“Mettere il carro innanzi a’ buoi.”
“To put the cart before the horse.”
“Mezzo non voglio iniquo
A ragion giusta.”
AnFiEEi. Polinice, Act III., Sc. IV.—(Polinice.)
“Ne’er will I unjust means-
Employ in a just cause.”
“(E) mi guardo nel core, e mi domando,
Sono un poeta, o sono un imbecille?”
GUERRINI (StECCHETTI). PostUVU, VII.
“I look within my heart, and ask myself,
Am I a poet or an imbecile?”
“Mi ban detto che alia corte
Tre chiavi apron le porta:
L’oro, l’adulazione e la bellezza.”
“’Tis said that ’mongst those who to court do flock,
There are three keys that every door unlock:
Gold, flattery, and beauty.”
“Mi mentiré cosi, Vincenzo, quella
Che in molti uomini lessi e in pochi libri,
(Poiche io cultor di pochi libri vivo)
Aurea sentenza: Amico unico è l’oro.”
“So shall I give the lie to what I’ve read
In men a many and in books a few
(For of few books a worshipper am I),
That golden phrase : Our only friend is gold.”
“(Cosi) miglior dietro a’ pensieri eall’ opre
“So when the time for thought and work is past
Pleasure more welcome comes.”
“Mille piacer non vagliono un tormento.”
“A thousand pleasures are not worth one pain.”
“Miser che speme in cosa mortal pone:
(Ma chi non vi la pone?) e s’ ei si trova
Alia fine ingannato, e ben ragione.”
“Fool he who in things earthly puts his trust:
(Yet who does not?) and if at last he finds
Himself deceived, his punishment is just.”
