh — Nor; neither (used in correlative negation).
i: ee — The (masculine plural definite article).
suoi: SWOH-ee — His, her, its (masculine plural possessive pronoun/adjective).
tipografi: tee-POH-grah-fee — Printers; people who set and print text professionally.
sembrano: SEM-brah-noh — They seem; third-person plural of sembrare.
aver: ah-VEHR — To have (infinitive, contracted form of avere).
avuto: ah-VOO-toh — Had; past participle of avere (to have).
molte: MOHL-teh — Many (feminine plural adjective/pronoun).
inibizioni: ee-nee-bee-TSYOH-nee — Inhibitions; psychological or behavioral restraints.
riguardo: ree-GWAHR-doh — Regard, respect; concerning, with regard to something.
all': ahl — To the (contraction of a + l' before vowel).
ortografia: ohr-toh-grah-FEE-ah — Orthography; the conventional spelling system of a language.
e: eh — And (basic coordinating conjunction).
alla: AHL-lah — To the (feminine singular preposition + article).
punteggiatura: poon-ted-jah-TOO-rah — Punctuation; the system of marks used in writing.
Ho: oh — I have (first-person singular present of avere).
cercato: chehr-KAH-toh — Tried, searched; past participle of cercare.
di: dee — Of, to, from (very common Italian preposition).
riprodurre: ree-proh-DOOR-reh — To reproduce; to replicate or copy something faithfully.
entrambe: en-TRAHM-beh — Both (feminine plural); referring to two things together.
con: kohn — With (preposition indicating accompaniment or means).
esattezza: eh-zaht-TETS-tsah — Exactness, accuracy; precision in reproducing something.
l': l — The (elided definite article before vowel).
eccezione: et-che-TSYOH-neh — Exception; a case excluded from a general rule.
dell': del — Of the (contraction of di + l' before vowel).
introduzione: een-troh-doo-TSYOH-neh — Introduction; the opening section of a text or speech.
delle: DEL-leh — Of the (feminine plural preposition + article).
virgolette: veer-goh-LET-teh — Quotation marks; punctuation marks enclosing quoted text.
Nel: nel — In the (masculine singular preposition + article).
preparare: preh-pah-RAH-reh — To prepare; to make something ready in advance.
il: eel — The (masculine singular definite article).
testo: TES-toh — Text; a written or printed piece of work.
ho: oh — I have (first-person singular present of avere).
scoperto: skoh-PEHR-toh — Discovered; past participle of scoprire (to discover).
che: keh — That, which, who (conjunction or relative pronoun).
esso: ES-soh — It; third-person singular neuter pronoun (formal).
acquista: ah-KWEES-tah — Acquires, gains; third-person singular of acquistare.
molto: MOHL-toh — Much, very; adverb or adjective indicating large quantity.
più: pyoo — More; comparative adverb indicating greater degree.
significato: see-nyee-fee-KAH-toh — Meaning, significance; the sense conveyed by words.
se: seh — If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothesis.
lo: loh — It, him (masculine singular direct object pronoun).
leggo: LEG-goh — I read (first-person singular present of leggere).
o: oh — Or (disjunctive coordinating conjunction).
ad: ahd — To, at (preposition a before vowel, euphonic form).
alta: AHL-tah — High, loud (feminine adjective); alta voce means aloud.
voce: VOH-cheh — Voice; the sound produced when speaking or singing.
piuttosto: pyoot-TOHS-toh — Rather, instead; adverb indicating preference or contrast.
cercando: chehr-KAHN-doh — Trying, seeking (gerund of cercare).
leggerlo: led-JEHR-loh — To read it (infinitive leggere + pronoun lo).
in: een — In, into (basic preposition of location or state).
silenzio: see-LEN-tsyoh — Silence; the absence of sound or noise.
uso: OO-zoh — Use, usage; the act of employing something.
enfasi: EN-fah-zee — Emphasis; stress placed on particular words or ideas.
da: dah — By, from (preposition indicating origin or agent).
parte: PAHR-teh — Part, side; da parte di means on the part of.
la: lah — The (feminine singular definite article).
sua: SOO-ah — His, her, its (feminine singular possessive adjective).
eccentrica: et-CHEN-tree-kah — Eccentric, unconventional (feminine adjective).
costruzione: kohs-troo-TSYOH-neh — Construction; the way a sentence or structure is built.
allora: ahl-LOH-rah — Then, at that time; adverb or discourse marker.
funzionare: foon-tsyoh-NAH-reh — To function, to work; to operate correctly.
