The Picture of Dorian Gray — Page 11

English → It CHAPTER I. Level 7/10

It was reckless of me, but I asked Lady Brandon to introduce me to him.

Fu una mia imprudenza, ma chiesi a Lady Brandon di presentarmelo.

Perhaps it was not so reckless, after all.

Forse non fu così imprudente, dopo tutto.

It was simply inevitable.

Era semplicemente inevitabile.

We would have spoken to each other without any introduction.

Ci saremmo parlati anche senza alcuna presentazione.

I am sure of that.

Ne sono certo.

Dorian told me so afterwards.

Dorian me lo disse in seguito.

He, too, felt that we were destined to know each other."

Anche lui sentiva che eravamo destinati a conoscerci."

"And how did Lady Brandon describe this wonderful young man?" asked his companion.

«E come descrisse Lady Brandon questo meraviglioso giovane?» chiese il suo compagno.

"I know she goes in for giving a rapid _précis_ of all her guests.

«So che è solita dare un rapido _précis_ di tutti i suoi ospiti.

I remember her bringing me up to a truculent and red-faced old gentleman covered all over with orders and ribbons, and hissing into my ear, in a tragic whisper which must have been perfectly audible to everybody in the room, the most astounding details.

Ricordo che mi condusse da un vecchio gentiluomo truculento e rubicondo, coperto di decorazioni e nastri, e mi sussurrò nell'orecchio, con un tragico bisbiglio che doveva essere perfettamente udibile a tutti nella stanza, i particolari più sbalorditivi.

I simply fled.

Me ne fuggii semplicemente.

I like to find out people for myself.

Mi piace scoprire le persone da solo.

But Lady Brandon treats her guests exactly as an auctioneer treats his goods.

Ma Lady Brandon tratta i suoi ospiti esattamente come un banditore d'asta tratta la sua merce.

She either explains them entirely away, or tells one everything about them except what one wants to know."

O li spiega completamente, o dice tutto di loro tranne quello che si vorrebbe sapere."

"Poor Lady Brandon! You are hard on her, Harry!" said Hallward listlessly.

«Povera Lady Brandon! Sei duro con lei, Harry!» disse Hallward svogliatamente.

"My dear fellow, she tried to found a _salon_, and only succeeded in opening a restaurant.

«Mio caro amico, ha cercato di fondare un _salon_, e ha ottenuto solo di aprire un ristorante.

How could I admire her?

Come avrei potuto ammirarla?

But tell me, what did she say about Mr. Dorian Gray?"

Ma dimmi, cosa disse del signor Dorian Gray?"

"Oh, something like, 'Charming boy—poor dear mother and I absolutely inseparable.

«Oh, qualcosa come: 'Ragazzo incantevole—la povera cara madre ed io assolutamente inseparabili.

Quite forget what he does—afraid he—doesn't do anything—oh, yes, plays the piano—or is it the violin, dear Mr. Gray?

Non ricordo proprio cosa faccia—temo che—non faccia nulla—oh, sì, suona il pianoforte—o è il violino, caro signor Gray?

