“Pensier canuti in giovenil etade
E la Concordia ch’ è si rara al mondo,
Vera con castità somma Beltade.”
“Here greybeard thoughts in youthful head we find,
And, concord that the world doth rarely show.
Beauty supreme with chastity combined.”
“Per arte e per inganno
Si vive mezzo l’anno;
Per inganno e per arte
Si vive l’altra parte.”
“By art and swindling here
Men live for half the year;
By swindling and by art
They live the other part.”
“Per aver lode convien morire.”
“In order to be praised ’tis best to die.”
“Per bene star si scende molte miglia.”
“He who stands firm full many a mile shall climb.”
“Per correr migliori acque alza le vele
Omai la navicella del mio ingegno,
Che lascia dietro a se mar si crudele.”
“To steer o’er fairer waters hoists her sail
Henceforth the little vessel of ray brain,
That leaves behind such cruel sea of bale.”
“Per domandar mercede
Signoria non s’offende.”
“The asking of a boon
Should ne’er the great offend.”
“Per fama uom s’innamora.”
“Man through report doth fall in love.”
“Per ingannar la sua mortal natura,
Crede invano chi regna, o creder finge,
Che sovrumana sia di re la possa:
Sta nel voler di chi obbedisce; e in trono
Trema chi fa tremar.”
“In hope his mortal nature to deceive,
He vainly thinks who reigns, or feigns to think.
That superhuman is the kingly power:
That power is vested in the subjects’ will.
And, seated on the throne, he trembles aye
Who maketh others tremble.”
