Sense and Sensibility — Page 6

English → It CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

John Dashwood had never been a favourite with any of her husband's family; but she had had no opportunity, till the present, of showing them with how little attention to the comfort of other people she could act when occasion required it.

John Dashwood non era mai stata una favorita presso nessuno dei parenti del marito; ma non aveva avuto alcuna opportunità, fino a quel momento, di mostrare loro con quanta poca attenzione al benessere altrui sapesse agire quando le circostanze lo richiedevano.

So acutely did Mrs. Dashwood feel this ungracious behaviour, and so earnestly did she despise her daughter-in-law for it, that, on the arrival of the latter, she would have quitted the house for ever, had not the entreaty of her eldest girl induced her first to reflect on the propriety of going, and her own tender love for all her three children determined her afterwards to stay, and for their sakes avoid a breach with their brother.

Così acutamente la signora Dashwood avvertì questo comportamento scortese, e così profondamente disprezzò per questo la nuora, che, all'arrivo di quest'ultima, avrebbe abbandonato la casa per sempre, se la supplica della sua figlia maggiore non l'avesse indotta dapprima a riflettere sull'opportunità di andarsene, e il proprio tenero amore per tutti e tre i suoi figli non l'avesse poi determinata a restare, e per il loro bene a evitare una rottura con il loro fratello.

Elinor, this eldest daughter, whose advice was so effectual, possessed a strength of understanding, and coolness of judgment, which qualified her, though only nineteen, to be the counsellor of her mother, and enabled her frequently to counteract, to the advantage of them all, that eagerness of mind in Mrs. Dashwood which must generally have led to imprudence.

Elinor, questa figlia maggiore, il cui consiglio era così efficace, possedeva una solidità di intelletto e una freddezza di giudizio che la rendevano adatta, sebbene avesse appena diciannove anni, a fare da consigliera alla madre, e le permettevano di contrastare frequentemente, a vantaggio di tutti, quella vivacità d'animo della signora Dashwood che in genere avrebbe dovuto condurre all'imprudenza.

She had an excellent heart;—her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them: it was a knowledge which her mother had yet to learn; and which one of her sisters had resolved never to be taught.

Aveva un cuore eccellente; il suo carattere era affettuoso e i suoi sentimenti erano intensi; ma sapeva come governarli: era una capacità che sua madre doveva ancora acquisire, e che una delle sue sorelle aveva deciso di non voler mai imparare.

Marianne's abilities were, in many respects, quite equal to Elinor's.

Le capacità di Marianne erano, per molti versi, del tutto pari a quelle di Elinor.

She was sensible and clever; but eager in everything: her sorrows, her joys, could have no moderation.

Era assennata e intelligente; ma impetuosa in tutto: i suoi dolori, le sue gioie, non potevano conoscere moderazione.

