The Adventures of Ferdinand Count Fathom — Complete — Page 7
To one whose idea of Smollett's genius is formed entirely by Random and Pickle and Humphry Clinker, Ferdinand Count Fathom will offer many surprises.
Per chi si è fatto un'idea del genio di Smollett basandosi interamente su Roderick Random, Peregrine Pickle e Humphry Clinker, Ferdinand Conte Fathom offrirà molte sorprese.
The first of these is the comparative lifelessness of the book.
La prima di queste è la relativa mancanza di vivacità del libro.
True, here again are action and incident galore, but generally unaccompanied by that rough Georgian hurly-burly, common in Smollett, which is so interesting to contemplate from a comfortable distance, and which goes so far towards making his fiction seem real.
È vero, anche qui abbondano azione e vicende, ma generalmente prive di quel rozzo trambusto georgiano, tipico di Smollett, che è così interessante contemplare da una comoda distanza e che contribuisce tanto a rendere la sua narrativa credibile.
Nor are the characters, for the most part, life-like enough to be interesting.
Né i personaggi, per la maggior parte, sono abbastanza realistici da risultare interessanti.
There is an apparent exception, to be sure, in the hero's mother, already mentioned, the hardened camp-follower, whom we confidently expect to become vitalised after the savage fashion of Smollett's characters.
Vi è un'apparente eccezione, è vero, nella madre dell'eroe, già menzionata, l'indurita vivandiera, dalla quale ci aspettiamo con fiducia che prenda vita secondo il modo selvaggio tipico dei personaggi di Smollett.
But, alas! we have no chance to learn the lady's style of conversation, for the few words that come from her lips are but partially characteristic; we have only too little chance to learn her manners and customs.
Ma, ahimè! non abbiamo l'opportunità di conoscere lo stile della conversazione della signora, poiché le poche parole che escono dalle sue labbra sono solo in parte caratteristiche; abbiamo fin troppo poche occasioni per conoscere i suoi modi e le sue abitudini.
In the fourth chapter, while she is making sure with her dagger that all those on the field of battle whom she wishes to rifle are really dead, an officer of the hussars, who has been watching her lucrative progress, unfeelingly puts a brace of bullets into the lady's brain, just as she raises her hand to smite him to the heart.
Nel quarto capitolo, mentre sta accertandosi con il suo pugnale che tutti coloro sul campo di battaglia che desidera depredare siano davvero morti, un ufficiale degli ussari, che ha osservato il suo lucroso operato, le conficca spietatamente un paio di pallottole nel cervello, proprio nel momento in cui lei alza la mano per colpirlo al cuore.
Perhaps it is as well that she is thus removed before our disappointment at the non-fulfilment of her promise becomes poignant.
Forse è un bene che venga eliminata in questo modo prima che la nostra delusione per il mancato adempimento delle sue promesse diventi straziante.
Vocabulary
- Per
- Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'
- chi
- Pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whoever'
- si
- Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'one'
- è
- Third person singular of 'essere'; means 'is'
- fatto
- Past participle of 'fare'; means 'done' or 'made'
- un'
- Indefinite article 'a' or 'an' before feminine vowel
- idea
- Noun meaning 'idea' or 'notion'
- del
- Contraction of 'di' and 'il'; means 'of the'
- genio
- Noun meaning 'genius' or 'talent'
- di
- Preposition meaning 'of' or 'from'
- basandosi
- Reflexive gerund of 'basarsi'; meaning 'basing oneself on'
- interamente
- Adverb meaning 'entirely' or 'completely'
- su
- Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'based on'
- e
- Conjunction meaning 'and'
- Conte
- Noun meaning 'Count' as a noble title
- offrirà
- Future tense of 'offrire'; meaning 'will offer'
- molte
- Adjective meaning 'many' or 'a lot of' (feminine plural)
- sorprese
- Noun meaning 'surprises' (plural of 'sorpresa')
- La
- Definite article 'the' for singular feminine nouns
- prima
- Adjective or adverb meaning 'first' or 'before'
- queste
- Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'these' (feminine plural)
- la
- Definite article 'the' for singular feminine nouns
- relativa
- Adjective meaning 'relative' or 'respective' (feminine)
- mancanza
