MLAN 2610
 ITAL 3610

Italian Literature in Translation

Prof. Fabio Girelli-Carasi

LECTURE 6 --  Poetry 1200-1300

0. Lecture 0   Aug 28
1.  Lecture 1 Sept 4
2.  Lecture 2 Sept 5 
3.  Lecture 3 Sept 9
4.  Lecture 4 Sept 11
5.  Lecture 5 Sept 16
Middle Ages

S'i' fosse foco
Cecco Angiolieri 1260 - 1310 ca

S'i' fosse foco, arderei 'l mondo

S'i' fosse vento, lo tempesterei

S'i' fosse acqua, ì' l'annegherei

S'i' fosse Dio, mandereil 'en profondo

 
S'i' fosse papa, sarè allor giocondo

Che tutt'i cristiani imbrigherei

S'i' fosse 'mperator, sa che farei?

A tutti mozzerei lo capo a tondo.

 
S'i' fosse morte, andarei da mio padre

S'i' fosse vita, fuggirei da lui

Similmente faria da mi' madre
 

S'i' fosse Cecco, come sono e fui

Torrei le donne giovani e leggiadre

E vecchie e laide lassarei altrui.

 

If I were fire, I would torch the world;

If I were wind, then I would flog it with hail

If I were water, I would drown it

If I were God, I would bury it in an abyss.


If I were Pope, I’d be a jolly fellow

for I would swindle all the chistians

If I were emperor, you know what I would do?

I would cut off everybody's heads.


If I were death, I’d go to my father;

If I were life, I’d would flee from him;

the same thing I would I do with my mother.


If I were Cecco – as I am and was

I’d take the young and fairest  ladies

and the old and filthy I would leave to others.

 

Fabrizio De Andre'
 

 

Cecco Angiolieri
Tre cose solamente
Only Three Things
 

Tre cose solamente mi so 'n grado,
le quali posso non ben men fornire:
ciò è la donna, la taverna e 'l dado;
queste mi fanno 'l cuor lieto sentire.
Ma sì me le conven usar di rado,
ché la mie borsa mi mett'al mentire;
e quando mi sovvien, tutto mi sbrado,
ch'i' perdo per moneta 'l mie disire.

E dico: — Dato li sia d'una lancia!—
Ciò a mi' padre, che mi tien sì magro,
che tornare' senza logro di Francia.
Trarl'un denai' di man serìa più agro,
la man di pasqua che si dà la mancia,
che far pigliar la gru ad un bozzagro.

 

 LITERAL TRANSLATION:

Only three things are pleasing to me,
that I could never have enough of:
women, taverns, and gambling;
these make my heart feel happy.
But, to tell the truth, I can have them rarely
because my empty wallet doesn't lie:
When I remember this, I get bummed out
since without money I can't get any of my wishes.

And I say: —May he be stabbed with a spear—
I mean my father, who keeps me skinny [he is so stingy]
as if I walked all the way from France to here.
Snatching a coin out of his hand
even at Easter, when everybody is generous,
is harder than making a sparrowhawk catch a crane.

Solo tre cose mi sono di gradimento,delle quali non posso godere a dismisura,cioè il sesso, l'urbiacarsi e il gioco d'azzardo:queste cose mi rallegrano il cuore.

Ma mi conviene essere parco con ciò,perché la mie scarse finanze mi costringono a mentire (= parlo e non faccio);e quando 'sta cosa mi viene in mente,mi rodo tutto, perché rinuncio ai miei desideri per i soldi .

E dico "Sia trafitto da una lancia!"e questo lo dico a mio padre,che mi tiene tanto magro che potrei tornare a piedi dalla Francia senza logoramento ulteriore.

Poiché è più difficile ottenere da lui un denaroil giorno di Pasqua, quando si fanno donazioni,che far catturare una gru a una poiana.
 

 INTERPRETATIVE

Only three things interest me at all: —
a bar, a dicegame, and a wench to ball.
These three alone would give my heart delight,
if I could satisfy my appetite.
But rarely have I pleasure of the town
(and when I think of this, life turns to ash)
because my empty wallet lets me down
and frustrates my desire by lack of cash.

And so I say: —"Screw him!"— that is, my sire,
because he keeps me on such meager fare
that I've grown light enough to send by mail.
It is less possible to get a dime,
from that tight fist, at jolly Eastertime,
than in a dixie cup to catch a whale.