Vocabulary

Fu: foo — Third person singular past tense of 'essere' (to be).
una: oo-nah — Indefinite article, feminine singular: 'a' or 'an'.
mia: mee-ah — Possessive adjective, feminine singular: 'my'.
imprudenza: eem-proo-DEN-tsah — Lack of caution; recklessness or imprudence.
ma: mah — Coordinating conjunction meaning 'but'.
chiesi: KYEH-zee — First person singular past tense of 'chiedere': I asked.
a: ah — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
di: dee — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
presentarmelo: preh-zen-TAR-meh-loh — To introduce him to me; combined infinitive with pronouns.
Forse: FOR-seh — Adverb meaning 'perhaps' or 'maybe'.
non: nohn — Negation adverb meaning 'not'.
così: koh-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'.
imprudente: eem-proo-DEN-teh — Adjective describing someone lacking caution; reckless.
dopo: DOH-poh — Preposition or adverb meaning 'after' or 'later'.
tutto: TOOT-toh — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all', 'everything', 'whole'.
Era: EH-rah — Third person singular imperfect of 'essere': 'it was'.
semplicemente: sem-plee-cheh-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'simply' or 'merely'.
inevitabile: ee-neh-vee-TAH-bee-leh — Adjective meaning 'inevitable' or 'unavoidable'.
Ci: chee — Reflexive or locative pronoun: 'us', 'ourselves', or 'there'.
saremmo: sah-REM-moh — First person plural conditional of 'essere': 'we would be'.
parlati: par-LAH-tee — Past participle of 'parlare', plural: 'spoken' (to each other).
anche: AHN-keh — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'also', 'even', or 'too'.
senza: SEN-tsah — Preposition meaning 'without'.
alcuna: al-KOO-nah — Indefinite adjective, feminine: 'any' or 'no' (in negatives).
presentazione: preh-zen-tah-TSYOH-neh — Formal introduction of one person to another.
Ne: neh — Partitive pronoun meaning 'of it', 'of them', or 'about it'.
sono: SOH-noh — First person singular present of 'essere': 'I am'.
certo: CHER-toh — Adjective or adverb meaning 'certain' or 'certainly'.
disse: DEES-seh — Third person singular past tense of 'dire': 'he/she said'.
seguito: SEH-gwee-toh — Noun meaning 'afterward'; in 'in seguito': 'afterwards'.
sentiva: sen-TEE-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'sentire': 'he felt/heard'.
destinati: des-tee-NAH-tee — Past participle plural of 'destinare': 'destined' or 'fated'.
conoscerci: koh-NOH-shehr-chee — Reflexive infinitive of 'conoscere': 'to meet/know each other'.
descrisse: deh-SKREES-seh — Third person singular past tense of 'descrivere': 'described'.
meraviglioso: meh-rah-vee-LYOH-zoh — Adjective meaning 'wonderful', 'marvelous', or 'extraordinary'.
giovane: JOH-vah-neh — Adjective or noun meaning 'young' or 'young person'.
chiese: KYEH-zeh — Third person singular past tense of 'chiedere': 'he/she asked'.
compagno: kohm-PAH-nyoh — Noun meaning 'companion', 'partner', or 'fellow'.
solita: SOH-lee-tah — Adjective meaning 'usual' or 'accustomed' (feminine form).
dare: DAH-reh — Infinitive verb meaning 'to give'.
rapido: RAH-pee-doh — Adjective meaning 'quick', 'rapid', or 'fast'.
ospiti: OH-spee-tee — Noun plural meaning 'guests' or 'hosts'.
Ricordo: ree-KOR-doh — First person singular present of 'ricordare': 'I remember'.
condusse: kon-DOOS-seh — Third person singular past tense of 'condurre': 'led/brought'.
vecchio: VEK-kyoh — Adjective or noun meaning 'old' or 'old man'.
gentiluomo: jen-tee-LWOH-moh — Noun meaning 'gentleman'; a man of good social standing.
truculento: troo-koo-LEN-toh — Adjective meaning 'truculent', aggressive, or fierce-looking.
rubicondo: roo-bee-KON-doh — Adjective meaning 'ruddy', with a rosy or flushed complexion.
coperto: koh-PER-toh — Past participle of 'coprire': 'covered' or 'laden with'.
decorazioni: deh-koh-rah-TSYOH-nee — Noun plural meaning 'decorations' or 'medals and honors'.
nastri: NAH-stree — Noun plural meaning 'ribbons' or 'bands'.
sussurrò: soos-soor-ROH — Third person singular past tense of 'sussurrare': 'whispered'.
orecchio: oh-REK-kyoh — Noun meaning 'ear'.
tragico: TRAH-jee-koh — Adjective meaning 'tragic' or dramatically serious.
bisbiglio: beez-BEE-lyoh — Noun meaning 'whisper' or 'murmur'.
doveva: doh-VEH-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'dovere': 'had to/must have'.
