← The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African: Written By Himself — Page 1

English → It CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

_The author's account of his country, and their manners and customs--Administration of justice--Embrenche--Marriage ceremony, and public entertainments--Mode of living--Dress--Manufactures Buildings--Commerce--Agriculture--War and religion--Superstition of the natives--Funeral ceremonies of the priests or magicians--Curious mode of discovering poison--Some hints concerning the origin of the author's countrymen, with the opinions of different writers on that subject._

_Il racconto dell'autore sul suo paese, e i loro modi e costumi--Amministrazione della giustizia--Embrenche--Cerimonia nuziale e intrattenimenti pubblici--Modo di vivere--Abbigliamento--Manifatture Edifici--Commercio--Agricoltura--Guerra e religione--Superstizione degli indigeni--Cerimonie funebri dei sacerdoti o maghi--Curioso metodo per scoprire il veleno--Alcuni indizi sull'origine dei compatrioti dell'autore, con le opinioni di diversi scrittori sull'argomento._

I believe it is difficult for those who publish their own memoirs to escape the imputation of vanity; nor is this the only disadvantage under which they labour: it is also their misfortune, that what is uncommon is rarely, if ever, believed, and what is obvious we are apt to turn from with disgust, and to charge the writer with impertinence.

Credo che sia difficile per coloro che pubblicano le proprie memorie sfuggire all'accusa di vanità; né questo è il solo svantaggio sotto il quale essi faticano: è anche loro sfortuna che ciò che è insolito raramente, se mai, viene creduto, e ciò che è ovvio siamo inclini a respingere con disgusto, e ad accusare lo scrittore di impertinenza.

People generally think those memoirs only worthy to be read or remembered which abound in great or striking events, those, in short, which in a high degree excite either admiration or pity: all others they consign to contempt and oblivion.

Le persone generalmente ritengono degne di essere lette o ricordate solo quelle memorie che abbondano di grandi o straordinari eventi, quelle, in breve, che in alto grado suscitano ammirazione o pietà: tutte le altre le consegnano al disprezzo e all'oblio.

It is therefore, I confess, not a little hazardous in a private and obscure individual, and a stranger too, thus to solicit the indulgent attention of the public; especially when I own I offer here the history of neither a saint, a hero, nor a tyrant.

È pertanto, lo confesso, non poco rischioso per un individuo privato e oscuro, e per di più straniero, sollecitare in tal modo l'indulgente attenzione del pubblico; specialmente quando ammetto di offrire qui la storia né di un santo, né di un eroe, né di un tiranno.