 
Would you like to spend time with Cecco?

This perspective demonstrates that Cecco went through a traumatic experience of some kind which has nurtured these kinds of thoughts. People do not declare such hatred of society for no reason; proclamations of these sorts tend to be desperate cries for help. To an extent, I pity him. What Cecco needs is the proper psychological help to address this anger.

De Andre' version
The voice of the singer was very soft, low-pitched and modulated which makes it more soothing to listen. However, the ironic part is that the written lyrics of the song have a totally different effect and meaning than the sung song itself. The written lyrics create a completely different picture in my mind as compared to when I heard De Andre’s version.

I really enjoyed listening to De Andre’ version of S’I’ fosse foco mostly because of the tune. I think the tune he decided to use was fun and somewhat playful. I believe the tune and the voice he used didn’t really go with the lyrics only because when I read the sonnet I imagined it to be gloomy and grotesque.

 

BIZANTINE STYLE

MEDIEVAL (1100 CE)

 

From Bizantine to pre-Renaissance

GIOTTO
The Renaissance begins

Padua
Cappella degli Scrovegni

GIOTTO

LIFE OF SAN FRANCIS

Assisi
Basilica di San Francesco

 

PIERO DELLA FRANCESCA

La Madonna del parto

Monterchi

 

 

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=madonna+renaissance&FORM=HDRSC2

Ecce Homo
Andea Mantegna

 

The Canticle of the Sun  LINK 

by Francis of Assisi

Read also the Italian version below. Underline the words you recognize.

Most high, all powerful, all good Lord! All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name.

Be praised, my Lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. And he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! Of you, Most High, he bears the likeness.

Be praised, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them, precious and beautiful.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, through which you give your creatures sustenance.

Be praised, My Lord, through Sister Water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure.

Be praised, my Lord, through Brother Fire, through whom you brighten the night. He is beautiful and cheerful, and powerful and strong.

Be praised, my Lord, through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs.

Be praised, my Lord, through those who forgive for love of you; through those who endure sickness and trial. Happy those who endure in peace, for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.

Be praised, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whose embrace no living person can escape. Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those she finds doing your most holy will. The second death can do no harm to them.

Praise and bless my Lord, and give thanks, and serve him with great humility.
QUICK RESEARCH:

Who was S. Francis?
When did he live?
What did he do to earn his keep?
What is the nativity scene? What does it have to do with him?

One of the most interesting and least known facts of his life is that he traveled to Egypt and met with the Sultan Malik al-Kamil.
 


In 1219 St. Francis and Brother Illuminato accompanied the armies of western Europe to Damietta, Egypt, during the Fifth Crusade. His desire was to speak peacefully with Muslim people about Christianity, even if it mean dying as a martyr. He tried to stop the Crusaders from attacking the Muslims at the Battle of Damietta, but failed. After the defeat of the western armies, he crossed the battle line with Brother Illuminato, was arrested and beaten by Arab soldiers, and eventually was taken to the sultan, Malek al-Kamil.

Al-Kamil was known as a kind, generous, fair ruler. He was nephew to the great Salah al-Din. At Damietta alone he offered peace to the Crusaders five times, and, according to western accounts, treated defeated Crusaders humanely. His goal was to establish a peaceful coexistence with Christians.

After an initial attempt by Francis and the sultan to convert the other, both quickly realized that the other already knew and loved God. Francis and Illuminato remained with al-Kamil and his Sufi teacher Fakhr ad-din al-Farisi for as many as twenty days, discussing prayer and the mystical life. When Francis left, al-Kamil gave him an ivory trumpet, which is still preserved in the crypt of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi.

This encounter, which occurred between September 1 and 26, is a paradigm for interfaith dialog in our time. Despite differences in religion, people of prayer can find common ground in their experiences of God. Dialog demands that we truly listen to the other; but, before we can listen, we must see the other as a precious human being, loved by God. There is no other path to peace in this bloody 21st century.

The flames behind Francis and the sultan have a dual symbolism. In Islamic art, holy persons are shown with balls of flame behind their heads. The second purpose of these flames is to disarm a later medieval legend in which Francis challenged the Sufis to step into a raging fire to prove whose faith was correct. In this icon, the flames represent love. The text at the bottom is from the beginning of the Koran: "Praise to God, Lord of the worlds!"

His feast day is October 4.

