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 GIUSEPPE GIOACHINO BELLI Sonnets |
 other subjects: PRIESTS, FRIARS, POPES AND THE CHURCH OF ROME BIBLICAL THEMES |
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SOCIETY AND EVERYDAY'S LIFE
ER MORO DE PIAZZA-NAVONA Vedi là quela statua der Moro C'arivorta la panza a Sant'Aggnesa? Ebbè, una vorta una Siggnora ingresa La voleva dar Papa a ppeso d'oro. Ma er Zanto padre e tutto er Conciastoro, Sapenno che quer marmoro, de spesa, Costava più zecchini che nun pesa, Senza nemmanco valutà er lavoro; Je fece arrepricà dar Zenatore Come e quarmente nun voleva venne Una funtana de quer gran valore. E quell'ingresa che ppoteva spenne, Dicheno che ce morze de dolore: Luciattei requia e scant'in pace ammenne. |
PIAZZA NAVONA'S MOOR 1 Can you see there that statue of a Moor Facing St.Agnes' church? Well, once an English lady wanted to buy it From the pope, for as much gold as it weighs. But the Holy Father and all the Concistory, Knowing that the marble alone Was worth more gold coins that its own weight, Without considering the work, Had the Senator 2 reply to her That he had no intention of selling A fountain of such great value. And it is said that the English lady, Who could afford it, died of grief. May she rest in peace, amen. 3 |
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1. - The Fountain of the Moor is one of piazza Navona's three large ones (see Fountains, part III, page 3). 2. - The Senators were the city's highest civil authorities. 3. - The speaker quotes the last verse of the Latin prayer for the dead: ...luceat eis, requiescant in pace; amen, corrupting the words according to how an average (uncultured) person would have pronounced them, not understanding them. Most commoners knew prayers in Latin by heart, yet without understanding a single word of their meaning. |
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LA PISCIATA PERICOLOSA Stavo a piscià jerzera lì a lo scuro Tra Madama Lugrezzia e tra Ssan Marco, Quann'ecchete, affiarato com'un farco, Un sguizzero der papa duro duro. De posta me fa sbatte er cazzo ar muro, Poi vò levamme er fongo: io me l'incarco: E con la patta in mano pijo l'Arco De li tre Re, strillando: « Vienghi puro ». Me sentivo quer frocio dì a le tacche, Cor fiatone: « Tartàifel, sor paine, Pss, nun currete tante, che ssò stracche ». Poi co mill'antre parole turchine Ciangottava: « Viè quà , ffije te vacche, Che ppeveremo un pon picchier te vine ». |
THE DANGEROUS PEE Yesterday evening I was peeing in the dark Between Madam Lucretia and St.Mark, 1 When suddenly here comes a Swiss guard, 2 Pouncing on me like a falcon, as harsh as ever. He made me bang my prick on the wall, on purpose, The he tried to take off my hat; I crammed it, And holding the flap of my trousers, I flew past The Three Kings Arch, crying: « Come and get me ». I could hear that bloke 3 behind me saying As he panted: « Der Teufel! 4 Mr. Who-you-are, Pss, don't run that fast, I'm tired ». And uttering a thousand incomprehensible words He blubbered: « Come here, son of a bitch, Let's have a good glass of wine ». |
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1. - Madam Lucretia is one of Rome's Talking Statues, located next to St.Mark's basilica. 2. - By several churches, pope Leo XII had set a Swiss guard, who carried a halberd, so to maintain order inside, and prevent the mob from ...freeing theirselves outside. 3. - The word frocio comes from frogia ("nostril"), a nickname that was given to people from northern Europe, referring to their nostrils, larger than those of an average roman. Gradually, the meaning of the word changed into "queer", likely due to the higher frequency of homosexuality among northern Europeans than among locals. The term is still in use. 4. - Damn! (Literally: the devil!); the words spoken by the guard are a funny mixture of roman dialect and German. Foreign languages such as French (spoken by Napoleon's soldiers) German (spoken by the Swiss guards), and English (spoken by many travellers) were commonly heard in Rome; in several sonnets Belli used an amusing linguistic blend that mimics the sound of the local dialect spoken by foreigners, or the sound of a foreign language reported by a local. |
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L'ADUCAZZIONE Fijo, nun ribbartà mai tata tua: Abbada a tte, nun te fà mette sotto. Si quarchiduno te viè a dà un cazzotto, Lì callo callo tu dajene dua. Si ppoi quarcantro porcaccio da ua Te ce facessi un po' de predicotto Dije: "De ste raggione io me ne fotto: Iggnuno penzi a li fattacci sua". Quanno giuchi un bucale a mora, o a boccia, Bevi fijo; e a sta gente buggiarona Nun gnene fà restà manco una goccia. D'esse cristiano è ppuro cosa bona: Pe questo hai da portà ssempre in zaccoccia Er cortello arrotato e la corona. |
EDUCATION My son, never do wrong to your daddy, Take care, don't let yourself be subdued. If someone ever hits you, Straight away, you hit him twice. And if any other bastard Tries to lecture you, Tell him: "I don't care a damn about these reasons: Let everybody mind his own business". When you bet a jug of wine playing morra 1 , or bowls, Drink, my son; and don't let these fools Be left a single drop. To be a Christian is another good thing: For this reason always keep in your pocket A sharpened knife and a rosary. |
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1. - Morra was a most popular game, in which two persons rapidly showed each other a number from 0 to 5 by using the fingers of one hand, and at the same time trying to guess the total by shouting it. It was played both in taverns and in the streets. The game very often ended in a brawl. |
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LA PIGGION DE CASA Nun pòi sbajà ssi vòi. Qua ssu la dritta, Ner comincio der Vicolo der Branca, Doppo tre o quattro porte a manimanca Te viè in faccia una pietra tutta scritta. Svorta er collo tra l'oste e l'artebbianca E ppropio attacc'a quella casa sfitta Lì a ppianterreno ciabbita er zor Titta Er barbiere a l'inzeggna de la cianca. L'hai capito mo adesso indove arresta? Be', domatina tu vacce a quest'ora, Ché l'ora lui de non trovallo è questa. Dì: "C'è er zor Titta?" -- "No". -- Tu dije allora: "Dice zia che a ppagà viè st'antra festa Ché glieri lei lo rifaceva fora". |
