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| Ferdinando Russo |
Translated and annotated by Cav. Avv. Charles Sant’Elia
[In this installment of Meridiunalata/ Southernade, a bilingual offering of Duosiciliano poetry, we are publishing Ferdinando Russo's epic poem ‘O Luciano d’’o Re - The King’s Luciano in its original Neapolitan and for the first time ever in English. Due to space considerations, we are posting the masterpiece in three parts. – Il Regno]
See parts I-III, IV-VI
VII
46ª.
Già, quanno stu Ramaglia fui chiammato,
primma ca stu viaggio se facesse,
dicette ‘o Rre: – “Ramà, si scienziato?
E vedimmo sta scienzia che dicesse!„
Ramaglia ‘o vesetai. – “State malato!
È niente, ma però… ve prupunesse…„
‘O Rre ‘o guardai. – “Che prupunisse, di’?„
-“Maiestà… ve prupunesse… ‘e nun partì!„
primma ca stu viaggio se facesse,
dicette ‘o Rre: – “Ramà, si scienziato?
E vedimmo sta scienzia che dicesse!„
Ramaglia ‘o vesetai. – “State malato!
È niente, ma però… ve prupunesse…„
‘O Rre ‘o guardai. – “Che prupunisse, di’?„
-“Maiestà… ve prupunesse… ‘e nun partì!„
47.ª
-Pecchè? dicette ‘o Rre; ch’è funnarale?
-No… nient”e chesto! Mill’anne ‘e saluta!
Ma che facimmo? Pe scanzà nu male,
mettimmo ncopp’a cuotto acqua vulluta?
E ‘o Rre: -Ramaglia mio, si’ n’animale!
Sta cosa ‘ncapo chi te l’ha mettuta?
Nun me vuò fa’ partì? Pe chi me piglie?
Quant”e avuto, pe darme sti cunziglie?!
-No… nient”e chesto! Mill’anne ‘e saluta!
Ma che facimmo? Pe scanzà nu male,
mettimmo ncopp’a cuotto acqua vulluta?
E ‘o Rre: -Ramaglia mio, si’ n’animale!
Sta cosa ‘ncapo chi te l’ha mettuta?
Nun me vuò fa’ partì? Pe chi me piglie?
Quant”e avuto, pe darme sti cunziglie?!
48.ª
E vulette partì! Nu cuoccio tuosto,
ca ‘o simmelo comm’isso, nun ce steva!
Tu l”e chiammato? E chillo t’ha rispuosto…
Na cosa bona pure t”a diceva!
Ma che buò fa’? pe malaurio nuosto,
quanno ncucciava, niente nce puteva!
‘A pigliai storta, se mettette ‘ntuono,
e vulette partì, malato e buono!
ca ‘o simmelo comm’isso, nun ce steva!
Tu l”e chiammato? E chillo t’ha rispuosto…
Na cosa bona pure t”a diceva!
Ma che buò fa’? pe malaurio nuosto,
quanno ncucciava, niente nce puteva!
‘A pigliai storta, se mettette ‘ntuono,
e vulette partì, malato e buono!
49.ª
Che v’aggia di’? Chi sa!… Si nun parteva
ferneva tuttecosa a ppazziella,
e chella sfenetezza che senteva
sarrìa passata cu na misturella…
Arïano aspettava, isso nun jeva,
e scumbinava buono ‘a jacuvella,
e te lassava comm’a statue ‘e sale
a Munzignore e a tutt”e libberale!
ferneva tuttecosa a ppazziella,
e chella sfenetezza che senteva
sarrìa passata cu na misturella…
Arïano aspettava, isso nun jeva,
e scumbinava buono ‘a jacuvella,
e te lassava comm’a statue ‘e sale
a Munzignore e a tutt”e libberale!
50.ª
Pirciò fui smaleditto, stu viaggio
cu ‘a jettatura ‘e trònole e saette!
E pirciò, pe sta causa ‘e stu rammaggio,
anfino a Manferònia nun se jette!
