The Scarlet Letter — Page 5

English → It Full Text Level 8/10

But, as thoughts are frozen and utterance benumbed, unless the speaker stand in some true relation with his audience, it may be pardonable to imagine that a friend, a kind and apprehensive, though not the closest friend, is listening to our talk;

Ma, poiché i pensieri sono gelati e la parola intorpidita, a meno che chi parla non si trovi in qualche vera relazione con il proprio pubblico, potrebbe essere perdonabile immaginare che un amico, un amico gentile e premuroso, sebbene non il più intimo, stia ascoltando il nostro discorso;

and then, a native reserve being thawed by this genial consciousness, we may prate of the circumstances that lie around us, and even of ourself, but still keep the inmost Me behind its veil.

e allora, una riserva innata essendo sciolta da questa gioiosa consapevolezza, possiamo chiacchierare delle circostanze che ci circondano, e persino di noi stessi, ma tenere ancora il Me più intimo dietro il suo velo.

To this extent, and within these limits, an author, methinks, may be autobiographical, without violating either the reader's rights or his own.

Fino a questo punto, e entro questi limiti, un autore, mi sembra, può essere autobiografico, senza violare né i diritti del lettore né i propri.

It will be seen, likewise, that this Custom-House sketch has a certain propriety, of a kind always recognized in literature, as explaining how a large portion of the following pages came into my possession, and as offering proofs of the authenticity of a narrative therein contained.

Si vedrà, altresì, che questo bozzetto della Dogana ha una certa opportunità, di un tipo sempre riconosciuto in letteratura, in quanto spiega come una gran parte delle pagine seguenti sia venuta in mio possesso, e in quanto offre prove dell'autenticità di una narrazione ivi contenuta.

This, in fact,—a desire to put myself in my true position as editor, or very little more, of the most prolix among the tales that make up my volume,—this, and no other, is my true reason for assuming a personal relation with the public.

Questo, in effetti,—il desiderio di pormi nella mia vera posizione di curatore, o poco più, del più prolisso tra i racconti che compongono il mio volume,—questo, e nessun altro, è il mio vero motivo per assumere una relazione personale con il pubblico.

In accomplishing the main purpose, it has appeared allowable, by a few extra touches, to give a faint representation of a mode of life not heretofore described, together with some of the characters that move in it, among whom the author happened to make one.

Nel perseguire lo scopo principale, è sembrato lecito, con qualche tocco aggiuntivo, dare una vaga rappresentazione di un modo di vita non descritto fino ad ora, insieme ad alcuni dei personaggi che vi si muovono, tra i quali l'autore si è trovato a essere uno.

