← Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 5

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could be persuaded to consecrate his time and talents to the promotion of the anti-slavery enterprise, a powerful impetus would be given to it, and a stunning blow at the same time inflicted on northern prejudice against a colored complexion.

potesse essere persuaso a consacrare il suo tempo e i suoi talenti alla promozione della causa antischiavista, ne sarebbe derivato un potente impulso, e allo stesso tempo un colpo assordante sarebbe stato inferto al pregiudizio nordista contro la carnagione scura.

I therefore endeavored to instil hope and courage into his mind, in order that he might dare to engage in a vocation so anomalous and responsible for a person in his situation;

Mi adoperai quindi per infondere speranza e coraggio nel suo animo, affinché egli osasse intraprendere una vocazione così anomala e gravosa per una persona nella sua condizione;

and I was seconded in this effort by warm-hearted friends, especially by the late General Agent of the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society, Mr. JOHN A. COLLINS, whose judgment in this instance entirely coincided with my own.

e fui appoggiato in questo sforzo da amici dal cuore generoso, in particolare dal compianto Agente Generale della Società Antischiavista del Massachusetts, il signor JOHN A. COLLINS, il cui giudizio in questo caso coincideva pienamente con il mio.

At first, he could give no encouragement; with unfeigned diffidence, he expressed his conviction that he was not adequate to the performance of so great a task;

Dapprima non riusciva a mostrarsi incoraggiante; con sincera timidezza, espresse la sua convinzione di non essere all'altezza di un compito così grande;

the path marked out was wholly an untrodden one; he was sincerely apprehensive that he should do more harm than good.

il cammino tracciato era del tutto inesplorato; temeva sinceramente di fare più danno che bene.

After much deliberation, however, he consented to make a trial; and ever since that period, he has acted as a lecturing agent, under the auspices either of the American or the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society.

Dopo lunga riflessione, tuttavia, acconsentì a fare un tentativo; e da quel momento in poi ha operato come agente conferenziere, sotto gli auspici della Società Antischiavista Americana o di quella del Massachusetts.

In labors he has been most abundant; and his success in combating prejudice, in gaining proselytes, in agitating the public mind, has far surpassed the most sanguine expectations that were raised at the commencement of his brilliant career.

Nelle sue fatiche è stato instancabile; e il suo successo nel combattere il pregiudizio, nel guadagnare proseliti, nell'agitare la mente pubblica, ha superato di gran lunga le aspettative più ottimistiche sorte all'inizio della sua brillante carriera.

He has borne himself with gentleness and meekness, yet with true manliness of character.

Si è comportato con dolcezza e umiltà, ma con vera virilità di carattere.

Vocabulary

potesse
Could, might (subjunctive past of potere).
essere
To be; fundamental verb in Italian.
persuaso
Persuaded, convinced (past participle of persuadere).
consacrare
To dedicate, consecrate to a purpose.
il
The (masculine singular definite article).
suo
His, her, its (possessive adjective).
tempo
Time, period, weather.
suoi
His, hers (plural possessive adjective/pronoun).
talenti
Talents, gifts, abilities.
alla
To the, at the (preposition + article).
promozione
Promotion, advancement of a cause.
della
Of the, from the (preposition + article).
causa
Cause, reason, legal case.
ne
Of it, from it, some (pronoun).
sarebbe
Would be (conditional of essere).
derivato
Derived, originated (past participle).
un
A, an (masculine singular article).
potente
Powerful, strong, mighty.
impulso
Impulse, drive, momentum.
allo
To the (preposition + article).
stesso
Same, self, very.
colpo
Blow, strike, coup.
assordante
Deafening, extremely loud.
stato
State, condition; been (past participle of essere).
inferto
Inflicted, dealt (past participle of inferire).
al
To the (preposition + article).
pregiudizio
Prejudice, bias, discrimination.
contro
Against, opposite (preposition).
la
The (feminine singular article).
scura
Dark (feminine adjective).
Mi
Me, myself (direct/indirect object pronoun).
adoperai
I worked, I labored (past tense).
quindi
Therefore, thus, so.
per
For, in order to (preposition).
infondere
To instill, inspire, impart.
speranza
Hope, expectation.
coraggio
Courage, bravery, boldness.
nel
In the (preposition + article).
animo
Spirit, soul, mind.
affinché
So that, in order that (conjunction).
egli
He (formal masculine pronoun).
osasse
Might dare (subjunctive of osare).
intraprendere
To undertake, begin, start.
una
A, an (feminine singular article).
vocazione
Vocation, calling, profession.
così
So, thus, in such a way.
anomala
Anomalous, unusual, irregular.
gravosa
Burdensome, onerous, heavy.
persona
Person, individual, character.
nella
In the (preposition + article).
sua
His, hers, its (feminine possessive).
condizione
Condition, state, social position.
fui
I was (past tense of essere).
appoggiato
Supported, backed (past participle).
in
In, into (preposition).
questo
This, this one (demonstrative adjective).
sforzo
Effort, strain, exertion.
da
From, by (preposition).
amici
Friends (plural of amico).
dal
From the, by the (preposition + article).
cuore
Heart, center, core.
generoso
Generous, noble, magnanimous.
particolare
Particular, special, individual.
compianto
Late, deceased (adjective for the dead).
Agente
Agent, representative, official.
Generale
General (title or rank).
Società
Society, organization, association.
signor
Mr., sir (title of address).
cui
Whom, whose, which (relative pronoun).
giudizio
Judgment, opinion, verdict.
caso
Case, chance, occasion.
coincideva
Coincided, matched (past tense of coincidere).
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