Further intellectual curiosity: S. Francis was portrayed by Giotto in a cycle of frescos in the basilica in Assisi (we will run into Giotto again in the film Decameron, based on Boccaccio's short stories.)

Oh, by the way, who is Giotto? What is his association with the concept of perspective in painting?

Il Cantico di Frate Sole (Cantico della Creature)  LINK

di Francesco di Assisi

Altissimu onnipotente bon signore. tue so le laude la gloria e l onore et onne benedictione. Ad te solo altissimo se konfano. et nullu homo ene dignu te mentouare.

Laudato sie mi signore cum tucte le tue creature spetialmente messor lo frate sole. lo quale iorno et allumini per loi. Et ellu e bellu e radiante cum grande splendore. de te altissimo porta significatione.

Laudato si mi signore per sora luna e le stelle. in celu l ai formate et pretiose et belle.

Laudato si mi signore per frate uento et per aere et nubilo et sereno et onne tempo. per lo quale a le tue creature dai sustentamento.

Laudato si mi signore per sor acqua. la quale e multo utile et humile et pretiosa. et casta.

Laudato si mi signore per per frate focu. per lo quale ennallumini la nocte. ed ello e bello et iucundo et robusto et forte.

Laudato si mi signore per sora nostra matre terra. la quale ne sustenta et gouerna. et produce diuersi fructi con coloriti fiore et herba.

Laudato si mi signore per quelli ke perdonano per lo tue amore. et sostengo infirmitate et tribulatione. beati quelli ke l sosterranno in pace. ka da te altissimo sirano incoronati.

Laudato si mi signore per sora nostra morte corporale. da la quale nulla homo uiuente po skappare. guai a cquelli ke morrano ne le peccata mortali. beati quelli ke trouara ne le tue sanctissime uoluntati ka la morte secunda nol farra male.

Laudate et benedicete mi signore et rengratiate et seruiteli cum grande humilitate.
JACOPONE DA TODI

O Signor, per cortesia,
manname la malsanìa!

A mme la freve quartana,
la contina e la terzana,
la doppla cotidïana
co la granne ydropesia.

A mme venga mal de dente,
mal de capo e mal de ventre;
a lo stomaco dolur’ pognenti
e ’n canna la squinanzia.

Mal dell’occhi e doglia de flanco
e la postema al canto manco;
tiseco me ionga enn alto
e d’onne tempo fernosìa.

Aia ’l fecato rescaldato,
la melza grossa e ’l ventr’enflato
e llo polmone sia ’mplagato
cun gran tòssa e parlasia.

A mme venga le fistelle
con migliaia de carvuncilli,
e li granci se sian quelli
che tutto replen ne sia.

A mme venga la podraga
(mal de cóglia sì me agrava),
la bisinteria sia plaga
e le morroite a mme sse dìa.

A mme venga ’l mal de l’asmo,
iongasecce quel del pasmo;
como a can me venga el rasmo,
entro ’n vocca la grancia.

A mme lo morbo caduco
de cadere enn acqua e ’n foco
e ià mai non trovi loco,
che eo afflitto non ce sia.

A mme venga cechetate,
mutezza e sordetate,
la miseria e povertate
e d’onne tempo entrapparìa.

Tanto sia ’l fetor fetente
che non sia null’om vivente,
che non fuga da me dolente,
posto en tanta enfermaria.

En terrebele fossato,
che Riguerci è nomenato,
loco sia abandonato
da onne bona compagnia.

Gelo, grando e tempestate,
fulgure, troni e oscuritate;
e non sia nulla aversitate,
che me non aia en sua bailìa.

Le demonia enfernali
sì mme sian dati a menestrali,
che m’essèrcino en li mali,
ch’e’ ho guadagnati a mea follia.

Enfin del mondo a la finita
sì mme duri questa vita
e poi, a la scivirita,
dura morte me sse dìa.

Allegom’en sseppultura
un ventr’i lupo en voratura
e l’arliquie en cacatura
en espineta e rogarìa.

Li miracul’ po’ la morte,
chi cce vene aia le scorte
e le deversazioni forte
con terrebel fantasia.

Onn’om che m’ode mentovare
sì sse deia stupefare
e co la croce sé segnare,
che reo escuntro no i sia en via.

Signor meo, non n’è vendetta
tutta la pena ch’e’ aio ditta,
ché me creasti en tua diletta
et eo t’ho morto a villania.

 

  

O Lord please send me leprosy


Give me 4-day fever, chronic fever, 3-day fever and
the twice-a-day fever, with grave hydropsy.