Vocabulary

Ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing contrast or exception.
poiché: poi-ché — Conjunction meaning 'since' or 'because'.
i: i — Definite article 'the' for masculine plural nouns.
pensieri: pen-siè-ri — Plural noun meaning 'thoughts' or 'ideas'.
sono: so-no — Third person plural of 'essere', meaning 'are'.
gelati: ge-là-ti — Adjective meaning 'frozen' or 'numb with cold'.
e: e — Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
la: la — Definite article 'the' for feminine singular nouns.
parola: pa-rò-la — Noun meaning 'word' or 'speech'.
intorpidita: in-tor-pi-dì-ta — Adjective meaning 'numbed' or 'sluggish', lacking feeling.
a: a — Preposition meaning 'at', 'to', or 'in'.
meno: mè-no — Adverb meaning 'less'; used in 'a meno che' meaning 'unless'.
che: che — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'who', or 'which'.
chi: chi — Pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whoever'.
parla: pàr-la — Third person singular of 'parlare', meaning 'speaks'.
non: non — Negation adverb meaning 'not'.
si: si — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'himself/herself'.
trovi: trò-vi — Subjunctive form of 'trovarsi', meaning 'finds oneself'.
in: in — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into'.
qualche: quàl-che — Adjective meaning 'some' or 'any'.
vera: vè-ra — Adjective meaning 'true' or 'genuine'.
relazione: re-la-zió-ne — Noun meaning 'relationship' or 'connection' between people.
con: con — Preposition meaning 'with'.
il: il — Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns.
proprio: pròp-rio — Adjective meaning 'own' or 'one's own'.
pubblico: pùb-bli-co — Noun meaning 'audience' or 'the public'.
potrebbe: po-trèb-be — Conditional form of 'potere', meaning 'could' or 'might'.
essere: ès-se-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'.
perdonabile: per-do-nà-bi-le — Adjective meaning 'forgivable' or 'pardonable'.
immaginare: im-ma-gi-nà-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to imagine' or 'to picture'.
un: un — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for masculine nouns.
amico: a-mì-co — Noun meaning 'friend'.
gentile: gen-tì-le — Adjective meaning 'kind' or 'gentle'.
premuroso: pre-mu-ró-so — Adjective meaning 'attentive', 'caring', or 'thoughtful'.
sebbene: seb-bè-ne — Conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'.
più: più — Adverb meaning 'more' or 'most'.
intimo: ìn-ti-mo — Adjective meaning 'intimate' or 'close'.
stia: stì-a — Subjunctive form of 'stare', meaning 'be' or 'stay'.
ascoltando: as-col-tàn-do — Gerund of 'ascoltare', meaning 'listening'.
nostro: nòs-tro — Possessive adjective meaning 'our'.
discorso: dis-còr-so — Noun meaning 'speech', 'discourse', or 'talk'.
allora: al-lò-ra — Adverb meaning 'then' or 'at that point'.
una: u-na — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns.
riserva: ri-sèr-va — Noun meaning 'reserve' or 'reticence'.
innata: in-nà-ta — Adjective meaning 'innate' or 'inborn'.
essendo: es-sèn-do — Gerund of 'essere', meaning 'being'.
sciolta: sciòl-ta — Adjective meaning 'dissolved', 'loosened', or 'freed'.
da: da — Preposition meaning 'from', 'by', or 'since'.
questa: quès-ta — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'this' (feminine).
gioiosa: gio-ió-sa — Adjective meaning 'joyful' or 'cheerful'.
consapevolezza: con-sa-pe-vo-lèz-za — Noun meaning 'awareness' or 'consciousness'.
possiamo: pos-sià-mo — First person plural of 'potere', meaning 'we can'.
chiacchierare: chiac-chie-rà-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to chat' or 'to gossip'.
delle: dèl-le — Contraction of 'di + le', meaning 'of the' (feminine plural).
circostanze: cir-cos-tàn-ze — Plural noun meaning 'circumstances' or 'situations'.
ci: ci — Reflexive/pronoun meaning 'us', 'ourselves', or 'there'.
circondano: cir-còn-da-no — Third person plural of 'circondare', meaning 'surround us'.
persino: per-sì-no — Adverb meaning 'even' or 'even to the point of'.
di: di — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'about'.
noi: noi — Personal pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'.
stessi: stès-si — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'ourselves' or 'themselves'.
ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but', introducing contrast.
tenere: te-nè-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to keep' or 'to hold'.
ancora: an-cò-ra — Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'again'.
Me: me — Personal pronoun meaning 'me' (emphatic or reflexive form).
dietro: diè-tro — Preposition or adverb meaning 'behind'.
suo: sù-o — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
velo: vè-lo — Noun meaning 'veil' or 'thin covering'.
Fino: fì-no — Preposition meaning 'until', 'up to', or 'as far as'.
questo: quès-to — Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this'.
punto: pùn-to — Noun meaning 'point' or 'dot'.
entro: èn-tro — Preposition meaning 'within' or 'inside'.
questi: quès-ti — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'these' (masculine plural).
limiti: lì-mi-ti — Plural noun meaning 'limits' or 'boundaries'.
autore: au-tò-re — Noun meaning 'author' or 'writer'.
mi: mi — Reflexive/object pronoun meaning 'me' or 'myself'.
sembra: sèm-bra — Third person singular of 'sembrare', meaning 'seems'.
può: può — Third person singular of 'potere', meaning 'can' or 'may'.
autobiografico: au-to-bio-grà-fi-co — Adjective meaning 'autobiographical', relating to one's own life.
senza: sèn-za — Preposition meaning 'without'.
violare: vio-là-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to violate' or 'to infringe'.
né: né — Conjunction meaning 'neither' or 'nor'.
diritti: di-rìt-ti — Plural noun meaning 'rights' or 'entitlements'.
del: del — Contraction of 'di + il', meaning 'of the' (masculine singular).
lettore: let-tò-re — Noun meaning 'reader'.
