White nights, and other stories — Page 12

English → It Full Text Level 7/10

But there was already a gleam of a smile on her lips.

Ma c'era già un barlume di sorriso sulle sue labbra.

She too stole a glance at me, faintly blushed and looked down.

Anche lei mi lanciò un'occhiata furtiva, arrossì leggermente e abbassò lo sguardo.

"There, you see; why did you drive me away?

«Ecco, vede; perché mi ha scacciato?

If I had been here, nothing would have happened...."

Se fossi stato qui, non sarebbe successo nulla...»

"But I did not know you; I thought that you too...."

«Ma non la conoscevo; pensavo che lei pure...»

"Why, do you know me now?"

«E ora mi conosce?»

"A little! Here, for instance, why are you trembling?"

«Un poco! Per esempio, perché trema?»

"Oh, you are right at the first guess!" I answered, delighted that my girl had intelligence; that is never out of place in company with beauty.

«Oh, ha indovinato al primo tentativo!» risposi, felice che la mia ragazza avesse intelligenza; questa non è mai fuori posto in compagnia della bellezza.

"Yes, from the first glance you have guessed the sort of man you have to do with.

«Sì, al primo sguardo ha indovinato con che tipo di uomo ha a che fare.

Precisely; I am shy with women, I am agitated, I don't deny it, as much so as you were a minute ago when that gentleman alarmed you.

Esatto; sono timido con le donne, sono agitato, non lo nego, quanto lo era lei poco fa quando quel signore l'ha spaventata.

I am in some alarm now.

Sono un po' in apprensione adesso.

It's like a dream, and I never guessed even in my sleep that I should ever talk with any woman."

È come un sogno, e non avrei mai immaginato neppure nel sonno che avrei mai parlato con qualche donna.»

"What? Really?..."

«Come? Davvero?...»

"Yes; if my arm trembles, it is because it has never been held by a pretty little hand like yours.

«Sì; se il mio braccio trema, è perché non è mai stato tenuto da una manina graziosa come la sua.

I am a complete stranger to women; that is, I have never been used to them.

Sono un perfetto estraneo alle donne; vale a dire, non ci sono mai stato abituato.

You see, I am alone....

Vede, sono solo...

I don't even know how to talk to them.

Non so nemmeno come parlare con loro.

Here, I don't know now whether I have not said something silly to you!

Ecco, ora non so se non le ho detto qualcosa di sciocco!

