“O gran contrasto in giovenil pensiero
Desir di laude, ed impeto d’Amore.
Ne chi più vaglia, ancor si trova il vero;
Che resta or questa or quel superiore.”
“The thirst of honour and the force of love
Eternal strife in youthful bosom move :
Nor yet is known which most inclines the scales,
Since this or that alike in turn prevails."—(Hoole.)
“O insensata cura de’ mortali,
Quanto son diffetivi sillogismi,
Quel che ti fanno in basso batter 1’ all!”
“O idle objects for which mortals care,
How are defective all the syllogisms
Which ever down to earth thy pinions bear!"—(J. I. Minchin.)
“O mille volte fortunate e mille
Chi sa por meta a suoi pensieri in tanto,
Che per vana speranza immoderata,
Di moderato ben non perde il frutto!”
“Happy a thousand and a thousand times
Is he who can so far his thoughts control,
That never, in vain hope of boundless gaiu,
He shall let slip the fruit of moderate good.”
“miseri, o codardi,
Figliuoli avrai. Miseri eleggi.”
“Wretched or cowardly
Thy sons shall be. Be wretchedness thy choice.”
“morte, o morte
Cui tanto invoco, al mio dolor tu sorda
“O death.
On whom I call so oft, wilt to my grief
Ne’er lend an ear?”
“O notte, antica Delta, che nata
Sei pria del sole, e pi A del sol vlvrai!”
“night, thou ancient goddess, that wast born
Before the sun, and shalt the sun survive!”
“O plova o fiocchl,
Oggi h bella giornata, il re I’ha detto,
Ne puote essere un re mal contradetto.”
“Though it rain or snow,
’Tis a tine day to-day ’ : so says the king.
To contradict were an unheard-of thing.”
