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The strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — Page 5

English → It Full Text Level 7/10

Street after street and all the folks asleep—street after street, all lighted up as if for a procession and all as empty as a church—till at last I got into that state of mind when a man listens and listens and begins to long for the sight of a policeman.

Strada dopo strada e tutta la gente addormentata—strada dopo strada, tutta illuminata come per una processione e tutta vuota come una chiesa—finché alla fine mi ritrovai in quello stato d'animo in cui un uomo ascolta e ascolta e comincia a desiderare ardentemente la vista di un poliziotto.

All at once, I saw two figures: one a little man who was stumping along eastward at a good walk, and the other a girl of maybe eight or ten who was running as hard as she was able down a cross street.

All'improvviso, vidi due figure: una era un ometto che procedeva verso est a passo svelto, e l'altra era una bambina forse di otto o dieci anni che correva più veloce che poteva lungo una strada trasversale.

Well, sir, the two ran into one another naturally enough at the corner; and then came the horrible part of the thing; for the man trampled calmly over the child's body and left her screaming on the ground.

Ebbene, signore, i due si scontrarono l'uno con l'altro in modo del tutto naturale all'angolo; e poi venne la parte orribile della faccenda; poiché l'uomo calpestò con calma il corpo della bambina e la lasciò urlante per terra.

It sounds nothing to hear, but it was hellish to see.

A sentirlo raccontare non sembra nulla, ma era infernale da vedere.

It wasn't like a man; it was like some damned Juggernaut.

Non sembrava un uomo; era come una sorta di maledetto Juggernaut.

I gave a few halloa, took to my heels, collared my gentleman, and brought him back to where there was already quite a group about the screaming child.

Lanciai qualche grido, mi misi a correre, afferrai per il colletto il mio individuo e lo riportai là dove si era già radunato un bel gruppo attorno alla bambina che urlava.

He was perfectly cool and made no resistance, but gave me one look, so ugly that it brought out the sweat on me like running.

Era perfettamente calmo e non oppose alcuna resistenza, ma mi lanciò un'occhiata così torva che mi fece sudare come se stessi correndo.

The people who had turned out were the girl's own family; and pretty soon, the doctor, for whom she had been sent, put in his appearance.

Le persone che erano accorse erano la famiglia stessa della bambina; e ben presto fece la sua comparsa anche il medico, che era stato mandato a chiamare per lei.

