The Mimes
from Mimi Sicilian, by Francesco Lanza,
Sellerio, Palermo 1971
Sellerio, Palermo 1971
Translation by William Dennis
The Man from Nicosia
When a certain man from Nicosia returned to his house, after many years, he found his welcome fine and ready: the boy with the chickens outside, and the little lass on her mother’s breast.
“You…, you…!- he exclaimed, marvelling. “And who has done that to you, that this one can call as its Pa? - You, my husband, who left me, leaving behind your good will and resemblance in memory. - With such great good will! And anybody you give your give a suck of your tit will look like everybody else in this little love nest? - It was your breeches, my husband, that you left hanging on the nail. I put myself to thinking of you, and after nine months, she darted out as you see her. - And my good breeches, which without committing fraud, are even the more wonderful than if I were there with the necessary inside. |
il nicosiano
Quando il nicosiano tornò alla casa, che manacava tant’anni, trovò la redità bella e fatta: il maschio con l’uccellina di fuori, e la femmina al petto della ma’.
--Te’, te’!—faceva meravigliato.—E che ve l’ha fatto cotesto, che l’ha come suo pa’? --Voi, marito mio, che partendo mi lasciaste la buona volontà, e l’assommai a memoria. --E brava la buona voluntà! E cotesta che vi succhia la poppa, vi e somiglia tutta nel fessolino? --Le vostre brache, marito mio, che lasciaste appese al chiodo. Io me le misi pensandovi, e a’ nove mesi schizzò fuori come la vedete. --E brave le mie brache, che san fare frodezze, piu’ che ci fossi io dentro col necessario. |
The Woman of Nicosia
The woman of Nicosia, who is that which she is not, if comparison must be made, and all around her ask, “Oh, what was it like, Mistress? Teach us, we who are not experienced.”
“And you want to know about that? He was my godfather and when he began to touch me, I let him, saying, ‘Let's see what sort of show he wants to put on.’ “Then he kissed me all over and nursed at my breast, and I said, ‘Let's see what sort of show he wants to put on.’ “Then he began to undress me and we went together in bed, and I said, ‘Let's see what sort of show he wants to put on.’ “Then I climbed on top of him and did what he thought right; and when I realized it was over, I asked him, scared, ‘Now what have you done, godfather?’ “And he said, ‘What do I know? I wanted to see what you taste like: sweeter dough than I have at home, and I congratulate your husband.’” |
La nicosiana
La nicosiana, che è che non è, se la fece col compare, e tutte intorno a domandarle:--O come fu, comare? Insegnatelo a noi, che non siam pratiche.
E quella: --Lo volete sapere? Venne il compare e si mise a toccarmi, che lo lasciai fare dicendo: “Vediamo che vuol fare il compare.” Poi tutta mi baciava e mungeva, e io dicendo” “Vediamo che vuol fare il compare”. Poi cominciò a spogliarmi e ci coricammo insieme nel letto, e io: “Vediamo che vuol fare il compare”. Poi me montò addosso, e fece quel che giusto gli parve; e quando finì io finalmete ne fui accorta, e gli donandai spaventata:-- O che avete fatto, compare? E lui: -- E che ne so io? Ho voluto sentire come eravate di sapore: e siete più dolce della pasta di casa, e me ne congratulo con vostro marito. |
The Christ of the Man from Nicosia
There was a man from Nicosia who had a pear tree in his vineyard that would neither flower nor fruit, being of poor stock and with hard sap, and for all his care and in-grafting it was finally only worse that it began and so he thought to cut it down. Some of the branches made sticks for the fire place, and he left the trunk to the rain and the sun without thinking more about it.
Then need arose to make a Christ for the church and they came to him to ask for the wood of the trunk, and willingly did he give it, anxious to be of service in such a noble thing.
The Christ was made, and it was fair and large and bravely carved, and it made a wonderful sight in the church. Soon word spread and everyone came to place themselves beneath the Christ, requesting this and that, for it was deemed miraculous.
It happened that the son of the man from Nicosia fell ill, so he ran quickly to the foot of the Christ, crying and sighing, and prayed in a great voice that his son would recover, as he had no other in all the world.
“My Christ,” he begged, “you remember how I planted you and hoed about you, and I cut you down with these, my hands, and if it were not for me, you would not now be Christ, but a pear tree like so many in Nicosia, that neither flower nor fruit, but arise only to gratify blackbirds and magpies.
But the Christ, with his lips tight and eyes in the air, responded niether yes nor no, and the man of Nicosia remained there day and night, his hands folded in prayer, until a one was sent at last to tell him that rather than recovering from his illness, his son was dead.
“Oh-h!” he cried out, beating his thigh. “But you never gave pears and as Christ you are lacking in miracles. What a fool I was to pray to you.”
