The Souls of Black Folk — Page 11

English → It Full Text Level 8/10

Here at last seemed to have been discovered the mountain path to Canaan; longer than the highway of Emancipation and law, steep and rugged, but straight, leading to heights high enough to overlook life.

Qui sembrava finalmente essere stato scoperto il sentiero di montagna verso Canaan; più lungo della grande via dell'Emancipazione e della legge, ripido e scabro, ma dritto, che conduceva ad altezze abbastanza elevate da abbracciare con lo sguardo la vita.

Up the new path the advance guard toiled, slowly, heavily, doggedly; only those who have watched and guided the faltering feet, the misty minds, the dull understandings, of the dark pupils of these schools know how faithfully, how piteously, this people strove to learn.

Su per il nuovo sentiero l'avanguardia faticava, lentamente, pesantemente, ostinatamente; solo coloro che hanno osservato e guidato i passi vacillanti, le menti annebbiata, le comprensioni ottuse, dei cupi allievi di queste scuole sanno quanto fedelmente, quanto pietosamente, questo popolo si sforzasse di imparare.

It was weary work.

Era un lavoro estenuante.

The cold statistician wrote down the inches of progress here and there, noted also where here and there a foot had slipped or some one had fallen.

Il freddo statistico annotava i centimetri di progresso qua e là, notando anche dove qua e là un piede aveva scivolato o qualcuno era caduto.

To the tired climbers, the horizon was ever dark, the mists were often cold, the Canaan was always dim and far away.

Per i climbers stanchi, l'orizzonte era sempre buio, le nebbie erano spesso fredde, la Canaan era sempre offuscata e lontana.

If, however, the vistas disclosed as yet no goal, no resting-place, little but flattery and criticism, the journey at least gave leisure for reflection and self-examination; it changed the child of Emancipation to the youth with dawning self-consciousness, self-realization, self-respect.

Se, tuttavia, i panorami non rivelavano ancora alcuna meta, nessun luogo di riposo, poco più che adulazione e critica, il viaggio concedeva almeno il tempo per la riflessione e l'autoesame; esso trasformò il figlio dell'Emancipazione nel giovane con una nascente autoconsapevolezza, autorealizzazione, rispetto di sé.

In those sombre forests of his striving his own soul rose before him, and he saw himself,—darkly as through a veil; and yet he saw in himself some faint revelation of his power, of his mission.

In quelle fosche foreste del suo sforzo la sua stessa anima si levò dinanzi a lui, ed egli vide se stesso,—oscuramente come attraverso un velo; eppure scorse in sé stesso una debole rivelazione del suo potere, della sua missione.

He began to have a dim feeling that, to attain his place in the world, he must be himself, and not another.

Cominciò ad avere un vago sentore che, per conquistare il suo posto nel mondo, doveva essere se stesso, e non un altro.