Jettemo a Bare… Già traseva Maggio…
Era ‘o vintotto ‘Abbrile… o vintisette…
E nce arrivàimo mmiezo a spare e suone,
e na gran folla ‘e pupulazzione.
cu ‘a jettatura ‘e trònole e saette!
E pirciò, pe sta causa ‘e stu rammaggio,
anfino a Manferònia nun se jette!
Jettemo a Bare… Già traseva Maggio…
Era ‘o vintotto ‘Abbrile… o vintisette…
E nce arrivàimo mmiezo a spare e suone,
e na gran folla ‘e pupulazzione.
51.ª
Ma n’ato malaurio l’attuccava!
Te pareva na cosa fatt’apposta!
Sott”e balcune ‘a folla aumentava,
(genta tutta fedele ‘a causa nosta)
e lle sbatteva ‘e mmane, e l’accramava:
Vivò!… Vivò!… Vivò!… Botta e risposta…
Embè, ‘o ccrerite? Justo mmiezo ‘a via,
‘o Rre a chi vede? Na cunfrataria!
Te pareva na cosa fatt’apposta!
Sott”e balcune ‘a folla aumentava,
(genta tutta fedele ‘a causa nosta)
e lle sbatteva ‘e mmane, e l’accramava:
Vivò!… Vivò!… Vivò!… Botta e risposta…
Embè, ‘o ccrerite? Justo mmiezo ‘a via,
‘o Rre a chi vede? Na cunfrataria!
52.ª
Cosa ca, si se conta, uno te dice:
“A chi l’assigne? Va ncujeta a n’ato!„
E isso, (ca ‘o Signore ‘o benedice!)
nce rummanette troppo spaventato!
Ogne mumento sunnava nemice,
e, p”a paura, sempe cchiù malato,
ve putite penzà cu che allegrìa
ricevette, accussì, Maria Sufia!
“A chi l’assigne? Va ncujeta a n’ato!„
E isso, (ca ‘o Signore ‘o benedice!)
nce rummanette troppo spaventato!
Ogne mumento sunnava nemice,
e, p”a paura, sempe cchiù malato,
ve putite penzà cu che allegrìa
ricevette, accussì, Maria Sufia!
53.ª
Nun se gudette niente, ‘e chelli ffeste!
Parlava appena, passanno ‘e paise!
Quatto, cinco parole, lestu-leste,
addò ca chillo ne facea fa’ rise!
C’argentaria! C’adduobbe e frusce ‘e veste!
‘E Ppuglie ne spennettero turnise!
Triate, balle, serenate, sciure,
e isso ncopp”a branda cu ‘e delure!
Parlava appena, passanno ‘e paise!
Quatto, cinco parole, lestu-leste,
addò ca chillo ne facea fa’ rise!
C’argentaria! C’adduobbe e frusce ‘e veste!
‘E Ppuglie ne spennettero turnise!
Triate, balle, serenate, sciure,
e isso ncopp”a branda cu ‘e delure!
54.ª
Ogge, nu poco meglio, e respirava;
dimane, verde peggio d”e ccutogne!
A tavula, penzava e nun magnava…
Cu ‘a capa sotta, se guardava ll’ogne…
Murtrïuso, accussi, sfarnetecava,
penzanno certo a chelli gran carogne
c’aveano armato contr’a isso ‘a mano
e ‘a bbajunetta ‘e Gisalao Milano.
Ogge, nu poco meglio, e respirava;
dimane, verde peggio d”e ccutogne!
A tavula, penzava e nun magnava…
Cu ‘a capa sotta, se guardava ll’ogne…
Murtrïuso, accussi, sfarnetecava,
penzanno certo a chelli gran carogne
c’aveano armato contr’a isso ‘a mano
e ‘a bbajunetta ‘e Gisalao Milano.
VIII
55.ª
Bare era propio na galantaria,
cu tutte chilli princepe rignante
c’accumpagnàino ‘a sposa! E p”allegria
tu te sentive overo n’ato ttanto!
