Originale | Traduzione inglese di L.E. |
MAURIZIO FERRARA: ER PUZZONE. LA STORIA DER FASCISMO | THE STINKER. THE HISTORY OF FASCISM |
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1 - Il figlio del fabbro | 1 - The son of the smith |
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Lui era er fijo d’un fabbro de Romagna, | He was the son of a smith of Romagna, |
‘n bravomo, giacubbino socialista, | a good man, jacobin, socialist, |
ch’a sapéllo ch’er fijo era fascista | who, had he known that his son was a fascist, |
te l’allessava come ‘na castagna. | would have roasted him like a chestnut. |
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‘Nfatti quannoché lui, pe’ ‘r verbo màgna, | Indeed, when he, for the verb “to eat” [= “to steal”], |
svortò bandiera e se cammiò de lista | swapped banner and changed his electoral list |
je toccò ‘nnasse a métte fori vista | he needed to go far out of sight |
pe’ nun finì a fà er morto de campagna. | to avoid ending up like a countryside corpse [poor, unlucky]. |
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Lassò er paese e dov’annò? A Milano, | He left his village and where did he go? To Milan, |
‘ndove fra tanti torzi lui fu un genio | where, among so many fools he seemed a genius |
e se fece portà in parma de mano. | and he was carried over the palms of their hands. |
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Trovò sòrdi a caretti, ‘sto ruffiano, | He found wagons of money, this ruffian [thug, scoundrel, villain], |
pe’ oprì er Covo der Fascio primiggenio [1], | to set up the Lair of the firstborn “bundle” [= Fascist group] |
ché mica è nato a Roma: è cispatano. | ‘cause it was not made in Rome: it is Cispadane. |
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2 - Il covo | 2 - The Lair |
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Chiuso drento ‘sto Covo lui covava | Hidden in this Lair he kept brooding over |
come poté fà fòri er communismo | how to get rid of communism |
e fu pe’ questo ch’inventò er fascismo | and that was why he came up with fascism |
pe’ fàcce tornà ar tempo de la clava. | to get us back to the time of the club [= caveman]. |
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‘Nfatti mentre l’Italia se lograva | Indeed, while Italy was being worn out |
cor parlamento annàto ar cretinismo, | with the parliament gone to cretinism, |
mentre noi penzavamo ar socialismo | as we were thinking about socialism |
lui nun penzava un cazzo ma menava. | he wasn’t thinking shit but whacked. |
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E in quell’Italia vecchia, stracca, sfitica, | And in that Italy, old, tired, asphyxiating, |
co’ la Camera fatta un carosello, | with the House of Deputies turned a carousel |
lui der menà ne fece ‘na pulitica. | of this whacking he made out a political line. |
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Mena e mena convince er generone [2] | Whack and whack, he persuades the middle class |
ch’ar dilemma tra legge e manganello | that, given the dilemma between law and truncheon, |
la borghesia à da sceje San Bastone. | the bourgeoisie has to choose Saint Baton. |
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3 - Lo squadrismo di stato | 3 - State squadrismo |
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Però ‘sto gran menà che lui faceva | However, this great whacking he made |
era a botta sicura un pijà er terno, | was like winning the lottery sure shot, |
perché lui se copriva cor governo | because he was covered by the Government |
ch’ar brutto l’aiutava e proteggeva. | which, when things turned awry, helped and protected him. |
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‘Nfatti si ‘no squadrista se moveva | Indeed, if a squadrist took action |
p’abbrucià un sinnacato e fà l’inferno | to set fire to a trade union and raise hell, |
dietro c’era un guardione de l’Interno | behind him there was a spy of the Ministry of the Interior |
che invece d’arestàllo l’assorvéva. | who, instead of arresting him, would let him go free. |
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Lo Stato, inzomma, mica fu ‘mparziale | The State, in short, was not impartial at all, |
a dì «chi rompe paga», «c’è la legge», | to say «who breaks pays», «there’s the law», |
come riporta er codice penale. | like recorded in the criminal code. |
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‘Sto Stato come palo ar forilegge, | This State, like a pole to the outlaw, |
