My Italian word of the day: rassegnarsi

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of one word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

The next new word in the text is ‘rassegnarsi‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

rassegnarsi (vi.) = to resign oneself (to something), submit

rassegnarsi is the infinitive (infinitivo)

___________

Here is an example:

Non riesce proprio a rassegnarsi alla decisione dell’altro.

=

He just could not submit himself to the decision of the other.

___________

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano la sua malinconia con miche di pane e con parole gentili. La povera capinera cercava rassegnarsi . . .

My translation:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye, taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, followed them with a gaze, that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with bread crumbs and with kind words. The poor blackcap tried to resign herself . . .

an alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with crumbs of bread and with kind words. The poor blackcap tried to resign herself . . .

___________

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

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>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

___________

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<<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: cercava	Next Italian Word of the Day: meschinella	>>>

___________

My Italian word of the day: cercava

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘cercava‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

cercava (vi. & vt.) = tried

cercava is the 3rd personal singular imperfect indicative (3° persona singolare dell’indicativo imperfetto) of the verb cercare = to try

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Carabiniere travolto mentre cercava di aiutare automobilisti.

=

Policeman overwhelmed while trying to help motorists.

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano la sua malinconia con miche di pane e con parole gentili. La povera capinera cercava . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with crumbs of bread and with kind words. The poor blackcap tried . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with breadcrumbs and with kind words. The poor blackcap tried . . .

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: gentili	Next Italian Word of the Day: rassegnarsi	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: gentili

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘gentili‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

gentili (agg. pl.) = kind, courteous, polite

This is the plural of the word gentile = kind, courteous, polite

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

la sua famiglia sono sempre così gentili con me

=

his family are always so kind to me

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano la sua malinconia con miche di pane e con parole gentili.

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with crumbs of bread and with kind words.

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with breadcrumbs and with kind words.

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: parole	Next Italian Word of the Day: cercava	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: parole

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘parole‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

parole (sf. pl.) = words

This is the plural of the word parola = word.

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Le belle parole dei saggi e dei poeti di tutto il mondo.

=

The beautiful words of sages and poets from around the world.

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano la sua malinconia con miche di pane e con parole . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with crumbs of bread and with words . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with breadcrumbs and with words . . .

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: pane	Next Italian Word of the Day: gentili	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: pane

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘pane‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

pane (sm. si.) = bread

 

 

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Ho portato un tascapane con vino, formaggio, pomodori e pane.

=

I brought a haversack with wine, cheese, tomatoes and bread.

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano la sua malinconia con miche di pane . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with crumbs of bread . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with breadcrumbs . . .

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: miche	Next Italian Word of the Day: parole	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: miche

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘miche‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

miche (sf. pl.) = crumbs, grains

 

 

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Sovente vengono uccelli al davanzale e beccano miche di pane.

=

Birds often come to the window sill and peck bread crumbs.

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano la sua malinconia con miche . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with crumbs . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness with crumbs . . .

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: malinconia	Next Italian Word of the Day: pane	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: malinconia

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘malinconia‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

malinconia (sf. si.) = melancholy, low-spirits, sadness

 

 

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Spesso si tende a confondere la malinconia con la tristezza.

=

Often we tend to confuse melancholy with sadness.

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano la sua malinconia . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her for her sadness . . .

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: pagavano	Next Italian Word of the Day: miche	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: pagavano

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘pagavano‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

pagavano (vtr.) = paid, settled, bought

 

pagavano is the 3rd person plural imperfect indicative (3° persona plurale dell’indicativo imperfetto) of the verb pagare = to pay, to settle, to buy

 

 

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Io ero il pagliaccio e mi pagavano per piangere ridere e cadere.

=

I was the clown and they paid me to cry, laugh and fall.

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore e le pagavano . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering and paid her . . .

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: dolore	Next Italian Word of the Day: malinconia	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: dolore

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘dolore‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

dolore (sm. si.) = pain, ache, suffering, distress, sorrow, grief

 

 

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Miley Cyrus distrutta dal dolore per la morte del suo cucciolo.

=

Miley Cyrus destroyed by grief at the death of her puppy.

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo dolore . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her suffering . . .

 

 

___________

 

 

 

Vocabulary:

The vocabulary has been moved to its own page.

Please click here:

>>> * VOCABOLARIO * <<<

 

___________

 

Navigation:

<<	Previous Italian Word of the Day: suo	Next Italian Word of the Day: pagavano	>>

 

___________

My Italian word of the day: suo

La Parola del Giorno

I have set myself the challenge of translating ‘Storia di una Capinera’ by Giovanni Verga into English at the rate of a word a day.

Verga: Storia di una capinera (book cover)

 

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia . . .

___________

 

The next new word in the text is ‘suo‘.

My dictionary gives this as:

suo (agg. poss.) = his, her, its

In italian the possessive adjective takes the gender of the object possessed.

 

 

___________

 

Here is an example:

 

Dov’è il suo amico?

=

Where is her friend?
or
Where is his friend?

 

___________

 

The story so far

Original text:

Storia di una capinera

Avevo visto una povera capinera chiusa in gabbia: era timide, triste, malaticcia ci guardava con occhio spaventato; si rifuggiava in un angolo della sua gabbia, e allorché udiva il canto allegro degli altri uccelletti che cinguettavano sul verde del prato o nell’azzurro del cielo, li seguiva con uno sguardo che avrebbe potuto dirsi pieno di lagrime. Ma non osava ribellarsi, non osava tentare di rompere il fil di ferro che la teneva carcerata, la povera prigioniera. Eppure i suoi custodi, le volevano bene, cari bambini che si trastullavano col suo . . .

 

My translations:

Story of a blackcap

I had seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: it was timid, sad, sickly it watched us with terrified eye; taking shelter in a corner of its cage, and when it heard the joyful song of the other small birds that were singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed them with a gaze that one would have been able to say to oneself, full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her imprisoned, the poor prisoner. Yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her . . .

 

a ‘worked on‘ alternative:

I have seen a poor blackcap locked in a cage: shy, sad and sickly, cowering in a corner of her cage, she watched us with terrified eyes and on hearing the cheerful sound of the other small birds singing on the green of the meadow or in the blue of the sky, she followed it with an expression that one could be persuaded was full of tears. But she dared not rebel, she dared not try to break the iron wire that held her captive, the poor prisoner. And yet her gaolers loved her, dear children that amused themselves with her . . .

 

 

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