THE RENT You simply can't miss it. Here on the right, At the beginning of Branca Lane, After three or four doors on the left You'll come to a stone covered with inscriptions. Turn your head between the tavern and the grocery And just by that vacant house There on the ground floor lives Mr.Titta 1 The barber with the leg sign 2 . Have you understood where it is? So tomorrow morning go there at this time, Because this is the right time not to find him. Ask: "Is there Mr.Titta?" -- "No". -- You then say: "Auntie says she'll come to pay on the next holiday Since she thought that yesterday he was still away". |
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1. - Titta is the roman nickname for Giovan Battista. 2. - Barbers used to have a leg on their shop sign, as a reminder that they also performed blood-lettings, and other minor surgery. |
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LI GALOPPINI Jeri, a la Pulinara, un colleggiale Doppo fatta una predica in todesco, Setacciò tutt'er popolo in du' sale, E a la ppiù mejo vorze dà er rifresco. In quella fece entracce er Cardinale Co l'amichi der Micco e ppadron Fiesco; E nell'antra la gente duzzinale Che viaggia cor caval de san Francesco. Pe sta sala che qui de li spedati Comincionno a ppassà li cammorieri Pieni de sottocoppe de gelati. Ma che! a la sala delli cavajeri Un cazzo ciarrivò: ché st'affamati Se sparinno inzinenta li bicchieri. |
THE SCROUNGERS Yesterday, at St.Apollinare College, a collegiate After giving a lecture in German 1 , Divided all the people into two rooms, And to those of higher rank he offered refreshments. He let in one room the Cardinal Together with Micco's and master Fieschi's friends 2 ; And in the other one the cheap people Who travel on foot 3 . Through the room in which the 'walkers' were, Waiters began to pass Carrying lots of ice-cream cups. But alas! to the gentlemen's room Nothing arrived, as these spongers Swept away even the glasses. |
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1. - Actually, lectures were given in Latin, but to the common people any language except their own was incomprehensible, and barely made any difference. 2. - Two well-known carriage-hirers; the high class moved around the city by coach. 3. - Literally: "Who travel by St.Francis's horse", typical ironical roman expression which means "to go on foot, for poverty or need" (as St.Francis did). |
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ER LOGOTENENTE Come intese a ciarlà der cavalletto, Presto io curze dar zor Logotenente: "Mi' marito... Eccellenza... è un poveretto Pe carità... Ché nun ha ffatto gnente". Dice: "Mettet'a ssede". Io me ce metto. Lui cor un zenno manna via la gente: Po' me s'accosta: "Dimme un po' gruggnetto, Tu' marito lo vòi reo o innocente?" "Innocente", dich'io; e lui: "Ciò gusto" E detto-fatto quer faccia d'abbreo Me schiaffa la man-dritta drent'ar busto. Io sbarzo in piede, e strillo: "Eh sor cazzeo..." E lui: "Fijola, quer ch'è giusto è giusto: Annate via: vostro marito è reo". |
THE LIEUTENANT As soon as I heard about the caning 1 I hurried to the Lieutenant: "Your Excellency, my husband is a poor fellow... For goodness sake...he didn't do anything wrong". He says: "Sit down". I sit. He waves the other people away: Then he comes close to me: "Now tell me, pretty face, Do you want your husband to be guilty or innocent?" "Innocent" I say; he says: "I'm glad"; And straight away that loathsome fellow 2 Tucks his right hand inside my corset. I jump up, and shout: "Hey you fool..." He says: "My dear, fair is fair: Go away: your husband is guilty". |
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1. - The 'cavalletto' (i.e. the "threstle") was a public caning, a judicial punishment which had recently replaced the more cruel 'corda' ("rope"), a tall pole used for roughly tugging up and down the culprit tied by his wrists, often causing the dislocation of his shoulder bones. Punishment threstles were raised in several main squares (see also Piazza Navona). 2. - Literally: "that Jewish face"; for Rome's commoners, non-Christians were not human beings, but simply 'Jews', 'Turks', 'Moors', etc., and harshly discriminated. Jewish face was a rather heavy insult. |
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LA SCERTA Sta accusì. La padrona cor padrone, Volenno marità la padroncina Je portonno davanti una matina, Pe sceje, du' bravissime perzone. Un de li dua aveva una ventina D'anni, e du' spalle peggio de Sanzone; E l'antro lo diceveno un riccone Ma aveva un po' la testa cennerina. Subbito er giuvinotto de quer paro Se fece avanti a dì: "Sora Lucia, Chi volete de noi? parlate chiaro". "Pe dilla, me piacete voi e lui", Rispose la zitella; "e ppijerìa Er cicio vostro e li quadrini sui". |
THE CHOICE This is how it went. My master and mistress, Wishing to have their daughter married One morning brought in front of her Two very respectable persons to choose. One of the two was about twenty years old, And had shoulders wider than Samson's; While the other one was known as a rich man But his hair was slightly grey. Straight away, the younger of the two Started saying: "Miss Lucy, Who of us do you want? speak frankly". "Really, I like both of you", Answered the girl 1 ; "and I would take Your tool 2 and his money". |
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1. - Literaly: "Answered the spinster"; in roman dialect "spinster" meant "young girl, unmarried girl". 2. - A dialect term for "manhood", of course. |
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LA BOCCA DE-LA-VERITA' In d'una chiesa sopra a 'na piazzetta Un po' ppiù ssù de Piazza Montanara Pe la strada che pporta a la Salara, C'è in nell'entrà una cosa benedetta. Pe ttutta Roma quant'è larga e stretta Nun poterai trovà cosa ppiù rara. È una faccia de pietra che tt'impara Chi ha detta la bucìa, chi nu l'ha detta. S'io mo a sta faccia, c'ha la bocca uperta, Je ce metto una mano, e nu la striggne La verità da me ttiella pe certa. Ma ssi fficca la mano uno in bucìa, Èssi sicuro che a tirà né a spiggne Quella mano che lì nun viè ppiù via. |
