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Poetry by Carl Selph

Page 25

"E chi pinger la può? Mentre a ritrarla
Pongo industre lo sguardo, ecco m'elude...."
                           --  Ugo Foscolo

The Sacred Dancer

(translation of a passage from "Le Grazie" by Ugo Foscolo)

In verse I try to paint the sacred
Dancer--less lovely when she's still,
Less beautiful than thee, gentle music-maker;
Less honey-tongued than thee,
O keeper of the bees.  But if she dances,
Behold!  All the harmony of sound
Streams from her body's grace
And from the smile on her mouth;
And a gesture, a step, a charming
Pose, ravish our eyes
With a beauty unforeseen.  And who
Can capture her?  I hold her
With my raptest stare--and lo!
She escapes, and the moving
Patterns she slowly weaves
Turn lightning fast--she is fleeing,
Skimming the flowers; I barely see
Her veiling flow like mist, white
Among the myrtle trees.

Translation © Carl Selph, 1999

Editor's Note: The priestess of the Graces hailed as "keeper of 
the bees" personifies Poetry, in that bees turn pollen (plain 
speech) into honey (eloquence).  The other two sacred priestesses 
represent Dance and Music.

Three Self-Portraits

(translations of the "Auto-Ritratti" sonnets written by Vittorio Alfieri, Ugo Foscolo, and Alessandro Manzoni)

         
                   Vittorio Alfieri
         
Sublime mirror of truthful words, show me
In soul and body what I am: scant hair
Thinning above the brow, but still rich red,
A figure tall and slim, on two straight shanks,
         
 
The head inclined, gazing upon the ground;
White skin, blue eyes, my features fairly good,
A proper nose, fine lips, and perfect teeth,
Paler of face than any king enthroned;
         
By turns inflexible or yielding, mild,
Touchy always, not petty nor malign,
My mind against my heart at constant war;
         
Sombre of mood, with gusts of gaiety,
Achilles in fancy, then Thersites.
Art great or vile, Man? Die, and thou wilt know.
         
         
                       Ugo Foscolo
         
I have a lined forehead, deep, sharply-focused eyes,
And tawny hair, lean cheeks, a forceful, ardent look,
Lips red and full, and even, whitely-gleaming teeth,
Head held thrust forward on a good, strong neck, broad chest,
         
 
Straight limbs, well formed, clothing both elegant and plain.
I'm quick of step and thought, of action and of speech,
Reserved, humane, and lavish, loyal, and sincere,
Swift, when the world provokes, to fight against the world;
         
 
At times daring of speech -- more often, with my hands;
Alone most of the day, and always pensive, sad;
Quick-tempered, ready, restless, and unwavering;
         
 
In vices and in virtues rich.  Though prompt always to praise
Sweet reason, yet I follow where my heart may lead.
I know that Death alone will grant me rest and fame.
         
         
                  Alessandro Manzoni
         
Dark hair, deep brow, a speaking eye,
The nose not big, nor-- I'd say-- epicene,
Round cheeks, their ruddy color high,
Lips strait and red, mouth lean.
         
 
The tongue now quick, now slow, not mean,
Reined in or pouring words out happily.
In years and judgment young, but not carefree.
In manner rough, at heart benign.
         
 
Glory I love, the wilds, and the blond god.
I may disdain, not hate; am soon downcast;
Good to the kind, kind to the sad, with Sandro hard.
         
 
Too quick to blaze; more willing to forgive than damn.
To the world of little note; to myself the least.
Men, the years to come, will tell me who I am.

Translations © Carl Selph, 1999

All text on this page is copyrighted by Carl Selph and appears here by permission. All rights reserved. It may not be archived beyond one personal electronic copy for offline reading; such a copy must include the entire text of the present notice and the author's name. It may not be printed, posted on a web-site, distributed publicly or privately, used or quoted in whole or in part, or published in any manner or form whatsoever without the author's explicit permission. E-mail Wordreign to contact Carl Selph and your request will be promptly forwarded.

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