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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave — Page 15

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If with the latter, what are you prepared to do and dare in their behalf?

Se con i secondi, cosa siete pronti a fare e ad osare in loro favore?

Be faithful, be vigilant, be untiring in your efforts to break every yoke, and let the oppressed go free.

Siate fedeli, siate vigili, siate instancabili nei vostri sforzi per spezzare ogni giogo, e lasciate andare liberi gli oppressi.

Come what may—cost what it may—inscribe on the banner which you unfurl to the breeze, as your religious and political motto—"NO COMPROMISE WITH SLAVERY! NO UNION WITH SLAVEHOLDERS!"

Accada quel che accada—costi quel che costi—iscrivete sullo stendardo che spiegherete alla brezza, come vostro motto religioso e politico—"NESSUN COMPROMESSO CON LA SCHIAVITÙ! NESSUNA UNIONE CON I PROPRIETARI DI SCHIAVI!"

WM. LLOYD GARRISON BOSTON, _May_ 1, 1845.

WM. LLOYD GARRISON BOSTON, 1° _maggio_ 1845.

LETTER FROM WENDELL PHILLIPS, ESQ.

LETTERA DI WENDELL PHILLIPS, ESQ.

BOSTON, _April_ 22, 1845.

BOSTON, 22 _aprile_ 1845.

My Dear Friend:

Mio caro amico:

You remember the old fable of "The Man and the Lion," where the lion complained that he should not be so misrepresented "when the lions wrote history."

Ricordate la vecchia favola de «L'uomo e il leone», dove il leone si lamentava che non sarebbe stato così travisato «quando i leoni avrebbero scritto la storia».

I am glad the time has come when the "lions write history."

Sono lieto che sia giunto il momento in cui i «leoni scrivono la storia».

We have been left long enough to gather the character of slavery from the involuntary evidence of the masters.

Siamo stati lasciati abbastanza a lungo a desumere il carattere della schiavitù dalle testimonianze involontarie dei padroni.

One might, indeed, rest sufficiently satisfied with what, it is evident, must be, in general, the results of such a relation, without seeking farther to find whether they have followed in every instance.

Si potrebbe, in effetti, ritenersi sufficientemente soddisfatti di ciò che, evidentemente, devono essere, in generale, i risultati di tale relazione, senza cercare oltre per scoprire se si siano verificati in ogni caso.

Indeed, those who stare at the half-peck of corn a week, and love to count the lashes on the slave's back, are seldom the "stuff" out of which reformers and abolitionists are to be made.

In verità, coloro che fissano il mezzo peck di granturco a settimana, e amano contare le frustate sulla schiena dello schiavo, sono raramente la «stoffa» di cui sono fatti i riformatori e gli abolizionisti.

I remember that, in 1838, many were waiting for the results of the West India experiment, before they could come into our ranks.

Ricordo che, nel 1838, molti stavano aspettando i risultati dell'esperimento delle Indie Occidentali, prima di poter entrare nelle nostre fila.

Those "results" have come long ago; but, alas!

Quei «risultati» sono arrivati da molto tempo; ma, ahimè!