confermò Marz, che scrisse ar Capitale: | confirmed Marx who wrote in The Capital: |
«Le libbertà borghesi sò scoregge». | «Bourgeois freedoms are farts». |
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4 - Il tradimento del re | 4 - The king’s betrayal |
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‘Nfatti mentre er Puzzone già ‘nzorgeva, | Indeed, while the Stinker already rioted, |
er re, che dello Stato à d’èsse er perno, | the king, who has to be the pivot of the State, |
facendo finta de tenesse esterno | while pretending to remaining neutral, |
je faceva er basista, je faceva. | acted as an insider accomplice, he acted. |
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Lo Sciabboletta [3] loffio ce friggeva | The vapid Little Saber was frying |
a volé un boja a capo der governo, | in the hope to get an executioner as head of the Government, |
magara protemporibbus, no eterno, | perhaps temporarily, not indefinitely, |
p’incarcà er popolino che spigneva. | to trample on the common people which pressed upwards. |
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‘Nzomma quer re de coppe in quer cimento | In short, that playing card king of cups in that ordeal, |
pe’ nun volélla dà vinta a la massa | unwilling to let the masses win, |
se buttò ar Fascio de combattimento. | he threw himself into the combat Fascio. |
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Così ‘sto re Sordato, gran cornuto, | And so, this soldier king, great horned one, |
nun solo cacò in testa ar parlamento | not only shat in the head of the parliament |
ma se rimagnò puro lo Statuto. | but also reneged on the Statute. |
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5 - Il 28 ottobre 1922 | 5 - 28 October 1922 |
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Quanno er ventottottobbre ventidue, | When on the 28th of October 1922, |
a cavacecio [4] de li questurini, | on the shoulders of police agents, |
je se presenta a casa Musolini | Mussolini shows up at his place |
pe’ pià er potere da le mani sue, | to receive the power from his very hands, |
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‘nvece de dije: «Ma le corna tue!» | instead of replying: «The horns of yours!» |
er re j’aggiusta ar culo li cuscini, | the king adjusts the cushions to his butt, |
l’abbraccica e je fa: «Semo cuggini!». [5] | he hugs him and says: «We are cousins!». |
A ‘sto bigonzo fracico de lue! | This syphilis soaking sack! |
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Ài capito che coppia! C’è un zovrano | You get what a pair? There’s a sovereign |
che puro de potè sarvà la cassa | who just to get to save the cash |
se ‘mparentela co’ un repubbricano. | gets related with a republican. |
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L’antro, ‘n ecsenarcoide prudoniano | The other, an ex-proudhonian anarchoid |
che se converte e pe’ fà più manbassa | who gets converted and to rob at full hands |
va a leccà ‘r culo ar re, ‘sto gran ruffiano. | goes licking the king’s arse, this great ruffian. |
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6 - La rivoluzione fascista | 6 - The fascist revolution |
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Fu ‘na rivoluzzione? ‘Nzia mai detto! | Was it a revolution? Never let it be said! |
Quella la fece Lenin co’ Baffone | That Lenin and Moustache [= Stalin] did it |
che sparorno ar Palazzo cor cannone | who shot against the Palace with the cannon, |
poi annorno su a pijà lo zar pe’ ‘r petto. | then went up to get the tsar chest to chest. |
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Ma er Puzza p’annà a Roma pijò er letto, | But the Stinker, to reach Rome, he got the wagon-lit, |
cor prefetto a ‘spettallo a la stazzione, | with the prefect waiting for him at the station, |
e agnede ar Quirinale in proscessione, | and he went up to the Quirinal Palace in procession, |
co’ le ghette, la bomba [6], er doppiopetto. | with his gaiters, bowler hat, double-breasted coat. |
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Lui rivoluzzionario? Sì, de pezza! | He a revolutioner? Yes, with the patches! |
A ‘sto borzo je diedero le chiavi | This flabby, they gave him the keys |
pe’ fà entrà a Roma lui e la su’ monnezza. | to get himself in Rome, and his garbage scavengers. |
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‘Nzomma pe’ lui la marcia fu ‘no sguazzo, | In short, to him the march was a fresh water dabbling, |