Vocabulary

Il: Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
racconto: A story, tale, or short narrative account.
dell': Contraction of 'di' and 'l'', meaning 'of the'.
autore: A person who writes or creates a work.
sul: Contraction of 'su' and 'il', meaning 'on the'.
suo: Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
paese: A country, village, or hometown.
e: Conjunction meaning 'and'.
i: Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
loro: Third person plural pronoun or possessive meaning 'their'.
modi: Plural of 'modo'; ways, manners, or customs.
costumi: Customs, traditions, or habits of a community.
Amministrazione: The management or governance of public affairs.
della: Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the'.
giustizia: Justice; the fair application of laws and principles.
Cerimonia: A formal event or ritual performed on special occasions.
nuziale: Adjective relating to a wedding or marriage ceremony.
intrattenimenti: Plural of 'intrattenimento'; forms of amusement or entertainment.
pubblici: Adjective meaning 'public', open to all people.
Modo: A way, manner, or method of doing something.
di: Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'by'.
vivere: To live; the infinitive form of the verb.
Abbigliamento: Clothing, attire, or style of dress.
Manifatture: Manufactures; goods produced by hand or machinery.
Edifici: Plural of 'edificio'; buildings or constructed structures.
Commercio: Trade or commerce; exchange of goods and services.
Agricoltura: Agriculture; the practice of farming and cultivating land.
Guerra: War; armed conflict between groups or nations.
religione: Religion; a system of faith and worship.
Superstizione: Superstition; irrational belief based on ignorance or fear.
degli: Contraction of 'di' and 'gli', meaning 'of the'.
indigeni: Indigenous or native people of a particular region.
Cerimonie: Plural of 'cerimonia'; formal rituals or ceremonial events.
funebri: Adjective meaning funerary, relating to death or burial.
dei: Contraction of 'di' and 'i', meaning 'of the'.
sacerdoti: Plural of 'sacerdote'; priests or religious officiants.
o: Conjunction meaning 'or', presenting an alternative.
maghi: Plural of 'mago'; sorcerers, wizards, or magicians.
Curioso: Curious or strange; arousing interest or surprise.
metodo: A method; a systematic procedure or way of doing.
per: Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'through'.
scoprire: To discover or uncover something previously unknown.
il: Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
veleno: Poison; a toxic substance harmful to living organisms.
Alcuni: Some or a few; an indefinite plural quantity.
indizi: Plural of 'indizio'; clues, signs, or indications.
sull': Contraction of 'su' and 'l'', meaning 'on the'.
origine: Origin; the point or source from which something comes.
compatrioti: Compatriots; fellow citizens or people from the same country.
con: Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment.
le: Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
opinioni: Plural of 'opinione'; personal views or judgments.
diversi: Several or various; referring to more than one kind.
scrittori: Plural of 'scrittore'; writers or authors of texts.
argomento: A topic, subject, or argument under discussion.
Credo: First person singular of 'credere'; I believe or think.
che: Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
sia: Subjunctive form of 'essere'; meaning 'be' or 'is'.
difficile: Difficult or hard; not easy to accomplish or understand.
coloro: Those people; third person plural pronoun referring to others.
pubblicano: They publish; third person plural of 'pubblicare'.
proprie: Own; adjective meaning belonging to oneself, one's own.
memorie: Plural of 'memoria'; memoirs, memories, or recollections.
sfuggire: To escape or avoid something, to slip away from.
all': Contraction of 'a' and 'l'', meaning 'to the'.
accusa: An accusation or charge made against someone.
vanità: Vanity; excessive pride in one's appearance or achievements.
né: Conjunction meaning 'neither' or 'nor'.
questo: Demonstrative pronoun or adjective meaning 'this'.
è: Third person singular of 'essere'; means 'is'.
solo: Only, alone; just one, no others included.
svantaggio: A disadvantage; an unfavorable condition or circumstance.
sotto: Preposition meaning 'under' or 'beneath'.
quale: Relative pronoun or adjective meaning 'which' or 'what'.
essi: Third person plural subject pronoun meaning 'they'.
faticano: They struggle or labor; third person plural of 'faticare'.
anche: Also, too, even; adds emphasis or inclusion.
sfortuna: Bad luck or misfortune; an unfortunate circumstance.
ciò: Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that thing'.
insolito: Unusual or uncommon; not typical or expected.
raramente: Rarely; not often, seldom occurring.
se: Conjunction meaning 'if' or reflexive pronoun 'oneself'.
mai: Ever or never; used in positive and negative contexts.
viene: Third person singular of 'venire'; means 'comes' or 'is'.
creduto: Past participle of 'credere'; believed or trusted.
ovvio: Obvious or evident; easily understood or recognized.
siamo: First person plural of 'essere'; we are.
inclini: Inclined or prone; tending toward a particular behavior.
a: Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
respingere: To reject, repel, or push back against something.
disgusto: Disgust; a feeling of strong revulsion or distaste.
ad: Variant of 'a' used before vowels, meaning 'to'.
accusare: To accuse; to charge someone with a wrongdoing.
lo: Masculine singular definite article or object pronoun 'him'.
scrittore: A writer or author who produces literary works.
impertinenza: Impertinence; rude or inappropriate boldness or behavior.
Le: Feminine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
persone: Plural of 'persona'; people or individuals in general.
generalmente: Generally or usually; in most cases or circumstances.
ritengono: They consider or hold; third person plural of 'ritenere'.
degne: Worthy or deserving; feminine plural of 'degno'.
essere: To be; the infinitive of the fundamental linking verb.
lette: Past participle of 'leggere'; read, feminine plural form.
ricordate: Past participle of 'ricordare'; remembered or recalled.
quelle: Those; feminine plural demonstrative pronoun or adjective.
abbondano: They abound or are full of; third person plural of 'abbondare'.
grandi: Great or large; adjective describing size or importance.
straordinari: Extraordinary or remarkable; beyond the ordinary or usual.
eventi: Plural of 'evento'; events or occurrences that take place.
in: Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'at'.
breve: Brief or short; of limited duration or length.
alto: High or tall; great in degree, position, or stature.
grado: Degree, grade, or level of intensity or quality.
suscitano: They arouse or provoke; third person plural of 'suscitare'.
ammirazione: Admiration; a feeling of wonder and respectful approval.
pietà: Pity or compassion; sympathy for someone's suffering.
tutte: All; feminine plural adjective meaning every or entire.
altre: Others; feminine plural referring to different or remaining ones.
consegnano: They consign or deliver; third person plural of 'consegnare'.
al: Contraction of 'a' and 'il', meaning 'to the'.
disprezzo: Contempt or scorn; a feeling of deep disrespect.
oblio: Oblivion; the state of being completely forgotten.
È: Third person singular of 'essere'; means 'is'.
pertanto: Therefore or consequently; indicating a logical conclusion.
confesso: I confess; first person singular of 'confessare'.
non: Negation particle meaning 'not'.
poco: Little or few; a small amount or degree.
rischioso: Risky or hazardous; involving potential danger or loss.
un: Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
individuo: An individual; a single human being considered separately.
privato: Private; not public, relating to personal or individual matters.
oscuro: Obscure or dark; unknown, not well-known, or dim.
più: More; indicates a greater quantity, degree, or comparison.
straniero: A foreigner or stranger; someone from another country.
sollecitare: To solicit or request; to seek something formally.
tal: Such a; shortened form of 'tale' before a noun.
modo: A way or manner; method of doing something.
l': Elided definite article 'lo' or 'la' before a vowel.
indulgente: Indulgent or lenient; tolerant and permissive toward others.
attenzione: Attention; the act of carefully focusing on something.
del: Contraction of 'di' and 'il', meaning 'of the'.
pubblico: The public; the general population or an audience.
specialmente: Especially or particularly; to a greater or specific degree.
quando: When; conjunction indicating time or circumstance.
ammetto: I admit; first person singular of 'ammettere'.
offrire: To offer; to present something for acceptance.
qui: Here; in this place or context.
la: Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
storia: A story or history; a narrative of events.
santo: A saint; a holy person recognized for virtue.
eroe: A hero; a person admired for courage or achievements.
tiranno: A tyrant; a cruel and oppressive ruler or leader.

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