Chesto, pe dint”e ccase e mmiezo ‘a via,
pecchè add”o Rre se ne faceano chiante!
Po’ avevano urdinato: -Lengua ‘mmocca!
-Comme sta ‘o Rre? -Sta buono… ma se cocca…
cu tutte chilli princepe rignante
c’accumpagnàino ‘a sposa! E p”allegria
tu te sentive overo n’ato ttanto!
Chesto, pe dint”e ccase e mmiezo ‘a via,
pecchè add”o Rre se ne faceano chiante!
Po’ avevano urdinato: -Lengua ‘mmocca!
-Comme sta ‘o Rre? -Sta buono… ma se cocca…
56.ª
Aviveve ‘a vedè chella Riggina!
Pe dà sullievo ‘o Rre, facev’un’arte!
Jeva essa stessa pure int”a cucina!
Na santa ‘n cielo m”a mettite ‘e parte!
Senza vulè durmì, sera e matina,
a priparà dicotte, a firmà carte…
E parlava cu miedece e dutture,
danno curaggio a ‘e stesse prufessure!
Pe dà sullievo ‘o Rre, facev’un’arte!
Jeva essa stessa pure int”a cucina!
Na santa ‘n cielo m”a mettite ‘e parte!
Senza vulè durmì, sera e matina,
a priparà dicotte, a firmà carte…
E parlava cu miedece e dutture,
danno curaggio a ‘e stesse prufessure!
57.ª
Passava ‘o tiempo… ‘O mmale aumentava…
Nisciuno cchiù diceva na parola…
Nisciuno cchiù durmeva o risciatava,
nfra nu silenzio ‘e quanno ‘a mosca vola…
Lampe allumate, gente ca pregava,
e ll’uoglio santo, e l’acqua ‘e San Nicola,
e l’abbetiello ‘e Sant’Affonzo… Che!…
Mò era n’ombra ‘e Rre, nun era ‘o Rre…!
Nisciuno cchiù diceva na parola…
Nisciuno cchiù durmeva o risciatava,
nfra nu silenzio ‘e quanno ‘a mosca vola…
Lampe allumate, gente ca pregava,
e ll’uoglio santo, e l’acqua ‘e San Nicola,
e l’abbetiello ‘e Sant’Affonzo… Che!…
Mò era n’ombra ‘e Rre, nun era ‘o Rre…!
58.ª
E venette ‘o scatascio! Se sapeva!…
Giesù! Chill’uocchie suoi!… Comme guardava!.
Vivo, senteva ‘a morte, e nun mureva,
vedenno ‘o cuorpo ca se nfracetava!…
delure dint’ali’osse, friddo, freva,
nu tremmulicchio ca te spantecava,
na smània ‘e sete, senza arrepusarte,
e vierme ca ll’ascéano ‘a tutte parte…
Giesù! Chill’uocchie suoi!… Comme guardava!.
Vivo, senteva ‘a morte, e nun mureva,
vedenno ‘o cuorpo ca se nfracetava!…
delure dint’ali’osse, friddo, freva,
nu tremmulicchio ca te spantecava,
na smània ‘e sete, senza arrepusarte,
e vierme ca ll’ascéano ‘a tutte parte…
IX
59.ª
Comm’ ‘o purtàimo, a buordo ‘o Furminanto?
Comme jette da Puortece a Caserta?
Erano mise, e chi assaggiava tanto!?
Erano mise, ch’io durmevo allerta!
Doppo prïato a Dio santo pe santo,
‘a povera Riggina, amara e sperta,
dice: – Tentammo st’urdema speranza,
e mannammo a chiammà Vicienzo Lanza!
Comme jette da Puortece a Caserta?
Erano mise, e chi assaggiava tanto!?
Erano mise, ch’io durmevo allerta!
Doppo prïato a Dio santo pe santo,
‘a povera Riggina, amara e sperta,
dice: – Tentammo st’urdema speranza,
e mannammo a chiammà Vicienzo Lanza!