co’ preti, generali e ladiclavi [7] | with priests, generals and laticlave adorned senators |
a faje strada a ‘sto Dantò der cazzo. | to make way, to this fucking Danton. |
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7 - Il fascismo dei ricchi | 7 - The rich people fascism |
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Dice: fu ‘no sbarbajo, fu ‘n’ufòria, | [Some] say: it was a dazzle, a euphoria, |
tutta ‘na trapparenti, un carnovale, | all a within-brackets, a carnival, |
‘na specie de peccato origginale | a sort of original sin |
der quale è mejo pèrde la memoria. [8] | of which it’s best to lose memory. |
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Manco pe’ ‘r cazzo! Fu ‘n pezzo de storia, | No fucking way! It was a piece of our history, |
e de storia de classe, è naturale, | and of working class history, that’s for sure, |
‘ndove er ricco a paràsse er capitale | where the rich, in order to parry their capital, |
finanziò er Fascio pe’ cantà vittoria. | financed Fascism to sing victory. |
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S’erimio tutti quanti poveracci | Given that we were all poor, |
chi je lo dava er grano a Mussolini | who gave Mussolini the grain [or the money] |
pe’ le squadre de Barbo e Farinacci? | for the squads of Balbo and Farinacci? |
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‘Nvece Agnelli je diede li quatrini, | Conversely, Agnelli gave them the shekels, |
cusì a noi ce pistorno come stracci | so they pounded us like rags |
e su Roma marciorno li burini. | and on Rome marched the burini [peasants]. |
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8 - L’errore | 8 - The mistake |
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Quant’a noi, ce fregò perché quell’era | As to us, we got shafted because that era |
era ‘n’era confusa e baccajona, | was a confused and rowdy era, |
cor socialismo fatto a la strappona | with the socialism done sluttishly |
e er communismo che nimmanco c’era. | and the communism which did not even exist. |
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Li proletari, gente assai sincera, | Proletarians, very sincere people, |
penzànno che la Russia solo è bona, | convinced that only Russia is good, |
pijaveno de petto ‘gni perzona | confronted everyone chest to chest |
e sputaveno puro alla bandiera. | and spat also on the national flag. |
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Che ce vòi fà? Era come ‘n’idolàtria | What can you do? It was like an idolatry, |
a cantà solo «L’internazzionale» | singing only «The Internationale» |
e a nun capì mai un cazzo de la patria. | and never understanding shit of the Fatherland. |
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‘Nvece ‘sta patria c’è, nun c’è quistione, | However, this Fatherland is there, no question, |
e fu ‘no sbajo propio madonnàle | and it was a truly glaring error |
a rigalàlla tutta a quer Puzzone. | to give it whole to that Stinker. |
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9 - La sconfitta | 9 - The defeat |
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C’è da capì, li tempi ereno scuri, | It's to be understood, the times were obscure, |
co’ ‘n doppoguera peggio de la guera, | with an after-war worse than the war, |
co’ li braccianti ‘gnudi e senza tera, | with the farmhands naked and with no land, |
l’agrari cor fuscile a fà li duri. | the agrarian owners playing hardball with the rifles. |
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Noi erimio gneonati, pochi e puri, | We were like newborn babies, few and pure, |
sempre a lottà e morì alla berzajera, | always fighting and dying hard and fast, unyieldingly, |
co’ scritto in fronte come ‘na chimera: | written on our forehead like a chimera: |
«Semo pochi ma boni e gnente impuri». | «We are few but good, and no impure». |
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Co’ ‘sti sistemi da sabbatossera | With these Saturday night [= improvised] methods |
era distino che buttasse male, | it was destiny it would turn ugly, |
restamio soli a cantà «‘spetta e spera». | we ended up isolated and singing «Wait and hope». |
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Non solo ce fregorno la bandiera | Not only they robbed us of the red flag |
ma toccò fà er saluto nazzionale | but we ended up having to perform the national greeting |
all’antre due, la tricolore e nera. | of the other two, the tricolour and the black ones. |