Vocabulary

Qui: kwee — Here; indicates a specific location nearby.
sembrava: sem-BRAH-vah — It seemed; third person singular imperfect of sembrare.
finalmente: fee-nal-MEN-teh — Finally; at last, after a long wait.
essere: ES-seh-reh — To be; fundamental Italian auxiliary and linking verb.
stato: STAH-toh — Been; past participle of essere, also means state.
scoperto: skoh-PEHR-toh — Discovered; past participle of scoprire, to uncover.
il: eel — The; masculine singular definite article in Italian.
sentiero: sen-TYEH-roh — Path; a narrow trail or footpath through nature.
di: dee — Of; common Italian preposition indicating possession or origin.
montagna: mon-TAH-nyah — Mountain; a large natural elevation of earth's surface.
verso: VEHR-soh — Toward; preposition indicating direction or movement.
più: pyoo — More; comparative adverb indicating greater degree.
lungo: LOON-goh — Long; describing extended length or duration.
della: DEL-lah — Of the; contraction of di and la in Italian.
grande: GRAHN-deh — Great; large or significant in size or importance.
via: VEE-ah — Road; a path, route, or way to travel.
dell': del — Of the; elided contraction before vowel-starting nouns.
Emancipazione: eh-man-chee-pah-TSYOH-neh — Emancipation; liberation from legal, social, or political restraints.
e: eh — And; basic Italian coordinating conjunction.
legge: LEJ-jeh — Law; a rule established by authority or legislation.
ripido: REE-pee-doh — Steep; having a sharp incline or sharp slope.
scabro: SKAH-broh — Rough; having an uneven, coarse, or jagged surface.
ma: mah — But; conjunction introducing a contrast or exception.
dritto: DREET-toh — Straight; extending without a curve or deviation.
che: keh — That/which; relative pronoun or subordinating conjunction.
conduceva: kon-doo-CHEH-vah — Led; imperfect tense of condurre, to lead somewhere.
ad: ad — To/at; preposition used before vowels in Italian.
altezze: al-TET-tseh — Heights; plural of altezza, elevation or high places.
abbastanza: ab-bas-TAN-tsah — Enough; sufficiently, to an adequate degree.
elevate: eh-leh-VAH-teh — Elevated; raised high above the surrounding level.
da: dah — From/by; preposition indicating origin, agent, or cause.
abbracciare: ab-brat-CHAH-reh — To embrace; to hug or encompass with a view.
con: kon — With; preposition indicating accompaniment or means.
lo: loh — The; masculine singular definite article before certain consonants.
sguardo: ZGWAHR-doh — Gaze; a look or glance directed at something.
vita: VEE-tah — Life; the existence of a living being.
Su: soo — Up; preposition or adverb indicating upward direction.
per: pehr — For/through; preposition indicating purpose or passage.
nuovo: NWOH-voh — New; recently made or not existing before.
l': l — The; elided definite article before vowel-starting words.
avanguardia: ah-van-GWAHR-dyah — Vanguard; the foremost group leading a movement forward.
faticava: fah-tee-KAH-vah — Toiled; imperfect of faticare, to labor with difficulty.
lentamente: len-tah-MEN-teh — Slowly; in a slow, unhurried manner.
pesantemente: peh-zan-teh-MEN-teh — Heavily; with great weight, burden, or difficulty.
ostinatamente: os-tee-nah-tah-MEN-teh — Stubbornly; with persistent, unyielding determination.
solo: SOH-loh — Only/alone; by oneself or exclusively.
coloro: koh-LOH-roh — Those; pronoun referring to a specific group of people.
hanno: AHN-noh — Have; third person plural present of avere.
osservato: os-sehr-VAH-toh — Observed; past participle of osservare, to watch carefully.
guidato: gwee-DAH-toh — Guided; past participle of guidare, to lead someone.
i: ee — The; masculine plural definite article in Italian.
passi: PAHS-see — Steps; plural of passo, footsteps or strides taken.
vacillanti: vah-cheel-LAN-tee — Faltering; unsteady, wavering, tottering steps or movements.
le: leh — The; feminine plural definite article in Italian.
menti: MEN-tee — Minds; plural of mente, the faculty of thinking.
annebbiata: an-neb-BYAH-tah — Fogged; clouded or obscured, as if by mist.
comprensioni: kom-pren-SYOH-nee — Understandings; plural of comprensione, mental grasp of ideas.
ottuse: ot-TOO-zeh — Dull; lacking sharpness of intellect or perception.
dei: DEH-ee — Of the; masculine plural contraction of di and i.