60.ª
Chisto era gran duttore e libberale,
ma currette, dicìmmola comm’è!
Surtanto, le fui ditto, tale e quale,
ch’isso, ‘o malato nun l’avea vedè!
S’era penzato ca pareva male
fa trasì stu nemico nnant’ ‘o Rre;
e Lanza se strignette dint’ ‘e spalle:
“A saluta d”o Rre nun va tre calle!„
ma currette, dicìmmola comm’è!
Surtanto, le fui ditto, tale e quale,
ch’isso, ‘o malato nun l’avea vedè!
S’era penzato ca pareva male
fa trasì stu nemico nnant’ ‘o Rre;
e Lanza se strignette dint’ ‘e spalle:
“A saluta d”o Rre nun va tre calle!„
61.ª
– Comme, nun va tre calle? – V”o ddich’io!
È inutele, sta vìseta add”o Rre!
Io so’ chi so’ ! Faccio ‘o mestiero mio!
Ma è troppo tarde, mo! Sentite a me!…
P”o riesto, nu miracolo ‘o fa Dio;
ma… si ‘o facesse… ‘o vvularria vedè!
‘O fatto è chiaro comm’acqua ‘e funtana!
Dàtele latte ‘e femmena, e se sana!
È inutele, sta vìseta add”o Rre!
Io so’ chi so’ ! Faccio ‘o mestiero mio!
Ma è troppo tarde, mo! Sentite a me!…
P”o riesto, nu miracolo ‘o fa Dio;
ma… si ‘o facesse… ‘o vvularria vedè!
‘O fatto è chiaro comm’acqua ‘e funtana!
Dàtele latte ‘e femmena, e se sana!
62.ª
‘O miedeco curante era Rusato,
e se mettette a ridere. – N”o ccrire?
dicette Lanza; fai c’aggio sbagliato?
Nnanza a Vicienzo Lanza nun se rire!
E, certo, o scienzia, o c’ato fosse stato,
nui simmo jute cu ‘e vestite nire!
Speràvamo, nce dèvamo curaggio,
ma ‘o Rre murette ‘o vintiduie ‘e Maggio…
e se mettette a ridere. – N”o ccrire?
dicette Lanza; fai c’aggio sbagliato?
Nnanza a Vicienzo Lanza nun se rire!
E, certo, o scienzia, o c’ato fosse stato,
nui simmo jute cu ‘e vestite nire!
Speràvamo, nce dèvamo curaggio,
ma ‘o Rre murette ‘o vintiduie ‘e Maggio…
63.ª
Chest’è, quann”a Furtuna è na zuzzosa!
Si tu ‘o rilorgio ‘o guaste int”o cungegno,
hai voglia ‘e l’accuncià, ca nun è cosa!
E accussì fui! Muort’isso, muorto ‘o Regno!
‘A strata se facette ntruppecosa,
Calibbarde aspettava e avette ‘o segno;
cade Gaeta, doppo quatto mise,
e nui… natàimo ttutte int”e turnise!
Si tu ‘o rilorgio ‘o guaste int”o cungegno,
hai voglia ‘e l’accuncià, ca nun è cosa!
E accussì fui! Muort’isso, muorto ‘o Regno!
‘A strata se facette ntruppecosa,
Calibbarde aspettava e avette ‘o segno;
cade Gaeta, doppo quatto mise,
e nui… natàimo ttutte int”e turnise!
64.ª
Ah! Ah! Me vene a ridere, me vene!
Ogneruno sperava ‘avè na Zecca,
tanta renare quanto so’ ll’arene,
‘a gallenella janca, ‘a Lecca e ‘a Mecca!
Faciteme ‘e berè, sti ppanze chiene!
Seh, seh! Quanno se ngrassa ‘a ficusecca!
Comme scialammo bello, dint’a st’oro!
Sciù pe la faccia vosta! A vuie e a lloro!
Ogneruno sperava ‘avè na Zecca,
tanta renare quanto so’ ll’arene,
‘a gallenella janca, ‘a Lecca e ‘a Mecca!
