The Hound of the Baskervilles — Page 4

English → It Chapter 2. Level 7/10

When they had brought her to the Hall the maiden was placed in an upper chamber, while Hugo and his friends sat down to a long carouse, as was their nightly custom.

Quando l'avevano portata alla villa, la fanciulla fu sistemata in una stanza al piano superiore, mentre Hugo e i suoi amici si misero a banchettare a lungo, come era loro consuetudine notturna.

Now, the poor lass upstairs was like to have her wits turned at the singing and shouting and terrible oaths which came up to her from below, for they say that the words used by Hugo Baskerville, when he was in wine, were such as might blast the man who said them.

Ora, la povera ragazza al piano di sopra era sul punto di perdere il senno per il canto e le urla e i terribili giuramenti che le giungevano dal basso, poiché si dice che le parole usate da Hugo Baskerville, quando era ubriaco, fossero tali da poter fulminare l'uomo che le pronunciava.

At last in the stress of her fear she did that which might have daunted the bravest or most active man, for by the aid of the growth of ivy which covered (and still covers) the south wall she came down from under the eaves, and so homeward across the moor, there being three leagues betwixt the Hall and her father's farm.

Alla fine, sotto la pressione della sua paura, fece ciò che avrebbe potuto scoraggiare il più coraggioso o il più intraprendente degli uomini, poiché con l'aiuto della vegetazione di edera che ricopriva (e ricopre ancora) il muro meridionale scese dal bordo del tetto, e così si avviò verso casa attraverso la landa, essendovi tre leghe tra la villa e la fattoria di suo padre.

"It chanced that some little time later Hugo left his guests to carry food and drink—with other worse things, perchance—to his captive, and so found the cage empty and the bird escaped.

«Accadde che poco tempo dopo Hugo lasciò i suoi ospiti per portare cibo e bevande — e forse altre cose peggiori — alla sua prigioniera, e così trovò la gabbia vuota e l'uccello fuggito.

Then, as it would seem, he became as one that hath a devil, for, rushing down the stairs into the dining-hall, he sprang upon the great table, flagons and trenchers flying before him, and he cried aloud before all the company that he would that very night render his body and soul to the Powers of Evil if he might but overtake the wench.

Poi, a quanto pare, divenne come uno posseduto dal demonio, poiché, precipitandosi giù per le scale nella sala da pranzo, balzò sul grande tavolo, con brocche e piatti che volavano davanti a lui, e gridò ad alta voce davanti a tutta la compagnia che quella stessa notte avrebbe consegnato il suo corpo e la sua anima alle Potenze del Male se solo avesse potuto raggiungere la ragazza.