Vocabulary

non: Negation word meaning 'not' or 'no'.
era: Past tense of 'essere'; she/he/it was.
mai: Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever'.
stata: Past participle of 'essere'; been (feminine).
una: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine).
favorita: Feminine adjective meaning favored or preferred person.
presso: Preposition meaning 'near', 'with', or 'among'.
nessuno: Pronoun or adjective meaning 'nobody' or 'none'.
dei: Contraction of 'di + i'; of the (masculine plural).
parenti: Noun meaning relatives or family members.
del: Contraction of 'di + il'; of the (masculine singular).
marito: Noun meaning husband.
ma: Conjunction meaning 'but'.
aveva: Past tense of 'avere'; she/he/it had.
avuto: Past participle of 'avere'; had.
alcuna: Adjective meaning 'any' or 'some' (feminine singular).
opportunità: Noun meaning opportunity or chance.
fino: Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to'.
a: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
quel: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' (masculine singular).
momento: Noun meaning moment or instant in time.
di: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
mostrare: Verb meaning to show or to demonstrate something.
loro: Pronoun meaning 'them', 'their', or 'they'.
con: Preposition meaning 'with'.
quanta: Adjective/pronoun meaning 'how much' (feminine).
poca: Adjective meaning 'little' or 'few' (feminine singular).
attenzione: Noun meaning attention or care toward something.
al: Contraction of 'a + il'; to the (masculine singular).
benessere: Noun meaning well-being or welfare of someone.
altrui: Pronoun meaning 'of others' or 'other people's'.
sapesse: Subjunctive past of 'sapere'; she/he knew how to.
agire: Verb meaning to act or to behave in a situation.
quando: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
le: Article or pronoun meaning 'the' (feminine plural) or 'her'.
circostanze: Noun meaning circumstances or surrounding conditions.
lo: Pronoun meaning 'it' or 'him' (masculine direct object).
richiedevano: Imperfect tense of 'richiedere'; they required or demanded.
Così: Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'.
acutamente: Adverb meaning 'sharply', 'acutely', or 'keenly'.
la: Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' (feminine) or 'her'.
signora: Noun meaning 'Mrs.' or an adult woman.
avvertì: Past tense of 'avvertire'; she felt or perceived something.
questo: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' (masculine singular).
comportamento: Noun meaning behavior or conduct of a person.
scortese: Adjective meaning rude, discourteous, or impolite.
e: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
così: Adverb meaning 'so' or 'in such a way'.
profondamente: Adverb meaning 'deeply' or 'profoundly'.
disprezzò: Past tense of 'disprezzare'; she despised or scorned someone.
per: Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'.
nuora: Noun meaning daughter-in-law.
che: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'who', or 'which'.
all'arrivo: Prepositional phrase meaning 'upon the arrival'.
quest'ultima: Pronoun phrase meaning 'the latter' (feminine).
avrebbe: Conditional of 'avere'; she/he would have.
abbandonato: Past participle of 'abbandonare'; abandoned or left behind.
casa: Noun meaning house or home.
sempre: Adverb meaning 'always' or 'forever'.
se: Conjunction meaning 'if' or reflexive pronoun 'oneself'.
supplica: Noun meaning plea, supplication, or earnest request.
della: Contraction of 'di + la'; of the (feminine singular).
sua: Possessive adjective meaning 'her', 'his', or 'its'.
figlia: Noun meaning daughter.
maggiore: Adjective meaning 'eldest', 'greater', or 'major'.
l'avesse: Subjunctive of 'avere' with article; had it (clitic form).
indotta: Past participle of 'indurre'; induced or led someone to act.
dapprima: Adverb meaning 'at first' or 'initially'.
riflettere: Verb meaning to reflect or to think carefully about something.
sull'opportunità: Prepositional phrase meaning 'on the advisability' or 'appropriateness'.
andarsene: Reflexive verb meaning to go away or leave a place.
il: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
proprio: Adjective meaning 'own' or 'one's own'.
tenero: Adjective meaning tender, gentle, or affectionate.
amore: Noun meaning love or deep affection for someone.
tutti: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
tre: Number meaning three.
i: Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine plural).
suoi: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (plural).
figli: Noun meaning children or sons.
poi: Adverb meaning 'then', 'afterwards', or 'later'.
determinata: Adjective meaning determined or resolved to do something.
restare: Verb meaning to stay, remain, or keep in a place.
bene: Adverb or noun meaning 'well' or 'good'.
evitare: Verb meaning to avoid or to prevent something happening.
rottura: Noun meaning break, rupture, or falling out with someone.
fratello: Noun meaning brother.
questa: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' (feminine singular).
cui: Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'whom', or 'which'.
consiglio: Noun meaning advice or counsel given to someone.
efficace: Adjective meaning effective or capable of producing results.
possedeva: Imperfect tense of 'possedere'; she/he possessed or had.
solidità: Noun meaning solidity, firmness, or soundness of judgment.
intelletto: Noun meaning intellect or faculty of reasoning and understanding.
freddezza: Noun meaning coolness, composure, or emotional detachment.
giudizio: Noun meaning judgment, discernment, or wise assessment.
rendevano: Imperfect of 'rendere'; they made or rendered something suitable.
adatta: Adjective meaning suited, fit, or appropriate for a role.
sebbene: Conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'.
avesse: Subjunctive imperfect of 'avere'; she/he had (hypothetically).
appena: Adverb meaning 'just', 'barely', or 'hardly'.
diciannove: Number meaning nineteen.
anni: Noun meaning years (of age or time).
fare: Verb meaning to do or to make something.
da: Preposition meaning 'from', 'by', or 'as'.
consigliera: Noun meaning female counselor or advisor.
alla: Contraction of 'a + la'; to the (feminine singular).
madre: Noun meaning mother.
permettevano: Imperfect of 'permettere'; they allowed or permitted someone to act.
contrastare: Verb meaning to counteract, oppose, or balance something.
frequentemente: Adverb meaning frequently or often.
vantaggio: Noun meaning advantage or benefit gained from something.
quella: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' (feminine singular).
vivacità: Noun meaning vivacity, liveliness, or spirited energy.
d'animo: Prepositional phrase meaning 'of spirit' or 'of temperament'.
in: Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'at'.
genere: Noun meaning kind, type, or gender; in genere means 'generally'.
dovuto: Past participle of 'dovere'; owed or likely to cause something.
condurre: Verb meaning to lead, conduct, or bring someone somewhere.
all'imprudenza: Prepositional phrase meaning 'to imprudence' or recklessness.
Aveva: Imperfect of 'avere'; she/he had (something).
un: Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine).
cuore: Noun meaning heart.
eccellente: Adjective meaning excellent or outstanding in quality.
suo: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
carattere: Noun meaning character or personal nature of someone.
affettuoso: Adjective meaning affectionate or warm in feeling.
sentimenti: Noun meaning feelings or emotions (plural).
erano: Imperfect of 'essere'; they were.
intensi: Adjective meaning intense or strong (masculine plural).
sapeva: Imperfect of 'sapere'; she/he knew how to do something.
come: Adverb or conjunction meaning 'how' or 'as'.
governarli: Infinitive 'governare' with clitic; to govern or control them.
capacità: Noun meaning ability, capacity, or skill.
doveva: Imperfect of 'dovere'; she/he had to or was supposed to.
ancora: Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'again'.
acquisire: Verb meaning to acquire or to gain a skill or quality.
delle: Contraction of 'di + le'; of the (feminine plural).
sue: Possessive adjective meaning 'her', 'his' (feminine plural).
sorelle: Noun meaning sisters (plural).
deciso: Past participle of 'decidere'; decided or determined.
voler: Shortened form of 'volere'; to want or to wish to.
imparare: Verb meaning to learn or to acquire knowledge.
Le: Definite article or pronoun; 'the' (feminine plural) or 'her'.
molti: Adjective meaning 'many' or 'a lot of' (masculine plural).
versi: Noun meaning ways, aspects, or verses (plural).
tutto: Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'every', or 'everything'.
pari: Adjective meaning equal or on a par with someone.
quelle: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'those' (feminine plural).
Era: Imperfect of 'essere'; she/he/it was.
assennata: Adjective meaning sensible, wise, or judicious (feminine).
intelligente: Adjective meaning intelligent or clever.
impetuosa: Adjective meaning impetuous, impulsive, or passionate (feminine).
dolori: Noun meaning pains, sorrows, or sufferings (plural).
gioie: Noun meaning joys or pleasures (plural).
potevano: Imperfect of 'potere'; they could or were able to.
conoscere: Verb meaning to know, experience, or be acquainted with.
moderazione: Noun meaning moderation or self-restraint in behavior.

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