May I get tooth ache, head ache and belly ache,
sharp pain in the stomach and angina in the throat.



May I get eye illness and pain to the kidneys
an abscess on the left side, and also TB
and seizures in every moment.


May I have inflamed liver, enlarged spleen and swollen belly, and sores in my lungs with awful cough and paralisis.


May I get blisters with thousand pustules
and cancers so that I may be full of them.
 


May I get gout (and painful testicles may make my state worse), may I be ravaged by dissentery and emmorroids may come to me.


May I get asthma together with spasms, and may I get the dog's rabies and gangrene in my mouth.



May I become epileptic and fall in water and fire
and may there not be a place where I am not suffering.



May I get blindness, and mutism  and deafness,
destitution and poverty
and may I have constant muscular spasm.


May I stink so bad that there will be no living man who will not flee away from painful me, hit by such illnesses.



May I be abandoned by all my good companions in that horrible ditch called Riguercy



Frost, hail, tempest, lightening, thunders and darkness,
and be is such that there may be no adversity that wouldn't have power over me.


Infernal demons may be my nurses, and may they inflict all the torments that I deserve for my derangement [sins]



Until the end of the world may my life last and then,
at the scission, may I get a cruel death.


 

For my burial I choose the belly of a wolf who devoured me, and may my remains be shat out in thorny bushes.


After my death these are my miracles: whoever goes when my remains are, may he encounter evil spirits and persecutions and terrible visions..


Every man who hears my name, may he be horrified and do the sign of the cross, lest he has a horrible encounter on the road.

 

My Lord, all the pains I mentioned are not excessive punishment, for you created me in your love
and instead I killed you in infamy.

  

O Signore, per favore, mandami la malattia [la lebbra]!


A me la febbre quartana, la febbre continua e quella terzana, e quella che viene due volte in un giorno, insieme alla grave idropisia.


Mi venga il mal di denti, il mal di testa e di ventre, mi vengano dolori pungenti allo stomaco e l'angina alla gola.


[Mi venga] male agli occhi e dolore al fianco [mal di reni], l'ascesso al lato sinistro [al cuore]; mi venga anche la tisi e la frenesia [il delirio] in ogni momento.


Che io abbia il fegato infiammato, la milza ingrossata, il ventre gonfio; che il polmone sia piagato da grande tosse e paralisi.



Mi vengano le fistole con migliaia di pustole, e i cancri siano tali che io ne sia tutto ripieno.



Mi venga la podagra, il male ai testicoli aggravi il mio stato; mi sia piaga la dissenteria e mi vengano le emorroidi.


Mi venga l'asma, e vi si aggiunga lo spasimo; mi venga la rabbia del cane e una cancrena in bocca.



Mi venga il mal caduco [l'epilessia] e mi faccia finire nell'acqua e nel fuoco, e possa non trovare alcun luogo in cui non sia afflitto.


Mi venga la cecità, possa io diventare muto e sordo; possa io essere misero e povero e subire un continuo rattrappimento.


Possa io emanare un tale fetore che nessun uomo vivente non fugga schifato da me, colpito da una tale malattia.


Che io sia abbandonato da ogni buona compagnia in quel terribile fossato che è chiamato Riguerci [un affluente del Tevere, un tempo luogo noto per la sua desolazione].


[Mi colpiscano] gelo, grandine, tempeste, folgori, tuoni, oscurità, e non ci sia alcun tempo avverso che non mi abbia in suo potere.


Che i demoni dell'inferno mi siano dati come infermieri, e che mi infliggano quei tormenti che con i miei peccati mi sono meritato.


Sino alla fine del mondo duri per me questa vita, e poi, quando il corpo si separa dal corpo, mi venga data una morte crudele.



Scelgo come mia sepoltura il ventre di un lupo che mi abbia divorato, e possano essere i miei resti defecati da quello tra spineti e roveti.

[Questi] i miei miracoli dopo la morte: chi viene dove sono i miei resti possa avere una scorta [di spiriti maligni] e dure persecuzioni con terribili pensieri.


Ogni uomo che mi sente menzionare deve restare inorridito e farsi il segno della croce, per evitare un brutto incontro per la strada.


O mio Signore, tutti i tormenti che ho elencato non sono una vendetta eccessiva: tu mi creasti per il tuo amore, io ti ho villanamente ucciso [con la crocifissione].