Vocabulary

Quando: Conjunction meaning 'when' in time clauses
l': Contracted definite article 'the' before vowels
avevano: Third person plural imperfect of 'avere', meaning 'they had'
portata: Past participle of 'portare', meaning 'brought or carried'
alla: Contraction of 'a' and 'la', meaning 'to the'
villa: A large country house or elegant residence
la: Feminine definite article meaning 'the'
fanciulla: A young girl or maiden, somewhat literary term
fu: Third person singular past tense of 'essere', meaning 'was'
sistemata: Past participle meaning 'placed, settled, or arranged'
in: Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'
una: Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'one'
stanza: A room inside a building or house
al: Contraction of 'a' and 'il', meaning 'at the' or 'on the'
piano: A floor or level of a building
superiore: Upper, higher, or superior in position
mentre: Conjunction meaning 'while' or 'whereas'
e: Conjunction meaning 'and'
i: Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'
suoi: Possessive adjective meaning 'his, her, or its' (plural)
amici: Plural of 'amico', meaning 'friends'
si: Reflexive pronoun meaning 'themselves' or 'oneself'
misero: Third person plural past tense of 'mettere', meaning 'they began'
a: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'
banchettare: To feast or banquet, eat lavishly with company
lungo: Long, lengthy, or extended in time or space
come: Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as', 'how', or 'like'
era: Third person singular imperfect of 'essere', meaning 'was'
loro: Pronoun or possessive meaning 'their' or 'they'
consuetudine: Custom, habit, or established practice over time
notturna: Adjective meaning 'nocturnal' or 'of the night'
Ora: Adverb meaning 'now' or conjunction meaning 'well then'
povera: Adjective meaning 'poor' in sympathy or poverty
ragazza: A girl or young woman
di: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'
sopra: Preposition or adverb meaning 'above' or 'upstairs'
sul: Contraction of 'su' and 'il', meaning 'on the'
punto: Point, moment, or verge of something happening
perdere: Infinitive meaning 'to lose' something or someone
il: Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'
senno: Sanity, reason, or good sense of the mind
per: Preposition meaning 'for', 'because of', or 'through'
canto: Here meaning 'account of' or 'side'; also means 'song'
le: Feminine plural definite article or indirect pronoun 'to her'
urla: Screams, shouts, or loud cries from a person
terribili: Adjective meaning 'terrible', 'dreadful', or 'frightening'
giuramenti: Oaths, swear words, or solemn binding promises
che: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'
giungevano: Imperfect of 'giungere', meaning 'they were arriving or reaching'
dal: Contraction of 'da' and 'il', meaning 'from the'
basso: Low, below, or downstairs in a building
poiché: Conjunction meaning 'since', 'because', or 'as'
dice: Third person singular present of 'dire', meaning 'says'
parole: Words or expressions used in speech or writing
usate: Past participle of 'usare', meaning 'used' (feminine plural)
da: Preposition meaning 'by', 'from', or 'since'
quando: Conjunction meaning 'when', introducing a time clause
ubriaco: Adjective meaning 'drunk' or 'intoxicated' with alcohol
fossero: Imperfect subjunctive of 'essere', meaning 'were' (they)
tali: Adjective meaning 'such' or 'of that kind'
poter: Infinitive 'potere' meaning 'to be able to'
fulminare: To strike like lightning; to blast or destroy instantly
uomo: A man or adult male human being
pronunciava: Imperfect of 'pronunciare', meaning 'was pronouncing or uttering'
Alla: Contraction of 'a' and 'la', meaning 'to the' or 'at the'
fine: End, conclusion, or finish of something
sotto: Preposition meaning 'under' or 'beneath'
pressione: Pressure, stress, or force applied to something
della: Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the' (feminine)
sua: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its' (feminine)
paura: Fear, fright, or terror felt by a person
fece: Third person singular past tense of 'fare', meaning 'did or made'
ciò: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'that' or 'this thing'
avrebbe: Conditional of 'avere', meaning 'would have'
potuto: Past participle of 'potere', meaning 'been able to'
scoraggiare: To discourage or dishearten someone from doing something
più: Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most' in comparisons
coraggioso: Brave, courageous, or bold in facing danger
o: Conjunction meaning 'or' presenting an alternative choice
intraprendente: Enterprising, bold, or resourcefully daring in action
degli: Contraction of 'di' and 'gli', meaning 'of the' (masculine plural)
uomini: Plural of 'uomo', meaning 'men'
con: Preposition meaning 'with'
aiuto: Help, assistance, or aid given to someone
