Francesco Berni

Francesco Berni (ca. 1497 – May 26, 1536) was an Italian poet credited for beginning what is now known as "Bernesque poetry", a serio-comedic type of poetry with elements of satire.

Quotes

 * Let him look to it, who is pleased with the game of Tarocco, that the only signification of this word Tarocco, is stupid, foolish, simple, fit only to be used by Bakers, Coblers, and the vulgar, to play at most for the fourth part of a Carlino, at Tarocchi, or at Trionfi, or any Sminckiate whatever: which in every way signifies only foolery and idleness, feasting the eye with the Sun, and the Moon, and the twelve (signs) as children do.
 * Mention made on the Tarocchi in his Capitolo del Gioco della Primiera col Comento di messer Pietropaulo da San Chirico (1526).

Rifacimento of Orlando Innamorato

 * Quotes as reported in T. B. Habottle's Dictionary of Quotations (Italian) (1909)


 * Che il far giudicio appartien solo a Dio.
 * For judgment appertains to God alone.
 * III, 2


 * De la necessita virtu facendo.
 * Making a virtue of necessity.
 * III, 86

Non e re veramente, ma fattore Del popol che gli e dato a governare.'' Is steward, truly, and not sovereign Of those who bow to his authority.
 * ''Un re, se vuole il suo debito fare,
 * A king that would to do his duty try,
 * VIII, 8

Che quel di donna quando e dispregiata.'' Of woman, when she feels that she is scorned.
 * ''Non crediate che sia maggiore sdegno,
 * Think not that aught the fury can surpass
 * IX, 23

Che disiarlo, e non averlo mai.'' Than to desire and never to obtain.
 * ''Che lasciar quel che s'ama, e peggio assai
 * To lose the thing we love is greater pain
 * XVII, 6

Ognun puo dire a suo modo parole.'' And each may speak as good to him doth seem.
 * ''Nessuno e piu ch' un uom, sia chi si vuole:
 * Whoe'er he be, none more than human deem,
 * XVII, 22

O vuol fidarsi di donna che sia; Che false sono e maladette tutte; E più anche le belle che le brutte.'' Or who henceforth shall trust in woman's heart; False are they all, and to mankind a curse; The plain are bad enough, the fair are worse.
 * ''Sia maladetto chi si fidò mai,
 * Cursed be he who e'er has put his trust
 * XXII, 49


 * Che chi a pazienza fa ogni cosa.
 * For he who patience hath can all things do.
 * XXIII, 64

Che mai non acquistar quel che l'uom voglia.'' Than not to gain the thing that we desire.
 * ''Che 'l perder l'acquistato e maggior doglia
 * The loss of what we have is pain more dire
 * XXV, 58

Prima ch' altri riprenda di difetto.'' Before he ventures others' faults to blame.
 * ''Che guardar dee ciascun d'esser ben netto,
 * Each should be sure of an untarnished name,
 * XXVI, 34

Trovarsi vana l'ultima speranza.'' To find that our last hope is all in vain.
 * ''Ed ogni altro martir passa ed avanza
 * And this doth overpass all other pain,
 * XXIX, 13

Piu volentier consilio, ched ajuto.'' More ready to advise than aid are found.
 * ''Così da sempre ogni capo canuto
 * So those whose heads with snowy locks are crowned,
 * XXX, 61

Scudi, remedi, antidoti raguna Contra i colpi di morte e di fortuna.'' Makes himself safeguards, antidotes and shields Against the weapons death or fortune wields.
 * ''Savio e chi d'or in or, non d'anno in anno,
 * Wise is he who this hour, not year by year,
 * XXXI, 2

Se non quando fortuna ne saetta.'' Save when he is the butt of fortune's blows.
 * ''Non si conosce la virtu perfetta,
 * Never a man unblemished virtue shows,
 * XXXI, 32

Che s'acquista o si tenga con sospetto.'' What time they with suspicion are alloyed.
 * ''Ne la grandezza giova ne 'l diletto,
 * Nor power nor pleasure e'er can be enjoyed,
 * XXXVII, 29


 * Ch' un disordin che nasce, ne fa cento.
 * From one disorder oft a hundred spring.
 * XL, 1

De l'aver troppo parlato, infmiti.'' Of having said too much, a countless host.
 * ''Pochi si son del silenzio pentiti;
 * Of keeping silence few have paid the cost;
 * XLI, 3.

How late soe'er they come, come aye too soon.
 * Non vien si tardi il mal che non sia presto.
 * Mishaps
 * XLIII, 5


 * Con le calcagna pagava lo scotto.
 * With whip and spur he paid his tavern bill.
 * XLIV, 70

Dice cbe) il danno toglie ancbe il cervello; E cbe cbi e rubato, come matto va dando la colpa a questo e quello.'' Says that loss also steals away our senses, And that the man thus robbed, like madman goes About, and right and left the blame dispenses.
 * ''(Ed un certo proverbio cosl fatto
 * A certain proverb, that the whole world knows,
 * XLV, 4


 * Che poco grato e 'l don chi tardi viene.
 * But little virtue hath the tardy gift.
 * XLV, 56

E simil cose, ha qualche discrezione, potrebbe chiarnarsi ladroncello; Ma quel che ruba la riputazione, E de l'altrui fatiche si fa bello, Si puo chiamare assassino e ladrone.'' And things like these, shows some discrimination; Mere petty pilfering a the name for that. But him who steals another's reputation, And on the fruits of others' toil grows fat, Hail thief and murderer by acclamation.
 * ''Chi ruba un corno, un cavallo, un anello,
 * He who conveys a ring, a horse, a hat,
 * LI, 1

S'egli e si brutto com' egli e dipinto.'' Whether the devil doth his looks belie, And if he is as ugly as we paint him.
 * ''Per saper se 'l demonio e come pare,
 * That we may know
 * LII, 1


 * Andava combattendo ed era morto.
 * He still fought stoutly on—and he was dead.
 * LIII, 60


 * A colpa vecchia pena nuova.
 * For fault inveterate, new punishment.
 * LVI, 8

Cose molte a proposito a la gente; E da un mantel rotto e sporco e stato Molte volte coperto un uom prudente.'' Hath spoken words of wisdom to mankind; A cloak all tattered and besmirched with toil Hath ofttimes clothed a man of prudent mind.
 * ''Ha qualche volta un ortolan parlato
 * Ere now a simple tiller of the soil
 * LVIII, 1

Cosa, che non sia stata detta prima.'' But some one said it long before our day.
 * ''Ne in prosa e detta ne in rima
 * Neither in prose nor verse we aught can say,
 * LIX, 1

Fiume senz' acqua e casa senza via, La gentilezza senza cortesia.'' Dry river bed, or house in pathless waste, Is gentle blood that hath no courtesy.
 * ''Ben è un ramo senza foglia,
 * Like to a leafless tree,
 * LXIV, 61

Che per l'ombra de' dardi il ciel s'oscura.'' That, as by clouds, the heavens were overcast.
 * ''Tal l'aspro saettare, e tanto dura,
 * And still the arrows flew so thick and fast,
 * LXIV, 61