Niccolò Forteguerri

Niccolò Forteguerri (1674 – 1735) was an Italian academic, satiric poet and presbyter.

Ricciardetto

 * Libertà Libertade è quella Che noi dispoglia d’ogni cura amara : Ella sol basta a fare in ogni stato Un uom d’afflitto e misero beato.
 * I, 39.
 * Translation: Liberty is that Which strippeth from us every biting care; Alone she doth suffice, in every state, To make him happy who erst moaned his fate.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 355.


 * Poca uva fa la vigna pampinosa; E il dire e il far non son la stessa cosa.
 * III, 42.
 * Translation: The leafy vine few grapes to ripeness brings; Saying and doing are quite ditterent things.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 394.


 * Che il pel si cangia, e’l costume non mai.
 * III, 54.
 * Translation: The hair grows grey, the nature changes never.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 247.


 * (Che) il cercar di sapere saper quel che saputo Accresce duolo, non m’è mai piaciuto.
 * V, 87.
 * Translation: Seeking to know what but augments our pain When it is known, aye seems to me insane.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 312.


 * La Fortuna è una Dea senza cervello, E però tutto il giorno fa pazzie.
 * VIII, 1.
 * Translation: Fortune’s a goddess without brains, and so The whole day long she’s doing foolish things.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 342.


 * (Che) non torri superbi e forti mura, Non larghe fosse, non fiumi vicini Fan da’ nimici una città sicura, Ma la fede e il Valore valor de’ cittadini.
 * VIII, 17.
 * Translation: Not frowning battlement nor lofty tower, Not trenches wide nor river running by- Shall save a city from her foeman’s power, But her sons’ valour and fidelity.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 380.


 * Natura è gran maestra, e mai non erra. 
 * VIII, 20.
 * Translation: Nature’s a mighty teacher, and ne’er errs.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 363.


 * Chi pecca per amore, io non riprendo. 
 * VIII, 80.
 * Translation: I blame not him who for love’s sake doth sin.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 269.


 * Che la Fortuna ajuta i coraggiosi. 
 * VIII, 84.
 * Translation: For fortune ever favoureth the brave.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 342.


 * Son ciance e be’ trovati Di romanzieri pazzi e spiritati.
 * X, 34.
 * Translation: These tales as nonsense stand confessed, And fond imaginings of scribes possessed.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 412.


 * Rimembrar il ben perduto Fa più meschino lo presente stato.
 * XI, 83.
 * Translation: The memory of the blessings we have lost Doth make our present state more pitiful.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 368.


 * In somma, in fuor che non è sì gentile, L’uomo, là, in tutto a femmina è simile.
 * XII, 47.
 * Translation: In fine, save only that he’s not so fair, Woman and man are very much a pair.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 325.


 * La meraviglia maraviglia nasce da ignoranza. 
 * XIII, 1.
 * Translation: Wonder the daughter is of ignorance.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 344.


 * Donna che sia pregata non sta forte. 
 * XIII, 107.
 * Translation: She stands not firm that giveth ear to prayers.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 290.


 * Quei che aggiunge sapere, aggiunge affanno; E men si dolgon quelli che men sanno.
 * XV, 6.
 * Translation: Who gathers knowledge, also gathers woe, And least they sorrow feel who least do know.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 312.


 * Tra i benefizi che ci ha fatto Iddio, Non è mica il minor quelle del vino.
 * XVII, 1.
 * Translation: Mongst the good things by God on man bestowed, By no means least I count the gift of wine.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 428.


 *  (Ma) vince Amore amor di padre ogni altro amore.
 * XVIII, 64.
 * Translation: A father’s love all other love outshines.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 438.


 * (Che) nodo mai si forte non si stringe Che sciolto e rotto a lungo andar non sia.
 * XX, 25.
 * Translation: For never shall so firm a knot be tied But at the last shall burst and broken be.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 370.


 * Che perduto il buon nome, una fanciulla, Per bella ch’ella sia, non val più nulla.
 * XX, 51.
 * Translation: If once a maiden strays from virtue’s path, Though she have beauty, yet she nothing hath.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 331.


 * Nessuno sa quel sia, che termin abbia La divina pietà verso di noi; Perchè ella è immensa, e men si può peccare Di quelle ch’ella possa perdonare.
 * XX, 107.
 * Translation: None knows how deep, how far beyond all bounds The pity that by God on man is showered; For ’tis immeasurable, and its power To pardon far exceeds our power to sin.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 369.


 * (Ma) così sono tutte le ragazze; Le più savie al di fuor son le più pazze.
 * XXII, 60.
 * Translation: But this is aye the nature of a maid: The wildest is the one that seems most staid.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 283.


 * Chi semina del male, e poi si crede Raccor del bene, è temerario e stolto.
 * XXVI, 1.
 * Translation: Chi semina del male, e poi si crede Raccor del bene, è temerario e stolto.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 271.


 * (Che) la natura umana è fatta in guisa Che si mantien di lagrime e di risa.
 * XXVI, 80.
 * Translation: For human nature so is fashioned, That upon teais and laughter it is fed.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 345.


 * (Che) catena, fratello, di Moglie mogliera Fa un zucchero sembrare la galera.
 * XXVII, 8.
 * Translation: The chain that binds us when we take a wife, Makes e’en the galleys seem a pleasant life.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 259.


 * (Che) rinsanisce alcun pazzo talora, Ma il cervel de l’amante ognor peggiora.
 * XXVIII, 3.
 * Translation: A madman now and then his wits regains But aye from bad to worse go lovers’ brains.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 407.


 * Ne le guerre d’Amore Amor (proverbio è trito,) Vince chi fugge, e non chi si cimenta.
 * XXVIII, 27.
 * Translation: In love’s engagements (sure the proverb’s trite) He wins who flies, not he who stays to fight.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 379.


 * (Ma) l’animo gentile gentil sempre pon mente Al buon cuor di chi dà, non al presente.
 * XXX, 107.
 * Translation: The noble soul aye to the gift far less Gives heed, than to the giver’s kindliness.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 332.

Rime piacevoli

 * La moglie è vita, o coltello e capresto, Conforme vuoi.
 * Chapter I.
 * Translation: Your wife is life to you, or rope and knife. Just as you will.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 344.


 * Ogni stato ha i suoi guai; e chi desia, Mutando il suo, trovarne un più giocondo, Cadde in una grandissima pazzia.
 * Chapter IV.
 * Translation: Its troubles each condition has, and they Who change their own a pleasanter to find. Do but the starkest lunacy display.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 386.


 * Ciascun si stima di gran senno, e crede Dovizia aver di cio ch’ei più mendica; E dà del matto e del malenso altrui.
 * Chapter V.
 * Translation: Men count them wondrous wise, and think themselves Wealthy in that wherein they are but beggars, Calling all others fools and simpletons.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 275.

A burden bind that is beyond his strength, Whence, weeping, he ’I cannot bear it’ cries.
 * L’uomo saggio sopra del suo dosso Non deve portar peso che lo sfianchi, Onde dica piangendo : io non lo posso.
 * Chapter XI.
 * Translation: Let no man on his back, if he be wise,
 * Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 338.