Then need arose to make a Christ for the church and they came to him to ask for the wood of the trunk, and willingly did he give it, anxious to be of service in such a noble thing.
The Christ was made, and it was fair and large and bravely carved, and it made a wonderful sight in the church. Soon word spread and everyone came to place themselves beneath the Christ, requesting this and that, for it was deemed miraculous.
It happened that the son of the man from Nicosia fell ill, so he ran quickly to the foot of the Christ, crying and sighing, and prayed in a great voice that his son would recover, as he had no other in all the world.
“My Christ,” he begged, “you remember how I planted you and hoed about you, and I cut you down with these, my hands, and if it were not for me, you would not now be Christ, but a pear tree like so many in Nicosia, that neither flower nor fruit, but arise only to gratify blackbirds and magpies.
But the Christ, with his lips tight and eyes in the air, responded niether yes nor no, and the man of Nicosia remained there day and night, his hands folded in prayer, until a one was sent at last to tell him that rather than recovering from his illness, his son was dead.
“Oh-h!” he cried out, beating his thigh. “But you never gave pears and as Christ you are lacking in miracles. What a fool I was to pray to you.”
Nicosians and Their Candles
For the feast of St. Nicholas, the people of Nicosia said, “We must put on a celebration without equal, and the light in the church has to be brighter than the sun.”
With this clear goal in mind, they sent everywhere for candles; but as the wagons came back, it began to pour, and candles arrived like soaked chicks. The confusion was great; and as time pressed, no one knew what to do. “You will see that the sun in the church,” the rector said, wandering up, “…we can not produce, as wet candles provide no illumination and before they can dry in the cold here, the feast day will be over. Then they gathered in haste to decide what to do, and everyone was repeating the rector’s words. Finally, the rector came forward again and spoke. “ Gentlemen, let's see if you like this idea. The best thing we can do, I say, is to heat all ovens in town and put the candles inside to dry, and all at once the thing will be done. “Bravo, bravo!” They all shouted. And without wasting time they put hands to the work. Everyone began racing to get straw and fagots; and "Fire! Fire!" cried these bakers “ the more fire the more quickly the candles will dry.” |
Le candele dei nicosiani
Per la festa di San Nicolò, dissero i nicosiani: -- Dobbiamo fare una festa che non abbia la pari, e il chiaro in chiesa ha da vincere il sole.
Per questo chiaro dunque, mandarono per ogni dove a comprar candele; ma come i carri tornavano, cominciò a diluviare, e le candele arrivarono inzuppate come pulcini. La confusione fu grand; e poichè il tempo stringeva, not sapevan che fare. -- Vedrete—andavan dicendo – che il sole in chiesa non lo possiamo fare, che le candele inzuppate non allumano e prima che s’asciughino col freddo che c’è, passata è la festa. Allora si radunarono in fretta per provvedere al da fare, e ognuno diceva la sua. Finalmente, il rettore si fece avanti, e parlò. -- Signori miei, vediamo se vi piace. Meglio non c’è, io dico, che riscaldare tutti i forni del comune e metterci dentro le candele ad asciugare, e subito la cosa è fatta. -- Bravo, bravo! – gridarono tutti. E senza perdere tempo misero mano all’opera. Ognuno apprestava a gara paglia e fascine; e: “Fuoco fuoco” facevano ai fornai “che più fuoco c’è, prima s’asciugano”! |
A Bit of Waste
A certain man from Nicosia was very jealous of his honor, and as he departed from the village to his work on the mountain-side, he would say to his spouse, “My wife, don’t waste your time while I am gone, because when I return, I’ll want to know the reason.”
She always swore there was nothing for him to concern himself over, that nothing would be allowed to go to waste; he could remain secure and content without even thinking about it..., and that there was sufficient bread in the house. But always, she wasted her time with cooking, and fearing that through such laziness her work skills would become rusty, one day he appeared by surprise and he caught her at her illicit actions. And when the husband returned, there were not immediately nearby any family or neighbors to make him better understand; so he made to seize the devil, clenching his wife in his fist and demanding a hundred and one explanations. And she said, “Oh,what do you want, husband of mine? We all waste things a little bit: don’t you remember when you lost the new sickle you’d just bought at the fair, and I saw nothing and forgave you?” |
La mancanzella
Il nicosiano era gelosissimo dell’onor suo, e quando s’allontanava dal paese per andare al monte alle sue faccende, diceva alla moblie: - Moglie mia, non me fate mancanza mentre non ci sono, che al ritorno lo so e ne voglio ragione.