Faciteme ‘e berè, sti ppanze chiene!
Seh, seh! Quanno se ngrassa ‘a ficusecca!
Comme scialammo bello, dint’a st’oro!
Sciù pe la faccia vosta! A vuie e a lloro!
65.ª
Ccà stammo tuttuquante int”o spitale!
Tenimmo tutte ‘a stessa malatia!
Simmo rummase tutte mmiezo ‘e scale,
fora ‘a lucanna d’ ‘a Pezzentaria!
Che me vuò di’? Ca simmo libberale?
E addò l’appuoie, sta sbafantaria?
Quanno figlieto chiagne e vo’ magná,
cerca int”a sacca… e dalle ‘a libbertà!
Tenimmo tutte ‘a stessa malatia!
Simmo rummase tutte mmiezo ‘e scale,
fora ‘a lucanna d’ ‘a Pezzentaria!
Che me vuò di’? Ca simmo libberale?
E addò l’appuoie, sta sbafantaria?
Quanno figlieto chiagne e vo’ magná,
cerca int”a sacca… e dalle ‘a libbertà!
VII
46ª.
Already, when this Ramaglia was called,
before this voyage was made,
the King said: – “Ramà, you’re a scientist?
And let’s see what this science says!„
Ramaglia visited him. – “You are ill!
It’s nothing, however… I’d propose you…„
The King looked at him. – “What would you propose, do tell?„
-“Majesty… I’d propose you… do not depart!„
before this voyage was made,
the King said: – “Ramà, you’re a scientist?
And let’s see what this science says!„
Ramaglia visited him. – “You are ill!
It’s nothing, however… I’d propose you…„
The King looked at him. – “What would you propose, do tell?„
-“Majesty… I’d propose you… do not depart!„
47.ª
-Why? asked the King; it is a funeral?
-No… nothing of the sort! A thousand years of health!
But what do we do? To avoid any harm,
shall we throw oil on the fire?
And the King: -My Ramaglia, you’re an animal!
Who put this thing in your head?
You don’t want to let me depart? Who do you take me for?
How much did you get, to give me this advice?!
-No… nothing of the sort! A thousand years of health!
But what do we do? To avoid any harm,
shall we throw oil on the fire?
And the King: -My Ramaglia, you’re an animal!
Who put this thing in your head?
You don’t want to let me depart? Who do you take me for?
How much did you get, to give me this advice?!
48.ª
And he wanted to depart! A stubborn man,
the likes of which, were not to be found!
You called him? And he answered you…
He even told you a good thing!
But what can one do? To our chagrin,
when he dug in, nothing could be done!
He took it the wrong way, he straightened himself out,
and he wanted to depart, good and sick!
the likes of which, were not to be found!
You called him? And he answered you…
He even told you a good thing!
But what can one do? To our chagrin,
when he dug in, nothing could be done!
He took it the wrong way, he straightened himself out,
and he wanted to depart, good and sick!
49.ª
What can I tell you? Who knows!… If he didn’t depart
everything would have ended as a trifle,
and that exhaustion that he felt
would have passed with a little calming mixture…(31)
Arïano would have waited, he wouldn’t have gone,
and he’d have undone the silly intrigue real good,
and he’d have left like statues of salt
Monsignor and all the liberals!
everything would have ended as a trifle,
and that exhaustion that he felt
would have passed with a little calming mixture…(31)
Arïano would have waited, he wouldn’t have gone,
and he’d have undone the silly intrigue real good,
and he’d have left like statues of salt
Monsignor and all the liberals!
50.ª
Therefore was cursed, this journey
with the jinx of thunder and lightning!
And therefore, on account of this harm,
he didn’t go as far as Manferònia!(32)
We went to Bari… May was already approaching…
It was the twenty-eighth of April… or twenty-seventh…
And we arrived amid shots and sounds,
and a great crowd of the population.
with the jinx of thunder and lightning!
