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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. 42-43, 349.


[For purists, the Italian text of the poems follows the English translation.]



FOLGORE DA SAN GIMIGNANO,
(wrote between 1309 and 1317)

Notes and translation by Lorna de’ Lucchi

349

Biographical Note

FOLGORE DA SAN GIMIGNANO, a town-crier (landstore); wrote cycles of sonnets on the months of the year, the days of the week, and their relative knightly pursuits.



Poem

43

FOLGORE DA SAN GIMIGNANO,
(wrote between 1309 and 1317)

Sonnet

IN June a little countryside for you,
Where crows and herons are content to wile,
With swamps whereon no wherries float, ’tis true,
But having in their midst a little isle
From whence so bountiful a streamlet leaps
That in a thousand rills it branches out
And with sulphuric waves and whirlpools steeps
The fields in plenteous moisture; round about
     Do bitter sloes and crude crab-apples grow,
With unripe medlars and sour cherries too;
Each narrow pathway mud-bespattered wends,
With swollen throats and grimy faces go
The uncouth country-folk and wreak on you
Such villainy as God and man offends.








42

FOLGORE DA SAN GIMIGNANO,
Scriveva tra il 1309-1317

Sonetto


DI giugno siati in tale campagnetta
che viva sien corbi et arghironcelli,
le chiane intorno senza caravelli,
entro ’l mezzo s’ abbia una isoletta;
de la qual esca sì forte venetta
che mille parte faccia e ramicelli
d’ aqua di solfo e cotai gorgoncelli
sì ch’ ella adacqui ben tal contradetta.
     Sorbi e pruni acerbi siano lie,
nespole crude e cornie savorose;
le rughe sian fangose e strette vie,
le genti ve sien nere gavinose,
e faccianvesi tante villanie
che a Dio et al mondo siano nogliose.





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