Vocabulary

Se: se — Conditional conjunction meaning 'if' in Italian.
con: kon — Preposition meaning 'with' in Italian.
i: i — Definite article 'the' for masculine plural nouns.
secondi: se-KON-di — Second (ordinal) or seconds; also a pasta course.
cosa: KO-za — Noun meaning 'thing' or interrogative 'what'.
siete: SYEH-te — Second person plural of 'essere'; you all are.
pronti: PRON-ti — Adjective meaning 'ready', masculine plural form.
a: a — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
fare: FA-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to do' or 'to make'.
e: e — Conjunction meaning 'and' connecting words or clauses.
ad: ad — Variant of 'a' used before vowels; meaning 'to'.
osare: o-ZA-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to dare' or 'to venture'.
in: in — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'at'.
loro: LO-ro — Pronoun meaning 'they', 'them', or 'their'.
favore: fa-VO-re — Noun meaning 'favor' or 'benefit'; per favore means please.
Siate: SYA-te — Imperative of 'essere'; 'be' addressed to a group.
fedeli: fe-DEH-li — Adjective meaning 'faithful' or 'loyal', masculine plural.
siate: SYA-te — Subjunctive/imperative of 'essere'; 'be' (plural command).
vigili: VI-ji-li — Adjective meaning 'watchful' or 'alert', masculine plural.
instancabili: in-stan-KA-bi-li — Adjective meaning 'tireless' or 'indefatigable', plural form.
nei: nei — Contraction of 'in' and 'i'; meaning 'in the' (plural).
vostri: VOS-tri — Possessive adjective meaning 'your' for masculine plural nouns.
sforzi: SFOR-tsi — Noun meaning 'efforts' or 'exertions', masculine plural.
per: per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'.
spezzare: spet-TSA-re — Infinitive meaning 'to break' or 'to shatter' something.
ogni: ON-yi — Adjective meaning 'every' or 'each', invariable form.
giogo: JO-go — Noun meaning 'yoke'; symbol of oppression or burden.
lasciate: la-SHA-te — Imperative 'leave' or 'let', addressed to a group.
andare: an-DA-re — Infinitive meaning 'to go'; also used in 'let go'.
liberi: LI-be-ri — Adjective meaning 'free', masculine plural form.
gli: ʎi — Definite article 'the' for masculine plural before vowels.
oppressi: op-PRES-si — Noun/adjective meaning 'the oppressed', masculine plural form.
Accada: ak-KA-da — Subjunctive of 'accadere'; 'whatever may happen'.
quel: kwel — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that', masculine singular.
che: ke — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
accada: ak-KA-da — Subjunctive of 'accadere'; 'that it may happen'.
costi: KOS-ti — Subjunctive of 'costare'; 'whatever it may cost'.
iscrivete: is-kri-VEH-te — Imperative 'inscribe' or 'write', addressed to a group.
sullo: SUL-lo — Contraction of 'su' and 'lo'; meaning 'on the'.
stendardo: sten-DAR-do — Noun meaning 'banner' or 'standard', a flag or emblem.
spiegherete: spye-ge-REH-te — Future tense 'you will unfurl' or 'display', plural.
alla: AL-la — Contraction of 'a' and 'la'; meaning 'to the' (feminine).
brezza: BRET-tsa — Noun meaning 'breeze', a gentle wind.
come: KO-me — Conjunction/adverb meaning 'as', 'like', or 'how'.
vostro: VOS-tro — Possessive adjective meaning 'your', masculine singular form.
motto: MOT-to — Noun meaning 'motto' or 'saying', guiding principle.
religioso: re-li-JO-zo — Adjective meaning 'religious', relating to faith or belief.
politico: po-LI-ti-ko — Adjective meaning 'political', relating to government or politics.
NESSUN: nes-SUN — Adjective meaning 'no' or 'not any', masculine singular.
COMPROMESSO: kom-pro-MES-so — Noun meaning 'compromise', an agreement involving concessions.
CON: kon — Preposition meaning 'with'; here used emphatically.
LA: la — Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns.
SCHIAVITÙ: skya-vi-TU — Noun meaning 'slavery', the institution of enslaving people.
NESSUNA: nes-SU-na — Adjective meaning 'no' or 'not any', feminine singular.
UNIONE: u-NYO-ne — Noun meaning 'union' or 'alliance', a joining together.
PROPRIETARI: pro-prye-TA-ri — Noun meaning 'owners' or 'proprietors', masculine plural.
DI: di — Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from' in Italian.
SCHIAVI: SKYA-vi — Noun meaning 'slaves', enslaved people, masculine plural.