- Noun meaning 'lack', 'absence', or 'shortage'
- vivacità
- Noun meaning 'liveliness', 'vivacity', or 'energy'
- libro
- Noun meaning 'book'
- È
- Third person singular of 'essere'; means 'is'
- vero
- Adjective meaning 'true' or 'real'
- anche
- Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'even'
- qui
- Adverb meaning 'here'
- abbondano
- Third person plural of 'abbondare'; meaning 'abound'
- azione
- Noun meaning 'action' or 'act'
- vicende
- Noun meaning 'events', 'vicissitudes', or 'episodes'
- ma
- Conjunction meaning 'but'
- generalmente
- Adverb meaning 'generally' or 'usually'
- prive
- Adjective meaning 'devoid of' or 'lacking' (feminine plural)
- quel
- Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' before masculine noun
- rozzo
- Adjective meaning 'rough', 'crude', or 'coarse'
- trambusto
- Noun meaning 'commotion', 'tumult', or 'uproar'
- georgiano
- Adjective meaning 'Georgian', relating to the Georgian era
- tipico
- Adjective meaning 'typical' or 'characteristic'
- che
- Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'
- così
- Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'
- interessante
- Adjective meaning 'interesting'
- contemplare
- Verb meaning 'to contemplate' or 'to observe thoughtfully'
- da
- Preposition meaning 'from', 'by', or 'since'
- una
- Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine)
- comoda
- Adjective meaning 'comfortable' or 'convenient' (feminine)
- distanza
- Noun meaning 'distance'
- contribuisce
- Third person singular of 'contribuire'; means 'contributes'
- tanto
- Adverb or adjective meaning 'so much' or 'a lot'
- a
- Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'
- rendere
- Verb meaning 'to make', 'to render', or 'to give back'
- sua
- Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine)
- narrativa
- Noun meaning 'narrative' or 'fiction writing'
- credibile
- Adjective meaning 'credible' or 'believable'
- Né
- Conjunction meaning 'nor' or 'neither'
- i
- Definite article 'the' for masculine plural nouns
- personaggi
- Noun meaning 'characters' or 'figures' (plural)
- per
- Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'
- maggior
- Adjective meaning 'greater' or 'major' (comparative)
- parte
- Noun meaning 'part', 'portion', or 'side'
- sono
- Third person plural of 'essere'; means 'are'
- abbastanza
- Adverb meaning 'enough', 'quite', or 'fairly'
- realistici
- Adjective meaning 'realistic' (masculine plural)
- risultare
- Verb meaning 'to result' or 'to turn out to be'
- interessanti
- Adjective meaning 'interesting' (plural form)
- Vi
- Pronoun or adverb meaning 'there is' or 'you' (formal)
- apparente
- Adjective meaning 'apparent' or 'seeming'
- eccezione
- Noun meaning 'exception'
- nella
- Contraction of 'in' and 'la'; means 'in the' (feminine)
- madre
- Noun meaning 'mother'
- dell'
- Contraction of 'di' and 'l''; means 'of the' before vowel
- eroe
- Noun meaning 'hero'
- già
- Adverb meaning 'already' or 'formerly'
- menzionata
- Past participle of 'menzionare'; meaning 'mentioned' (feminine)
- l'
- Definite article 'the' elided before a vowel
- indurita
- Adjective meaning 'hardened' or 'toughened' (feminine)
- dalla
- Contraction of 'da' and 'la'; means 'from the' (feminine)
- quale
- Pronoun or adjective meaning 'which' or 'who'
- ci
- Pronoun meaning 'us', 'ourselves', or 'there'
- aspettiamo
- First person plural of 'aspettarsi'; meaning 'we expect'
- con
- Preposition meaning 'with'
- fiducia
- Noun meaning 'trust', 'confidence', or 'faith'
- prenda
- Subjunctive of 'prendere'; meaning 'takes' or 'may take'
- vita
- Noun meaning 'life'
- secondo
- Preposition or adjective meaning 'according to' or 'second'
- il
- Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns
- modo
- Noun meaning 'way', 'manner', or 'mode'
- selvaggio
- Adjective meaning 'wild', 'savage', or 'untamed'
- dei
- Contraction of 'di' and 'i'; means 'of the' (masculine plural)
- Ma
- Conjunction meaning 'but'
- ahimè
- Exclamation meaning 'alas!' expressing regret or sorrow
- non
- Adverb of negation meaning 'not'
- abbiamo
- First person plural of 'avere'; means 'we have'
- opportunità
- Noun meaning 'opportunity' or 'chance'
- conoscere
- Verb meaning 'to know' or 'to become acquainted with'
- lo
- Definite article or pronoun 'the' or 'him' (masculine)
- stile
- Noun meaning 'style' or 'manner'
- della
- Contraction of 'di' and 'la'; means 'of the' (feminine)
- conversazione
- Noun meaning 'conversation'