THE MOUTH-OF-TRUTH 1 In a church, in a small square Shortly further Montanara Square 2 , Along the road leading to the salt-works, As soon as you enter there's something holy. In all Rome far and wide You could not find something as rare as that. It's a face of stone, which tells Who is a lier and who is not. If in the mouth of this statue, which is open, I insert my hand and it does not clasp it, Consider my truth most reliable. But if a lier inserts his hand Be sure that, push or pull, That hand won't come out. |
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1. - The so-called "Mouth of Truth" is an old round stone featuring a grotesque face, with an oval hole as an open mouth. It was probably the cover of a roman drain. Traditionally, the stone is said to clasp the hand of any lier who inserts it in its mouth. Despite the story was mainly intended for children, a considerable number of adults believed that this would really happen, as described by the sonnet. 2. - Today the area looks quite different, but the church (S.Maria in Cosmedin) is still there. |
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ER COMMERCIO LIBBERO Be'? So' pputtana, venno la mi' pelle: Fo la miggnotta, si, sto ar cancelletto: Lo pijo in quello largo e in quello stretto: C'è gnent'antro da dì? Che cose belle! Ma ce sò stat'io puro, sor cazzetto, Zitella com'e tutte le zitelle; E mo nun c'è chi avanzi bajocchelle Su la lana e la paja der mi' letto. Sai de che me laggn'io? No der mestiere Che ssarìa bell'e bono, e quanno butta Nun pò ttrovasse ar monno antro piacere. Ma de ste dame che stanno anniscoste Me laggno, che, vedenno quanto frutta Lo scortico, ciarrubbeno le poste. |
THE FREE TRADE What's wrong? I'm a prostitute, I sell myself: I'm a whore, yes, I work at the window 1 : I take it in the wide and in the narrow 2 : Anything else to say? Wonderful! 3 But, dear mister fool, I too have been A maiden like any other girl; And now there is nobody Who has not yet visited my bed. Do you know what I dislike? Not the work itself, Which is fine and, if well going, There's no pleasure like it. But these haughty ladies, who remain undercover And who, having realized how profitable This business is, steel our customers. |
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1. - Literally: "I work at the gate"; prostitutes used to show themselves from parlours that faced the street, and were closed by a low gate, so that the upper part of the doorway acted as a window. 2. - Obscene allusion to ...various forms of sexual intercourse 3. - Evidently argueing against a criticism. |
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LA DISPENZA DER MADRIMONIO Quella stradaccia me la sò lograta: Ma quanti passi me ce fussi fatto Nun c'era da ottené pe gnisun patto De potemme sposà co mi' cuggnata. Io c'ero diventato mezzo matto, Perché, dico, ch'edè sta baggianata C'una sorella l'ho d'avé assaggiata E l'antra no! nun è l'istesso piatto? Finarmente una sera l'abbataccio Me disse: "Fijo se ce stata coppola, Pròvelo, e la licenza te la faccio". "Benissimo Eccellenza", io jarisposi: Poi curzi a casa, e, pe nun dì una stroppola, M'incoppolai Presseda, e ssemo sposi. |
THE WEDDING LICENCE I've worn out that damned street 1 : But in spite of all this walking There was no way to obtain the permission To marry my sister-in-law. It was driving me crazy Because, I say, what a nonsense that Having already tasted one sister 2 , I cannot taste the other! Isn't it the same dish? Finally one evening the bloody abbot Told me: "My dear, if there has been copulation, Prove it, and I'll give you the licence". "Very well, Excellency", I answered: Then I rushed home and, not to tell a lie, I had sex with Praxedes 3 , and we got married. |
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1. - The street where notaries dealing with marriage laws had their offices. 2. - The character's late wife. 3. - The character's sister-in-law. |
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LE COSE CREATE Ner monno ha ffatto Iddio 'gni cosa deggna: Ha ffatto tutto bono e ttutto bello. Bono l'inverno, più bona la leggna: Bono assai l'abbozzà, mejo er cortello. Bona la santa fede e chi l'inzeggna, Più bono chi ce crede in der ciarvello: Bona la castità, mejo la freggna: Bono er culo, bonissimo l'ucello. Sortanto in questo qui trovo lo smanco, Che ppoteva, penzànnoce un tantino, Creacce l'acqua rossa e 'r vino bianco. Perché armeno gnisun oste asassino Mo nun vierìa co ttanta faccia ar banco A vénnece mezz'acqua e mezzo vino. |
THINGS THAT WERE CREATED In this world, God created everything properly: Everything he created is good and well-done. Winter is good, firewood even more;1 Endurance is very good, the knife is better. Good is the holy faith and who teaches it, Better is he who takes it with a grain of salt; Chastity is good, the cunt is better, The arse is good, the prick is excellent. Only in one thing I find a weak point, That is, thinking of it a bit , He could have created water red, and wine white. In this way no damned inn-keeper Would stand at the bar with a brazen face, Selling us wine with half water in it. |
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1. - These verses faithfully describe a roman commoner's philosophy of life. |
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L'INNUSTRIA Un giorno che arrestai propio a la fetta, Senz'avé manco l'arma d'un quadrino, Senti che cosa fo: curro ar camino E roppo in quattro pezzi la paletta. Poi me l'invorto sott'a la giacchetta, E vado a spasso pe Campovaccino A aspettà quarche ingrese milordino Da daje una corcata co l'accetta. De fatti, ecco che viè quer c'aspettavo. "Siggnore, guardi un po' quest'anticaja C'avemo trovo jeri in de lo scavo?" Lui se ficca l'occhiali, la scannaja, Me mette in mano un scudo e dice: "Bravo!" E accusì a Roma se pela la quaja. |