AL: ahl — To the (masculine singular preposition + article, emphatic).
MIO: MEE-oh — My (masculine singular possessive adjective, emphatic).
ONORATISSIMO: oh-noh-rah-TEES-see-moh — Most honored; superlative form of onorato (honored).
AMICO: ah-MEE-koh — Friend (masculine singular noun).
Il: eel — The (masculine singular definite article).
Signor: see-NYOR — Mister, Sir (title of respect for a man).
ONORATO: oh-noh-RAH-toh — Honored, respected (past participle used as adjective).
SIGNORE: see-NYOH-reh — Lord, Sir, gentleman (formal title of address).
vostro: VOHS-troh — Your (masculine singular, formal or plural possessive).
degnissimo: deh-NYEES-see-moh — Most worthy; superlative of degno (worthy, deserving).
fratello: frah-TEL-loh — Brother; a male sibling.
quando: KWAHN-doh — When; temporal conjunction or adverb.
era: EH-rah — Was; third-person singular imperfect of essere.
vita: VEE-tah — Life; the state of being alive.
si: see — Reflexive pronoun; oneself, himself, herself, itself.
compiacque: kohm-PYAHK-kweh — Was pleased, deigned; past of compiacersi (to be pleased).
ritenere: ree-teh-NEH-reh — To consider, to regard; to hold something as true.
miei: MYEH-ee — My (masculine plural possessive adjective/pronoun).
studi: STOO-dee — Studies; plural of studio (study, field of work).
degni: DEH-nyee — Worthy, deserving (masculine plural adjective).
qualcosa: kwahl-KOH-zah — Something; an unspecified thing or matter.
altro: AHL-troh — Other, another; different or additional thing or person.
modo: MOH-doh — Way, manner, method; how something is done.
obbligarmi: ohb-blee-GAHR-mee — To oblige me; to put me under obligation.
come: KOH-meh — As, how, like (conjunction or adverb of manner).
voi: voh-ee — You (second-person plural subject pronoun).
sapete: sah-PEH-teh — You know (second-person plural present of sapere).
reali: reh-AH-lee — Real, genuine (plural adjective); actual manifestations.
testimonianze: tes-tee-moh-NYAHN-tseh — Testimonies, proofs; evidence attesting to something.
della: DEL-lah — Of the (feminine singular preposition + article).
buona: BWOH-nah — Good (feminine singular adjective).
opinione: oh-pee-NYOH-neh — Opinion; a personal view or judgment about something.
grandi: GRAHN-dee — Great, large (plural adjective); referring to important persons.
stesse: STES-seh — Same (feminine plural); le stesse means the same ones.
tanto: TAHN-toh — So much, as much; adverb of quantity or degree.
per: pehr — For, by, through (versatile Italian preposition).
dignità: dee-nyee-TAH — Dignity; the quality of being worthy of respect.
persona: pehr-SOH-nah — Person; an individual human being.
Poiché: poh-ee-KEH — Since, because (causal conjunction introducing a reason).
non: nohn — Not (basic negation adverb in Italian).
vi: vee — There; locative pronoun or adverb (ci/vi equivalent).
è: eh — Is; third-person singular present of essere (to be).
alcuna: ahl-KOO-nah — Any (feminine singular); used in negative or indefinite contexts.
virtù: veer-TOO — Virtue; a morally excellent quality or trait.
disponga: dee-SPOHN-gah — Disposes, inclines (present subjunctive of disporre).
un: oon — A, an (masculine singular indefinite article).
uomo: WOH-moh — Man; an adult male human being.
sia: syah — Be (present subjunctive of essere); both… and.
al: ahl — To the (masculine singular preposition + article).
servizio: sehr-VEE-tsyoh — Service; the act of serving or duty to a cause.
