06 - L'AMICO RICHTER
the FRIEND|RICHTER
06 - EL AMIGO RICHTER
06 - DE RICHTER VRIEND
06 - O AMIGO RICHTER
06 - THE FRIEND RICHTER
Ecco, amici miei, in che modo conobbi il professore Otto Richter.
here is|friends|my|in|how|way|I met|the|professor|Otto|Richter
Here, my friends, is how I met Professor Otto Richter.
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* * *
Il Rione Principe Amedeo, voi sapete, così vicino per limiti al Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, si trova ad esserne, per aspetto, assai lontano.
the|district|Prince|Amedeo|you|you know|so|near|by|limits|to the|Course|Vittorio|Emmanuele|||at||for|appearance|quite|far
The Prince Amedeo District, you know, so close to the limits of Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, is, in appearance, quite far from it.
Il Corso è ancora campagnuolo sotto la collina verde; il Rione è elegante; il Corso è tutto polveroso per la via larga e assolata; il Rione è severamente pulito.
the|Course|it is|still|rural|under|the|hill|green|the|district|it is|elegant|the|Course|it is|all|dusty|for|the|street|wide||sunny|the|district|it is|strictly|clean
The Corso is still rural under the green hill; the District is elegant; the Corso is all dusty from the wide and sunny street; the District is strictly clean.
Qui un palazzo Grifeo, che ha un'aria d'antico e una salda costruzione di pietra grigia e nuda.
here|a|palace|Grifeo|which|it has|a look|of ancient|and||||||||naked
Here is a Grifeo palace, which has an ancient air and a solid construction of bare gray stone.
Qui finestre archiacute che riflettono, a sera, nelle terse vetrate il gran chiarore della luna, la quale, di rimpetto, s'affaccia sul mare e vi bagna la sua pallida immagine.
Here|windows|arched|that|they reflect|at|evening|in the|clear|windows|the|great|brightness|of the|moon|the|which|of|opposite|it looks out|on the|sea|and|there|it bathes|the|its|pale|image
Here are pointed arch windows that reflect, in the evening, the great brightness of the moon in the clear glass, which, across the way, looks out over the sea and bathes it with her pale image.
In uno studio d'incisione, sotto il palazzo grigio, si fonde e si cesella in silenzio.
In|a|studio|of recording|under|the|palace|gray|it|merges|and|it|chisels|in|silence
In an engraving studio, beneath the gray palace, it melts and chisels in silence.
Un interno pieno di penombre; l'artista che passa e guarda, risale con la fantasia al vecchio tempo fiorentino.
a|interior|full|of|shadows|the artist|who|passes|and|looks|goes back|with|the|fantasy|to the|old|time|Florentine
An interior full of shadows; the artist who passes and looks, ascends with his imagination to the old Florentine time.
Se qui l'ambiente non fosse in gran parte lieto dell'orizzonte glauco e d'un profumo d'erbe selvatiche, e se non parlassero dell'amore della campagna i sanguigni rosolacci erti, e se non chiacchierassero, migrando a non lontane nidiate, gli
if|here|the environment|not|it were|in|large|part|happy|of the horizon|bluish-green|and|of a|fragrance|of herbs|wild|and|if|not|||||||||||not|||||far|nests|the
If here the environment were not largely joyful with the glaucous horizon and the scent of wild herbs, and if the blood-red rosolacci standing tall did not speak of the love of the countryside, and if they did not chatter, migrating to nearby nests, the
uccellini freddolosi, la bottega dell'incisore parrebbe antica, quando intorno le capitassero muri grigi e stemmi onorati da vanti di toghe o di corazze.
little birds|cold|the|shop|of the engraver|it would seem|ancient|when|around|the|they happened|walls|gray||coats of arms|honored|by|fronts|of|togas|or||armors
cold little birds, the engraver's shop seems ancient, when around it there were gray walls and coats of arms honored by the presence of togas or armor.
In questo tempo nostro, il rione è semplicemente felice della sua nettezza e del posto.
this|this|time|our|the|district|it is|simply|happy|of the|its|cleanliness||of the|place
In our time, the district is simply happy with its cleanliness and its place.
A un certo punto il parapetto della via è rotto dai primi gradini d'una scaletta malconcia.
At|a|certain|point|the|railing|of the|street|it is|broken|by the|first|steps|of a|ladder|damaged
At a certain point, the parapet of the street is broken by the first steps of a shabby staircase.
Per questa si scende in un solitario vicolo, e si esce così, passando sotto un potente arco a Chiaia, nel quartiere elegante.
for|this|one|goes down|in|a|lonely|alley|and|one|one exits|like this|passing|under|a|powerful|arch|at|Chiaia|in the|district|elegant
From here, one descends into a solitary alley, and thus exits, passing under a powerful arch in Chiaia, in the elegant neighborhood.