And therefore, on account of this harm,
he didn’t go as far as Manferònia!(32)
We went to Bari… May was already approaching…
It was the twenty-eighth of April… or twenty-seventh…
And we arrived amid shots and sounds,
and a great crowd of the population.
51.ª
But another ill omen was due him!
It seemed to you as if done on purpose!
Under the balconies the crowd was growing,
(all people faithful to our cause)
and they were applauding, and were acclaiming him:
Vivò!… Vivò!… Vivò!(33)… Call and answer…
Well, do you believe it? Right in the middle of the street,
who did the King see? A religious confraternity!
It seemed to you as if done on purpose!
Under the balconies the crowd was growing,
(all people faithful to our cause)
and they were applauding, and were acclaiming him:
Vivò!… Vivò!… Vivò!(33)… Call and answer…
Well, do you believe it? Right in the middle of the street,
who did the King see? A religious confraternity!
52.ª
A thing which, if one recounts it, one tells you:
“Who are you kidding? Go bother someone else!„
And he, (may the Lord bless him!)
he remained too afraid of it!
Every moment he was dreaming of enemies,
and, out of fear, ever more ill,
you can imagine with what merriment
he received, like this, Maria Sufia!(34)
“Who are you kidding? Go bother someone else!„
And he, (may the Lord bless him!)
he remained too afraid of it!
Every moment he was dreaming of enemies,
and, out of fear, ever more ill,
you can imagine with what merriment
he received, like this, Maria Sufia!(34)
53.ª
He didn’t enjoy anything, of those feasts!
He was barely speaking, passing the towns!
Four, five words, hurriedly,
whereas before he’d make you laugh!
What silverware! What decorations and rustle of dresses!
Puglia spent turnise!(35)
Theaters, balls, serenades, flowers,
and he on the cot with his pains!
He was barely speaking, passing the towns!
Four, five words, hurriedly,
whereas before he’d make you laugh!
What silverware! What decorations and rustle of dresses!
Puglia spent turnise!(35)
Theaters, balls, serenades, flowers,
and he on the cot with his pains!
54.ª
Today, a little better, he was breathing;
tomorrow, green worse than quince!
At table, he was thinking and not eating…
With his head down, he looked at his nails…
Long-faced, like that, he was growing delirious,
thinking certainly of those lousy vermin
that had armed against him the hand
and the bayonet of Gisalao Milano.(36)
Today, a little better, he was breathing;
tomorrow, green worse than quince!
At table, he was thinking and not eating…
With his head down, he looked at his nails…
Long-faced, like that, he was growing delirious,
thinking certainly of those lousy vermin
that had armed against him the hand
and the bayonet of Gisalao Milano.(36)
VIII
55.ª
Bari was all gallantry,
with all those royal princes
that accompanied the bride! And for all the merriment
you truly felt the same!
This, in the houses and in the streets,
because near the King they were weeping!
Then they had ordered: -Tongues in your mouths!
-How’s the King? –He’s well… but lying down…
with all those royal princes
that accompanied the bride! And for all the merriment
you truly felt the same!
This, in the houses and in the streets,
because near the King they were weeping!
Then they had ordered: -Tongues in your mouths!
-How’s the King? –He’s well… but lying down…
56.ª
You all should have seen that Queen!
To give comfort to the King, she made an art form!
She even went herself in the kitchen!
A saint in heaven you’ll set her aside for me!
Without wanting to sleep, morning and night,
preparing infusions, signing papers…
And she talked to physicians and doctors,
giving courage to the professors themselves!
To give comfort to the King, she made an art form!
She even went herself in the kitchen!
A saint in heaven you’ll set her aside for me!
Without wanting to sleep, morning and night,
preparing infusions, signing papers…
And she talked to physicians and doctors,
giving courage to the professors themselves!
57.ª
Time was passing… The illness was increasing…
Nobody said a word any longer…
Nobody was sleeping or breathing,
amid a silence like when I fly flies…
Lamps lit, people were praying,
and holy oil, and the water of Saint Nicholas,
and the holy card of Saint Alphonse… What!…
Now he was the shadow of a King, he wasn’t the King…!