cupi: KOO-pee — Gloomy; dark, somber, or dismal in character.
allievi: al-LYEH-vee — Students; plural of allievo, a pupil under instruction.
queste: KWES-teh — These; feminine plural demonstrative adjective or pronoun.
scuole: SKWOH-leh — Schools; plural of scuola, institutions of learning.
sanno: SAHN-noh — Know; third person plural present of sapere.
quanto: KWAHN-toh — How much; interrogative or exclamative of degree or quantity.
fedelmente: feh-del-MEN-teh — Faithfully; in a loyal and devoted manner.
pietosamente: pyeh-toh-zah-MEN-teh — Compassionately; with pity, mercy, or tender concern.
questo: KWES-toh — This; masculine singular demonstrative adjective or pronoun.
popolo: POH-poh-loh — People; a group sharing common culture or nationality.
si: see — Himself/herself/itself; reflexive pronoun in Italian.
sforzasse: sfor-TSAS-seh — Strove; imperfect subjunctive of sforzarsi, to strive hard.
imparare: eem-pah-RAH-reh — To learn; to acquire knowledge or a new skill.
Era: EH-rah — Was/it was; third person singular imperfect of essere.
un: oon — A/an; masculine singular indefinite article in Italian.
lavoro: lah-VOH-roh — Work; labor, job, or task performed by someone.
estenuante: es-teh-noo-AN-teh — Exhausting; extremely tiring and draining of energy.
Il: eel — The; masculine singular definite article, capitalized here.
freddo: FRED-doh — Cold; low in temperature; also used as noun.
statistico: stah-TEES-tee-koh — Statistician; one who records and analyzes numerical data.
annotava: an-noh-TAH-vah — Was noting; imperfect of annotare, to jot down observations.
centimetri: chen-TEE-meh-tree — Centimeters; plural unit of metric length measurement.
progresso: proh-GRES-soh — Progress; forward movement or improvement toward a goal.
qua: kwah — Here; indicates proximity, similar to qui.
là: lah — There; indicates a location away from the speaker.
notando: noh-TAN-doh — Noting; present participle of notare, to observe carefully.
anche: AN-keh — Also/even; additive adverb including something extra.
dove: DOH-veh — Where; interrogative or relative adverb of place.
piede: PYEH-deh — Foot; the lower extremity of the human leg.
aveva: ah-VEH-vah — Had; third person singular imperfect of avere.
scivolato: shee-voh-LAH-toh — Slipped; past participle of scivolare, to slide accidentally.
o: oh — Or; Italian disjunctive coordinating conjunction.
qualcuno: kwal-KOO-noh — Someone; an unspecified individual person.
era: EH-rah — Was; third person singular imperfect of essere.
caduto: kah-DOO-toh — Fallen; past participle of cadere, to fall down.
Per: pehr — For; preposition indicating purpose, duration, or cause.
stanchi: STAHN-kee — Tired; plural of stanco, feeling weary from exertion.
orizzonte: oh-reets-TSON-teh — Horizon; the line where earth and sky appear to meet.
sempre: SEM-preh — Always; at all times, without exception.
buio: BOO-yoh — Dark; absence of light; gloomy.
nebbie: NEB-byeh — Fogs; plural of nebbia, dense mist reducing visibility.
erano: EH-rah-noh — Were; third person plural imperfect of essere.
spesso: SPES-soh — Often; frequently occurring or happening many times.
fredde: FRED-deh — Cold; feminine plural adjective describing low temperature.
offuscata: of-foos-KAH-tah — Obscured; darkened or made unclear and dim.
lontana: lon-TAH-nah — Distant; far away in space or time.
Se: seh — If; conditional conjunction introducing a hypothetical clause.
tuttavia: toot-tah-VEE-ah — Nevertheless; despite everything, yet, however.
panorami: pah-NOH-rah-mee — Panoramas; plural of panorama, wide scenic views.
non: non — Not; basic Italian negation adverb.
rivelavano: ree-veh-LAH-vah-noh — Revealed; imperfect of rivelare, to disclose or uncover.
ancora: an-KOH-rah — Yet/still; indicating continuation or not yet achieved.
alcuna: al-KOO-nah — Any; feminine singular negative indefinite adjective.
meta: MEH-tah — Goal; a destination or objective to be reached.
nessun: nes-SOON — No/none; masculine negative indefinite adjective.
luogo: LWOH-goh — Place; a specific location or spot.
riposo: ree-POH-zoh — Rest; a period of relaxation from effort or work.
poco: POH-koh — Little/few; a small amount or degree.
adulazione: ah-doo-lah-TSYOH-neh — Adulation; excessive flattery or admiring praise.