STRIVING One day, I had really gone penniless, I had no money at all, And this is what I did: I ran to the fire-place And broke the shovel into four pieces. Then I wrapped it up in my jacket, And went walking along Campo Vaccino 1 , Waiting for some sofisticated English gentleman 2 , So to swindle him well. And what I was waiting for, actually happened. "Sir, would you take a look at this antique We found yesterday while excavating?" He wears his glasses, examines it, Gives me a shilling and says: "Good job!" In Rome, this is how we scrape a living. |
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1. - Campo Vaccino ("Cattle Field", from the old cattle market held there) was the name of today's Roman Forum area. 2. - The expression milordino comes from the aristocratic title of "milord", which in Rome also has a humorous meaning of "stylish", "dandy". |
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L'ABBICHINO DE LE DONNE La donna, inzino ar venti, si è contenta Mamma, l'anni che ttiè ssempre li canta: Ne cresce uno oggni cinque inzino ar trenta, Eppoi se ferma lì ssino a quaranta. Dar quarantuno impoi stenta e nun stenta, E ne dice antri dua sino ar cinquanta; Ma allora, che aruvina pe la scenta, Te la senti sartà ssubbito a ottanta. Perché, ar cresce li fiji de li fiji, Nun potenno esse ppiù donna d'amore, Vò ffigurà da donna de conziji. E allora er cardinale o er monziggnore, Che j'allisciava er pelo a li cuniji, Comincia a recità da confessore. |
WOMEN'S ABACUS Women, till the age of twenty, if mother agrees 1 Always declare their age: They count one year every five, up to thirty, And then they stop counting until forty. From forty-one onwards they barely move, Declaring two more, until they are fifty; But then, spoilt by time, They suddenly jump to the age of eigthy. Because, as the children of their children grow, No longer being women of love, They wish to appear as women of wisdom. And then, cardinals and bishops Who used to be in friendly terms with them 2 , Start playing the role of the confessor. |
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1. - Elder women would have their daughters declare a younger age, if this made their mothers appear too old. 2. - The meaning is a... rather sexually orientated friendship. |
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LO SPAGGNOLO A un spaggnolo, che tutt'ar zu' paese Era uguale c'a Roma, o assai ppiù bello, Guje, colonne, culiseo, castello, Palazzi, antichità, funtane e chiese, Io vorze faje un giorno un trucchio bello Pe provà de levaje ste pretese: Aggnede a la Ritonna, e lì me prese Un ber paro de mannole d'aggnello. Le metto in d'uno stuccio, e ppoi lo chiamo. Dico: « Vedete voi sti du' cojoni? So' li dua soli che ttieneva Adamo » A sta botta lui parze un po' imbrïaco: Poi disse: « Questi qui so' reliquioni; Ma ar mi' paese avemos er caraco ». |
THE SPANISH MAN To a spaniard, who claimed that in his country Everything was like Rome, or much better, Spires, columns, the colosseum, the castle, Palaces, antiquities, fountains and churches, One day I wanted to play a nice trick, To try and cool down his pretensions: I went to the Pantheon 1, and bought A good pair of sheep bollocks. I put them in a case, and then I called him, Telling him: « Can you see these two testicles? They are the only ones that Adam had 2 ». With this, he seemed to be astonished: Then he said: « These are indeed great relics; But in my country, we have the shaft » . |
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ER CAFFETTIERE FISOLOFO L'ommini de sto monno sò l'istesso Che vaghi de caffè ner macinino: C'uno prima, uno doppo, e un'antro appresso, Tutti quanti però vanno a un distino. Spesso muteno sito, e caccia spesso Er vago grosso er vago piccinino, E ss'incarzeno tutti in zu l'ingresso Der ferro che li sfraggne in porverino. E l'ommini accusì viveno ar monno Misticati pe mano de la sorte Che sse li gira tutti in tonno in tonno; E movennose oggnuno, o ppiano, o fforte, Senza capillo mai caleno a fonno Pe cascà ne la gola de la morte. |
THE PHILOSOPHIZING BARMAN In this world, men are the same As coffee beans in a grinder: One in front, one who follows, another one behind, But all of them move towards the same destiny. They often change place, and often The big coffee-bean replaces the small one, And they all cram by the hole Where the blade crushes them into powder. And this is how men live in this world, Mingled by the hand of fate, Which turns them round and round. And each of them moving, fast or slow, Unawares, they sink to the bottom To drop in the jaws of death. |
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PIAZZA NAVONA Se pò ffregà Ppiazza-Navona mia E de San Pietro e de Piazza-de-Spaggna. Questa nun è una piazza, è una campaggna, Un treàto, una fiera, un'allegria. Va da la Pulinara a la Corzìa Curri da la Corzìa a la Cuccagna: Pe ttutto trovi robba che se maggna, Pe ttutto gente che la porta via. Qua ce sò ttre ffuntane inarberate: Qua una guja che pare una sentenza: Qua se fa er lago quanno torna istate. Qua ss'arza er cavalletto che dispenza Sur culo a chi le vò ttrenta nerbate, E cinque poi pe la bonificenza. |
PIAZZA NAVONA 1 Piazza Navona easily stands the comparison With both St.Peter's and the Spanish Steps. This is not a square, it's like the countryside, It's a theatre, it's a fair, it's gaiety. It runs from Sant'Apollinare 2 to the central pathway, And from the central pathway to Cuccagna street 3: Everywhere you see things to eat, Everywhere you see people who buy them. Here three fountains stand in all their might, Here is a spire 4, as solemn as a judgement, Here the place is flooded when summertime comes 5. Here the whipping-trestle is raised 5, Where those who look for trouble get thirty lashes On their arse, and five more for charity 6. |