Dalla pace al romore, dalla tranquillità delle cose e delle persone a un movimento che vi rimette dal sogno nella realtà.
from the|peace|to the|noise||tranquility|of the|things|||people|in|a|movement|that|you|puts back|from the|dream|in the|reality
From peace to noise, from the tranquility of things and people to a movement that brings you back from dream to reality.
In certe ore, in certi momenti, il vicoletto vi parla di tante strane e misteriose cose.
In|certain|hours|||moments|the|alley|to you|it speaks|of|many|strange|and|mysterious|things
At certain hours, at certain moments, the little alley speaks to you of many strange and mysterious things.
Fu in questo vicoletto che conobbi il professore Otto Richter.
it was|in|this|alley|that|I met|the|professor|Otto|Richter
It was in this alley that I met Professor Otto Richter.
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* * *
Era una lieta mattina primaverile.
it was|a|joyful|morning|spring
It was a cheerful spring morning.
Vi giuro, amici miei, così non dico pel convenzionalismo che infiora quasi tutti i racconti dolci di tenerezze meteorologiche.
I|swear|friends|my|so|not|I say|for the|conventionalism|that|adorns|almost|all|the|stories|sweet|of|tendernesses|meteorological
I swear to you, my friends, I do not say this for the conventionalism that adorns almost all sweet tales of meteorological tenderness.
È la verità, la conoscenza accadde in aprile.
it is|the|truth||knowledge|it happened|in|April
It is the truth, the knowledge happened in April.
A ogni modo, Otto Richter lo conobbi così.
At|every|way|Otto|Richter|him|I met|like this
Anyway, I met Otto Richter like this.
Io scendevo lentamente per quella tale scaletta; egli se ne stava laggiù nel vicolo, all'ombra, piantata la punta di un ombrello nel terriccio, le mani sul manico di madreperla a gruccia.
I|I was going down|slowly|down|that|such|ladder|he|he|it|he was|down there|in the|alley|in the shade|planted|the|tip|of|an|umbrella||soil|the|hands|on the|handle||mother-of-pearl|to|hook
I was slowly descending that ladder; he was down there in the alley, in the shade, the tip of an umbrella planted in the soil, his hands on the mother-of-pearl handle.
Con le spalle al muro, gli occhi a terra, il vecchietto m'aveva l'aria di star meditando.
with|the|shoulders|to the|wall|the|eyes|at|ground|the|old man|he had me|the air|of|to be|meditating
With his back to the wall, his eyes on the ground, the old man seemed to be meditating.
Ora siccome in questa vita i pensosi sono, per lo più, i disgraziati, io che lo aveva visto dall'alto della scala piantato lì a quel modo, e me lo ritrovavo nella stessa posizione appena dall'ultimo gradino mettevo piede nel vicoletto, dissi tra me e me:
now|as|in|this|life|the|thoughtful|they are|for|it||||||it|||||||||||and|me|||||||||||||||||
Now since in this life the thoughtful are mostly the unfortunate, I who had seen him from the top of the ladder standing there like that, and found him in the same position just as I stepped into the alley from the last step, said to myself:
—Ecco uno che certamente crogiuola i guai suoi.
here is|one|who|certainly||the|troubles|his
—Here is one who certainly broils in his troubles.
Il vicolo era pieno di buon sole e di silenzio.
the|alley|it was|full|of|good|sun|and|of|silence
The alley was full of good sunshine and silence.
Improvvisamente fu pieno di musica.
Suddenly|he was|full|of|music
Suddenly it was filled with music.
Come mai?—pensavo, tornando indietro, colpito deliziosamente da una melodia che si spandeva.
how|ever|I thought|returning|back|struck|delightfully|by|a|melody|that|it|spread
How come?—I thought, walking back, delightfully struck by a melody that was spreading.
Il vecchio s'era mosso; passava al sole dall'ombra, avvicinandosi a una delle tre finestre basse che si aprivano sul vicolo dal muro di faccia a noi.
the|old man|he had|moved|he was passing|to the|sun|from the shadow|approaching|to|a|of the|three|windows|low|which|they||on the|alley|from the|wall|of|face|to|us
The old man had moved; he was passing from the shadow into the sunlight, approaching one of the three low windows that opened onto the alley from the wall facing us.
Alle finestre ci si arrivava quasi con la testa.
at the|windows|one|it|he arrived|almost|with|the|head
At the windows, one could almost reach them with their head.
Le vetrate erano spalancate e la musica passava.
the|windows|they were|wide open|and|the|music|was playing
The windows were wide open and the music flowed through.
Ma la facevano misteriosa certe bianche tendine, occupanti di dentro tutto il vano e pur di dentro fermate sulle assi d'un telaio.
but|the|they made|mysterious|certain|white|curtains|occupying|of|inside|all|the|space|and|even|of|inside|stops|on the|boards|of a|frame
But they were made mysterious by certain white curtains, occupying the entire space inside and even stopping on the boards of a frame.
