Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 2
—fortunate for the land of his birth, which he has already done so much to save and bless!—fortunate for a large circle of friends and acquaintances, whose sympathy and affection he has strongly secured by the many sufferings he has endured, by his virtuous traits of character, by his ever-abiding remembrance of those who are in bonds, as being bound with them!—fortunate for the multitudes, in various parts of our republic, whose minds he has enlightened on the subject of slavery, and who have been melted to tears by his pathos, or roused to virtuous indignation by his stirring eloquence against the enslavers of men!—fortunate for himself, as it at once brought him into the field of public usefulness, "gave the world assurance of a MAN," quickened the slumbering energies of his soul, and consecrated him to the great work of breaking the rod of the oppressor, and letting the oppressed go free!
—fortunato per la terra della sua nascita, che egli ha già fatto tanto per salvare e benedire!—fortunato per una vasta cerchia di amici e conoscenti, la cui simpatia e il cui affetto si è fortemente assicurato attraverso le molte sofferenze che ha sopportato, per le sue virtuose qualità di carattere, per il suo perenne ricordo di coloro che sono in catene, come se fosse incatenato con loro!—fortunato per le moltitudini, in varie parti della nostra repubblica, le cui menti ha illuminato sul tema della schiavitù, e che sono state sciolte in lacrime dal suo pathos, o spinte a una virtuosa indignazione dalla sua vibrante eloquenza contro gli schiavisti degli uomini!—fortunato per sé stesso, poiché ciò lo portò immediatamente nel campo dell'utilità pubblica, «diede al mondo la certezza di un UOMO», ravvivò le sopite energie della sua anima e lo consacrò alla grande opera di spezzare il bastone dell'oppressore e di lasciare andare libero l'oppresso!
I shall never forget his first speech at the convention—the extraordinary emotion it excited in my own mind—the powerful impression it created upon a crowded auditory, completely taken by surprise—the applause which followed from the beginning to the end of his felicitous remarks.
Non dimenticherò mai il suo primo discorso alla convenzione—la straordinaria emozione che suscitò nella mia mente—la potente impressione che creò su un pubblico affollato, completamente colto di sorpresa—gli applausi che seguirono dall'inizio alla fine delle sue felici osservazioni.
I think I never hated slavery so intensely as at that moment; certainly, my perception of the enormous outrage which is inflicted by it, on the godlike nature of its victims, was rendered far more clear than ever.
Credo di non aver mai odiato la schiavitù così intensamente come in quel momento; certamente, la mia percezione dell'enorme oltraggio che essa infligge alla natura divina delle sue vittime fu resa molto più chiara che mai.
Vocabulary
- fortunato
- Lucky, fortunate, blessed with good circumstances.
- per
- For, in order to, by means of.
- la
- The (feminine singular definite article).
- terra
- Earth, land, ground, soil.
- della
- Of the (feminine singular contraction).
- sua
- His, her, its (feminine singular possessive).
- nascita
- Birth, origin, beginning of life.
- che
- That, which, who (relative pronoun).
- egli
- He (formal or literary third person pronoun).
- ha
- Has, have (third person singular present).
- già
- Already, by now, previously.
- fatto
- Done, made, fact, deed.
- tanto
- So much, so many, such great.
- salvare
- To save, rescue, preserve from danger.
- benedire
- To bless, invoke divine favor upon.
- una
- A, an (feminine singular indefinite article).
- vasta
- Vast, wide, extensive, large in area.
- cerchia
- Circle, group, ring of people.
- di
- Of, from, by (preposition).
- amici
- Friends (plural of amico).
- conoscenti
- Acquaintances, people one knows.
- cui
- Whom, which (relative pronoun object).
- simpatia
- Sympathy, liking, affection for someone.
- il
- The (masculine singular definite article).
- affetto
- Affection, love, feeling of attachment.
- si
- Oneself, himself, herself (reflexive pronoun).
- fortemente
- Strongly, powerfully, with great force.
- assicurato
- Assured, secured, guaranteed.
- attraverso
- Through, across, by means of.
- le
- The (feminine plural definite article).
- molte
- Many (feminine plural form).
- sofferenze
- Sufferings, pain, hardships endured.
- sopportato
- Endured, borne, tolerated patiently.
- sue
- His, her, its (feminine plural possessive).
- virtuose
- Virtuous (feminine plural).
- qualità
- Quality, characteristic, property of person.
- carattere
- Character, nature, personality of person.
- suo
- His, her, its (masculine singular possessive).
- perenne
- Perennial, perpetual, lasting throughout year.
- ricordo
- Memory, remembrance, keepsake.
- coloro
- Those, those people (plural demonstrative).
- sono
- Are (third person plural present).
- in
- In, into, within, on (preposition).
- catene
- Chains, bonds, fetters.
- come
- As, like, how (comparative conjunction).
- se
- If, whether (conditional conjunction).
- fosse
- Were (third person singular imperfect subjunctive).
- incatenato
- Chained, bound, shackled.
- con
- With, together with (preposition).
- loro
- Them, their (third person plural pronoun).
- moltitudini
- Multitudes, great numbers of people.
- varie
- Various, different, diverse (plural).
- parti
- Parts, regions, areas.
- nostra
- Our (feminine singular possessive).
- repubblica
- Republic, state governed by people.
- menti
- Minds, intellects, mental faculties.
- illuminato
- Illuminated, enlightened, informed on subject.
- sul
- On the, about the (preposition).
- tema
- Theme, subject, topic of discussion.
- schiavitù
- Slavery, state of being enslaved.
- state
- Have been (second person plural present).
- sciolte
- Released, freed, loosened (feminine plural).
- lacrime
- Tears, drops of liquid from eyes.
- dal
- From the (masculine singular contraction).
- pathos
- Pathos, deep feeling, emotional quality.
- spinte
- Pushed, impelled, driven forward (feminine plural).
- virtuosa
- Virtuous, morally excellent (feminine singular).
- indignazione
- Indignation, anger at injustice.
- dalla
- From the (feminine singular contraction).
- vibrante
- Vibrant, resonant, thrilling with emotion.
- eloquenza
- Eloquence, persuasive and fluent speech.
- contro
- Against, in opposition to (preposition).
- gli
- The (masculine plural definite article).
- schiavisti
- Slave traders, slaveholders (plural).
- degli
- Of the (masculine plural contraction).
- uomini
- Men, humans (plural of uomo).
- sé
- Himself, herself, itself (reflexive pronoun).
- stesso
- Same, very, self (masculine singular).
- poiché
- Since, because, for the reason that.
- ciò
- This, that, this thing (demonstrative).
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