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10 - Il fascismo al governo | 10 - Fascism in power |
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Basta. Doppo che cià l’investitura | Enough. After he got the appointment |
er Puzzone se chiama li partiti e fa: | the Stinker calls the parties to himself and says: |
«Pe’ voi già ciò la dittatura | «For you all I already have the dictatorship |
si nun ve dimostrate assai pentiti». | if you do not show you are greatly repented». |
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Quell’antri mezzi morti de paura | Those others, half scared to death |
d’avecce l’ossa rotte da l’arditi, | to have their bones broken by the intrepid ones, |
penzando fra de sé: «Tanto nun dura», | thinking to themselves: «He won’t last anyway», |
je fecero de sì, ‘sti rimbambiti. | they answered yes, these dimwits. |
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Anzi ce fu puro un democristiano, | Furthermore, there was a Christian democrat, |
cor primatur der papa a sarvatacco, | with the pope’s imprimatur to serve as heeltap, |
che j’entrò ner governo a dà ‘na mano. | who entered in the government to lend a hand. |
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Sortanto la sinistra in quer palazzo | Only the left in that palace |
‘ndoveché lui voleva fà er bivacco | where he intended to make a bivouac |
je fece, dice: «Ma nun róppe er cazzo!». | they told him, like: «Don't go breaking the dick!». |
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11 - Le divisioni della sinistra | 11 - The divisions within the left |
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Ma mò era tardi a rimedià quer guaio, | But now it was too late to remedy that havoc, |
stava ar rifrusso la rivoluzzione, | the revolution was flowing backward, |
e pe’ tigna settaria e divisione | and due to sectarian stubbornness and division |
la sinistra già ‘nnava a lo sbarajo. | the left was already falling into a rout/debacle. |
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Bordiga pe’ ‘no Stato più operaio, | Bordiga for a more working-class State, |
Turati pe’ ‘na lenta ‘voluzzione | Turati for a slow reform/evolution |
litigaveno, e quello cor bastone | quarreled, and that one with his baton |
menava a tutt’e due, de punta e tajo. | Kept whacking both of them, tip and cut. |
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Fu ‘na prova der nove e me ce rode | It was a casting-out-nines test, and it gnaws at me |
che ‘nvece d’èsse uniti p’annà avanti | that, instead of staying united to move forward, |
fra li du’ litiganti er terzo gode. | while two dogs strive for a bone a third runs away with it. |
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E nun servì alla fine d’èsse tanti: | And it didn’t help at the end to be so many: |
spaccati l’abbuscassimo più sode | split, we were beaten hard |
e annassimo pe’ ciche tutti quanti. | and ended up dispersed all of us. |
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12 - Le connivenze liberali | 12 - The liberal connivances |
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Ma j’annò storta puro ar libberale | But things also went wrong for the liberal |
che pe’ scampà dalla rivoluzzione | who, to escape the revolution, |
s’aggregò ar Puzza drento ner listone [9] | got themself aggregated to the Stinker’s broad list |
purché lui je sarvasse er capitale. | just so he saved their capital. |
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Lui je lo sarva e poi, papal papale, | He saves it for them, and then, bluntly and harshly, |
fa: «Bravi, mò però, care perzone, | he says: «Well done, now though, dear people, |
commanno io e chi fa l’opposizzione | I’m in charge and those at the opposition |
je faccio un mazzo com’un orinale». | I will have their arse open wide like a urinal». |
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E quelli che je s’erano accodati | And those who had tagged him along |
finché lui je menava i socialisti | insofar he whacked the socialists for them |
li buttò alla monnezza sputtanati. | he threw them in the garbage, disparaged/discredited. |
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Je stette bene a tutti ‘st’avvocati | It served them right, all these lawyers |
che doppo dato er culo a li fascisti | who after offering their arse to the fascists |
se trovorno contenti e cojonati. | found themselves satisfied and defiled. |
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13 - Papato e regime | 13 - Papacy and regime |