perfettamente: per-fet-tah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'perfectly' or 'completely'.
udibile: oo-DEE-bee-leh — Adjective meaning 'audible' or 'able to be heard'.
stanza: STAN-tsah — Noun meaning 'room' within a building.
particolari: par-tee-koh-LAH-ree — Noun plural meaning 'details' or 'particulars'.
sbalorditivi: zbah-lor-dee-TEE-vee — Adjective plural meaning 'astounding', 'staggering', or 'shocking'.
fuggii: food-JEE-ee — First person singular past tense of 'fuggire': 'I fled'.
piace: PYAH-cheh — Third person singular present of 'piacere': 'it pleases/I like'.
scoprire: skoh-PREE-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to discover' or 'to uncover'.
persone: per-SOH-neh — Noun plural meaning 'people' or 'persons'.
solo: SOH-loh — Adverb or adjective meaning 'only', 'alone', or 'just'.
tratta: TRAHT-tah — Third person singular present of 'trattare': 'treats' or 'deals with'.
esattamente: eh-zaht-tah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'exactly' or 'precisely'.
banditore: ban-dee-TOH-reh — Noun meaning 'auctioneer' or 'town crier'.
asta: AH-stah — Noun meaning 'auction' or 'pole/staff'.
merce: MER-cheh — Noun meaning 'goods', 'merchandise', or 'wares'.
spiega: SPYEH-gah — Third person singular present of 'spiegare': 'explains'.
completamente: kom-pleh-tah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'completely' or 'entirely'.
tranne: TRAHN-neh — Preposition meaning 'except', 'apart from', or 'but for'.
quello: KWEL-loh — Demonstrative pronoun or adjective: 'that' or 'that one'.
vorrebbe: vor-REB-beh — Third person singular conditional of 'volere': 'would want'.
sapere: sah-PEH-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to know' (facts or information).
Povera: POH-veh-rah — Adjective, feminine: 'poor' (in sympathy or poverty).
duro: DOO-roh — Adjective meaning 'hard', 'harsh', or 'tough'.
svogliatamente: zvoh-lyah-tah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'listlessly', 'lazily', or 'without enthusiasm'.
caro: KAH-roh — Adjective meaning 'dear', 'beloved', or 'expensive'.
amico: ah-MEE-koh — Noun meaning 'friend' or 'male companion'.
cercato: cher-KAH-toh — Past participle of 'cercare': 'tried' or 'searched for'.
fondare: fon-DAH-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to found', 'establish', or 'set up'.
ottenuto: ot-teh-NOO-toh — Past participle of 'ottenere': 'obtained' or 'achieved'.
aprire: ah-PREE-reh — Infinitive meaning 'to open' or 'to start up'.
ristorante: ree-stoh-RAHN-teh — Noun meaning 'restaurant'; a place to eat meals.
avrei: ah-VREH-ee — First person singular conditional of 'avere': 'I would have'.
potuto: poh-TOO-toh — Past participle of 'potere': 'been able to'.
ammirarla: ahm-mee-RAR-lah — Infinitive 'ammirare' plus 'la': 'to admire her'.
dimmi: DEEM-mee — Imperative of 'dire' with 'mi': 'tell me'.
cosa: KOH-zah — Noun meaning 'thing'; also used as 'what' in questions.
signor: see-NYOR — Noun/title meaning 'Mr.' or 'sir'; polite male address.
qualcosa: kwal-KOH-zah — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'something' or 'anything'.
Ragazzo: rah-GAHT-tsoh — Noun meaning 'boy', 'young man', or 'guy'.
incantevole: een-kan-TEH-voh-leh — Adjective meaning 'charming', 'delightful', or 'enchanting'.
povera: POH-veh-rah — Adjective, feminine: 'poor'; used in endearment or sympathy.
cara: KAH-rah — Adjective, feminine: 'dear' or 'beloved'; term of endearment.
madre: MAH-dreh — Noun meaning 'mother'.
assolutamente: as-soh-loo-tah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'absolutely' or 'completely'.
inseparabili: een-seh-pah-RAH-bee-lee — Adjective plural meaning 'inseparable'; always together.
ricordo: ree-KOR-doh — First person singular present of 'ricordare': 'I remember'.
proprio: PROH-pryoh — Adverb or adjective meaning 'really', 'own', or 'exactly'.
faccia: FAH-chah — Noun meaning 'face'; the front of a person's head.
temo: TEH-moh — First person singular present of 'temere': 'I fear'.
nulla: NOOL-lah — Pronoun meaning 'nothing' or 'not anything'.
suona: SWOH-nah — Third person singular present of 'suonare': 'plays' an instrument.
pianoforte: pyah-noh-FOR-teh — Noun meaning 'piano'; a keyboard musical instrument.
violino: vyoh-LEE-noh — Noun meaning 'violin'; a bowed string instrument.

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