Quella giurava che non era cosa sua, e stesse sicuro e contento senza pensarci neppure, che il pane che aveva in casa le bastava. Ma ogni volta, il tempo perduto le cuoceva, e temendo che per l’ozio non le si arrugginisse, un giorno se la fece col compare. Quand il marito tornò, subito altra cura non ebbero parenti e vicini che di fargielo sapere; e lui se lo prese il diavolo, e stringendo la moglie in un pugno ne voleva cento e una ragione. E quella: - O che volete, marito mio? Tutti facciamo le mancanzelle: non ci pensate quando voi perdeste il falcetto comprato nuovo nuovo alla fiera, e io no vidissi nulla e ve la perdonai? |
**Points of interest:
That time lost in cooking food could be considered unforgivable waste, was probably humorous exaggeration, even to Sicilian peasants, as was regard for the amount of hard labor one could get out of one’s wife…probably. But nothing is funny that does not ring true.
Reliance on “parente”—extended family—and neighbors as external conscience and moral processing machinery for the husband was very likely another exaggeration of a home truth in the cause of humor.
But you know how those people in Nicosia are.
That time lost in cooking food could be considered unforgivable waste, was probably humorous exaggeration, even to Sicilian peasants, as was regard for the amount of hard labor one could get out of one’s wife…probably. But nothing is funny that does not ring true.
Reliance on “parente”—extended family—and neighbors as external conscience and moral processing machinery for the husband was very likely another exaggeration of a home truth in the cause of humor.
But you know how those people in Nicosia are.
Godfather from the Basket
One night when the man from Troina was not supposed to return home, his wife was diverting herself with his godfather. But at a certain point, when they were and they weren’t, they heard banging at the door, and it was her husband, returned early from the countryside.
“And now, godfather of mine, what do we do?” “Listen,” said the godfather, “put me in the basket and hang me from the roof.” And this they did. The man from Troina entered the house and set about to eat at his leisure; and every so often his wife would raise her eyes to the ceiling and sigh. After a time the rope holding the heavy weight broke and the basked fell down with the godfather inside. “Oh, godfather!” cried the terrified husband. “And who has transported you here?” “I was sent,” responded the godfather quickly, “by Saint Michael, Archangel, who wants to be lent a basket of straw. The man from Troina, all pleased with the situation, immediately filled the basket with straw and his godfather rushed out the door, with many thanks to the St. Michael, the Archangel. |
Il compare nel corbello
Una notte che il troinese non doveva tornare a casa, la moglie si divertiva col compare. Ma a un certo punto, che è che no è, sentono bussare alla porta, ed era il marito che tornava di campagna. La donna si mise le mani fra i capelli.
-- E ora, compare mio, come facciamo? -- Sentite – disse il compare – mettetemi dentro il corbello e appendetemi al tetto. E così fecero. Il troinese entrò e si mise a mangiare a suo comodo; e la moglie ogni tanto levava gli occhi al soffitto, sospirando. D’un tratto la corda per il troppo peso si ruppe, e il corbello cascò giù con dentro il compare:-- Oh, compare mio! – gridò atterrito il marito – e chi vi porta qua? -- Mi manda –rispose pronto il compare – San Michele Arcangelo che vuole imprestato un corbello di paglia. Il troinese, tutto lieto per la bella congiuntura, gli riempì subito il corbello di paglia, e il compare se ne andò via subito per la porta, con tanti saluti per San Michele Arcangelo. |
The Man from Troina at the Fair
“Oh,” shouted the Troinese at the fair, “does it look to you like we are the kind of gents that go two for a penny? In the woods, we may look that way; but in the piazza, there’s a velvet coat to our ribs, wide-legged trousers on our legs, a cap of lace on our head, and we dare say, ‘Good morning,’ to any who pass.
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Il troinese alla fiera
--O che vi pare—gridava il troinese alla fiera—che noi siamo gente da un soldo due? Al bosco, come vien prima; ma in piazza, casacca di velluto alle costole, brache larghe alle gambe, cappuccio a pizzo alla testa, e buongiorno a chi passa.
