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Perchè le nostre genti

Original Poetry

Translation

Perchè le nostre genti

Why do our people

Pace sotto le bianche ali raccolga,

Seek peace under white wings,

Non fien da’ lacci sciolte

They will not be freed from the chains

Dell’antico sopor l’itale menti

Of ancient sleep, the Italian minds

S’ai patrii esempi della prisca etade

If this fateful land does not turn

Questa terra fatal non si rivolga.

To the examples of the ancient age.

O Italia, a cor ti stia

O Italy, let it be in your heart

Far ai passati onor; che d’altrettali

To honor the past; for today

Oggi vedove son le tue contrade,

Your lands are left without such honor,

Nè v’è chi d’onorar ti si convegna.

And there is no one to honor you.

Volgiti indietro, e guarda, o patria mia,

Look back, and see, O my country,

Quella schiera infinita d’immortali,

That endless host of immortals,

E piangi e di te stessa ti disdegna;

And weep and scorn yourself;

Che senza sdegno omai la doglia è stolta:

For without scorn now sorrow is foolish:

Volgiti e ti vergogna e ti riscuoti,

Turn and be ashamed and wake up,

E ti punga una volta

And let the thought of our ancestors and descendants

Pensier degli avi nostri e de’ nepoti.

Pierce you once.

D’aria e d’ingegno e di parlar diverso

Of different air and wit and speech

Per lo toscano suol cercando gia

Through the Tuscan land already seeking

L’ospite desioso

The eager guest

Dove giaccia colui per lo cui verso

Where lies he by whose verse

Il meonio cantor non è più solo.

The Meonian singer is no longer alone.

Ed, oh vergogna! udia

And, oh shame! I heard

Che non che il cener freddo e l’ossa nude

That not only the cold ashes and bare bones

Giaccian esuli ancora

Still lie exiled

Dopo il funereo dì sott’altro suolo,

After the funeral day under another soil,

Ma non sorgea dentro a tue mura un sasso,

But not a stone rose within your walls,

Firenze, a quello per la cui virtude

Florence, to him by whose virtue

Tutto il mondo t’onora.

The whole world honors you.

Oh voi pietosi, onde sì tristo e basso

Oh you compassionate ones, from whom such sad and low

Obbrobrio laverà nostro paese!

Disgrace will wash our country!

Bell’opra hai tolta e di ch’amor ti rende,

Beautiful work you have undertaken and of which love rewards you,

Schiera prode e cortese,

Valiant and courteous band,

Qualunque petto amor d’Italia accende.

Whichever heart love of Italy ignites.

Amor d’Italia, o cari,

Love of Italy, oh dear ones,

Amor di questa misera vi sproni,

Love of this miserable one spurs you,

Ver cui pietade è morta

Towards whom pity is dead

In ogni petto omai, perciò che amari

In every heart now, because bitter

Giorni dopo il seren dato n’ha il cielo.

Days after the serene have been given to us by heaven.

Spirti v’aggiunga e vostra opra coroni

May spirits add to you and crown your work

Misericordia, o figli,

Mercy, oh sons,

E duolo e sdegno di cotanto affanno

And grief and disdain of such great anguish

Onde bagna costei le guance e il velo.

From which she wets her cheeks and veil.

Ma voi di quale ornar parola o canto

But you of what word or song

Si debbe, a cui non pur cure o consigli,

Should be adorned, to whom not only cares or advice,

Ma dell’ingegno e della man daranno

But of wit and hand will give

I sensi e le virtudi eterno vanto

The senses and virtues eternal boast

Oprate e mostre nella dolce impresa?

Works and shows in the sweet enterprise?

Quali a voi note invio, sì che nel core,

What notes do I send to you, so that in the heart,

Sì che nell’alma accesa

So that in the kindled soul

Nova favilla indurre abbian valore?

New spark may have value?

Voi spirerà l’altissimo subbietto,

You will breathe the highest subject,

Ed acri punte premeravvi al seno.

And sharp points will press you to the heart.

Chi dirà l’onda e il turbo

Who will tell the wave and the storm

Del furor vostro e dell’immenso affetto?

Of your fury and immense affection?

Chi pingerà l’attonito sembiante?