Nobody said a word any longer…
Nobody was sleeping or breathing,
amid a silence like when I fly flies…
Lamps lit, people were praying,
and holy oil, and the water of Saint Nicholas,
and the holy card of Saint Alphonse… What!…
Now he was the shadow of a King, he wasn’t the King…!
58.ª
And the disaster came! One could tell!…
Jesus! Those eyes of his!… How he was looking about!.
Alive, he felt death, and was not dying,
seeing his body that was rotting!…
pain in the bones, chills, fever,
a frightful tremor,
a lingering thirst, without letting you rest,
and worms coming out of him all over…
Jesus! Those eyes of his!… How he was looking about!.
Alive, he felt death, and was not dying,
seeing his body that was rotting!…
pain in the bones, chills, fever,
a frightful tremor,
a lingering thirst, without letting you rest,
and worms coming out of him all over…
IX
59.ª
How did we take him, aboard the Furminanto?(37)
How did he go from Portici to Caserta?
They were months, and who experienced so much!?
They were months, for I slept standing up!
After having prayed to God and saint by saint,
the poor Queen, bitter and wandering about,
says: – Let’s try this last hope,
and we sent to call Vicienzo Lanza!
How did he go from Portici to Caserta?
They were months, and who experienced so much!?
They were months, for I slept standing up!
After having prayed to God and saint by saint,
the poor Queen, bitter and wandering about,
says: – Let’s try this last hope,
and we sent to call Vicienzo Lanza!
60.ª
This was a great doctor and a liberal,
but he ran, let’s tell it like it was!
Only that, he was told, just like that,
that he was not to see the sick man!
One thought it was bad
to let this enemy enter before the King;
and Lanza shrugged his shoulders:
“The King’s health isn’t worth three calle!„(38)
but he ran, let’s tell it like it was!
Only that, he was told, just like that,
that he was not to see the sick man!
One thought it was bad
to let this enemy enter before the King;
and Lanza shrugged his shoulders:
“The King’s health isn’t worth three calle!„(38)
61.ª
– How now, it’s not worth three calle? – I’m telling you all!
It’s useless, this visit to the King!
I know who I am ! I do my job!
But it’s too late, now! Listen to me!…
As to the rest, God will do a miracle;
but… if he’d do it… I’d like to see it!
The fact is clear as fountain water!
Give him woman’s milk, and he’ll heal!
It’s useless, this visit to the King!
I know who I am ! I do my job!
But it’s too late, now! Listen to me!…
As to the rest, God will do a miracle;
but… if he’d do it… I’d like to see it!
The fact is clear as fountain water!
Give him woman’s milk, and he’ll heal!
62.ª
The treating physician was Rusato,(39)
and he set himself to laughing. – You don’t believe it?
said Lanza; you say I’m wrong?
Before Vicienzo Lanza(40) one does not laugh!
And, indeed, science, or whatever it was it,
we wound up in black suits!
We were hoping, we took courage,
but the King died on the twenty-second of May…
and he set himself to laughing. – You don’t believe it?
said Lanza; you say I’m wrong?
Before Vicienzo Lanza(40) one does not laugh!
And, indeed, science, or whatever it was it,
we wound up in black suits!
We were hoping, we took courage,
but the King died on the twenty-second of May…
63.ª
This is it, when Fortune is a dirty wench!
If you break your watch’s mechanism,
it is pointless to adjust it, it won’t work!
And so it was! Him dead, the Kingdom dead!
The going got rough,
Garibaldi was waiting and he got the signal;
Gaeta fell, after four months,
and us… we all swam in cash!(41)
If you break your watch’s mechanism,
it is pointless to adjust it, it won’t work!
And so it was! Him dead, the Kingdom dead!
The going got rough,
Garibaldi was waiting and he got the signal;
Gaeta fell, after four months,
and us… we all swam in cash!(41)
64.ª
Ah! Ah! It makes me laugh, it does!
