Pride and Prejudice — Page 6
The characteristics of Miss Austen's humour are so subtle and delicate that they are, perhaps, at all times easier to apprehend than to express, and at any particular time likely to be differently apprehended by different persons.
Le caratteristiche dell'umorismo della signorina Austen sono così sottili e delicate che risultano, forse, in ogni momento più facili da cogliere che da esprimere, e in qualsiasi momento particolare è probabile che vengano colte in modo diverso da persone diverse.
To me this humour seems to possess a greater affinity, on the whole, to that of Addison than to any other of the numerous species of this great British genus.
A me questo umorismo sembra possedere, nel complesso, una maggiore affinità con quello di Addison che con qualsiasi altra delle numerose specie di questo grande genere britannico.
The differences of scheme, of time, of subject, of literary convention, are, of course, obvious enough; the difference of sex does not, perhaps, count for much, for there was a distinctly feminine element in "Mr. Spectator," and in Jane Austen's genius there was, though nothing mannish, much that was masculine.
Le differenze di schema, di epoca, di soggetto, di convenzione letteraria, sono, naturalmente, abbastanza evidenti; la differenza di sesso non conta, forse, molto, poiché vi era un elemento spiccatamente femminile nel "Signor Spectator", e nel genio di Jane Austen vi era, sebbene nulla di maschioide, molto di ciò che era maschile.
But the likeness of quality consists in a great number of common subdivisions of quality--demureness, extreme minuteness of touch, avoidance of loud tones and glaring effects.
Ma la somiglianza di qualità consiste in un gran numero di suddivisioni comuni della qualità — compostezza, estrema minutezza del tocco, evitare i toni forti e gli effetti sgargianti.
Also there is in both a certain not inhuman or unamiable cruelty.
Vi è inoltre in entrambi una certa crudeltà non disumana né sgradevole.
It is the custom with those who judge grossly to contrast the good nature of Addison with the savagery of Swift, the mildness of Miss Austen with the boisterousness of Fielding and Smollett, even with the ferocious practical jokes that her immediate predecessor, Miss Burney, allowed without very much protest.
È consuetudine di coloro che giudicano grossolanamente contrapporre la benevolenza di Addison alla ferocia di Swift, la mitezza della signorina Austen alla rumorosità di Fielding e Smollett, persino alle feroci burle pratiche che la sua immediata predecessora, la signorina Burney, tollerava senza protestare più di tanto.
Yet, both in Mr. Addison and in Miss Austen there is, though a restrained and well-mannered, an insatiable and ruthless delight in roasting and cutting up a fool.
Eppure, sia nel signor Addison che nella signorina Austen vi è, sebbene contenuto e ben educato, un piacere insaziabile e spietato nel mettere alla berlina e fare a pezzi uno sciocco.
Vocabulary
- Le
- The (feminine plural article)
- caratteristiche
- Characteristics, distinctive features or qualities
- dell
- Of the (contraction of di + il)
- umorismo
- Humor, wit, or sense of humor
- della
- Of the (feminine singular)
- signorina
- Miss, young unmarried woman or lady
- sono
- I am, they are (present tense of essere)
- così
- So, thus, in this way or manner
- sottili
- Subtle, refined, thin, or delicate in nature
- delicate
- Delicate, tender, soft, or requiring care
- che
- That, which, who (relative pronoun)
- risultano
- They result, turn out, or prove to be
- forse
- Perhaps, maybe, possibly or probably
- in
- In, at, or within (preposition)
- ogni
- Every, each, all or any (adjective)
- momento
- Moment, instant, or brief period time
- più
- More, most, or additional quantity
- facili
- Easy, simple, or not difficult
- da
- From, by, or since (preposition)
- cogliere
- To seize, grasp, catch, or perceive
- esprimere
- To express, convey, or articulate feelings
- qualsiasi
- Any, whichever, whatever or some
- particolare
- Particular, specific, special or individual detail
- probabile
- Probable, likely, or probably to occur
- vengano
- They come, arrive (subjunctive of venire)
- colte
- Cultured, educated, or gathered (feminine plural)
- modo
- Mode, way, manner, or method
- diverso
- Different, diverse, or varying in nature
- persone
- People, persons, or individual human beings
- diverse
- Different, various, or diverse (feminine plural)
- me
- Me, myself (indirect object pronoun)
- questo
- This, this one, or this thing
- sembra
- It seems, appears, or looks like
- possedere
- To possess, own, or have something
- nel
- In the (contraction of in + il)
- complesso
- Complex, complicated, or whole (noun)
- una
- A, an (feminine singular article)
- maggiore
- Greater, larger, more major or older
- affinità
- Affinity, kinship, similarity, or connection
- con
- With, together with (preposition)
- quello
- That, that one, or that thing
- di
- Of, from, by (preposition)
- altra
- Other, another, or different (feminine)
- delle
- Of the (feminine plural)
- numerose
- Numerous, many, or multiple (feminine plural)
- specie
- Species, kind, type, or sort
- grande
- Large, great, big, or vast
- genere
- Genre, type, kind, or gender
- britannico
- British, relating to Britain or England
- differenze
- Differences, distinctions, or variations
- schema
- Scheme, pattern, outline, or framework
- epoca
- Epoch, era, period, or age
- soggetto
- Subject, topic, or person involved
- convenzione
- Convention, agreement, custom, or tradition
- letteraria
- Literary, relating to literature or letters
- naturalmente
- Naturally, of course, obviously or naturally
- abbastanza
- Enough, sufficiently, quite, or rather
- evidenti
- Evident, obvious, clear, or apparent
- la
- The (feminine singular article)
- differenza
- Difference, distinction, or variation
- sesso
- Sex, gender, or sexual distinction
- non
- Not, no (negation)
- conta
- He/she counts, matters, or is important
- molto
- Much, very, a lot, or greatly
- poiché
- Since, because, as, or for reason
- vi
- There, there (adverb); you (pronoun)
- era
- Was, there was (imperfect of essere)
- un
- A, an (masculine singular article)
- elemento
- Element, component, ingredient, or part
- spiccatamente
- Distinctly, markedly, strikingly, or prominently
- femminile
- Feminine, female, or womanly in nature
- Signor
- Mister, Mr., or gentleman (title)
- genio
- Genius, talent, or gifted person
- sebbene
- Although, though, even though, or albeit
- nulla
- Nothing, no one, or anything at all
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