First Italian Readings. Various

1

si sarebbero mangiata, would have devoured.

2

non sapeva darsi pace, could not console himself.

3

per essergli toccata, for having received.

4

faceva egli a dire, he went on to say.

5

faceva finta… inteso, pretended not to notice them.

6

non siete stato, you have not been.

7

pigliasse, subjunctive used after Sebbene.

8

col fare il morto, by playing dead.

9

Eccoti. Pronouns are joined to the interjection ecco, just as to a verb; ti intimates the interest of the hearer in what is going on.

10

dal Re (French chez le roi), to the king's palace. Da has a variety of meanings in the following selections, such as from, by, for, to or at the house of, suited to, as.

11

entrato che fu, as soon as he had entered.

12

gran, for grande.

13

Di' al tuo, Say to your. The forms of the second person singular are used in addressing inferiors; also in speaking to children, intimate friends, and near relatives.

14

della caccia del suo padrone, of his master's killing.

15

doveva recarsi, was to go.

16

avrebbe potuto, perfect of the conditional used where the simple tense would be expected.

17

con quanta… gola, with all his might.

18

corressero, subjunctive used after verb of commanding.

19

faceva spiccare… persona, set off his good looks.

20

fini fini, repetition for emphasis; occurs frequently in Italian in case of adjectives or adverbs.

21

fosse, subjunctive used in indirect question; in l. 2 of next page, used after a superlative.

22

sarebbe parso, it would have seemed; parere conjugated with essere.

23

per dirne una, for example.

24

dal vedersi… leone, at seeing a lion before his eyes.

25

Di lì a poco, After a little.

26

come sarebbe a dire, in other words.

27

Vostra maestà sia la benvenuta, Welcome to your majesty.

28

di, than.

29

dovevano; compare note 15.

30

da non potersi dire, beyond words.

31

del suo, as her own.

32

Culincenere and Cenerentola are both from cenere, ashes; the former with a depreciative prefix.

33

che tornassero… viso, which might the best become them.

34

ci sarebbe proprio da ridere, it would be a fit subject for laughter.

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