Who will paint the astonished face?

Chi degli occhi il baleno?

Who of the eyes the flash?

Qual può voce mortal celeste cosa

What mortal voice can celestial thing

Agguagliar figurando?

Equal by depicting?

Lunge sia, lunge alma profana. Oh quante

Far be, far be profane soul. Oh how many

Lacrime al nobil sasso Italia serba!

Tears Italy keeps for the noble stone!

Come cadrà? come dal tempo rosa

How will it fall? how by time worn

Fia vostra gloria o quando?

Will your glory be or when?

Voi, di ch’il nostro mal si disacerba,

You, of whom our evil is alleviated,

Sempre vivete, o care arti divine,

Always live, oh dear divine arts,

Conforto a nostra sventurata gente,

Comfort to our unfortunate people,

Fra l’itale ruine

Among the Italian ruins

Gl’itali pregi a celebrare intente.

Intent on celebrating Italian merits.

Ecco voglioso anch’io

Here willing also I

Ad onorar nostra dolente madre

To honor our grieving mother

Porto quel che mi lice,

Bring what I can,

E mesco all’opra vostra il canto mio,

And mix my song with your work,

Sedendo u’ vostro ferro i marmi avviva.

Sitting where your iron enlivens the marbles.

O dell’etrusco metro inclito padre,

O of the Etruscan meter renowned father,

Se di cosa terrena,

If of earthly thing,

Se di costei che tanto alto locasti

If of her whom you placed so high

Qualche novella ai vostri lidi arriva,

Some news reaches your shores,

Io so ben che per te gioia non senti,

I know well that for you joy you do not feel,

Che saldi men che cera e men ch’arena,

That less firm than wax and less than sand,

Verso la fama che di te lasciasti,

Towards the fame you left of you,

Son bronzi e marmi; e dalle nostre menti

Are bronzes and marbles; and from our minds

Se mai cadesti ancor, s’unqua cadrai,

If you ever fell still, if ever you will fall,

Cresca, se crescer può, nostra sciaura,

May our misfortune grow, if it can grow,

E in sempiterni guai

And in eternal woes

Pianga tua stirpe a tutto il mondo oscura.

May your lineage weep to the whole world obscure.

Ma non per te; per questa ti rallegri

But not for you; for this rejoice

Povera patria tua, s’unqua l’esempio

Your poor homeland, if ever the example

Degli avi e de’ parenti

Of the ancestors and parents

Ponga ne’ figli sonnacchiosi ed egri

Places in the sleepy and sick children

Tanto valor che un tratto alzino il viso.

Such valor that at once they raise their gaze.

Ahi, da che lungo scempio

Ah, from what long slaughter

Vedi afflitta costei, che sì meschina

You see her afflicted, who so wretched

Te salutava allora

Greeted you then

Che di novo salisti al paradiso!

That you newly ascended to paradise!

Oggi ridotta sì che a quel che vedi,

Today reduced so that to what you see,

Fu fortunata allor donna e reina.

She was fortunate then lady and queen.

Tal miseria l’accora

Such misery afflicts her

Qual tu forse mirando a te non credi.

As you perhaps seeing do not believe.

Taccio gli altri nemici e l’altre doglie;

I am silent about the other enemies and the other pains;

Ma non la più recente e la più fera,

But not the most recent and the fiercest,

Per cui presso alle soglie

For which near the thresholds

Vide la patria tua l’ultima sera.

Your homeland saw the last evening.

Beato te che il fato

Blessed you whom fate

A viver non dannò fra tanto orrore;

Did not condemn to live among so much horror;

Che non vedesti in braccio

Who did not see in the arms

L’itala moglie a barbaro soldato;

The Italian wife to a barbarian soldier;

Non predar, non guastar cittadi e colti

Not plunder, not spoil cities and fields

L’asta inimica e il peregrin furore;

The enemy spear and the foreign fury;

Non degl’itali ingegni

Not of Italian talents

Tratte l’opre divine a miseranda

The divine works dragged to miserable

Schiavitude oltre l’alpe, e non de’ folti

Slavery beyond the Alps, and not of the thick

Carri impedita la dolente via;

Carts impeded the sorrowful way;

Non gli aspri cenni ed i superbi regni;

Not the harsh signs and the proud kingdoms;

Non udisti gli oltraggi e la nefanda

Not heard the outrages and the infamous

Voce di libertà che ne schernia

Voice of freedom that mocked us

Tra il suon delle catene e de’ flagelli.