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1. - Probably Rome's most famous square, built on the site where in ancient times the stadium of emperor Domitian stood, and whose long and oval shape it has perfectly maintained. Adorned by three great fountains, one of which is a world-known masterwork, piazza Navona still incarnates the grandeur of Rome's Baroque age, to the eyes of the tourists as well as to those of the local people. The description that Belli gives of the square, by lending his verses to the citizen who speaks, depicts it as a sort of microcosm: here the common people enjoyed the awing view of the three fountains, here they found refreshment in the blazing heat of the summer and, sometimes, here they payed their dues to the papal justice (and for the public, this too represented a form of free entertainment). 2. - A square, by the northern end of piazza Navona. 3. - On the opposite side. 4. - The ancient roman obelisk that rests over the central fountain. 5. - The "threstle" was a form of public punishment for common offences, which Belli describes sarcastically as a kind of torture, believed to be necessary for the folk's buttocks. 6. - Since the number of lashes varied according to the offence, a common pun was to say that the last few were given for charity reasons, or for the benefit of the executioner (and some simpletons really believed this!) |
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LI SORDATI BONI Subbito c'un zovrano de la terra Crede c'un antro j'abbi tocco un fico, Dice ar popolo suo: « Tu sei nimmico der tale o der tar ré: faje la guerra ». E er popolo, pe sfugge la galerra O quarc'antra grazzietta che nun dico, Pija lo schioppo e viaggia com'un prico Che spedischino in Francia o in Inghirterra. Cusì, pe li crapicci d'una corte Ste pecore aritorneno a la stalla Co mezza testa e co le gamme storte. E co le vite ce se giuca a palla, Come quela puttana de la morte Nun vienissi da lei senza cercalla. |
THE GOOD SOLDIERS 1 In this world, as soon as a king thinks that somebody Has touched the most insignificant of his properties, He tells his own people: "You are enemies Of this king, or that one: go to war against him". And the people, in order to avoid jail Or some other treatment I prefer not to mention, Pick up the rifle, and travel like a parcel That is shipped to France or to England. So, for the whims of a court, These sheep come back to their pens With a broken head and with crooked legs. And life is dealt with as if playing with a ball, As if damn death did not already come by itself, Without the need of seeking for it. |
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1. - Once again, in this sonnet as well as in the following one, who speaks through the words of the commoner is Belli himself, as already seen in The Philosophizing Barman. |
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RIFRESSIONE IMMORALE SUR CULISEO St'arcate rotte c'oggi li pittori Viengheno a diseggnà co li pennelli, Tra l'arberetti, le croce, li fiori, Le farfalle e li canti de l'ucelli, A ttempo de l'antichi l'imperatori Ereno un fiteatro, indove quelli Currevano a vedé li gradiatori Sfracassasse le coste e li cervelli. Qua loro se pijaveno piacere De sentì l'urli de tanti cristiani Carpestati e sbranati da le fiere. Allora tante stragge e ttanto lutto, E adesso tanta pace! Oh avventi umani! Cos'è sto monno! Come cammia tutto! |
MORAL REFLECTION ON THE COLOSSEUM These broken arches that nowadays painters Come here to depict with their brushes, Among trees, crosses, flowers, Butterflies and bird songs, By the time of the ancient emperors Were an amphiteatre where they Came to see gladiators Smash each other's ribs and brains. Here they took pleasure To hear the shrieks of many christians Trampled on and mauled by wild beasts. Once so much slaughter and grief, And now so much peace! Oh, facts of life! What world is this! How everything changes! |
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INTRODUCTION PRIESTS, FRIARS, POPES AND THE CHURCH OF ROME BIBLICAL THEMES |
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PRIESTS, FRIARS, POPES AND THE CHURCH OF ROME
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LI FRATI D'UN PAESE Senti sto fatto. Un giorno de st'istate Lavoravo ar convento de Genzano, E ssentivo de sopra ch'er guardiano Tirava giù biastime a carrettate; Perché, essenno le gente aridunate Per cantà la novena a ssan Cazziano, Cerca qua, chiama là, quer zagristano Drento a le celle nun trovava un frate. Era vicino a notte, e un pispillorio Già se sentiva in de la chiesa piena, Quanno senti che ffa ppadre Grigorio. Curze a intoccà la tevola de cena, E appena che fu empito er refettorio Disse: "Alò, frati porchi, a la novena!". |
THE FRIARS OF A VILLAGE Listen to this story. During last summer, one day I was working at the monastery in Genzano 1 , When I heard upstairs the sacristan Swearing like a trooper. Because while the people had gathered To sing the novena 2 for St.Cassian, The sacristan, looking for the friars high and low, Could not find any of them in their rooms. Night was approaching, and a whispering Already came from the crowded church, So listen what Father Gregory did. He ran to sound the dinner bell And as soon as the refectory was full Said: "Lousy friars, hurry up to the novena!" |
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1. - Genzano is a small village just south of Rome. 2. - The novena is a prayer said (or sung) to ask for some special blessing. Notice how the name of the saint has been deformed to "Cazziano", a play on words between the actual spelling, Cassiano, and cazzo (dick). Jokes blending profane and religious subjects are quite popular in roman dialect. |
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LI SPIRITI III Bè, lei giura e spergiura ch'er zu' nonno, Stanno una notte tra la vej'e 'r zonno, Se sentì ffà un zospiro accapalletto. Arzò la testa, e ne sentì un siconno. Allora lui cor fiato ch'ebbe in petto Strillò: Spirito bono o maledetto, Di' da parte de Dio; che cerchi ar monno?" Dice: "Io mill'anni addietro ero Badessa, E in sto logo che stava er dormitorio Cor un cetrolo me sfonnai la fessa. Da' un scudo ar piggionante, a don Libborio, Pe ffamme li sorcismi e dì una messa, Si me vòi libberà dar purgatorio". |