propri: pròp-ri — Possessive adjective meaning 'own' (plural form).
Si: si — Reflexive particle used to form impersonal or passive constructions.
vedrà: ve-drà — Future tense of 'vedere', meaning 'will see'.
altresì: al-tre-sì — Adverb meaning 'also' or 'likewise' (formal register).
bozzetto: boz-zèt-to — Noun meaning 'sketch' or 'short descriptive piece'.
della: dèl-la — Contraction of 'di + la', meaning 'of the' (feminine singular).
Dogana: do-gà-na — Noun meaning 'customs house' or 'customs office'.
ha: ha — Third person singular of 'avere', meaning 'has'.
certa: cèr-ta — Adjective meaning 'certain' or 'a particular'.
opportunità: op-por-tu-ni-tà — Noun meaning 'opportunity' or 'occasion'.
tipo: tì-po — Noun meaning 'type', 'kind', or 'character'.
sempre: sèm-pre — Adverb meaning 'always' or 'ever'.
riconosciuto: ri-co-nos-ciù-to — Past participle of 'riconoscere', meaning 'recognized' or 'acknowledged'.
letteratura: let-te-ra-tù-ra — Noun meaning 'literature'.
quanto: quàn-to — Pronoun or adverb meaning 'how much' or 'as much as'.
spiega: spiè-ga — Third person singular of 'spiegare', meaning 'explains'.
come: cò-me — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'how' or 'as'.
gran: gran — Shortened form of 'grande', meaning 'great' or 'large'.
parte: pàr-te — Noun meaning 'part' or 'portion'.
pagine: pà-gi-ne — Plural noun meaning 'pages'.
seguenti: se-guèn-ti — Adjective meaning 'following' or 'subsequent'.
sia: sì-a — Subjunctive form of 'essere', meaning 'be' or 'may be'.
venuta: ve-nù-ta — Past participle of 'venire', meaning 'come'.
mio: mì-o — Possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
possesso: pos-sès-so — Noun meaning 'possession' or 'ownership'.
offre: òf-fre — Third person singular of 'offrire', meaning 'offers'.
prove: pró-ve — Plural noun meaning 'proofs', 'evidence', or 'tests'.
dell': dell' — Contraction of 'di + l'', meaning 'of the' before a vowel.
autenticità: au-ten-ti-ci-tà — Noun meaning 'authenticity' or 'genuineness'.
narrazione: nar-ra-zió-ne — Noun meaning 'narration' or 'account'.
ivi: ì-vi — Adverb meaning 'therein' or 'in that place' (formal).
contenuta: con-te-nù-ta — Past participle of 'contenere', meaning 'contained' or 'included'.
Questo: quès-to — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'this thing'.
effetti: ef-fèt-ti — Plural noun; 'in effetti' means 'in fact' or 'actually'.
desiderio: de-si-dè-rio — Noun meaning 'desire' or 'wish'.
pormi: pòr-mi — Infinitive 'porre' with reflexive 'mi', meaning 'to place myself'.
nella: nèl-la — Contraction of 'in + la', meaning 'in the' (feminine).
mia: mì-a — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (feminine form).
posizione: po-si-zió-ne — Noun meaning 'position' or 'role'.
curatore: cu-ra-tò-re — Noun meaning 'curator', 'editor', or 'caretaker'.
o: o — Conjunction meaning 'or'.
poco: pò-co — Adverb or adjective meaning 'little' or 'a bit'.
prolisso: pro-lìs-so — Adjective meaning 'verbose' or 'long-winded'.
tra: tra — Preposition meaning 'between', 'among', or 'in'.
racconti: rac-còn-ti — Plural noun meaning 'stories', 'tales', or 'short stories'.
compongono: com-pòn-go-no — Third person plural of 'comporre', meaning 'make up' or 'compose'.
volume: vo-lù-me — Noun meaning 'volume' or 'book'.
nessun: nes-sùn — Adjective meaning 'no' or 'not any' (masculine).
altro: àl-tro — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'.
è: è — Third person singular of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
vero: vè-ro — Adjective meaning 'true' or 'real'.
motivo: mo-tì-vo — Noun meaning 'reason', 'motive', or 'cause'.
per: per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'in order to', or 'through'.
assumere: as-sù-me-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to assume' or 'to take on'.
personale: per-so-nà-le — Adjective meaning 'personal'; noun meaning 'staff'.
Nel: nel — Contraction of 'in + il', meaning 'in the' (masculine singular).
perseguire: per-se-guì-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to pursue' or 'to follow'.
lo: lo — Definite article or pronoun 'the' or 'him/it' (masculine).
scopo: scò-po — Noun meaning 'purpose', 'aim', or 'goal'.
principale: prin-ci-pà-le — Adjective meaning 'main', 'principal', or 'primary'.
sembrato: sem-brà-to — Past participle of 'sembrare', meaning 'seemed'.
lecito: lè-ci-to — Adjective meaning 'permissible', 'lawful', or 'acceptable'.
tocco: tòc-co — Noun meaning 'touch' or 'stroke'.
aggiuntivo: ag-giun-tì-vo — Adjective meaning 'additional' or 'extra'.
dare: dà-re — Infinitive verb meaning 'to give'.
vaga: và-ga — Adjective meaning 'vague' or 'indistinct'.
rappresentazione: rap-pre-sen-ta-zió-ne — Noun meaning 'representation', 'depiction', or 'performance'.
modo: mò-do — Noun meaning 'way', 'manner', or 'mode'.
vita: vì-ta — Noun meaning 'life'.
descritto: des-crìt-to — Past participle of 'descrivere', meaning 'described'.
fino: fì-no — Preposition meaning 'until' or 'up to'.
ad: ad — Variant of 'a' before vowels, meaning 'to' or 'at'.
ora: ò-ra — Noun meaning 'hour' or 'now' as an adverb.
insieme: in-siè-me — Adverb meaning 'together' or 'along with'.
alcuni: al-cù-ni — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'some' or 'a few'.
dei: dei — Contraction of 'di + i', meaning 'of the' (masculine plural).
personaggi: per-so-nàg-gi — Plural noun meaning 'characters' or 'figures' in a story.
vi: vi — Pronoun meaning 'there', 'in it', or 'you' (plural).
muovono: muò-vo-no — Third person plural of 'muoversi', meaning 'move about'.
quali: quà-li — Relative pronoun meaning 'which' or 'who' (plural).
l': l' — Contracted definite article 'the' before a vowel.
trovato: tro-và-to — Past participle of 'trovare', meaning 'found'.
uno: ù-no — Indefinite article or numeral meaning 'a' or 'one'.

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