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The Lace Cap
One day, when King William had none of his usual things to occupy him, he put forth a call to the sound of trumpets, drums and fifes for all his towns, castles and villages: "My good men! From now on, those who are real men must put on a lace cap so as not to allow any confusion. And whomever does not put it on, will lose his head and be fined a hundred onze. "
Everywhere then, of those who were in the square to hear the announcement, some fled here and some ran there, as if the sky were falling to pieces; and all came back wearing lace caps, not to pay the fine and lose their heads. The man from Troina, too, raced to his home, and all panting and drawn, recounted what he had heard to his wife. “You know that proclamation King William made—that every man must put on a hat of lace, not to create any confusion?” His wife went up and down, shouting in a rage against King William, who “had nothing to do,” and so, “wreaked havoc in the homes of honest people,” and, “He ought to put on a lace cap first himself, as the head of the kingdom and to set a good example to his subjects.” “He ought to put on a lace cap himself…, and roofing tiles of goat-hooves, the hornsof the feet; and his arms ought to grow long enough to hold them all. Oh, husband of mine, you know whether I have always respected you! And this pronouncement from King William is like the shifting sands of the sea. Ask anybody what care I have had for your name and how I have always comported myself, and nobody will find anything to say ill of me. Whoever may have approached me with temptation, I never broke my baptism, and I have never done anything which if you learned of it would give you displeasure. “Oh, husband of mine, I was thinking of my own honor and not of you! And you have given thought for your honor and I not. Oh, my husband, you can say it, that I have honored you more than the sun in the sky! The man from Troina rallied everyone to hear her go on like that, and even he caught the notion that King William wasn’t thinking things through; but as he stepped out to go back to the piazza, his wife quickly called him back. “Listen to me, husband of mine, whether it’s a good idea or not, you too should put on a lace cap, and thusly can we rise to the occasion.” And, whether it was a good idea or not, the man from Troina began to put on his cap of lace. |
Il cappuccio a pizzo
Un di che Re Guglielmo non aveva nulla da fare al solito suo, fece gettare, per città, castelli e paesi un bando a suon di trombe, tamburi e pifferi: “Signori miei! Da oggi in poi chi è becco deve mettersi il cappuccio a pizzo per non far succedere confusioni. E chi non se lo mette, c’è la pena della testa e cent’onze di multa”.
Dappertutto, quelli che erano in piazza a sentire il bando, chi scappava di qua e chi scappava di là, come cascasse il cielo a pezzi; e tutti tornavano col cappuccio a pizzo, per non pagare la multa e perdere la testa. Anche il troinese se ne andò a casa sua di corsa, e tutto ansante e trafilato lo contò alla moglie. --Lo sapete il bando che ha gettato Re Guglielmo, che tutti i becchi devono mettersi da oggi in poi il cappuccio a pizzo, per non far succedere confusione. La moglie diventò una furia a andava su e giù sbraitando contro Re Guglielmo che non aveva nulla da fare e mettava lo scompiglio nelle case della gente onesta, e il cappuccio a pizzo doveva metterselo prima lui, come capo di regno per dare il buon esempio ai sudditi. --Lui se lo deve mettere il cappuccio a pizzo; e le pianelle, chè le corna gli escon fin dai piedi; e le brache se le deve allargare per farcele entrare tutte. Ah, marito mio, voi lo sapete s’io vi ho sempre rispettato! E quelle di Re Guglielmo in vece sono quante la rena del mare! Domandatelo a tutti che cura ho avuto del vostro nome e come me sono sempre comportata, e nessuno ve lo sa dire! Chi me è venuto appresso per la tentazione non gli ho rotto il battesimo, e non ve l’ha fatto sapere mai per non darvi dispiacere. Ah, marito mio, io ci ho pensato per il mio onore e non voi! E per il vostro ci avete pensato voi e no io! Ah, marito mio, lo potete dir forte che vi ho onorato più del sole nel cielo! Il troinese si ringalluzziva tutto a sentirla fare così, e anche lui se la pigliava con Re Guglielmo che non pensava ai casi suoi; ma come se ne usciva per tornarsene in piazza, la moglie lo richiamò in fretta. --Sentite, marito mio, per il sì e per il no mettetevelo anche voi il cappuccio a pizzo, e così leviamo l’occasione. E il troinese per il sì e per il no si mise anche lui il cappuccio a pizzo. |
The Woman of Sperlinga
Her husband had gone away; and she felt as if there were thorns in her bed as she lay alone at night, thus she turned and turned again, never getting to sleep.
Then she went to a neighbor and begged, “I don’t know what to do. Would you loan me your husband for the night? And I’ll give you a bushel of flour, a jug of oil and…that gold necklace from the festival…, if I make a baby, I’ll give it to you at the baptism.” “Good lady, that’s just what I need, and you spoiled me.” “No, my neighbor, what I do will count as being you, and when he says, ‘Enough!’ I’ll just ignore him.” |
La sperlinghese
Il marito le era andato lontano; e sola nel letto la notte ci sentiva le spine, e si voltava e svoltava senza mai prendere sonno.
Se ne andò dunque dalla vicina, e le fece:--Mi prestate vostro marito la notte, che non so come fare? E vi do un moggio di farina, una caraffa d’olio e la collana d’oro della festa e come fo un figlio ve lo do a battesimo. -- ‘Gnornò, che me serve, e voi me lo sciupate. -- No, vicina mia, che farò conto d’essere voi, e quando dice basta gli volto le spalle. |