Accostandomi alle finestre, m'avvicinavo pur al vecchietto, e procuravo di non far romore; era così assorto poverino!
approaching|to the|windows|I was getting closer|even|to the|old man|and|I tried|to|not|to make|noise|he was|so|absorbed|poor thing
As I approached the windows, I also got closer to the old man, trying not to make noise; he was so absorbed, poor thing!
L'ombrella era passata sotto l'ascella, le mani strette premevano l'ultimo bottone del panciotto ch'era in cima carezzato dalla barba rossiccia del solitario uditore.
the umbrella|it was|passed|under|the armpit|the|hands|tight|they pressed|the last|button|of the|waistcoat|which was|at|top|caressed|by the|beard|reddish|of the|solitary|listener
The umbrella had passed under the armpit, and the tightly clasped hands pressed the last button of the waistcoat that was caressed at the top by the reddish beard of the solitary listener.
A volte, mentre la melodia saliva con più sonoro ritmo, le mani si staccavano dal panciotto, e una, l'indice teso, misurava il tempo.
sometimes|times|while|the|melody|rose|with|more|sound|rhythm|the|hands|they|they detached|from the|waistcoat|and|one|the index finger|stretched|measured|the|time
Sometimes, as the melody rose with a more sonorous rhythm, the hands would detach from the waistcoat, and one, the index finger extended, would measure the time.
Si afferrava l'altra, nervosamente, al margine del soprabito, come se volesse tirar giù il panno stinto.
one|was grabbing|the other|nervously|at the|edge|of the|overcoat|as|if|he wanted|to pull|down|the|cloth|bleached
The other was nervously grasped at the edge of the overcoat, as if wanting to pull down the faded cloth.
Finita la musica il vecchietto levò il capo; sorrideva.
finished|the|music|the|old man|he raised|the|head|he was smiling
When the music ended, the old man lifted his head; he was smiling.
Me gli trovai faccia o
me|to him|I found|face|or
I found myself face to face with him.
faccia; egli seguitava a sorridere, seguitava ad armeggiar con la mano, mormorando l'ultima frase musicale, solenne.
face|he|he continued|to|to smile|he continued|to|to fiddle|with|the|hand|murmuring|the last|phrase|musical|solemn
He continued to smile, continued to fidget with his hand, murmuring the last solemn musical phrase.
Mi feci animo e gli chiesi:
I|made|spirit|and|to him|I asked
I gathered my courage and asked him:
—Scusi, chi c'è qui dentro?
excuse me|who|there is|here|inside
—Excuse me, who is in there?
Lui fece un passo innanti, rimise in movimento l'ombrella e venne a me con una chiara felicità negli occhietti azzurri.
he|he made|a|step|forward|he put back|in|motion|the umbrella||he came|to|me|with|a|clear|happiness|in the|small eyes|blue
He took a step forward, set the umbrella in motion, and came to me with a clear happiness in his blue eyes.
Rispose:
He answered
He replied:
—Beethoven.
Beethoven
—Beethoven.
Col braccio levato misurò ancora quattro o cinque battute e canticchiò un'altra volta le note.
with the|arm|raised|he measured|still|four|or|five|beats|and|he hummed|another|time|the|notes
With his arm raised, he measured another four or five beats and hummed the notes once more.
—Molto grande,—soggiunse con le labbra allungate in una smorfia d'ammirazione—molto grande!
|||||||ina|||||
—Very great,—he added with his lips stretched in a grimace of admiration—very great!
Questa sinfonia monumento.
this|symphony|monument
This symphony is a monument.
Oh!… Piace a voi, signor?
Oh…|do you like|to|you (plural)|Mr
Oh!… Do you like it, sir?
Dio mio!
my God|my
My God!
Una così deliziosa cosa!
a|so|delicious|thing
Such a delightful thing!
A chi non piace la musica di Beethoven, amici miei?
to|who|not|likes|the|music|of|Beethoven|friends|my
Who doesn't like Beethoven's music, my friends?
Gli è che non sapevo persuadermi come lì dentro ci fosse proprio lui.
to him|it is|that|not|I knew|to persuade myself|how|there|inside|there|there was|exactly|him
I just couldn't convince myself that he was really there.
Egli certamente è presente ancora all'esecuzione della sua musica, il suo spirito aleggia intorno.
he|certainly|he is|present|still|at the performance|of the|his|music|the|his|spirit|hovers|around
He is certainly still present at the performance of his music, his spirit hovers around.
E la musica trema con divino ed infinito sospiro di sentimento, la melodia culla l'anima.
and|the|music|shakes|with|divine|and|infinite|sigh|of|feeling|the|melody|cradles|the soul
And the music trembles with a divine and infinite sigh of feeling, the melody cradles the soul.
Io avevo ben riconosciuta la Pastorale.
I|I had|well|recognized|the|Pastoral
I had clearly recognized the Pastoral.
