Poderoso Caballero es Don Dinero
Francisco De Quevedo| Traduzione inglese di Thomas Walsh | |
PODEROSO CABALLERO ES DON DINERO Madre, e all’oro che m’inchino, e per me l’amato amante, giallo in abito galante brilla come un damerino; che doblone o nichelino mi da tutto cio che spero, poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Nelle Indie nasce, e accolto con onor, lo si accompagna, a morire viene in Spagna, ed a Genova è sepolto; anche il brutto, se ne ha molto, appar bello, che davvero poderoso caballero es don Dinero. È brillante come l’oro ma cangiante è ‘l suo colore che da lui prende valore il cristiano come il moro; può a chiunque dar decoro, ma disfare può un impero, poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Dal suo conio si risale a illustrissimo ascendente, nelle vene dell’oriente scorre ognor sangue reale; e per ciò che rende eguale il granduca ed il negriero, poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Non vi desti meraviglia che il suo corso senza sconto sopravanzi nel confronto donna Bianca di Castiglia; e va su chi a lui s’appiglia, che da vil può far l’altero, poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Sua divisa e sua ragione sono ovunque si contanti, senza i suoi scudi sonanti non c’è stemma nè blasone; quante nobili persone ne corruppe il sol pensiero, poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Per decider corsi e corse da far correre alle genti nelle case dei potenti lo si tiene nelle Borse; e i sicuri stanno in forse, meno è il giudice severo, poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Tanta è la sua maestà che, tirato da piu parti, anche se diviso in quarti lui non perde autorità; fissa tinta e qualità per il bianco, giallo, o nero poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Non c’è donna con pretesa di virtù, ch’alla lusinga e al brillar della berlinga non abbassi sua difesa; la morale non è pesa se il borsel non è leggero poderoso caballero es don Dinero. Valgon più in qualunque terra i suoi scudi nella pace, per predare ciò che piace, che le armi della guerra; perchè il povero sotterra ed annienta lo straniero poderoso caballero es don Dinero. | THE LORD OF DOLLARS Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Mother, unto gold I yield me, He and I are ardent lovers; Pure affection now discovers How his sunny rays shall shield me! For a trifle more or less All his power will confess, Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. In the Indies did they nurse him, While the world stood round admiring; And in Spain was his expiring; And in Genoa did they hearse him; And the ugliest at his side Shines with all of beauty's pride; Over kings and priests awl scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. He's a gallant, he's a winner, Black or white be his complexion; He is brave without correction As a Moor or Christian sinner. He makes cross and medal bright, And he smashes laws of right,— Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Noble are his proud ancestors For his blood-veins are patrician; Royalties make the position Of his Orient investors; So they find themselves preferred To the duke or country herd,— Over kings and priests and scholars, Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars! Of his standing who can question When there yields unto his rank, a Hight-Castillian Doña Blanca, If you follow the suggestion?— He that crowns the lowest stool, And to hero turns the fool,— Over kings and priests and scholars, Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. On his shields are noble bearings; His emblazonments unfurling Show his arms of royal sterling All his high pretensions airing; And the credit of his miner Stands behind the proud refiner, Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Contracts, bonds, and bills to render, Like his counsels most excelling, Are esteemed within the dwelling Of the banker and the lender. So is prudence overthrown, And the judge complaisant grown,— Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Such indeed his sovereign standing (With some discount in the order), Spite the tax, the cash-recorder Still his value fixed is branding. He keeps rank significant To the prince or finn in want,— Over kings and Priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Never meets he dames ungracious To his smiles or his attention, How they glow but at the mention Of his promises capacious! And how bare-faced they become To the coin beneath his thumb Over kings and Priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. Mightier in peaceful season (And in this his wisdom showeth) Are his standards, than when bloweth War his haughty blasts and breeze on; In all foreign lands at home, Equal e'en in pauper's loam,— Over kings and priests and scholars Rules the mighty Lord of Dollars. |