LETTERA: LET-te-ra — Noun meaning 'letter', a written message or correspondence.
Mio: MYO — Possessive adjective meaning 'my', masculine singular form.
caro: KA-ro — Adjective meaning 'dear' or 'beloved'; used in salutations.
amico: a-MI-ko — Noun meaning 'friend', a close or dear companion.
Ricordate: ri-kor-DA-te — Imperative 'remember', addressed to a group; do you recall.
la: la — Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns.
vecchia: VEK-kya — Adjective meaning 'old', feminine singular form.
favola: FA-vo-la — Noun meaning 'fable' or 'fairy tale', a short moral story.
L': l — Elided definite article 'the' before a vowel sound.
uomo: WO-mo — Noun meaning 'man' or 'human being', masculine singular.
il: il — Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns.
leone: le-O-ne — Noun meaning 'lion', a large wild cat.
dove: DO-ve — Adverb meaning 'where'; used in relative or direct questions.
si: si — Reflexive pronoun 'oneself'; also impersonal 'one does'.
lamentava: la-men-TA-va — Imperfect of 'lamentarsi'; 'was complaining' or 'lamented'.
non: non — Negation adverb meaning 'not' in Italian sentences.
sarebbe: sa-REB-be — Conditional of 'essere'; 'would be', third person singular.
stato: STA-to — Past participle of 'essere'; 'been'; also 'state' as noun.
così: ko-ZI — Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'.
travisato: tra-vi-ZA-to — Past participle meaning 'misrepresented' or 'distorted'.
quando: KWAN-do — Conjunction/adverb meaning 'when' in time clauses.
leoni: le-O-ni — Noun meaning 'lions', masculine plural of 'leone'.
avrebbero: av-REB-be-ro — Conditional 'they would have', auxiliary third person plural.
scritto: SKRIT-to — Past participle of 'scrivere'; 'written'.
storia: STO-rya — Noun meaning 'history' or 'story', a narrative account.
Sono: SO-no — First person singular of 'essere'; 'I am' or 'they are'.
lieto: LYE-to — Adjective meaning 'glad' or 'happy', masculine singular.
sia: SYA — Subjunctive of 'essere'; 'that it be' or 'that it is'.
giunto: JUN-to — Past participle of 'giungere'; 'arrived' or 'come'.
momento: mo-MEN-to — Noun meaning 'moment' or 'point in time'.
cui: kwi — Relative pronoun meaning 'whom', 'which', or 'whose'.
scrivono: SKRI-vo-no — Third person plural of 'scrivere'; 'they write'.
Siamo: SYA-mo — First person plural of 'essere'; 'we are'.
stati: STA-ti — Past participle of 'essere', plural; 'been'; also 'states'.
lasciati: la-SHA-ti — Past participle of 'lasciare', plural; 'left' or 'allowed'.
abbastanza: ab-bas-TAN-tsa — Adverb meaning 'enough' or 'quite', indicating sufficiency.
lungo: LUN-go — Adjective/adverb meaning 'long' or 'for a long time'.
carattere: ka-RAT-te-re — Noun meaning 'character' or 'nature' of a person or thing.
della: DEL-la — Contraction of 'di' and 'la'; meaning 'of the' (feminine).
schiavitù: skya-vi-TU — Noun meaning 'slavery', the state of being enslaved.
dalle: DAL-le — Contraction of 'da' and 'le'; 'from the', feminine plural.
testimonianze: te-sti-mo-NYAN-tse — Noun meaning 'testimonies' or 'accounts', plural form.
involontarie: in-vo-lon-TA-rye — Adjective meaning 'involuntary' or 'unwitting', feminine plural.
dei: dei — Contraction of 'di' and 'i'; 'of the', masculine plural.
padroni: pa-DRO-ni — Noun meaning 'masters' or 'owners', masculine plural.
Si: si — Reflexive or impersonal pronoun; 'oneself' or 'one might'.
potrebbe: po-TREB-be — Conditional of 'potere'; 'one could' or 'it might be'.
effetti: ef-FET-ti — Noun meaning 'effects'; 'in effetti' means 'in fact'.
ritenersi: ri-te-NER-si — Reflexive infinitive meaning 'to consider oneself' or 'deem'.
sufficientemente: suf-fi-chen-te-MEN-te — Adverb meaning 'sufficiently' or 'adequately'.
soddisfatti: sod-dis-FAT-ti — Adjective meaning 'satisfied' or 'content', masculine plural.
di: di — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
ciò: cho — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that thing'.
evidentemente: e-vi-den-te-MEN-te — Adverb meaning 'evidently' or 'obviously', clearly apparent.
devono: DE-vo-no — Third person plural of 'dovere'; 'they must' or 'they have to'.
essere: ES-se-re — Infinitive meaning 'to be'; fundamental auxiliary verb.