Vocabulary

Strada: STRAH-dah — A road or street in a city or town.
dopo: DOH-poh — After or later in time or sequence.
strada: STRAH-dah — A road or street in a city or town.
e: eh — Conjunction meaning 'and' connecting words or phrases.
tutta: TOOT-tah — All or entire, feminine form of tutto.
la: lah — Definite article 'the' used with feminine nouns.
gente: JEN-teh — People or folk in general.
addormentata: ahd-dor-men-TAH-tah — Asleep or having fallen into sleep.
illuminata: il-loo-mee-NAH-tah — Lit up or illuminated by light.
come: KOH-meh — As or like, used for comparisons.
per: pehr — For or by, a preposition indicating purpose.
una: OO-nah — Indefinite article 'a' or 'an' for feminine nouns.
processione: proh-ches-SYOH-neh — A ceremonial procession, often religious in nature.
vuota: VWOH-tah — Empty or void, feminine form of vuoto.
chiesa: KYEH-zah — A church or Christian place of worship.
finché: feen-KEH — Until or as long as a condition is met.
alla: AHL-lah — Contraction of 'a' and 'la' meaning 'to the'.
fine: FEE-neh — End or conclusion of something.
mi: mee — First person singular reflexive or object pronoun 'me'.
ritrovai: ree-troh-VAH-ee — Found myself again or ended up somewhere unexpectedly.
in: een — Preposition meaning 'in' or 'into' a place.
quello: KWEL-loh — That, demonstrative pronoun pointing to something distant.
stato: STAH-toh — State or condition of being at a moment.
d'animo: DAH-nee-moh — State of mind or mood; mental disposition.
cui: KWEE — Whom or which, a relative pronoun in Italian.
un: oon — Indefinite article 'a' used with masculine nouns.
uomo: WWOH-moh — A man or adult male human being.
ascolta: ah-SKOL-tah — Listens or pays attention to sounds or speech.
comincia: koh-MEEN-chah — Begins or starts doing something; third person singular.
a: ah — Preposition meaning 'to' or 'at' in Italian.
desiderare: deh-zee-deh-RAH-reh — To desire or wish for something strongly.
ardentemente: ar-den-teh-MEN-teh — Ardently or fervently, with great passionate intensity.
vista: VEE-stah — Sight or view; the act of seeing something.
di: dee — Of or from, a very common Italian preposition.
poliziotto: poh-leet-SYOT-toh — A police officer or policeman on duty.
All'improvviso: ahl-eem-prov-VEE-zoh — All of a sudden; unexpectedly without prior warning.
vidi: VEE-dee — I saw; past tense first person of vedere.
due: DOO-eh — The number two; a basic Italian numeral.
figure: fee-GOO-reh — Figures or shapes of people seen at a distance.
era: EH-rah — Was; third person singular imperfect of essere.
ometto: oh-MET-toh — A little man; diminutive form of uomo.
che: keh — That or who; a relative conjunction in Italian.
procedeva: proh-cheh-DEH-vah — Was proceeding or moving forward in a direction.
verso: VER-soh — Toward or in the direction of something.
est: est — East; one of the four cardinal compass directions.
passo: PAHS-soh — Step or pace; the manner or speed of walking.
svelto: ZVEL-toh — Quick or brisk; moving with speed and agility.
l'altra: LAHL-trah — The other one, feminine; referring to a second person.
bambina: bahm-BEE-nah — A young girl or female child.
forse: FOR-seh — Perhaps or maybe; expressing uncertainty or possibility.
otto: OT-toh — The number eight in Italian.
o: oh — Or; a conjunction presenting an alternative choice.
dieci: DYEH-chee — The number ten in Italian.
anni: AHN-nee — Years; plural of anno, referring to age or time.
correva: kor-REH-vah — Was running; imperfect tense of correre.
più: pyoo — More; used in comparisons or to indicate greater degree.
veloce: veh-LOH-cheh — Fast or quick; describing high speed of movement.
poteva: poh-TEH-vah — Could or was able to; imperfect of potere.
lungo: LOON-goh — Along or long; used here as 'along the street'.
trasversale: trahs-ver-SAH-leh — A transversal or cross street intersecting another road.
Ebbene: eb-BEH-neh — Well then or so; used to introduce a consequence.
signore: seen-YOH-reh — Sir or gentleman; a polite form of address.
i: ee — Definite article 'the' used with masculine plural nouns.
si: see — Reflexive pronoun 'themselves' or impersonal 'one'.
scontrarono: skon-TRAH-roh-noh — They collided or clashed with each other forcefully.
l'uno: LOON-oh — The one; used in the phrase 'one with the other'.
con: kon — With; a preposition indicating accompaniment or instrument.
l'altro: LAHL-troh — The other one, masculine; referring to a second entity.
modo: MOH-doh — Way or manner in which something is done.
del: del — Contraction of 'di' and 'il' meaning 'of the'.
tutto: TOOT-toh — All or everything; completely and without exception.
naturale: nah-too-RAH-leh — Natural or normal; occurring without artificiality or force.
all'angolo: ahl-LAHN-goh-loh — At the corner; where two streets or walls meet.
poi: poy — Then or afterward; indicating a subsequent event.
venne: VEN-neh — Came; third person singular past tense of venire.
parte: PAR-teh — Part or portion of something; a section or role.
orribile: or-REE-bee-leh — Horrible or dreadful; causing strong feelings of disgust.
della: DEL-lah — Contraction of 'di' and 'la' meaning 'of the'.
faccenda: fah-CHEN-dah — Matter or affair; a situation or business to handle.