critica: KREE-tee-kah — Criticism; the expression of disapproval or judgment.
viaggio: VYAHJ-joh — Journey; a trip or travel from one place to another.
concedeva: kon-cheh-DEH-vah — Granted; imperfect of concedere, to allow or permit.
almeno: al-MEH-noh — At least; the minimum or not less than.
tempo: TEM-poh — Time; the measurable period in which events occur.
riflessione: ree-fles-SYOH-neh — Reflection; deep or careful thought about something.
autoesame: ow-toh-eh-ZAH-meh — Self-examination; the act of critically analyzing oneself.
esso: ES-soh — It; third person singular neutral pronoun in Italian.
trasformò: tras-for-MOH — Transformed; it changed something into a different form.
figlio: FEE-lyoh — Son; a male child in relation to a parent.
nel: nel — In the; masculine singular contraction of in and il.
giovane: JOH-vah-neh — Young; a person of relatively few years of age.
una: OO-nah — A/an; feminine singular indefinite article in Italian.
nascente: nah-SHEN-teh — Nascent; emerging, just beginning to develop or grow.
autoconsapevolezza: ow-toh-kon-sah-peh-voh-LET-tsah — Self-awareness; consciousness and understanding of one's own nature.
autorealizzazione: ow-toh-reh-ah-leed-dzah-TSYOH-neh — Self-realization; the fulfillment of one's own potential.
rispetto: rees-PET-toh — Respect; high regard or esteem for someone.
sé: seh — Oneself; reflexive pronoun referring back to the subject.
In: een — In; preposition indicating location, time, or state.
quelle: KWEL-leh — Those; feminine plural distal demonstrative adjective.
fosche: FOS-keh — Gloomy; dark and threatening, foreboding atmosphere.
foreste: foh-RES-teh — Forests; plural of foresta, large areas of dense trees.
del: del — Of the; masculine singular contraction of di and il.
suo: SWOH — His/her/its; possessive adjective third person singular.
sforzo: SFOR-tsoh — Effort; a strenuous attempt or exertion of energy.
sua: SWAH — His/her; feminine singular possessive adjective.
stessa: STES-sah — Same/herself; feminine reflexive intensifier pronoun.
anima: AH-nee-mah — Soul; the spiritual or immaterial part of a person.
levò: leh-VOH — Rose up; third person singular passato remoto of levare.
dinanzi: dee-NAN-tsee — Before/in front of; positioned ahead or facing someone.
a: ah — To/at; basic Italian preposition of direction or location.
lui: LWEE — Him/he; third person masculine singular personal pronoun.
ed: ed — And; variant of e used before vowel-starting words.
egli: EH-lyee — He; formal third person masculine singular subject pronoun.
vide: VEE-deh — Saw; third person singular passato remoto of vedere.
se: seh — Himself; reflexive pronoun used with stesso.
stesso: STES-soh — Himself/same; masculine reflexive intensifier or identity pronoun.
oscuramente: os-koo-rah-MEN-teh — Darkly; in an obscure, dim, or unclear manner.
come: KOH-meh — As/like/how; conjunction or adverb of comparison or manner.
attraverso: at-trah-VERS-soh — Through; moving from one side to the other of.
velo: VEH-loh — Veil; a thin covering obscuring what lies beneath.
eppure: ep-POO-reh — And yet; despite that, nevertheless, still.
scorse: SKOR-seh — Glimpsed; passato remoto of scorgere, to catch sight of.
in: een — In; preposition of location, time, or state.
debole: DEH-boh-leh — Weak/faint; lacking strength, force, or intensity.
rivelazione: ree-veh-lah-TSYOH-neh — Revelation; a surprising or dramatic disclosure of something.
potere: poh-TEH-reh — Power/can; ability, strength, or the verb to be able.
missione: mees-SYOH-neh — Mission; a purpose or task assigned to someone.
Cominciò: koh-meen-CHOH — Began; third person singular passato remoto of cominciare.
avere: ah-VEH-reh — To have; fundamental Italian auxiliary and possession verb.
vago: VAH-goh — Vague; not clearly defined, uncertain, or imprecise.
sentore: sen-TOH-reh — Inkling; a faint hint, premonition, or suspicion.
conquistare: kon-kwees-TAH-reh — To conquer; to overcome or gain control of something.
posto: POS-toh — Place/position; a spot or role within a group.
mondo: MON-doh — World; the earth or all of human existence.
doveva: doh-VEH-vah — Had to/was supposed to; imperfect of dovere.
altro: AL-troh — Other/else; something or someone different or additional.

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