Piccolissima — Page 9
One of the flies--it was the elder--having fixed upon the little prodigy one of the thousand faces of his brown, sparkling eyes, surrounded with golden eyelashes, he then placed, one by one, his little black feet upon the stick of sugar candy, stretched forth his trunk, and began to suck with eagerness.
Una delle mosche—era la più anziana—avendo fissato sul piccolo prodigio uno dei mille faccetti dei suoi occhi bruni e scintillanti, circondati da ciglia dorate, pose poi, uno ad uno, i suoi piedini neri sul bastoncino di zucchero candito, allungò la proboscide e cominciò a succhiare con avidità.
Piccolissima had now time enough to contemplate a being whose organs she thought were like her own in their weakness.
Piccolissima ebbe ora tutto il tempo di contemplare un essere i cui organi le sembravano simili ai propri nella loro debolezza.
She found pleasure in examining the extraordinary form of its almost cylindrical body, divided into three parts, and a head wider than it was long, an irregular globe surmounted by two horns, or antennae, as they are called.
Provò piacere nell'esaminare la forma straordinaria del suo corpo quasi cilindrico, diviso in tre parti, e una testa più larga che lunga, un globo irregolare sormontato da due corna, o antenne, come vengono chiamate.
The eyes most excited her curiosity.
Gli occhi erano ciò che eccitava maggiormente la sua curiosità.
She attempted to count their numerous little faces, so regular, so finely cut into hexagons, more polished, more brilliant than diamonds.
Tentò di contare i loro numerosi piccoli faccetti, così regolari, così finemente tagliati in esagoni, più levigati, più brillanti dei diamanti.
When Piccolissima had counted one hundred, she drew from a very small box, which was a family treasure, some minikin pins, and stuck one of them into the cushion on which she was seated, intending thus to mark every hundred that she counted; but she had not counted thus half a thousand, before she found that breath and knowledge failed her; in truth, she did not know enough of arithmetic to count the eyes of a fly.
Quando Piccolissima ebbe contato cento, trasse da una piccola scatolina, che era un tesoro di famiglia, alcuni spilli finissimi, e ne conficcò uno nel cuscino su cui era seduta, con l'intenzione di segnare così ogni centinaio contato; ma non aveva ancora contato la metà di mille, che si accorse di mancarle il fiato e le conoscenze; in verità, non sapeva abbastanza di aritmetica per contare gli occhi di una mosca.
In the very first group which she undertook to count, that on the right side of the fly, she had not counted a sixteenth part.
Nel primissimo gruppo che si era proposta di contare, quello sul lato destro della mosca, non ne aveva contato nemmeno un sedicesimo.
Vocabulary
- Una
- OO-nah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'
- delle
- DEL-leh — Contraction of 'di' and 'le', meaning 'of the' (feminine plural)
- mosche
- MOS-keh — Plural of 'mosca'; flies, the common flying insects
- era
- EH-rah — Third person singular imperfect of 'essere'; was
- la
- lah — Feminine definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'her'
- più
- pyoo — Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most'
- anziana
- an-TSYAH-nah — Adjective meaning elderly or aged, referring to a female
- avendo
- ah-VEN-doh — Gerund of 'avere'; having, while having
- fissato
- fis-SAH-toh — Past participle of 'fissare'; fixed or stared intently at
- sul
- sool — Contraction of 'su' and 'il'; on the
- piccolo
- PIK-koh-loh — Adjective meaning small or little
- prodigio
- proh-DEE-joh — Noun meaning prodigy or marvel, extraordinary phenomenon
- uno
- OO-noh — Masculine indefinite article or number; a, an, one
- dei
- DEH-ee — Contraction of 'di' and 'i'; of the (masculine plural)
- mille
- MIL-leh — Number meaning one thousand
- suoi
- SWOH-ee — Possessive pronoun or adjective; his, her, its (masculine plural)
- occhi
- OK-kee — Plural of 'occhio'; eyes
- bruni
- BROO-nee — Plural adjective meaning brown or dark in color
- e
- eh — Conjunction meaning 'and'
- scintillanti
- shin-til-LAN-tee — Adjective meaning sparkling, glittering, or twinkling
- circondati
- chir-kon-DAH-tee — Past participle of 'circondare'; surrounded, encircled
- da
- dah — Preposition meaning 'by', 'from', or 'since'
- ciglia
- CHIL-yah — Plural noun meaning eyelashes or fine hairs
- dorate
- doh-RAH-teh — Adjective meaning golden or gilded (feminine plural)
- pose
- POH-zeh — Past tense of 'porre'; placed, set, or put down
- poi
- poy — Adverb meaning 'then', 'afterwards', or 'next'
- ad
- ahd — Preposition 'a' before vowels; to, at, into
- i
- ee — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'
- piedini
- pyeh-DEE-nee — Diminutive plural of 'piede'; small feet or little legs