Vocabulary

Ma: ma — Conjunction meaning 'but', used to contrast ideas.
c': ci — Contraction of 'ci', meaning 'there' or 'here'.
era: era — Third person singular imperfect of 'essere', meaning 'was'.
già: già — Adverb meaning 'already' or 'yet'.
un: un — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (masculine).
barlume: barlume — A faint glimmer or trace of something.
di: di — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'by'.
sorriso: sorriso — A smile; expression of happiness on one's face.
sulle: sulle — Contraction of 'su' and 'le', meaning 'on the'.
sue: sue — Possessive pronoun meaning 'her' or 'his' (feminine plural).
labbra: labbra — Lips; the fleshy parts of the mouth.
Anche: anche — Adverb meaning 'also', 'too', or 'even'.
lei: lei — Third person singular pronoun meaning 'she' or 'her'.
mi: mi — First person singular object pronoun meaning 'me'.
lanciò: lanciò — Third person past tense of 'lanciare', meaning 'threw' or 'cast'.
un': un' — Indefinite article 'una' elided before a vowel, meaning 'a'.
occhiata: occhiata — A quick glance or look at someone or something.
furtiva: furtiva — Adjective meaning furtive, stealthy, or secretive.
arrossì: arrossì — Third person past tense of 'arrossire', meaning 'blushed'.
leggermente: leggermente — Adverb meaning 'slightly', 'lightly', or 'a little'.
e: e — Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or clauses.
abbassò: abbassò — Third person past tense of 'abbassare', meaning 'lowered'.
lo: lo — Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'it' (masculine).
sguardo: sguardo — A gaze or look directed at someone or something.
Ecco: ecco — Exclamation meaning 'here is', 'there', or 'you see'.
vede: vede — Third person singular of 'vedere', meaning 'sees' or 'you see'.
perché: perché — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'because' or 'why'.
ha: ha — Third person singular of 'avere', meaning 'has'.
scacciato: scacciato — Past participle of 'scacciare', meaning 'driven away' or 'chased off'.
Se: se — Conjunction meaning 'if', introducing a conditional clause.
fossi: fossi — First person singular subjunctive imperfect of 'essere', meaning 'were'.
stato: stato — Past participle of 'essere', meaning 'been'.
qui: qui — Adverb meaning 'here', indicating a nearby location.
non: non — Negation adverb meaning 'not'.
sarebbe: sarebbe — Third person singular conditional of 'essere', meaning 'would be'.
successo: successo — Past participle of 'succedere', meaning 'happened' or 'occurred'.
nulla: nulla — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'nothing' or 'anything'.
la: la — Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'her' (feminine).
conoscevo: conoscevo — First person singular imperfect of 'conoscere', meaning 'I knew'.
pensavo: pensavo — First person singular imperfect of 'pensare', meaning 'I thought'.
che: che — Conjunction or pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
pure: pure — Adverb meaning 'also', 'even', or 'too'.
E: e — Conjunction meaning 'and', connecting words or phrases.
ora: ora — Adverb or noun meaning 'now' or 'hour'.
conosce: conosce — Third person singular of 'conoscere', meaning 'knows' someone.
poco: poco — Adjective or adverb meaning 'a little' or 'few'.
Per: per — Preposition meaning 'for', 'by', or 'through'.
esempio: esempio — Noun meaning 'example'; used in 'per esempio' (for example).
trema: trema — Third person singular of 'tremare', meaning 'trembles' or 'shakes'.
indovinato: indovinato — Past participle of 'indovinare', meaning 'guessed correctly'.
al: al — Contraction of 'a' and 'il', meaning 'at the' or 'to the'.
primo: primo — Adjective meaning 'first' in a sequence or order.
tentativo: tentativo — A try or attempt at doing something.
risposi: risposi — First person singular past tense of 'rispondere', meaning 'I replied'.
felice: felice — Adjective meaning 'happy', 'glad', or 'pleased'.
mia: mia — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (feminine singular).
ragazza: ragazza — Noun meaning 'girl' or 'girlfriend'.
avesse: avesse — Third person singular subjunctive imperfect of 'avere', meaning 'had'.
intelligenza: intelligenza — Noun meaning 'intelligence' or mental sharpness.
questa: questa — Demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' (feminine singular).
è: è — Third person singular of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
mai: mai — Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever' depending on context.
fuori: fuori — Adverb or preposition meaning 'outside' or 'out of place'.
posto: posto — Noun meaning 'place', 'position', or 'seat'.
in: in — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'at'.
compagnia: compagnia — Noun meaning 'company' or the presence of others.