Ricordate, voi, amici?
do you remember|you|friends
Do you remember, friends?
Ah!
Ah!
perchè la musica non si può scrivere e leggere come la parola!…
why|the|music|not|it|can|to write|and|to read|like|the|word
because music cannot be written and read like words!…
—Lei dice che la musica è di Beethoven—feci, ridendo—e sta bene.
she|she says|that|the|music|it is|by|Beethoven|I said|laughing|and|it is|well
—She says that the music is by Beethoven—I said, laughing—and that's fine.
Ma com'è che Beethoven si trova lì dentro?
but|how is it|that|Beethoven|he|he finds|there|inside
But how is it that Beethoven is inside there?
È risuscitato?
he is|risen
Has he resurrected?
Lui rispose lentamente, tutto serio:
he|he answered|slowly|all|serious
He replied slowly, all serious:
—Beethoven morto assai tempo.
Beethoven|dead|quite|time
—Beethoven dead a long time.
Qui Società Quartetto.
Here|Society|Quartet
Here Quartet Society.
Concerto.
Concert
Concert.
—Forestiere lei?
foreigner|she
—Foreigner, are you?
—Allemand, di Germania.
German|of|Germany
—German, from Germany.
Tetesco.
Tesco
Teutonic.
—E vive qui, a Napoli?
And|he lives|here|at|Naples
—And do you live here, in Naples?
Disse con gli occhi di sì.
he said|with|the|eyes|of|yes
He said with his eyes yes.
E poi accennò pure che tacessi e si riavvicinò alle finestre.
and|then|he hinted|also|that|I should be silent|and|he|he got closer|to the|windows
And then he also hinted that I should be quiet and moved closer to the windows.
Ricominciava la musica.
it was starting again|the|music
The music was starting again.
Chi ora?
Who|time
Who now?
—Psst—fece lui—Bocherino.
hey|he made|him|Bocherino
—Psst—he said—Bocherino.
Mise l'indice sulle labbra e socchiuse gli occhi, come rapito.
he put|the index finger|on the|lips|and|he half-closed|the|eyes|as|captured
He put his finger to his lips and half-closed his eyes, as if entranced.
Che finezza, che languore, amici miei!
what|fineness|what|languor|friends|my
What finesse, what languor, my friends!
La conoscete voi questa Siciliana del gentile minuettista?
the|you know|you|this|Sicilian|of the|gentle|minuet composer
Do you know this Sicilian from the gentle minuettist?
Come sorrideva il vecchietto in tutta la durata dei sospiri del settecento, agli scherzi dei violini, rievocanti tutto un passato dolce, sparso di polvere d'iris e odoroso di buon cioccolatte.
as|he was smiling|the|old man|throughout|all|the|duration|of the|sighs|of the|seventeen hundreds|to the|jokes|of the|violins|evoking|all|a|past|sweet|scattered|of|dust|of iris||fragrant|of|good|chocolate
How the old man smiled throughout the duration of the sighs of the eighteenth century, at the jokes of the violins, evoking a sweet past, sprinkled with iris dust and fragrant with good chocolate.
Cari amici, in questo vicoletto al Rione si sogna; e che buon sole, che buona musica, amici miei!
dear|friends|in|this|alley|at the|district|one|dreams|and|what|good|sun|||music||my
Dear friends, in this little alley in the district, one dreams; and what good sun, what good music, my friends!
* * *
* * *
E vi tornai.
and|you|I returned
And I returned.
Ancora il professore Otto Richter non mi aveva tutto narrato di
still|the|professor|Otto|Richter|not|to me|he had|everything|narrated|of
Professor Otto Richter still had not told me everything about
sè.
self
himself.
La sua piccola figura da racconto d'Hoffmannn o d'Erckmann-Chatrian, la sua placida figura tedesca serbava qualcosa di misterioso ch'io cercavo
the|his|small|figure|from|story|of Hoffmann|or|||||calm|figure|German|it held|something|of|mysterious|that I|I was looking for
His small figure, like a character from Hoffmann or Erckmann-Chatrian, his placid German figure held something mysterious that I was seeking.
invano di scrutare e su cui arzigogolavo senza raccapezzarmici.
in vain|of|to scrutinize|and|on|which|I was convoluting|without|to make sense of it
in vain to scrutinize and on which I was rambling without making sense.
Seppi soltanto questo da lui, alle prime confidenze, ch'egli era venuto di Germania in Italia a piedi.
I knew|only|this|from|him|at the|first|confidences|that he|he was|come|from|Germany|in|Italy|on|foot
I only learned this from him, in our early confidences, that he had come from Germany to Italy on foot.
Amici, capite?
friends|do you understand
Friends, do you understand?
A piedi.
At|feet
On foot.