- neri
- NEH-ree — Plural adjective meaning black (masculine plural)
- bastoncino
- bas-ton-CHEE-noh — Diminutive of 'bastone'; small stick or little rod
- di
- dee — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or belonging to
- zucchero
- TSUK-keh-roh — Noun meaning sugar
- candito
- kan-DEE-toh — Adjective meaning candied or crystallized, as in candied sugar
- allungò
- al-lun-GOH — Past tense of 'allungare'; extended or stretched out
- cominciò
- koh-min-CHOH — Past tense of 'cominciare'; began or started
- a
- ah — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or used before infinitive
- succhiare
- suk-KYAH-reh — Verb meaning to suck or to draw up liquid
- con
- kon — Preposition meaning 'with'
- avidità
- ah-vee-dee-TAH — Noun meaning avidity, greediness, or eagerness
- Piccolissima
- pik-koh-LIS-see-mah — Superlative adjective meaning very tiny or extremely small
- ebbe
- EB-beh — Past tense of 'avere'; had (third person singular)
- ora
- OH-rah — Noun or adverb meaning 'hour' or 'now'
- tutto
- TOOT-toh — Pronoun or adjective meaning all, everything, or entire
- il
- eel — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
- tempo
- TEM-poh — Noun meaning time, weather, or tempo
- contemplare
- kon-tem-PLAH-reh — Verb meaning to contemplate or gaze thoughtfully at something
- un
- oon — Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'
- essere
- ES-seh-reh — Verb meaning 'to be'; also used as noun meaning 'being'
- cui
- KWEE — Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'which', or 'whom'
- organi
- OR-gah-nee — Plural of 'organo'; organs, body parts or systems
- le
- leh — Feminine plural article or indirect pronoun meaning 'the' or 'to her'
- sembravano
- sem-BRAH-vah-noh — Imperfect of 'sembrare'; they seemed or appeared to be
- simili
- SEE-mee-lee — Adjective meaning similar, alike, or resembling something
- ai
- AH-ee — Contraction of 'a' and 'i'; to the (masculine plural)
- propri
- PROH-pree — Possessive adjective meaning own (masculine plural)
- nella
- NEL-lah — Contraction of 'in' and 'la'; in the (feminine singular)
- loro
- LOH-roh — Pronoun meaning their, them, or they
- debolezza
- deh-boh-LET-tsah — Noun meaning weakness or feebleness
- Provò
- proh-VOH — Past tense of 'provare'; tried, felt, or experienced
- piacere
- pyah-CHEH-reh — Noun or verb meaning pleasure or to please
- nell'
- nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'l''; in the (before vowel)
- esaminare
- eh-zah-mee-NAH-reh — Verb meaning to examine or inspect carefully
- forma
- FOR-mah — Noun meaning form, shape, or structure
- straordinaria
- strah-or-dee-NAH-ryah — Adjective meaning extraordinary or unusual (feminine)
- del
- del — Contraction of 'di' and 'il'; of the (masculine singular)
- suo
- SWOH — Possessive adjective meaning his, her, or its
- corpo
- KOR-poh — Noun meaning body, either human or animal
- quasi
- KWAH-zee — Adverb meaning almost, nearly, or as if
- cilindrico
- chee-LIN-dree-koh — Adjective meaning cylindrical, having the shape of a cylinder
- diviso
- dee-VEE-zoh — Past participle of 'dividere'; divided or separated into parts
- in
- een — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'inside'
- tre
- treh — Number meaning three
- parti
- PAR-tee — Plural of 'parte'; parts, sections, or portions
- una
- OO-nah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'
- testa
- TES-tah — Noun meaning head
- larga
- LAR-gah — Adjective meaning wide or broad (feminine singular)
- che
- keh — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'
- lunga
- LOON-gah — Adjective meaning long (feminine singular)
- globo
- GLOH-boh — Noun meaning globe, sphere, or rounded mass
- irregolare
- ir-reh-goh-LAH-reh — Adjective meaning irregular or not uniform in shape
- due
- DOO-eh — Number meaning two
- corna
- KOR-nah — Plural of 'corno'; horns or antennae on an animal
- o
- oh — Conjunction meaning 'or'
- antenne
- an-TEN-neh — Plural of 'antenna'; antennae of insects or aerial antennas
- come
- KOH-meh — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'how', 'as', or 'like'
- vengono
- VEN-goh-noh — Third person plural present of 'venire'; they come or are called
- chiamate
- kyah-MAH-teh — Past participle of 'chiamare'; called or named (feminine plural)
- Gli
- lyee — Indirect pronoun meaning 'to him' or masculine plural article
- erano
- EH-rah-noh — Imperfect of 'essere'; they were (third person plural)
- ciò
- choh — Pronoun meaning 'that', 'this', or 'what'
- eccitava
- et-chee-TAH-vah — Imperfect of 'eccitare'; excited or stimulated (third person singular)
- maggiormente
- mad-jor-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning more greatly, most, or especially
- sua