Amid the sound of chains and whips.

Chi non si duol? che non soffrimmo? intatto

Who does not grieve? what did we not suffer? intact

Che lasciaron quei felli?

What did those villains leave?

Qual tempio, quale altare o qual misfatto?

What temple, what altar or what crime?

Perchè venimmo a sì perversi tempi?

Why did we come to such perverse times?

Perchè il nascer ne desti o perchè prima

Why did you give us birth or why first

Non ne desti il morire,

Did you not give us death,

Acerbo fato? onde a stranieri ed empi

Bitter fate? whence to strangers and impious

Nostra patria vedendo ancella e schiava,

Our homeland seeing servant and slave,

E da mordace lima

And by biting file

Roder la sua virtù, di null’aita

Gnawing its virtue, of no help

E di nullo conforto

And of no comfort

Lo spietato dolor che la stracciava

The ruthless pain that tore it

Ammollir ne fu dato in parte alcuna.

Was allowed to soften us in any part.

Ahi non il sangue nostro e non la vita

Ah not our blood and not the life

Avesti, o cara; e morto

You had, oh dear; and dead

Io non son per la tua cruda fortuna.

I am not for your cruel fortune.

Qui l’ira al cor, qui la pietade abbonda:

Here the anger to the heart, here the pity abounds:

Pugnò, cadde gran parte anche di noi:

Fought, fell a great part also of us:

Ma per la moribonda

But for the dying

Italia no; per li tiranni suoi.

Italy no; for its tyrants.

Padre, se non ti sdegni,

Father, if you do not disdain,

Mutato sei da quel che fosti in terra.

You are changed from what you were on earth.

Morian per le rutene

They died for the Ruthenian

Squallide piagge, ahi d’altra morte degni,

Squalid plains, ah worthy of another death,

Gl’itali prodi; e lor fea l’aere e il cielo

The Italian brave; and the air and the sky

E gli uomini e le belve immensa guerra.

And the men and the beasts made immense war against them.

Cadeano a squadre a squadre

They fell in squads in squads

Semivestiti, maceri e cruenti,

Half-dressed, emaciated and bloody,

Ed era letto agli egri corpi il gelo.

And the frost was bed to the sick bodies.

Allor, quando traean l’ultime pene,

Then, when they drew the last pains,

Membrando questa desiata madre,

Remembering this desired mother,

Diceano: oh non le nubi e non i venti,

They said: oh not the clouds and not the winds,

Ma ne spegnesse il ferro, e per tuo bene,

But let the iron extinguish us, and for your good,

O patria nostra. Ecco da te rimoti,

Oh our homeland. Here from you remote,

Quando più bella a noi l’età sorride,

When more beautiful to us the age smiles,

A tutto il mondo ignoti,

To the whole world unknown,

Moriam per quella gente che t’uccide.

We die for that people who kill you.

Di lor querela il boreal deserto

Of their complaint the boreal desert

E conscie fur le sibilanti selve.

And the whispering forests were aware.

Così vennero al passo,

Thus they came to the step,

E i negletti cadaveri all’aperto

And the neglected corpses in the open

Su per quello di neve orrido mare

On that of snow horrid sea

Dilaceràr le belve;

The beasts tore apart;

E sarà il nome degli egregi e forti

And the name of the illustrious and strong

Pari mai sempre ed uno

Will always be equal and one

Con quel de’ tardi e vili. Anime care,

With that of the late and vile. Dear souls,

Bench’infinita sia vostra sciagura,

Though infinite be your misfortune,

Datevi pace; e questo vi conforti

Give yourselves peace; and this comfort you

Che conforto nessuno

That no comfort

Avrete in questa o nell’età futura.

You will have in this or in the future age.

In seno al vostro smisurato affanno

In the bosom of your boundless anguish

Posate, o di costei veraci figli,

Rest, oh of her true sons,

Al cui supremo danno

To whose supreme damage

Il vostro solo è tal che s’assomigli.