GHOSTS 1 III Well, she swears that her grandfather One night while half-asleep Heard a sigh coming from his bedhead. He raised his head, and he heard a second one. So with all his breath He cried: "Good or evil spirit, Tell me for God's sake; what are you looking for?" It said: "A thousand years ago I was an Abbess, And in this place where the dormitory stood I was penetrated by a gherkin 3 . Give one shilling to Father Liborio, the lodger, To perform an exorcism and to say mass, If you want to free me from purgatory". |
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1. - This is the third sonnet from a group of five featuring the same title, written between November 16th and 22nd. In Catholic culture, November is a month dedicated to the dead. 2. - Fichetto is a nickname. 3. - The literal translation is a bit stronger: "I had my cunt pierced with a gherkin." Note that "gherkin" is clearly one of the many nicknames for "penis". Again, a religious character (the Abbess) showing a rather... unholy behaviour. |
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LI SPIRITI IV De la piastra, che ffece er zanto prete, Venne la pasqua, e 'r gabbiano che ssapete Cominciò a lavorà de scacciaraggno. "Ch'edè? Un bucio ar zolaro! Oh, pprete caggno", Fece allora er babbeo che conoscete: "Eccolo indove vanno le monete! Va che lo scudo mio cerca er compaggno?" Doppo infatti du' notte de respiro, Ecchete la Badessa della muffa A daje giù cor zolito sospiro. "Sor don Libborio mio, basta una fuffa", Strillò quello; "e le messe, pe sto giro, Si le volete dì, ditele auffa". |
GHOSTS 1 IV the holy priest's profit of one shilling, Easter came, and the aforesaid fool Began cleaning his house 2 . "What's this? A hole in the ceiling! Oh, damned priest", Said the fool you know: "This is where my money goes! I bet that my shilling is looking for a friend" 3 . And actually after two nights of rest, There goes the old Abbess again Whith the usual sigh. "Father Liborio, one trick's enough" He cried; "and this time, If you want to say mass, do so for free". |
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1. - This is the fourth sonnet of the series. 2. - Approaching Easter, a typical roman tradition is to give the house a good cleaning, a practice known as "Easter cleaning". In those days, this was really the only occasion through the year in which roman houses were cleaned up. The literal translation is: "He began working the spider-swatter", a tool made of a bundle of feathers attached to the end of a long cane, for dusting the ceiling. 3. - Meaning "I'll soon lose another shilling in the same way". |
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LA PENALE Li preti, già sse sa, fanno la caccia A 'gni sorte de spece de quadrini. Mo er mi' curato ha messo du' carlini De murta a chi vò dì 'na parolaccia. Toccò a me l'antra sera a la Pilaccia: Ché giucanno co certi vitturini, Come me vedde vince un lammertini, Disse pe ffoja: "Eh buggiarà Ssantaccia!" Er giorn'appresso er prete già informato, Mannò a ffamme chiamà dar chiricone, E m'intimò la pena der peccato. Sur primo io vorze dì le mi' raggione; Ma ppoi me la sbrigai: "Padre Curato, Buggiaravve a voi puro: ecco un testone". |
THE FINE A well-known fact is that priests go hunting For money of all sorts and kinds. Now my vicar has decreed a sixpence fine 1 For anyone saying a foul word. It was my turn, the other night at the Pilaccia inn: As I was gambling with some coach drivers, When I lost a silver coin I said in anger: "Damn Santaccia!" 2 On the following day the priest, already informed, Sent out the sexton for me, And inflicted me the penalty for that sin. At first I tried to put forward my reasons, But then I cut it short: "Father Vicar, Damn yourself too, here's a shilling" 3 . |
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1. - For practical reasons, in the English version the original coin values have been changed. 2. - Santaccia was a renowned prostitute who "worked" in Rome. 3. - Exactly twice the sixpence fine. |
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ER RIFUGGIO A le curte: te vòi sbrigà d'Aggnesa Senza er risico tuo? Be', tu pprocura D'ammazzalla vicino a quarche chiesa: Poi scappa drento, e nun avé ppavura. In zarvo che tu ssei dopo l'impresa, Freghete del mandato de cattura; Ché a chi tte facci l'ombra de l'offesa Una bona scomunnica è ssicura. Lassa fà: staccheranno la licenza: Ma ppe la grolia der timor de Dio, C'è sempre quarche pprete che ce penza. Tu nun ze' un borzarolo né un giudìo, Ma un cristiano c'ha perzo la pacenza: Dunque, tu mena, curri in chiesa, e addio. |
THE REFUGE In short: do you want to get rid of Agnes Without any risk? What you have to do Is to kill her near a church: Then run inside, and don't worry 1 . Once you're safe after the action, Don't care about the warrant of arrest; Because anyone trying to harm you Would surely be excommunicated. Let them do: they'll issue the warrant: But for the glory of the fear of God There's always a priest who will care. You're not a thief nor a Jew 2 , You're a man 3 who lost his temper: So, strike and run inside: that's it. |
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1. -The right of immunity, by means of which nobody could be arrested or taken away from inside a church, was still in use. Later on, the bishops had this law modified, so that the many thieves and criminals who sought refuge in sacred buildings could be captured; for a long time, though, these rules still gave bishops the right to decide whether letting the offenders be taken away or not. 2. - Much heavier guilts, of course! 3. - In roman dialect "man" and "Christian" are synonyms (therefore, only Christians had civil rights!) |
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ER CONFESSORE Padre... -- Dite il confiteor. -- L'ho detto. -- L'atto di contrizione? -- Già l'ho ffatto. -- Avanti dunque. -- Ho detto cazzo-matto A mi' marito, e j'ho arzato un grossetto. -- Poi? -- Pe una pila che me róppe er gatto Je disse for de me: "Si' maledetto"; E è cratura de Dio! -- C'e altro? -- Tratto Un giuvenotto, e ce sò ita a letto. -- E lì cosa è successo? -- Un po' de tutto.-- Cioè? Sempre, m'immagino, pel dritto. -- Puro a riverzo... -- Oh che peccato brutto! Dunque, in causa di questo giovanotto, Tornate, figlia, con cuore trafitto, Domani, a casa mia, verso le otto. |