Ne rimasi inorridito; io che adoro le vetture, la ferrovia, le tramvie, tutto che è mezzo di trasporto!
of it|I remained|shocked|I|who|I love|the|cars||railway||trams|everything|that|it is|means|of|transport
I was horrified; I who adore vehicles, the railway, trams, everything that is a means of transport!
Il mio sguardo scese subito alle scarpe del buon uomo, due scarpe punto eleganti, dal tomaio piatto, basso, enorme, dalla punta quadrata, dalle suola doppie tre dita.
the|my|look|it went down|immediately|to the|shoes|of the|good|man|two|||elegant|from the|upper|flat|low|huge|from the|tip|square|from the|sole|double|three|fingers
My gaze immediately fell to the shoes of the good man, two rather elegant shoes, with a flat, low, huge upper, square toe, and double soles three fingers thick.
Vere scarpe nordiche.
real|shoes|nordic
True Nordic shoes.
Egli posava su quel piedestallo e sorrideva, contentissimo.
he|he was posing|on|that|pedestal|and|he was smiling|very happy
He stood on that pedestal and smiled, very happy.
Aveva, parlando, un certo ammiccar d'occhi malizioso, pel quale gli si arricciavano le gote.
he had|talking|a|certain|to wink|of eyes|playful|for which|which|his|he|they curled|the|cheeks
While speaking, he had a certain mischievous twinkle in his eyes, which made his cheeks curl.
Tutta la faccia diventava una ruga sola.
all|the|face|became|a|wrinkle|only
His whole face became a single wrinkle.
Parlava a bassa voce.
he was speaking|at|low|voice
He spoke in a low voice.
E poi seppi, pure da lui, ch'egli era a Napoli da tempo, che abitava nel torrione di S. Martino, che in tutta la santa giornata girava nella città dando lezioni di lingua tedesca.
and|then|I learned|also|by|him|that he|he was|at|Naples|for|time|that|he lived|in the|tower|of|St|Martin|that|in|all|the|holy|day|he walked around|in the|city|giving|lessons|of|language|German
And then I learned, also from him, that he had been in Naples for some time, that he lived in the S. Martino tower, and that he spent the whole holy day wandering around the city giving German language lessons.
—Voi non conoscete?—fece lui.
you|not|do you know|he said|he
—You don't know it?—he said.
—No—risposi, mortificato—Ma amerei imparare la vostra lingua.
No—|I replied|mortified|But|I would love|to learn|the|your|language
—No— I replied, mortified—But I would love to learn your language.
—Desiderate lezione?—disse lui, sorridendo.—Parleremo di questo.
do you want|lesson|he said|he|smiling|we will talk|about|this
—Do you want a lesson?—he said, smiling.—We will talk about this.
Poi non ne parlammo più.
then|not|it|we talked|more
Then we didn't talk about it anymore.
Era un vecchietto pieno di delicatezze.
it was|a|old man|full|of|delicacies
He was an old man full of delicacies.
Continuavano le prove della Società del Quartetto.
they continued|the|tests|of the|Society|of the|Quartet
They continued the rehearsals of the Quartet Society.
Una mattina il professore
a|morning|the|professor
One morning, Professor
Otto Richter se ne venne nel vicoletto con tra mani un libriccino di elegante edizione tedesca.
Otto|Richter|he|there|he came|in the|alley|with|between|hands|a|small book|of|elegant|edition|German
Otto Richter came down the alley with a little book of elegant German edition in his hands.
—E questo?
and|this
—And this?
—Questo?
This
—This?
Trattato veleni.
treatise|poisons
Poison treaty.
Veleni?
Poisons
Poisons?
Che faccia feci?
What|face|did I make
What face did I make?
Ma il vecchietto si affrettò a soggiungere, battendo in petto la mano aperta:
but|the|old man|he|he hurried|to|to add|beating|in|chest|the|hand|open
But the old man hurried to add, beating his open hand on his chest:
—Io anche un poco medico.
I|also|a|little|doctor
—I am also a bit of a doctor.
Un po' medico, un poco poeta, un poco pittore—egli era un po' di tutto.
a|little|doctor|a|some|poet|a||||||little|of|everything
A bit of a doctor, a little poet, a little painter—he was a bit of everything.
Sopratutto un musicomane.
above all|a|music lover
Above all, a music lover.
La mia ammirazione cresceva di domenica in domenica, come i concerti del Quartetto si seguivano e ci teneva insieme la comodità del vicoletto.
the|my|admiration|grew|of|Sunday|on|Sunday|as|the|concerts|of the|Quartet|they|followed|and|us|kept|together|the|convenience|of the|alley
My admiration grew from Sunday to Sunday, as the concerts of the Quartet followed one another and the convenience of the little alley kept us together.
Bisognava vedere il mio amico Otto Richter mentre romoreggiava, di dentro, la Cavalcata delle Walcüre.
it was necessary|to see|the|my|friend|Otto|Richter|while|he was making noise|inside|inside|the|Ride|of the|Valkyries
You had to see my friend Otto Richter while he was roaring, inside, the Ride of the Valkyries.
