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From An Anthology of Italian Poems 13th-19th Century selected and translated by Lorna de’ Lucchi, Alfred A. Knopf, New York; 1922; pp. 20-21, 348.
[For purists, the Italian text of the poems follows the English translation.]
RUSTICO DI FILIPPO, 1235-1295
Notes and translation by Lorna de’ Lucchi
348
Biographical Note
RUSTICO DI FILIPPO, a Florentine; some 60 sonnets of his are extant, chiefly burlesque.
Poem
20
RUSTICO DI FILIPPO, 1235-1295
Sonnet
WHEN God created Messer Messerin’
He thought He’d worked a miracle indeed,
Goodwill of bird and beast and man to win
He took a hint from every kind of breed:
His throat was modelled in a duckling’s way,
His limbs were the giraffe’s to contemplate,
Human he was, at least that’s what they say,
According to his cheery crimson pate.
He seemed a crow when he began to sing,
In learning he was certainly an ass,
And, judging by his dress, he was a man.
Him God created when it came to pass
He’d nothing else to do and hence did plan
To prove His skill creating this strange thing!
Elfinspell Note:
For another translation, though anonymous, of this poem on Elfinspell, go here.
20
RUSTICO DI FILIPPO, 1235-1295
Sonetto
QUANDO Dio messer Messerino fece
ben si credette far gran maraviglia,
ch’ uccello e bestia e uom ne soddisfece,
ch’ a ciascheduna natura s’ appiglia:
chè nel gozzo anitroccol contraffece,
ne le reni giraffa m’ assomiglia,
ed uom sería, secondo che si dice,
ne la piacente sua cera vermiglia.
Ancor, risembra corvo nel cantare,
ed è diritta bestia nel savere,
ed uomo è somigliato al vestimento.
Quanto Dio il fece, poco avea che fare,
ma volle dimostrar lo suo potere
sì strana cosa fare ebbe in talento.
Elfinspell Note:
For another translation, though anonymous, of this poem on Elfinspell, go here.
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