Yours alone is such that resembles.

Di voi già non si lagna

Of you already does not complain

La patria vostra, ma di chi vi spinse

Your homeland, but of who pushed you

A pugnar contra lei,

To fight against her,

Sì ch’ella sempre amaramente piagna

So that she always bitterly weeps

E il suo col vostro lacrimar confonda.

And her with your tears confuses.

Oh di costei ch’ogni altra gloria vinse

Oh of her who every other glory conquered

Pietà nascesse in core

Pity was born in the heart

A tal de’ suoi ch’affaticata e lenta

To such of her who tired and slow

Di sì buia vorago e sì profonda

From such dark abyss and so deep

La ritraesse! O glorioso spirto,

Would draw her back! Oh glorious spirit,

Dimmi: d’Italia tua morto è l’amore?

Tell me: of your Italy is love dead?

Dì: quella fiamma che t’accese, è spenta?

Say: that flame that ignited you, is it extinguished?

Dì: nè più mai rinverdirà quel mirto

Say: will that myrtle never again green

Ch’alleggiò per gran tempo il nostro male?

That lightened for a long time our evil?

Nostre corone al suol fien tutte sparte?

Our crowns to the ground will all be scattered?

Nè sorgerà mai tale

And will never rise such

Che ti rassembri in qualsivoglia parte?

That resembles you in any part?

In eterno perimmo? e il nostro scorno

In eternity did we perish? and our shame

Non ha verun confine?

Has no boundary?

Io mentre viva andrò sclamando intorno,

I while alive will go exclaiming around,

Volgiti agli avi tuoi, guasto legnaggio;

Turn to your ancestors, ruined lineage;

Mira queste ruine

Look at these ruins

E le carte e le tele e i marmi e i templi;

And the papers and the canvases and the marbles and the temples;

Pensa qual terra premi; e se destarti

Think what land you tread; and if to awaken you

Non può la luce di cotanti esempli,

The light of so many examples cannot,

Che stai? levati e parti.

What are you doing? rise and leave.

Non si conviene a sì corrotta usanza

It does not suit such corrupt custom

Questa d’animi eccelsi altrice e scola:

This of exalted souls nurse and school:

Se di codardi è stanza,

If of cowards it is abode,

Meglio l’è rimaner vedova e sola.

Better it is to remain widowed and alone.

Explanation

Giacomo Leopardi's poem is a profound reflection on Italy's cultural and political stagnation, urging a return to the values of its glorious past. The poem opens with a call for Italy to awaken from its slumber and honor its historical legacy, lamenting the absence of worthy successors to the great figures of the past. Leopardi uses vivid imagery, such as "bianche ali raccolga" (white wings gather), to evoke a sense of peace and potential that remains unfulfilled.

The poem's emotional arc moves from a sense of shame and mourning for Italy's current state to a passionate plea for renewal and action. Leopardi's tone is both mournful and exhortative, as he implores his compatriots to learn from their ancestors and rise above their current plight. The imagery of "immortali" (immortals) and "nobil sasso" (noble stone) serves to remind readers of Italy's illustrious heritage and the potential for greatness that lies dormant.

Leopardi employs literary devices such as apostrophe, addressing Italy directly, and personification, giving life to abstract concepts like "sdegno" (disdain) and "doglia" (sorrow). These devices enhance the emotional intensity of the poem, making the reader feel the weight of Italy's historical burden and the urgency of its revival.

The poem's significance lies in its timeless appeal to national pride and cultural identity. Leopardi's work is a call to action, urging Italians to reclaim their place in history by honoring their past and striving for a brighter future. This message resonates with the Romantic era's emphasis on individual and national renewal, making the poem a cornerstone of Italian Romantic literature.