- SOO-ah — Possessive adjective meaning his, her, or its (feminine)
- curiosità
- koo-ryoh-zee-TAH — Noun meaning curiosity or inquisitiveness
- Tentò
- ten-TOH — Past tense of 'tentare'; tried or attempted to do something
- contare
- kon-TAH-reh — Verb meaning to count or to matter
- numerosi
- noo-meh-ROH-zee — Adjective meaning numerous or many (masculine plural)
- piccoli
- PIK-koh-lee — Plural adjective meaning small or little (masculine plural)
- così
- koh-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'
- regolari
- reh-goh-LAH-ree — Adjective meaning regular, uniform, or orderly (plural)
- finemente
- fee-neh-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning finely, delicately, or with great precision
- tagliati
- tal-YAH-tee — Past participle of 'tagliare'; cut or shaped (masculine plural)
- esagoni
- eh-ZAH-goh-nee — Plural of 'esagono'; hexagons, six-sided geometric shapes
- levigati
- leh-vee-GAH-tee — Past participle of 'levigare'; smoothed, polished (masculine plural)
- brillanti
- bril-LAN-tee — Adjective meaning brilliant, sparkling, or shining (plural)
- diamanti
- dyah-MAN-tee — Plural of 'diamante'; diamonds or diamond-like gems
- Quando
- KWAHN-doh — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'
- contato
- kon-TAH-toh — Past participle of 'contare'; counted or numbered
- cento
- CHEN-toh — Number meaning one hundred
- trasse
- TRAS-seh — Past tense of 'trarre'; drew out or extracted something
- piccola
- PIK-koh-lah — Adjective meaning small or little (feminine singular)
- scatolina
- skah-toh-LEE-nah — Diminutive of 'scatola'; small box or little container
- tesoro
- Noun meaning treasure or beloved person
- famiglia
- fah-MIL-yah — Noun meaning family or household
- alcuni
- al-KOO-nee — Pronoun or adjective meaning some or a few (plural)
- spilli
- SPIL-lee — Plural of 'spillo'; pins or needles used for fastening
- finissimi
- fee-NIS-see-mee — Superlative of 'fine'; very fine or extremely thin (plural)
- ne
- neh — Pronoun meaning 'of it', 'of them', or 'some of it'
- conficcò
- kon-fik-KOH — Past tense of 'conficcare'; stuck or drove into something
- nel
- nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'il'; in the (masculine singular)
- cuscino
- koo-SHEE-noh — Noun meaning pillow or cushion
- su
- soo — Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'above'
- seduta
- seh-DOO-tah — Past participle of 'sedere'; seated or sitting (feminine)
- l'
- l — Contracted form of 'la' or 'lo' before a vowel; the
- intenzione
- in-ten-TSYOH-neh — Noun meaning intention, plan, or purpose
- segnare
- sehn-YAH-reh — Verb meaning to mark, note, or sign something
- ogni
- OH-nyee — Adjective meaning every or each
- centinaio
- chen-tee-NAH-yoh — Noun meaning a hundred or about one hundred
- ma
- mah — Conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however'
- non
- nohn — Adverb of negation meaning 'not'
- aveva
- ah-VEH-vah — Imperfect of 'avere'; had (third person singular)
- ancora
- an-KOH-rah — Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'again'
- metà
- meh-TAH — Noun meaning half or midpoint
- si
- see — Reflexive pronoun meaning oneself or each other
- accorse
- ak-KOR-seh — Past tense of 'accorgersi'; realized or noticed something
- mancarle
- man-KAR-leh — Infinitive 'mancare' with pronoun; to be lacking to her
- fiato
- FYAH-toh — Noun meaning breath or wind instrument tone
- conoscenze
- koh-noh-SHEN-tseh — Plural of 'conoscenza'; knowledge, acquaintances, or learning
- verità
- veh-ree-TAH — Noun meaning truth or reality
- sapeva
- sah-PEH-vah — Imperfect of 'sapere'; knew or was aware (third person singular)
- abbastanza
- ab-bas-TAN-tsah — Adverb meaning enough, sufficiently, or quite
- aritmetica
- ah-rit-MEH-tee-kah — Noun meaning arithmetic or basic mathematics
- per
- pehr — Preposition meaning 'for', 'through', or 'in order to'
- gli
- lyee — Indirect pronoun or masculine plural article meaning 'to him' or 'the'
- mosca
- MOS-kah — Noun meaning fly, the common winged insect
- Nel
- nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'il'; in the (masculine singular)
- primissimo
- pree-MIS-see-moh — Superlative of 'primo'; very first or the absolute first
- gruppo
- GROOP-poh — Noun meaning group or cluster
- proposta
- proh-POS-tah — Noun meaning proposal, suggestion, or offer
- quello
- KWEL-loh — Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'that' (masculine)
- lato
- LAH-toh — Noun meaning side or flank
- destro
- DES-troh — Adjective meaning right (direction) or dexterous
- della
- DEL-lah — Contraction of 'di' and 'la'; of the (feminine singular)
- nemmeno
- nem-MEH-noh — Adverb meaning not even or neither
- sedicesimo
- seh-dee-CHEH-zee-moh — Ordinal number meaning sixteenth
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