poiché: poy-KEH — Because or since; introducing a causal explanation.
l'uomo: LWOH-moh — The man; definite article combined with uomo.
calpestò: kahl-pes-TOH — Trampled or stepped on; past tense of calpestare.
calma: KAHL-mah — Calmly or calm; with composure and no agitation.
il: eel — Definite article 'the' for masculine singular nouns.
corpo: KOR-poh — Body; the physical form of a person or animal.
lasciò: lah-SHOH — Left or let; past tense third person of lasciare.
urlante: oor-LAHN-teh — Screaming or howling; present participle of urlare.
terra: TER-rah — Ground or earth; the surface on which we walk.
A: ah — Preposition 'at' or 'to'; also used before infinitives.
sentirlo: sen-TEER-loh — To hear it; infinitive with object pronoun attached.
raccontare: rahk-kon-TAH-reh — To tell or narrate a story or account of events.
non: non — Not; the basic Italian word for negation.
sembra: SEM-brah — Seems or appears; third person singular of sembrare.
nulla: NOOL-lah — Nothing or anything; used in negative sentences.
ma: mah — But; a coordinating conjunction introducing a contrast.
infernale: een-fer-NAH-leh — Infernal or hellish; extremely terrible and disturbing.
da: dah — From or by; a preposition with multiple Italian uses.
vedere: veh-DEH-reh — To see; the infinitive of the verb of sight.
Non: non — Not; negation word used at the start of sentences.
sembrava: sem-BRAH-vah — Seemed or appeared; imperfect tense of sembrare.
sorta: SOR-tah — Sort or type; a kind or variety of something.
maledetto: mah-leh-DET-toh — Damned or cursed; an intensifier expressing strong condemnation.
Lanciai: lahn-CHAH-ee — I threw or launched; past tense of lanciare.
qualche: KWAHL-keh — Some or a few; an indefinite adjective in Italian.
grido: GREE-doh — A shout or cry; an exclamation of alarm or urgency.
misi: MEE-zee — I put or set; past tense first person of mettere.
correre: KOR-reh-reh — To run; the infinitive verb for running.
afferrai: ahf-fer-RAH-ee — I grabbed or seized; past tense of afferrare.
colletto: kol-LET-toh — Collar of a garment, especially on a shirt or coat.
mio: MEE-oh — My; first person singular possessive adjective masculine.
individuo: een-dee-VEE-dwoh — Individual or person; often used with a negative connotation.
lo: loh — Him or it; third person masculine singular object pronoun.
riportai: ree-por-TAH-ee — I brought back; past tense of riportare.
là: lah — There; indicating a place at some distance away.
dove: DOH-veh — Where; an adverb indicating location or destination.
già: jah — Already; indicating something has happened before now.
radunato: rah-doo-NAH-toh — Gathered or assembled; past participle of radunare.
bel: bel — Nice or good-sized; shortened form of bello before nouns.
gruppo: GROOP-poh — A group of people gathered together in one place.
attorno: ah-TOR-noh — Around or surrounding; indicating encirclement of something.
urlava: oor-LAH-vah — Was screaming or shouting; imperfect tense of urlare.
Era: EH-rah — Was; imperfect third person singular of essere.
perfettamente: per-fet-tah-MEN-teh — Perfectly or completely; in an absolutely flawless manner.
calmo: KAHL-moh — Calm or composed; showing no signs of agitation.
oppose: op-POH-zeh — Opposed or offered resistance; past tense of opporre.
alcuna: ahl-KOO-nah — Any; used in negative sentences meaning 'no' or 'none'.
resistenza: reh-zees-TEN-tsah — Resistance; the act of opposing or fighting back.
lanciò: lahn-CHOH — Threw or cast; third person past tense of lanciare.
un'occhiata: oon-ok-KYAH-tah — A glance or quick look at someone or something.
così: koh-ZEE — So or thus; in this way or to such a degree.
torva: TOR-vah — Grim or threatening; having a sinister and menacing look.
fece: FEH-cheh — Made or did; third person past tense of fare.
sudare: soo-DAH-reh — To sweat; to perspire from heat, fear, or exertion.
se: seh — Himself, herself; reflexive pronoun or conditional 'if'.
stessi: STES-see — Himself; intensive reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself' or 'myself'.
correndo: kor-REN-doh — Running; the gerund form of correre indicating ongoing action.
Le: leh — The; definite article for feminine plural nouns.
persone: per-SOH-neh — People or persons; plural of persona.
erano: EH-rah-noh — Were; third person plural imperfect of essere.
accorse: ah-KOR-seh — Rushed or came running; past tense of accorrere.
famiglia: fah-MEE-lyah — Family; a group of related people living together.
stessa: STES-sah — Same or herself; intensive pronoun feminine singular form.
ben: ben — Well or quite; shortened form of bene used before soon.
presto: PRES-toh — Soon or quickly; in a short time or rapidly.
sua: SOO-ah — His or her; third person singular possessive feminine adjective.
comparsa: kohm-PAR-sah — Appearance or arrival; the act of showing up suddenly.
anche: AHN-keh — Also or too; indicating addition or inclusion.
medico: MEH-dee-koh — A doctor or physician who provides medical care.
mandato: mahn-DAH-toh — Sent; past participle of mandare, meaning to send.
chiamare: kyah-MAH-reh — To call or summon; to contact or invite someone.
lei: LAY — She or her; third person singular feminine pronoun.

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