Everyone hoped to have a Mint,
as much money as there are grains of sand,
the golden goose, all round!(42)
Let me see, these full bellies!
Oh yeah, oh yeah! When the dried fig fattens up!(43)
How we’re celebrating, in this gold!
Spit in your faces! To all of you and to them!
Everyone hoped to have a Mint,
as much money as there are grains of sand,
the golden goose, all round!(42)
Let me see, these full bellies!
Oh yeah, oh yeah! When the dried fig fattens up!(43)
How we’re celebrating, in this gold!
Spit in your faces! To all of you and to them!
65.ª
Here every one of us is in the hospital!
We all have the same illness!
We’re all left in the middle of the stairs,
outside the Beggar house!
What do you want to tell me? That we’re liberals?
And where are you hanging up, this braggadocio?
When your son cries and wants to eat,
look in your pocket… and give him freedom!
We all have the same illness!
We’re all left in the middle of the stairs,
outside the Beggar house!
What do you want to tell me? That we’re liberals?
And where are you hanging up, this braggadocio?
When your son cries and wants to eat,
look in your pocket… and give him freedom!
Notes:
(31) Misturella: a little mixture or medicinal concoction, used ironically also for poison.
(32) Manferònia: Manfredonia. Trans. Note.
(33) Vivò!: Long live! Trans. Note.
(34) Maria Sufia: Maria Sofia von Wittelsbach of Bavaria (1841-1925), the daughter of Duke Maximilian Joseph and Princess Ludovika of Bavaria, the Bavarian Royal Princess, about to wed Ferdinando II’s son Francesco II, and who would become Queen of the Two Sicilies and later go on to serve bravely on the front with her husband and the army at the famous siege of Gaeta. Trans. Note.
(35) Turnise: or tornesi, copper coins first minted in the Kingdom in the 15th century, in use as a currency unit through 1861. Cfr. Barese dialect terrise, also used in the general sense of “money”.
(36) Gisalao Milano: or Agesilao Milano (1830-1856), was an unstable radical soldier from the province of Cosenza in Calabria, who had prior disciplinary reprimand, and who attacked King Ferdinand II, stabbing him with his bayonette after the King left mass for the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8, 1856. Despite many famous, and often repeated conspiracy theories of the King being poisoned by members of his court or his own doctors, modern scholarship posits that the King died from lingering complications from the horrible wound inflicted by Milano. Trans. Note.
(37) On the Furminanto, see footnote n. 9 above.
(38) calle: or cavalli, copper Neapolitan coins, first coined in 1472 during the reign of Ferdinando of Aragon, and so called because of the trotting horse on the reverse. The cavallo was minted during various reigns up until Ferdinando I. The cavallo as a unit was replaced by the tornese, which was equal to 6 cavalli. Like the tornese, the cavallo or callo remains alive in the Neapolitan language and in many sayings and proverbs. Trans. Note.
(39) Rusato: Prof. Cav. Franco Rosati, another Bourbon court doctor, held in high regard by the Royal Family, who like Ramaglia, was know to treat the Royal family and upper echelons of society, as well as to devote time to treat very humble patients in need. When the King decided to expand the office of Surgeon General, he appointed a commission and made Rosati its president. When the Grand duke of Tuscany respected the aid of a noted doctor, Ferdinand II sent Rosati to him in Florence to treat the Archduchess Anna. Trans. Note.
(40) Lanza: Vincenzo Lanza, another well respected physician, who served on the highest medical council with Cav. Rosati.
(41) turnise: or tornesi, see note n. 27 above. Trans. Note.
(42) ‘a Lecca a Mecca: proverbial expression, perhaps originally of Sicilian origin, meaning, “all over the place, around the world”, literally “from Lecca to Mecca”. Trans. Note.
(43) Cfr. The proverbial phrase, quanno chiove passe e ficusecche: “when it rains raisins and dried figs”, i.e. most improbable. Trans. Note.