della: della — Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the' (feminine).
bellezza: bellezza — Noun meaning 'beauty' or attractiveness.
Sì: sì — Affirmation adverb meaning 'yes'.
con: con — Preposition meaning 'with', indicating accompaniment or means.
tipo: tipo — Noun meaning 'type', 'kind', or informally 'guy'.
uomo: uomo — Noun meaning 'man' or adult male person.
a: a — Preposition meaning 'to', 'at', or 'in'.
fare: fare — Infinitive meaning 'to do' or 'to make'.
Esatto: esatto — Adjective or exclamation meaning 'exactly' or 'correct'.
sono: sono — First person singular of 'essere', meaning 'I am'.
timido: timido — Adjective meaning 'shy', 'timid', or easily embarrassed.
le: le — Definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them' (feminine).
donne: donne — Plural noun meaning 'women'.
agitato: agitato — Adjective meaning 'agitated', 'nervous', or 'restless'.
nego: nego — First person singular of 'negare', meaning 'I deny'.
quanto: quanto — Pronoun or adverb meaning 'how much' or 'as much as'.
fa: fa — Third person singular of 'fare', meaning 'does', 'makes', or 'ago'.
quando: quando — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
quel: quel — Demonstrative adjective meaning 'that' (masculine singular).
signore: signore — Noun meaning 'gentleman', 'sir', or 'Mr.'
l': l' — Elided definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'him/her'.
spaventata: spaventata — Past participle of 'spaventare', meaning 'frightened' or 'scared'.
Sono: sono — First person singular of 'essere', meaning 'I am'.
po': po' — Shortened form of 'poco', meaning 'a little' or 'a bit'.
apprensione: apprensione — Noun meaning 'apprehension', anxiety, or worry about something.
adesso: adesso — Adverb meaning 'now' or 'at this moment'.
È: è — Third person singular of 'essere', meaning 'it is' or 'this is'.
come: come — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'how', 'like', or 'as'.
sogno: sogno — Noun meaning 'dream'; something imagined or desired.
avrei: avrei — First person singular conditional of 'avere', meaning 'I would have'.
immaginato: immaginato — Past participle of 'immaginare', meaning 'imagined' or 'pictured'.
neppure: neppure — Adverb meaning 'not even' or 'neither'.
nel: nel — Contraction of 'in' and 'il', meaning 'in the' (masculine).
sonno: sonno — Noun meaning 'sleep' or drowsiness.
parlato: parlato — Past participle of 'parlare', meaning 'spoken' or 'talked'.
qualche: qualche — Indefinite adjective meaning 'some' or 'a few'.
donna: donna — Noun meaning 'woman' or adult female person.
Come: come — Adverb or conjunction meaning 'how', 'like', or 'what'.
Davvero: davvero — Adverb meaning 'really', 'truly', or 'indeed'.
se: se — Conjunction meaning 'if' or reflexive pronoun meaning 'himself/herself'.
il: il — Definite article meaning 'the' (masculine singular).
mio: mio — Possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine singular).
braccio: braccio — Noun meaning 'arm', a limb of the human body.
tenuto: tenuto — Past participle of 'tenere', meaning 'held' or 'kept'.
da: da — Preposition meaning 'by', 'from', or 'since'.
una: una — Indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an' (feminine singular).
manina: manina — Diminutive of 'mano', meaning 'little hand'.
graziosa: graziosa — Adjective meaning 'pretty', 'charming', or 'graceful'.
sua: sua — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'your' (formal).
perfetto: perfetto — Adjective meaning 'perfect', 'complete', or 'flawless'.
estraneo: estraneo — Adjective or noun meaning 'foreign', 'stranger', or 'unrelated'.
alle: alle — Contraction of 'a' and 'le', meaning 'to the' (feminine plural).
vale: vale — Third person singular of 'valere', meaning 'is worth' or 'counts'.
dire: dire — Infinitive meaning 'to say' or 'to tell'.
ci: ci — Pronoun or adverb meaning 'us', 'ourselves', 'there', or 'here'.
abituato: abituato — Past participle of 'abituarsi', meaning 'accustomed' or 'used to'.
Vede: vede — Third person singular of 'vedere', meaning 'sees' or 'you see' (formal).
solo: solo — Adjective or adverb meaning 'alone', 'only', or 'just'.
Non: non — Negation adverb meaning 'not'.
so: so — First person singular of 'sapere', meaning 'I know'.
nemmeno: nemmeno — Adverb meaning 'not even' or 'neither'.
parlare: parlare — Infinitive meaning 'to speak' or 'to talk'.
loro: loro — Pronoun meaning 'they', 'them', or 'their'.
ho: ho — First person singular of 'avere', meaning 'I have'.
detto: detto — Past participle of 'dire', meaning 'said' or 'told'.
qualcosa: qualcosa — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'something' or 'anything'.
sciocco: sciocco — Adjective or noun meaning 'foolish', 'silly', or 'stupid'.

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