generale: je-ne-RA-le — Adjective meaning 'general' or 'widespread'; also a military general.
risultati: ri-zul-TA-ti — Noun meaning 'results' or 'outcomes', masculine plural.
tale: TA-le — Adjective/pronoun meaning 'such' or 'such a'.
relazione: re-la-TSYO-ne — Noun meaning 'relationship', 'report', or 'account'.
senza: SEN-tsa — Preposition meaning 'without', indicating absence or lack.
cercare: cher-KA-re — Infinitive meaning 'to search', 'to look for', or 'to seek'.
oltre: OL-tre — Adverb/preposition meaning 'beyond' or 'further'.
scoprire: sko-PRI-re — Infinitive meaning 'to discover' or 'to find out'.
se: se — Conjunction meaning 'if' or 'whether' in indirect questions.
siano: SYA-no — Subjunctive of 'essere', plural; 'that they be' or 'are'.
verificati: ve-ri-fi-KA-ti — Past participle of 'verificarsi'; 'occurred' or 'verified'.
caso: KA-zo — Noun meaning 'case', 'chance', or 'instance'.
In: in — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into'; begins locative phrases.
verità: ve-ri-TA — Noun meaning 'truth'; 'in verità' means 'in truth'.
coloro: ko-LO-ro — Pronoun meaning 'those' or 'those who', formal register.
fissano: FIS-sa-no — Third person plural of 'fissare'; 'they fix' or 'they set'.
mezzo: MED-zo — Noun/adjective meaning 'half' or 'middle', a measure.
granturco: gran-TUR-ko — Noun meaning 'corn' or 'maize', a cereal crop.
settimana: set-ti-MA-na — Noun meaning 'week', a period of seven days.
amano: A-ma-no — Third person plural of 'amare'; 'they love' or 'they like'.
contare: kon-TA-re — Infinitive meaning 'to count' or 'to matter', to enumerate.
le: le — Definite article 'the' for feminine plural nouns.
frustate: frus-TA-te — Noun meaning 'lashes' or 'whippings', blows from a whip.
sulla: SUL-la — Contraction of 'su' and 'la'; meaning 'on the' (feminine).
schiena: SKYE-na — Noun meaning 'back', the posterior part of the torso.
dello: DEL-lo — Contraction of 'di' and 'lo'; 'of the', masculine singular.
schiavo: SKYA-vo — Noun meaning 'slave', an enslaved person.
sono: SO-no — Third person plural of 'essere'; 'they are'; or 'I am'.
raramente: ra-ra-MEN-te — Adverb meaning 'rarely' or 'seldom', not often.
stoffa: STOF-fa — Noun meaning 'fabric' or 'material'; figuratively 'stuff/mettle'.
fatti: FAT-ti — Past participle of 'fare', plural; 'made of' or 'facts'.
riformatori: ri-for-ma-TO-ri — Noun meaning 'reformers', people who advocate social change.
Ricordo: ri-KOR-do — First person singular of 'ricordare'; 'I remember'.
nel: nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'il'; meaning 'in the' (masculine).
molti: MOL-ti — Adjective/pronoun meaning 'many', masculine plural form.
stavano: STA-va-no — Imperfect of 'stare'; 'they were' doing something continuously.
aspettando: as-pet-TAN-do — Gerund of 'aspettare'; 'waiting' or 'expecting' something.
dell': del — Elided contraction of 'di' and 'il/la'; 'of the'.
esperimento: es-pe-ri-MEN-to — Noun meaning 'experiment' or 'trial', a test of something.
delle: DEL-le — Contraction of 'di' and 'le'; 'of the', feminine plural.
Occidentali: ot-chi-den-TA-li — Adjective meaning 'Western', referring to the West Indies.
prima: PRI-ma — Adverb/conjunction meaning 'before' or 'first' in time.
poter: po-TER — Shortened infinitive of 'potere'; 'to be able to'.
entrare: en-TRA-re — Infinitive meaning 'to enter' or 'to join' a group.
nelle: NEL-le — Contraction of 'in' and 'le'; 'in the', feminine plural.
nostre: NOS-tre — Possessive adjective meaning 'our', feminine plural form.
fila: FI-la — Noun meaning 'ranks' or 'rows'; 'fila' here means ranks.
Quei: kwei — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'those', masculine plural.
arrivati: ar-ri-VA-ti — Past participle of 'arrivare'; 'arrived', masculine plural.
da: da — Preposition meaning 'from', 'since', or 'by'.
molto: MOL-to — Adverb/adjective meaning 'very', 'much', or 'a lot'.
tempo: TEM-po — Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather', a common Italian word.
ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing a contrast or exception.
ahimè: a-i-ME — Exclamation meaning 'alas' or 'unfortunately', expressing sorrow.

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