Dio: DEE-oh — God; the supreme being in monotheistic religion.
del: del — Of the (masculine singular preposition + article).
suo: SOO-oh — His, her, its (masculine singular possessive adjective).
Paese: pah-EH-zeh — Country, nation; one's homeland or native land.
Società: soh-cheh-tah — Society; an organized community of people.
Civile: chee-VEE-leh — Civil (adjective); relating to citizens and civil society.
amicizia: ah-mee-CHEE-tsyah — Friendship; a close relationship between friends.
privata: pree-VAH-tah — Private (feminine adjective); personal, not public.
apparisse: ah-pah-REES-seh — Appeared (past subjunctive of apparire); might appear.
manifestamente: mah-nee-fes-tah-MEN-teh — Manifestly, clearly; in an obvious or evident manner.
nella: NEL-lah — In the (feminine singular preposition + article).
condotta: kohn-DOHT-tah — Conduct, behavior; the way one acts or behaves.
acquisita: ah-kwee-ZEE-tah — Acquired (feminine past participle of acquisire).
necessità: neh-ches-see-TAH — Necessity; something indispensable or unavoidable.
affettata: ahf-fet-TAH-tah — Affected, contrived (feminine adjective); not natural.
occasione: ohk-kah-ZYOH-neh — Occasion, opportunity; a particular time or event.
ma: mah — But (coordinating adversative conjunction).
inerente: ee-neh-REN-teh — Inherent; existing as a natural or essential part.
risplendente: rees-plen-DEN-teh — Shining, resplendent; brilliantly bright or impressive.
una: OO-nah — A, an (feminine singular indefinite article).
generosa: jeh-neh-ROH-zah — Generous (feminine adjective); noble and giving in character.
costituzione: kohs-tee-too-TSYOH-neh — Constitution; the fundamental nature or structure of something.
natura: nah-TOO-rah — Nature; the innate character or physical world.
Perciò: pehr-CHOH — Therefore, so (causal adverb indicating consequence).
onore: oh-NOH-reh — Honor; high respect or esteem given to someone.
gratitudine: grah-tee-TOO-dee-neh — Gratitude; the quality of being thankful to someone.
verso: VEHR-soh — Toward, to (preposition indicating direction or regard).
lui: lwee — Him, he (third-person masculine subject or object pronoun).
devozione: deh-voh-TSYOH-neh — Devotion; deep dedication or commitment to someone.
stesso: STES-soh — Same, himself (masculine singular intensifier or adjective).
dedico: DEH-dee-koh — I dedicate (first-person singular present of dedicare).
umilmente: oo-meel-MEN-teh — Humbly; in a modest or respectful manner.
a: ah — To, at (basic Italian preposition of direction or place).
questo: KWES-toh — This (masculine singular demonstrative adjective/pronoun).
mio: MEE-oh — My (masculine singular possessive adjective).
discorso: dees-KOHR-soh — Discourse, treatise; a formal piece of writing or speech.
sul: sool — On the (masculine singular preposition + article).
Non: nohn — Not (basic Italian negation adverb).
so: soh — I know (first-person singular present of sapere).
mondo: MOHN-doh — World; the earth or human society at large.
accoglierà: ah-kohl-yeh-RAH — Will receive, will welcome (future of accogliere).
potrà: poh-TRAH — Will be able to (future third-person singular of potere).
ricadere: ree-kah-DEH-reh — To fall back, to fall upon; to affect negatively.
su: soo — On, upon (preposition of position or subject matter).
coloro: koh-LOH-roh — Those (people); third-person plural demonstrative pronoun.
sembreranno: sem-breh-RAHN-noh — They will seem (future plural of sembrare).
favorirlo: fah-voh-REER-loh — To favor it; to support or show preference for it.

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