Quel buon Richter!
that|good|Richter
That good Richter!
Coi pugni stretti, gli occhi lampeggianti, le gambe allargate, l'ombrella brandita come la frusta d'una delle ammazzoni wagneriane, facendo: Pa pa ta pa!
with the|fists|tight|the|eyes|flashing|the|legs|spread|the umbrella|brandished|like|the|whip|of one|of the|amazons|Wagnerian|making|Pa|pa|ta|
With clenched fists, sparkling eyes, legs spread apart, the umbrella wielded like the whip of one of the Wagnerian Valkyries, going: Pa pa ta pa!
Pa
father
Pa
pa ta pa!
father|you|father
pa ta pa!
Papatapa!
an informal exclamation or sound
Papatapa!
Zin!
Zin!
* * *
* * *
Passò un mese, un felice mese di pruove e di concerti.
it passed|a|month|one|happy|month|of|tests|and|of|concerts
A month passed, a happy month of rehearsals and concerts.
Non mancammo mai.
not|we missed|ever
We never missed.
Sui muricciuoli del vicoletto spuntavano fiorellini gialli e tutte lo creste n'erano vestite.
on the|small walls|of the|alley|they sprouted|small flowers|yellow|and|all|the|crests|they were|dressed
On the little walls of the alley, yellow flowers were sprouting, and all the crests were dressed in them.
Una striscia d'ombra sotto quei muriccioli, e in mezzo al vicolo un accampamento di sole.
one|stripe|of shadow|under|those|low walls|and|in|middle|to the|alley|a|camp|of|sun
A strip of shadow under those little walls, and in the middle of the alley, a camp of sunlight.
Saliva la musica fino al Rione, chiamando i passanti, invitandoli alla platea solitaria di questo teatro improvvisato.
he/she climbs|the|music|up to|to the|district|calling|the|passersby|inviting them|to the|audience|lonely|of|this|theater|improvised
The music rose up to the neighborhood, calling passersby, inviting them to the solitary stage of this improvised theater.
E pei gradini diruti scendevano subitamente figurine femminili, allegri cavalierini in galanterie.
and|by the|steps|ruined|they descended|suddenly|figures|feminine|cheerful|knights|in|gallantry
And down the crumbling steps, feminine figures suddenly descended, cheerful little knights in gallantries.
Era un romore di stivalini saltellanti che faceva voltare il mio
it was|a|noise|of|ankle boots|bouncing|that|it made|to turn|the|my
It was a noise of bouncing boots that made me turn.
arnica Richter.
arnica|Richter
arnica Richter.
Egli pareva un vecchio passero solitario turbato da una folia accorrente di uccellini chiassoni.
he|he seemed|a|old|sparrow|lonely|disturbed|by|a|flurry|running|of|small birds|chattering
He seemed like an old solitary sparrow disturbed by a sudden rush of noisy little birds.
Si ricantucciava e non si moveva pili.
he|he was huddling|and|not|he|he was moving|more
He would huddle and not move anymore.
Qualche piccola signorina lo indicava, sorridendo.
some|small|young lady|it|was indicating|smiling
Some little lady pointed at him, smiling.
Certo il mio amico Richter impressionava.
Sure|the|my|friend|Richter|he impressed
Surely my friend Richter made an impression.
Era una figura originale, di quelle che i giornali illustrati tedeschi mettono in una novella semplice e buona, vivificata dalla matita di un artista di spirito.
it was|a|figure|original|of|those|that|the|newspapers|illustrated|German|they put|in|a|novel|simple|and|good|vivified|by the|pencil|of|a|artist|of|spirit
He was an original figure, one of those that the illustrated German newspapers place in a simple and good short story, brought to life by the pencil of a spirited artist.
Parecchie volte lo incontravo in quei paraggi, con una valigetta appesa a una mano, l'eterna ombrella nell'altra.
several|times|him|I met|in|those|areas|with|a|briefcase|hung|on||hand|the eternal|umbrella|in the other
Several times I encountered him in those areas, with a briefcase hanging from one hand, the eternal umbrella in the other.
La valigetta s'empiva di frutta: di erbaggi di latticinii, d'un po' di
the|briefcase|it filled up|of|fruit||vegetables||dairy products|of a|little|
The briefcase was filled with fruit: with herbs, dairy products, a bit of
tutto.
everything
everything.
Il mio amico Richter entrava frettolosamente nella bottega d'un pastaio, faceva di cappello con quella cortesia ch'è tutta tedesca e chiedeva due chilogrammi di vermicelli.
the|my|friend|Richter|he entered|hastily|into the|shop|of a|pasta maker|he made|of|hat|with|that|politeness|which is|all|German|and|he asked|two|kilograms|of|vermicelli
My friend Richter hurried into the shop of a pasta maker, tipped his hat with that courtesy that is entirely German and asked for two kilograms of vermicelli.