Word Dictionary88

Word	In Italian	In English	Pron.
Perchè	Per quale motivo	Why	Per-keh
le	le	the	leh
nostre	le nostre	our	no-streh
genti	popoli	people	jen-tee
Pace	tranquillità	peace	Pah-cheh
sotto	sotto	under	soh-toh
bianche	di colore bianco	white	bee-an-keh
ali	ali	wings	ah-lee
raccolga	raccolga	gather	rahk-kohl-gah
Non	non	not	nohn
fien	saranno	will be	fee-ehn
da’	dai	from	dah
lacci	legami	chains	lah-chee
sciolte	liberate	freed	shohl-teh
Dell’antico	del passato	of ancient	del-lan-tee-koh
sopor	sonno	slumber	soh-por
l’itale	italiane	Italian	lee-tah-leh
menti	menti	minds	men-tee
S’ai	Se ai	If to	sai
patrii	dei padri	ancestral	pah-tree-ee
esempi	modelli	examples	eh-sem-pee
della	della	of the	del-lah
prisca	antica	ancient	pree-skah
etade	età	age	eh-tah-deh
Questa	questa	this	kwes-tah
terra	terra	land	teh-rah
fatal	destinata	fatal	fah-tahl
non	non	not	nohn
si	si	does	see
rivolga	rivolga	turn	ree-vohl-gah
O	O	O	oh
Italia	Italia	Italy	ee-tah-lee-ah
a	a	to	ah
cor	cuore	heart	kor
ti	ti	you	tee
stia	stia	be	stee-ah
Far	fare	to make	fahr
ai	ai	to the	ai
passati	passati	past	pah-sah-tee
onor	onore	honor	oh-nohr
che	che	that	keh
d’altrettali	di tali	of such	dal-tret-tah-lee
Oggi	oggi	today	oh-jee
vedove	vedove	widowed	veh-doh-veh
son	sono	are	sohn
tue	tue	your	too-eh
contrade	regioni	lands	kon-trah-deh
Nè	Né	Nor	neh
v’è	c’è	is there	veh
chi	chi	who	kee
d’onorar	onorare	to honor	doh-noh-rahr
convegna	convenire	be fitting	kon-veh-nyah
Volgiti	volgiti	turn	vohl-jee-tee
indietro	indietro	back	een-dee-eh-troh
e	e	and	eh
guarda	guarda	look	gwar-dah
o	o	O	oh
patria	patria	country	pah-tree-ah
mia	mia	my	mee-ah
Quella	quella	that	kwel-lah
schiera	schiera	host	sky-eh-rah
infinita	infinita	infinite	een-fee-nee-tah
d’immortali	di immortali	of immortals	dee-mor-tah-lee
E	e	and	eh
piangi	piangi	weep	pee-ahn-jee
di	di	of	dee
te	te	yourself	teh
stessa	stessa	yourself	steh-sah
disdegna	disdegna	disdain	dees-deh-nyah
Che	che	that	keh
senza	senza	without	sen-tsah
sdegno	sdegno	disdain	sdeh-nyoh
omai	ormai	now	oh-mai
la	la	the	lah
doglia	dolore	sorrow	doh-lyah
è	è	is	eh
stolta	stupida	foolish	stohl-tah
vergogna	vergogna	be ashamed	ver-goh-nyah
riscuoti	riscuoti	awaken	rees-kwoh-tee
punga	punga	pierce	poon-gah
una	una	a	oo-nah
volta	volta	time	vohl-tah
Pensier	pensiero	thought	pen-see-ehr
degli	degli	of the	deh-lyee
avi	antenati	ancestors	ah-vee
nostri	nostri	our	noh-stree
de’	dei	of the	deh
nepoti	nipoti	descendants	neh-poh-tee

Poet & Context

PoetGiacomo Leopardi

Era19th century, Romanticism

Count Giacomo Leopardi was an Italian poet, philosopher, and philologist, considered the greatest Italian poet of the 19th century. His work reflects a deep philosophical inquiry into existence and the human condition, earning him a reputation as a profound thinker. He is a central figure in Italian Romanticism.

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WhenEarly 19th century

WhyThe poem reflects Leopardi's patriotic sentiments and his critique of Italy's political and social stagnation. It was written in response to the preparations for a monument to Dante in Florence, highlighting the need for Italy to honor its past and awaken from its slumber.

FormCanto

Themes & More

Themes

PatriotismCultural HeritageNational IdentityHistorical Reflection

Literary devices

Apostrophe: Directly addressing Italy as if it were a person.Personification: Giving human qualities to abstract concepts like 'disdain' and 'sorrow'.Imagery: Vivid descriptions such as 'white wings gather' to evoke peace and potential.