THE CONFESSOR Father... -- Say the Confiteor 1 . -- I did. -- The act of contrition ? 1 -- I've already made it. -- Well then. -- I called my husband a prickhead, And I stole from him a silver piece. -- What else? -- When the cat broke a pot I shouted to her in rage: "Curse on you"; She is God's creature! 2 -- Anything else? -- I'm having An affair with a young man, and I slept with him. -- And what happened there? -- More or less, everything. -- You mean always frontwards 3 , I suppose. -- Also backwards... -- Oh what a nasty sin! So, by reason of this young man, Come, my dear, with a grieving heart, To see me at home, tomorrow at eight o'clock. |
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1. - Both of them are prayers to be said before a confession. This brilliant sonnet, like a few others, is based on the contrast between the naive woman, who speaks in dialect, and the hypocritical priest who uses a stylish Italian, blames the woman for her sins and then tries to take advantage of her. 2. - In popular culture, all living beings are considered "God's creatures". 3. - An obvious reference to sexual intercourse. |
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LA PORTERIA DER CONVENTO Dico: "Se pò pparlà cor padr'Ilario?" Dice: "Per oggi no, perché confessa". -- "E doppo confessato?" -- "Ha da dì messa". -- "E doppo detto messa?" -- "Cià er breviario". Dico: "Fate er zervizzio, fra Maccario, D'avvisallo ch'è cosa ch'interessa". Dice: "Ah, qualunque cosa oggi è l'istessa, Perché nun pò lassà er confessionario". "Pacenza", dico: "j'avevo portata, Pe quell'affare che v'avevo detto, Ste poche libbre qui de cioccolata...". Dice: "Aspettate, fijo benedetto, Pe via che, quanno è ppropio una chiamata De premura, lui viè: mo ciarifretto". |
THE MONASTERY'S PORTER I said 1 : "May I speak to father Hillary?" He said: "Not today: he administers confession". -- "And after confession?" -- "He must say mass". -- "And after saying mass?" -- "He'll say the breviary". I said: "Do me a favour, friar Maccario, Tell him it's something that may interest him". He said: "Today nothing would make any difference, Because he can't leave the confessional". "Never mind", I said: "because of that business I had mentioned to you, I had brought him These few pounds of chocolate..." He said: "Wait, my dear, Because when it's really an urgent matter He does come, I'll think about it". |
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1. - In roman dialect the expressions dico: ("I say:") and dice: ("he/she says:") are interjections, still commonly used in the spoken language, for introducing a direct speech. |
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L'INFERNO Cristiani indilettissimi, l'inferno È una locanna senza tetto e coco, Ch'er bon Iddio la frabbico abbeterno Perché se popolasse appoco appoco. Quanti Santi in inzoggno, la vederno, Dicheno che sibbè piena de foco, Nun c'è un'ombra de luce in gnisun loco E ce se trema ppiù che ffussi inverno. Sur porton de sta casa de li guai Ce sta a lettre da cuppola un avviso, Che fora dice sempre, e drento mai. Gesù mio battezzato e circonciso, Arberghece li turchi e badanai, E a noi dacce l'alloggio in paradiso. |
HELL 1 My dear Christians, hell Is a tavern without bed nor cook, That God almighty created for ever and ever, So that gradually, many people would dwell in it. All the Saints who saw it in their dreams, Say that despite being full of fire, There is no speck of light, nowhere, And one shivers worse than in winter. On the doorway of this house of sorrows There is a notice written in enormous letters, That outside says always, and inside says never. Oh Jesus, baptized and circumcised, 2 Keep there the turks and jews, And let us dwell in paradise. |
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1. - A bitter satire about the attitude of the Church of Rome towards other religions. These words may have likely been spoken during a preech. 2. - Belli remarks with irony that Jesus, having been circumcised, was in fact a jew himself. |
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ER VOTO Senti st'antra. A Ssan Pietro e Marcellino Ce stanno certe moniche befane, C'aveveno pe voto er contentino De maggnà ttutto-quanto co le mane. Vedi si una forchetta e un cucchiarino, Si un cortelluccio pe ttajacce er pane, Abbi da offenne Iddio! N'antro tantino Leccaveno cor muso com'er cane! Pio Ottavo però, bona-momoria, Che vedde una matina quer porcaro, Je disse: "Madre, e che vò dì sta storia? Sete state avvezzate ar monnezzaro?! Che voto! un cazzo. A dio pò dasse groria Puro co la forchetta e cor cucchiaro". |
THE VOW Listen to this one. At San Pietro e Marcellino's church There are such nasty nuns, Who, as a vow, had the bad habit Of eating food using their bare hands 1 . Just imagine if a fork and a spoon, A small knife for cutting bread, Could be an offence to God! They almost Licked the dish like dogs! But the late Pius the Eighth, Who one day saw that filth, Told them: "Mother, what does all this mean? Have you been brought up in a dump? Damn that vow! God may be praised Using a fork and a spoon, as well". |
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1. - The rules of some religious orders included a number of curious or absurd duties and prohibitions. |
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LA STATUA CUPERTA Ha osservata, monzù, lei ch'è ffrancese Quella statua ch'arresta da sta mano, Drent'in fonno a Ssan Pietr'in Vaticano Sott'ar trono de Pavolo Fernese? La fanno d'un pittore de Milano, E ttanta bella, ch'un ziggnore ingrese 'Na vorta un zampietrino ce lo prese In atto sconcio e co l'ucello in mano. Allora er Papa ch'era papa allora Je fece fà cor bronzo la camicia Che ce se vede a ttempi nostri ancora. Quantunque ce sò certi c'hanno detto Che nun fussi un milordo su sta cicia De pietra a smanicà, ma un chirichetto. |