E in un'ora egli si era provvisto di tutto il mangiabile e il cucinabile.
and|in|an hour|he|he|he was|provided|of|everything|the|edible|and||cookable
Y en una hora se había provisto de todo lo comestible y cocinable.
And in an hour he had provided himself with all the food and cooking supplies.
Così tornava a S. Martino e di lì scendeva per andare a udir la musica in Villa Nazionale o in qualche altro posto dove musica si facesse.
so|he was returning|to|Saint|Martin|and|from|there|he was going down|to|to go|to|to hear|the|music|in|Villa|National|or|in|some|other|place|where|music|it|was made
So he returned to S. Martino and from there went down to listen to music in Villa Nazionale or in some other place where music was played.
Era la sua grande passione.
it was|the|his|great|passion
It was his great passion.
Una mattina lo vidi che seguiva le esequie di un capitano suicida.
a|morning|him|I saw|that|he was following|the|funeral|of|a|captain|suicidal
One morning I saw him following the funeral of a suicidal captain.
Era accanto alla banda musicale, tutto pensoso, l'eterna ombrella sotto il braccio.
it was|next to|to the|band|musical|all|thoughtful|the eternal|umbrella|under|the|arm
He was next to the band, all pensive, the eternal umbrella under his arm.
Lo vedevo poi qua a là per le vie, per le stradicciuole di Napoli, frettoloso, parlante a se stesso.
I|I saw|then|here|at|there|through|the|streets|||small streets|of|Naples|hasty|talking|to|self|same
I would see him here and there in the streets, in the little alleys of Naples, hurried, talking to himself.
Forse si recava alle sue lezioni di tedesco.
maybe|he|he was going|to the|his|lessons|of|German
Perhaps he was going to his German lessons.
Poi non lo vidi più.
then|not|him|I saw|more
Then I didn't see him anymore.
Scompaiono tante persone ogni giorno in questa Napoli, e tante ne compaiono di nuove!
they disappear|many|people|every|day|in|this|Naples|and||of them|they appear|of|new
So many people disappear every day in this Naples, and so many new ones appear!
* * *
* * *
Una sera, era qui la regina, si dava in onore di lei un concerto al Quartetto.
one|evening|it was|here|the|queen|one|was giving|in|honor|of|she|a|concert|at the|Quartet
One evening, the queen was here, a concert was being held in her honor at the Quartet.
Il vicoletto era pieno.
the|small alley|it was|full
The alley was full.
Eravamo in parecchi amici, nella più grande aspettazione per un programma che prometteva Schumman, Wagner, Boccherini, Beethoven.
we were|in|several|friends|in the|more|big|expectation|for|a|program|that|promised|Schumann|Wagner|Boccherini|Beethoven
We were several friends, in great anticipation for a program that promised Schumann, Wagner, Boccherini, Beethoven.
La sala era certamente affollata, ma qui, nel vicoletto, al fresco, come si stava meglio, e senza pagare il biglietto!
the|room|it was|certainly|crowded|but|here|in the|alley|at the|cool|how|one|it was|better|and|without|to pay|the|ticket
The hall was certainly crowded, but here, in the alley, in the cool air, it was much better, and without paying for a ticket!
Per le aperte finestre uscivano il susurro degli intervenuti, lo strepito delle seggiole smosse, un fruscio d'abiti serici.
for|the|open|windows|they were coming out|the|whisper|of the|participants|the|clatter|of the|chairs|moved|a|rustle|of clothes|silk
From the open windows came the whispers of the attendees, the clatter of moved chairs, a rustle of silk garments.
Di tanto in tanto un accordo di violino, un suono rauco di tromba, una voce che chiamava.
of|much|in|so much|a|chord|of|violin||sound||of|trumpet||voice|that|was calling
From time to time a violin chord, a hoarse trumpet sound, a voice calling.
Il vicoletto fu, a un momento, tutto illuminato dalla luna che si liberava dall'impiccio di certe nuvole impromettenti, e campeggiava serenamente in cielo.
the|small street|it was|at|a|moment|all|illuminated|by the|moon|which|it|was freeing|from the hassle|of|certain|clouds|unpromising|and|was standing out|serenely|in|sky
The alley was, at one moment, completely illuminated by the moon freeing itself from the burden of certain threatening clouds, and it stood serenely in the sky.
Noi altri si chiacchierava, aspettando.
we|others|one|was chatting|waiting
We others were chatting, waiting.
Accosto a me era seduto un uomo occhialuto, dalla piccola e incolta barba nera.
I approach|to|myself|there was|sitting|a|man|glasses-wearing|from the|small|and|unkempt|beard|black
Next to me sat a bespectacled man, with a small and unkempt black beard.
Un forestiero.
a|foreigner
A foreigner.