- signora
- Noun meaning 'lady', 'Mrs.', or 'madam'
- poiché
- Conjunction meaning 'since', 'because', or 'as'
- le
- Definite article or pronoun 'the' or 'her' (feminine plural)
- poche
- Adjective meaning 'few' or 'little' (feminine plural)
- parole
- Noun meaning 'words' (plural of 'parola')
- escono
- Third person plural of 'uscire'; means 'they come out'
- dalle
- Contraction of 'da' and 'le'; means 'from the' (feminine plural)
- sue
- Possessive adjective meaning 'her', 'his', 'its' (feminine plural)
- labbra
- Noun meaning 'lips' (plural of 'labbro')
- solo
- Adverb or adjective meaning 'only', 'alone', or 'just'
- in
- Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'
- caratteristiche
- Noun meaning 'characteristics' or 'features' (plural)
- fin
- Short form of 'fino'; means 'up to' or 'as far as'
- troppo
- Adverb meaning 'too' or 'too much'
- occasioni
- Noun meaning 'occasions' or 'opportunities' (plural)
- suoi
- Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', 'its' (masculine plural)
- modi
- Noun meaning 'manners', 'ways', or 'behaviors' (plural)
- abitudini
- Noun meaning 'habits' or 'customs' (plural)
- Nel
- Contraction of 'in' and 'il'; means 'in the' (masculine)
- quarto
- Adjective meaning 'fourth' or noun 'quarter'
- capitolo
- Noun meaning 'chapter'
- mentre
- Conjunction meaning 'while' or 'whereas'
- sta
- Third person singular of 'stare'; means 'is' (progressive)
- accertandosi
- Reflexive gerund of 'accertarsi'; meaning 'making sure'
- suo
- Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'
- pugnale
- Noun meaning 'dagger' or 'dirk'
- tutti
- Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone'
- coloro
- Pronoun meaning 'those' or 'those people'
- sul
- Contraction of 'su' and 'il'; means 'on the'
- campo
- Noun meaning 'field', 'camp', or 'ground'
- battaglia
- Noun meaning 'battle' or 'fight'
- desidera
- Third person singular of 'desiderare'; means 'desires'
- depredare
- Verb meaning 'to plunder', 'to loot', or 'to rob'
- siano
- Subjunctive of 'essere'; means 'are' or 'may be'
- davvero
- Adverb meaning 'really', 'truly', or 'indeed'
- morti
- Adjective or noun meaning 'dead' or 'deaths' (plural)
- un
- Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine)
- ufficiale
- Noun or adjective meaning 'officer' or 'official'
- degli
- Contraction of 'di' and 'gli'; means 'of the' (masculine plural)
- ha
- Third person singular of 'avere'; means 'has'
- osservato
- Past participle of 'osservare'; meaning 'observed' or 'noticed'
- lucroso
- Adjective meaning 'lucrative' or 'profitable'
- operato
- Noun or past participle meaning 'work done' or 'operated'
- conficca
- Third person singular of 'conficccare'; means 'drives in'
- spietatamente
- Adverb meaning 'ruthlessly' or 'mercilessly'
- paio
- Noun meaning 'pair' or 'couple'
- pallottole
- Noun meaning 'bullets' (plural of 'pallottola')
- nel
- Contraction of 'in' and 'il'; means 'in the' (masculine)
- cervello
- Noun meaning 'brain' or 'mind'
- proprio
- Adjective or adverb meaning 'own', 'exactly', or 'just'
- momento
- Noun meaning 'moment' or 'instant'
- cui
- Relative pronoun meaning 'which', 'whom', or 'whose'
- lei
- Pronoun meaning 'she', 'her', or formal 'you'
- alza
- Third person singular of 'alzare'; means 'raises' or 'lifts'
- mano
- Noun meaning 'hand'
- colpirlo
- Infinitive 'colpire' plus pronoun; meaning 'to strike him'
- al
- Contraction of 'a' and 'il'; means 'to the' or 'at the'
- cuore
- Noun meaning 'heart'
- Forse
- Adverb meaning 'perhaps', 'maybe', or 'possibly'
- bene
- Adverb or noun meaning 'well' or 'good'
- venga
- Subjunctive of 'venire'; means 'comes' or 'may come'
- eliminata
- Past participle of 'eliminare'; meaning 'eliminated' (feminine)
- questo
- Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' (masculine singular)
- nostra
- Possessive adjective meaning 'our' (feminine singular)
- delusione
- Noun meaning 'disappointment' or 'disillusionment'
- mancato
- Adjective meaning 'failed', 'missed', or 'unfulfilled'
- adempimento
- Noun meaning 'fulfillment', 'compliance', or 'execution'
- delle
- Contraction of 'di' and 'le'; means 'of the' (feminine plural)
- promesse
- Noun meaning 'promises' (plural of 'promessa')
- diventi
- Subjunctive of 'diventare'; means 'becomes' or 'may become'
- straziante
- Adjective meaning 'heartbreaking', 'agonizing', or 'tormenting'
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