vegetazione: Vegetation, plant life covering a surface or area
edera: Ivy, a climbing plant that clings to walls
ricopriva: Imperfect of 'ricoprire', meaning 'was covering or coating'
ricopre: Third person singular present of 'ricoprire', meaning 'covers'
ancora: Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'again'
muro: A wall of a building or structure
meridionale: Adjective meaning 'southern' relating to a direction
scese: Third person singular past tense of 'scendere', meaning 'descended'
bordo: Edge, border, or rim of something
del: Contraction of 'di' and 'il', meaning 'of the' (masculine)
tetto: The roof of a building or house
così: Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'
avviò: Past tense of 'avviarsi', meaning 'set off or headed toward'
verso: Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'in the direction of'
casa: Home, house, or one's place of residence
attraverso: Preposition meaning 'through' or 'across' a space
landa: A moor or open barren stretch of wild land
essendovi: 'There being', combining 'essendo' and 'vi' (there)
tre: The number three
leghe: Leagues, a unit of distance roughly three miles each
tra: Preposition meaning 'between', 'among', or 'within'
fattoria: A farm or farmhouse used for agricultural purposes
suo: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'
padre: A father or male parent
Accadde: Past tense of 'accadere', meaning 'it happened or occurred'
poco: Adjective or adverb meaning 'little', 'few', or 'not much'
tempo: Time or weather depending on context
dopo: Preposition or adverb meaning 'after' or 'afterwards'
lasciò: Past tense of 'lasciare', meaning 'left', 'let', or 'allowed'
ospiti: Guests, hosts, or visitors welcomed into a place
portare: Infinitive meaning 'to bring', 'to carry', or 'to take'
cibo: Food or nourishment consumed by people
bevande: Drinks or beverages consumed by people
altre: Feminine plural of 'altro', meaning 'other' or 'more'
cose: Things, objects, or matters of any kind
peggiori: Comparative of 'cattivo', meaning 'worse' or 'worst'
prigioniera: A female prisoner or captive held against her will
trovò: Past tense of 'trovare', meaning 'found' or 'discovered'
gabbia: A cage used to confine birds or animals
vuota: Feminine adjective meaning 'empty' with nothing inside
uccello: A bird, any winged feathered creature
fuggito: Past participle of 'fuggire', meaning 'fled' or 'escaped'
Poi: Adverb meaning 'then', 'afterwards', or 'next'
quanto: Pronoun or adverb meaning 'how much' or 'as much as'
pare: Third person singular of 'parere', meaning 'it seems or appears'
divenne: Past tense of 'diventare', meaning 'became'
uno: Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'
posseduto: Past participle of 'possedere', meaning 'possessed' by a spirit
demonio: A demon, devil, or evil spirit
precipitandosi: Reflexive gerund of 'precipitarsi', meaning 'rushing headlong down'
giù: Adverb meaning 'down' or 'downward'
scale: Stairs or staircase inside a building
nella: Contraction of 'in' and 'la', meaning 'in the' (feminine)
sala: A hall, room, or large space in a building
pranzo: Lunch or the midday meal; also dining in general
balzò: Past tense of 'balzare', meaning 'leaped' or 'jumped onto'
grande: Adjective meaning 'large', 'great', or 'big'
tavolo: A table used for eating or working
brocche: Jugs or pitchers used to hold liquids
piatti: Plates or dishes used for serving food
volavano: Imperfect of 'volare', meaning 'were flying' through the air
davanti: Preposition or adverb meaning 'in front of' or 'before'
lui: Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'him' or 'he'
gridò: Past tense of 'gridare', meaning 'shouted' or 'cried out'
ad: Preposition 'a' used before vowels, meaning 'to' or 'at'
alta: Feminine adjective meaning 'high', 'tall', or 'loud'
voce: Voice or sound produced by a person speaking
tutta: Feminine adjective meaning 'all', 'whole', or 'entire'
compagnia: Company, group of people gathered together
quella: Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' (feminine singular)
stessa: Feminine adjective meaning 'same' or 'herself'
notte: Night or nighttime period of darkness
consegnato: Past participle of 'consegnare', meaning 'handed over' or 'delivered'
corpo: The body of a living or dead person
anima: Soul, spirit, or inner being of a person
alle: Contraction of 'a' and 'le', meaning 'to the' (feminine plural)
Potenze: Powers or supernatural forces, often capitalized for dark powers
Male: Evil, used here as a noun referring to dark supernatural forces
se: Conjunction meaning 'if' introducing a conditional clause
solo: Adjective or adverb meaning 'only', 'alone', or 'just'
avesse: Imperfect subjunctive of 'avere', meaning 'had' in a condition
raggiungere: Infinitive meaning 'to reach', 'to catch up with someone'

← Previous

Unlock audio playback, vocabulary games, and reading progress tracking.

Create free account →