Non so
not|I know
I don't know
come io gli abbia rivolta la parola, ne so più perchè.
how|I|to him|I have|turned|the|word|not|I know|more|because
how I spoke to him, nor do I know why.
Certo è che il mio vicino, tra una domanda e una risposta, brevi sempre, mi disse che egli era tedesco, ch'era professore di lingua tedesca, e che avrebbe desiderato di esser conosciuto.
certainly|it is|that|the|my|neighbor|between|a|question|and||response|short|always|to me|he said|that|he|he was|German|that he was|professor|of|language|German|and|that|he would|desired|to|to be|known
What is certain is that my neighbor, between a question and a brief answer, told me that he was German, that he was a professor of the German language, and that he would have liked to be known.
Ma lo disse, poverino, con una cert'aria!
but|it|he said|poor thing|with|a|certain air
But he said it, poor thing, with a certain air!
Pareva mortificato.
it seemed|mortified
He seemed mortified.
Tedesco, professore?
German|professor
German, professor?
Certo conosceva il mio amico Otto Richter.
sure|he knew|the|my|friend|Otto|Richter
Of course you knew my friend Otto Richter.
—Otto Richter—borbottò, cercando nella memoria.
Otto|Richter|he muttered|looking for|in the|memory
—Otto Richter—he muttered, searching his memory.
Poi fece:
then|he did
Then he said:
—Ah!
—Ah!
Richter!
Richter
Richter!
—Dunque?
so
—So?
—Morto.
—Dead.
Otto Richter?
Otto|Richter
Otto Richter?
Professore?
Professor
Professor?
Morto.
Dead
Dead.
Una cosa molto semplice per questo signore meditabondo.
a|thing|very|simple|for|this|gentleman|thoughtful
A very simple thing for this meditative gentleman.
Oh!
Oh!
povero
poor
poor
Richter!
Richter
Richter!
Ma come?
But|how
But how?
Il mio vicino pensò ancora.
the|my|neighbor|he thought|again
My neighbor thought again.
Ecco, era morto così—e si batteva in fronte—
here|he was|dead|like this|and|he|he was hitting|on|forehead
There, he was dead like this—and he was hitting his forehead—
male di cervello.
bad|of|brain
mad in the head.
Tre giorni, non più.
Three|days|not|more
Three days, no more.
Poi morto.
then|dead
Then dead.
Dopo un momento cavò da un enorme portafogli la sua carta e me la porse.
After|a|moment|he took out|from|an|huge|wallet|the|his|card|and|to me|it|he handed
After a moment, he took out his card from a huge wallet and handed it to me.
C'era su scritto, a mano: Corrado Weber, professore di lingua tedesca.
there was|on|written|by|hand|Corrado|Weber|professor|of|language|German
It was handwritten: Corrado Weber, professor of German language.
—Chieggo scusa—balbettava il pover'uomo—io solo a Napoli, solo, solo.
I ask|sorry|he stammered|the|poor man|I|alone|at|Naples||
—I apologize—stammered the poor man—I am only in Naples, alone, alone.
Così si vive, signor, lavorando.
so|one|he lives|Mr|working
This is how one lives, sir, by working.
Richter mio buon amico.
Richter|my|good|friend
Richter my good friend.
Poveretto.
poor little one
Poor thing.
Improvvisamente un fragore di battimani giunse a noi dalla sala; subito dopo l'orchestra intuonò la marcia reale.
Suddenly|a|roar|of|applause|came|to|us|from the|hall|immediately|after|the orchestra|played|the|march|royal
Suddenly a roar of applause reached us from the hall; shortly after, the orchestra struck up the royal march.
La regina entrava.
the|queen|she entered
The queen was entering.
Passarono quattro minuti; nessuno fiatava nel vicolo.
they passed|four|minutes|nobody|was breathing|in the|alley
Four minutes passed; no one breathed in the alley.
Io pensavo al mio vecchio amico Richter, al mio povero vecchietto musicomane.
I|I was thinking|to the|my|old|friend|Richter|||poor|old man|music lover
I was thinking of my old friend Richter, my poor old music lover.
—E quando è morto?
and|when|he is|dead
—And when did he die?
—Psst!—fece Weber—Chieggo scusa, signor.
Psst|he said|Weber|I ask|excuse|Sir
—Psst!—said Weber—Excuse me, sir.
Dopo.
After
Later.
Cominciava la musica.
it was starting|the|music
The music was starting.
Si levò in piedi, si scappellò e si mise ad ascoltare con religiosa attenzione.
he|he raised|in|feet|he|he tipped his hat|and|he|he put|to|to listen|with|religious|attention
He stood up, tipped his hat, and began to listen with religious attention.
SENT_CWT:ANo5RJzT=5.69 PAR_TRANS:gpt-4o-mini=2.76
en:ANo5RJzT
openai.2025-01-22
ai_request(all=242 err=0.00%) translation(all=201 err=0.00%) cwt(all=1973 err=6.18%)