THE COVERED STATUE 1 Sir, since you are French, have you noticed The statue that is located in this direction 2, Inside St. Peter's in the Vatican, at the bottom, Below the throne of Paul Farnese 3 ? It is said that an artist from Milan made it, 4 So beautiful, that once an Englishman Was caught there by the church's staff 5 While doing a naughty thing, holding his dick. So the Pope who was Pope at that time Had a bronze shirt made for it, The same one that can be seen nowadays. However, some said That it was not a gentleman who masturbated On this beauty made of stone, but an altar-boy. 6 |
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1. - The memorial monument of Paul III, by Guglielmo della Porta (built in 1575), featuring a seated bronze statue of the pope, on whose sides are two marble allegories of Justice and Charity. It is said that the former female figure was carved after the pope's own sister, Giulia Farnese. Originally naked, after some time the figure's bust was covered with bronze parts. 2. - Showing the direction with a wave of the hand. 3. - Alessandro Farnese, pope Paul III (1534-49). 4. - The artist was from Como. 5. - Romans calls anybody working in St.Peter's (wardens, masons, decorators, restorers, etc.) "sanpietrini"; the same name is also given to the square cobblestones with which almost every street in Rome is paved. 6. - This was the real version of the story known in Belli's days. |
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ER PATTO-STUCCO Sto prelato a la fija der zartore Che ciannava a stiraje li rocchetti, Je fece vede drent'a un tiratore Una ciotola piena de papetti Dicennoje: « Si vòi che tte lo metti, Sò ttutti tui, e te li do de core ». E lei fece bocchino e du' ghiggnetti, Eppoi s'arzò er guarnello a monziggnore. Terminato l'affare, er zempriciano, Pe ppagaje er noleggio de la sporta, Pijò un papetto e je lo messe in mano. Dice: « Uno solo ?! e che vor dì sta torta? Ereno tutti mii!... » -- « Fijola, piano », Dice, « sò ttutti tui, uno pe vorta ». |
THE AGREED DEAL The priest I told you, showed the tailor's daughter, Who goes to his house to iron his cassocks 1, A bowl full of coins 2 That he kept inside a drawer, Telling her: « If you accept to have sex with me, 3 They are all yours, I'll give them to you with all my heart ». She pulled a face, made a slight grin, And in the end she pulled up her gown for Monsignore. Once the treat was over, To pay her the due rent of the hamper 3 , The humbug picked up a coin and gave it to her. She said: « Only one?! what does this mean? They were all mine!... » -- « Take it easy, my dear », Said the priest, « they are all yours, one at a time ». |
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1. - A kind of robe worn by the clergy. 2. - The "papetto" was a very popular coin; see the page Scudi, Testoni, Paoli for details. 3. - The literal translation is very gross. 4. - Obviously, the hamper is an obscene metaphor. |
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A VOI DE SOTTO S'aricconta c'un frate zoccolante Grasso ppiù der compar de sant'Antonio, Ner concrude una predica incarzante Sull'obbrighi der zanto madrimonio, Staccò er Cristo dar pùrpito, e gronnante De sudore strillò com'un demonio: « Eccolo, e ve lo dico a ttutte quante, Eccolo su sta croce er tistimonio. Io mo lo tiro in testa inviperito A chi ss'è ppresa er ber gusto, s'è ppresa, De temperà ppiù ppenne a ssu' marito ». A quell'atto der frate 'gni miggnotta... 'Gni donna, vorzi dì, che stava in chiesa, Arzò le mano pe pparà la bbotta. |
MIND DOWN THERE 1 It is said that once a friar Fatter than St.Anthony's companion, 2 At the end of a relentless preech About the duties of the holy marriage, Removed Christ's cross from the pulpit and, covered With sweat, cried out as loud as he could: 3 « Here he is, I'm telling each of you, Here on this cross is the witness. Now, in anger, I'll bang this on the head Of she who had the guts 4 Of making her husband a cuckold, several times ». As soon as the friar moved, every whore... I mean, every women who was in the church Held up her hands to protect herself from the blow. |
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1. - The title mimics the old cry of Rome's coachmen mind in front!, i.e. "mind the carriage, get out of the way". Here Belli cuts like a knife: he jokes on women's lack of honesty, as he had already done in the sonnet Er companatico der paradiso, and likens the fat friar to a pig. 2. - Fatter than a pig. St.Anthony is traditionally featured together with a pig, that faithfully follows the saint. 3. - Literally: cried out like a demon; in roman dialect "to do something like a demon" means "very much", or "very hastily", or "with great intensity", and so on. But here Belli uses this expression to create an ironic contrast, likening a friar to a demon. |
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LA VITA DA CANE Ah sse chiam'ozzio er suo, brutte marmotte? Nun fa mai gnente er Papa, eh? nun fa gnente? Accussì ve pijassi un accidente Come lui se strapazza e giorn'e notte. Chi parla co Dio padr'onnipotente? Chi assorve tanti fiji de mignotte? Chi manna in giro l'indurgenze a bótte? Chi va in carrozza a binidì la gente? Chi je li conta li quadrini sui? Chi l'ajuta a creà li cardinali? Le gabbelle, pe dio, nu le fa lui? Sortanto la fatica da facchino Da strappà tutto l'anno momoriali E buttalli a pezzetti in ner cestino! |
A DOG'S LIFE So would you say this is idleness, you loathsome scabs? The Pope never does anything, huh? anything? May you be damned As much as he overworks, day and night. Who speaks to God almighty? Who absolves so many sons o'bitches? Who sends out wagons of indulgences? Who rides in a carriage to go and bless the people? Who counts his money? Who helps him to appoint cardinals? By god, aren't taxes imposed by him? And what about the heavy work, All over the year, of tearing up written pleas And throwing the shreds in the wastebin! |
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INTRODUCTION SOCIETY AND EVERYDAY'S LIFE BIBLICAL THEMES |
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 BERNERI |
 PASCARELLA |
 ZANAZZO |
 TRILUSSA |
 FABRIZI |
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