White nights, and other stories — Page 13

English → It Full Text Level 7/10

Tell me frankly; I assure you beforehand that I am not quick to take offence?..."

Dimmelo francamente; vi assicuro in anticipo che non mi offendo facilmente?..."

"No, nothing, nothing, quite the contrary. And if you insist on my speaking frankly, I will tell you that women like such timidity; and if you want to know more, I like it too, and I won't drive you away till I get home."

"No, niente, niente, anzi tutto il contrario. E se insistete che io parli francamente, vi dirò che alle donne piace tale timidezza; e se volete saperne di più, piace anche a me, e non vi manderò via finché non sarò a casa."

"You will make me," I said, breathless with delight, "lose my timidity, and then farewell to all my chances...."

"Mi farete," dissi, senza fiato per la gioia, "perdere la mia timidezza, e allora addio a tutte le mie speranze...."

"Chances! What chances--of what? That's not so nice."

"Speranze! Quali speranze--di che cosa? Non è molto gentile come parola."

"I beg your pardon, I am sorry, it was a slip of the tongue; but how can you expect one at such a moment to have no desire...."

"Vi chiedo scusa, mi dispiace, è stato un lapsus; ma come potete aspettarvi che in un momento come questo uno non abbia alcun desiderio...."

"To be liked, eh?"

"Di piacere, eh?"

"Well, yes; but do, for goodness' sake, be kind. Think what I am! Here, I am twenty-six and I have never seen any one. How can I speak well, tactfully, and to the point?

"Ebbene, sì; ma vi prego, per amor del cielo, siate gentile. Pensate a come sono! Ecco, ho ventisei anni e non ho mai conosciuto nessuno. Come posso parlare bene, con tatto e al punto giusto?

It will seem better to you when I have told you everything openly.... I don't know how to be silent when my heart is speaking.

Vi sembrerà meglio quando vi avrò detto tutto apertamente.... Non so tacere quando il mio cuore parla.

Well, never mind.... Believe me, not one woman, never, never! No acquaintance of any sort! And I do nothing but dream every day that at last I shall meet some one.

Beh, non importa.... Credetemi, nessuna donna, mai, mai! Nessuna conoscenza di alcun tipo! E non faccio altro che sognare ogni giorno che finalmente incontrerò qualcuno.

Oh, if only you knew how often I have been in love in that way...."

Oh, se solo sapeste quante volte mi sono innamorato in quel modo...."

"How? With whom?..."

"Come? Di chi?..."

"Why, with no one, with an ideal, with the one I dream of in my sleep.

"Ma con nessuno, con un ideale, con colei che sogno nel sonno.

Vocabulary

Dimmelo: Tell me it; second person singular imperative with pronouns.
francamente: Frankly; in a frank or honest manner.
vi: You; second person plural pronoun (formal or informal).
assicuro: I assure; first person singular present of assicurare.
in: In; preposition indicating location or time.
anticipo: Advance; beforehand or in advance.
che: That; relative pronoun or conjunction.
non: Not; negation particle in Italian.
mi: Me; first person singular object pronoun.
offendo: I offend; first person singular present of offendere.
facilmente: Easily; in an easy manner or without difficulty.
No: No; negation or refusal.
niente: Nothing; not anything whatsoever.
anzi: Rather; on the contrary or instead.
tutto: Everything; all things or the whole.
il: The; masculine singular definite article.
contrario: Contrary; opposite or contrary direction.
se: If; conditional conjunction or hypothetical particle.
insistete: You insist; second person plural present of insistere.
io: I; first person singular subject pronoun.
parli: I speak; first person singular present of parlare.
dirò: I will say; first person singular future of dire.
alle: To the; plural feminine preposition and article.
donne: Women; plural of donna.
piace: Pleases; third person singular present of piacere.
tale: Such; having a particular quality or type.
timidezza: Shyness; state of being timid or fearful.
volete: You want; second person plural present of volere.
saperne: To know about it; infinitive with ne pronoun.
di: Of; preposition indicating possession or relationship.
più: More; greater quantity or additional amount.
anche: Also; as well or in addition.
me: Me; first person singular object pronoun.
manderò: I will send; first person singular future of mandare.
via: Away; in a direction away or departure.
finché: Until; up to the point that or as long as.
sarò: I will be; first person singular future of essere.
casa: House; a dwelling place or home.
Mi: Me; first person singular object pronoun.
farete: You will make; second person plural future of fare.
dissi: I said; first person singular past of dire.
senza: Without; lacking or in the absence of.
fiato: Breath; air exhaled from the lungs.
per: For; preposition indicating purpose or duration.
la: The; feminine singular definite article.
gioia: Joy; a feeling of great happiness.
perdere: To lose; to no longer have or possess.
mia: My; first person singular feminine possessive adjective.
allora: Then; at that time or therefore.
addio: Goodbye; farewell or final parting.
tutte: All; every one of a group of females.
le: The; feminine plural definite article.
mie: My; first person plural feminine possessive adjective.
speranze: Hopes; plural of speranza.
Speranze: Hopes; plural capitalized form of speranza.
Quali: Which; interrogative plural adjective or pronoun.
cosa: Thing; an object or matter.
Non: Not; negation particle starting a clause.
molto: Very; great quantity or extent.
gentile: Kind; showing courtesy or considerateness.
come: As; in the manner that or like.
parola: Word; a unit of language or speech.
Vi: You; second person plural object pronoun.
chiedo: I ask; first person singular present of chiedere.
scusa: Excuse; apology for a mistake or offense.
dispiace: It displeases; third person singular of dispiacere.
stato: Been; past participle of essere.
un: A; masculine singular indefinite article.
lapsus: Lapse; a slip of the tongue.
ma: But; conjunction indicating contrast.
potete: You can; second person plural present of potere.
aspettarvi: Expect of you; infinitive with pronoun.
momento: Moment; a brief period of time.
questo: This; demonstrative adjective or pronoun.
uno: One; the number one or a person.
abbia: Have; first person singular subjunctive of avere.
alcun: Any; some or a certain amount.
desiderio: Desire; a wish or longing for something.
Di: Of; preposition indicating relationship or possession.

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