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‘Nquant’ar papa, un papaccio de Milano, | As for the pope, an ugly pope from Milan, |
in primis p’ingrazziasse lo squadrista | in primis, to ingratiate himself with the squadrist, |
a Sturzo, ch’era un prete antifascista, | Sturzo, who was an antifascist priest, |
lo mise a cuccia e lo spedì lontano. | he ordered him down like a pup and then sent him far away. |
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Doppo convoca er Puzza e a quer ruffiano | Afterwards, he summoned the Stinker and to that ruffian |
je fa: «Non è eccellenza che c’inzista, | he says: «Not that I, your excellency, would insist, |
ma si je serve Dio lo fo fascista | but if it may serve you, God, I make him fascist, |
purché lei me finanzi er Vaticano». | as long as you finance the Vatican for me». |
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Er Puzza penza: «È fatta». E co’ osseguenza | The Stinker thinks: «It’s done». And with subservience |
je fa de sì e quer papa fu capace | he says yes, and that pope was able |
de dì: «Ecco l’omo de la provvidenza». | to say: «Here is the man sent by providence». |
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Così tra Stato e Chiesa ce fu pace | And so, between State and Church there was peace, |
ma da quer giorno puro a su’ ‘minenza | but since that day his eminence too |
je toccò de dì messa co’ l’orbace. | had to say mass with the Sardinian orbace wool. |
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14 - I frutti del caos | 14 - The consequences of chaos |
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Ciebbe conzenzi? Pochi, e fu dovuto | Did he have consensus? Little, and that was due to the fact |
che lui sfruttò li sbaji der passato | that he exploited the mistakes of the past |
e ingannò er cetro medio abbituato | And deceived the middle class, used |
a annà cor vento, quest’è risaputo. | to go with the wind, this is known. |
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Poi c’era er caos. E lui, baron fottuto, | Furthermore, there was chaos. And he, fucking bastard, |
proprio de quello s’è più approfittato, | specifically of that took more advantage: |
je dà ‘na sistemata e fa ‘no Stato | he gives it a quick fix and makes a State |
ch’ar popolino je dà qualche ajuto. | that offers the common people some minor aid. |
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Così, cor treno a orario e la stazzione, | And so, with the train in time and the train station, |
‘npo’ più d’ordine e meno contrattempi | just a bit more order and less mishaps |
fece scordà siqquanto era puzzone. | he made forget what a stinker he really was. |
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Questo vòr dì ch’er popolo è cojone? | Does this mean the people are dumb-asses? |
No: ma ch’er caos pò fà rompe li tempi | No: but that chaos can break the succession of time |
e che doppo er tronà viè lo sgrullone. | and that, after thunders, falls down a shower of heavy rain. |
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15 - L’opposizione proletaria | 15 - The proletarian opposition |
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Però quannoché lui pijò er timone | But when he got hold of the helm |
e dar governo scatenò er terore | and from the government he unleashed terror, |
er popolo capì, se magnò er core, | the people realised, they despaired, |
e je se mise a fà Popposizzione. | and set themselves to oppose him. |
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Popolo, sì, e no vórgo pecorone | People, yes, and not sheepish crowd |
che marcia sempre ‘ndove vò er pastore. | that always marches wherever the shepherd leads them. |
Quello ce fu ma più che un sdisonore | That was also there, but more than an ignominy |
fu ‘n quipproquoque, ‘na contraddizzione. | It was a mix-up, a misunderstanding, a contradiction. |
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Ma l’antri no. Benché morto de fame, | But not the others. Although starving to death, |
ce fu er fior fiore der proletariato | there was the blooming flower of the proletariat |
sotto sotto a resìste a quell’infame. | underneath below, to resist that infamous. |
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Questo spiega perché a quer criminale, | This explains why that criminal, |
margrado un conzenzaccio arimediato, | despite an ugly consensus scraped up [as best as he could], |
je serviva er tortóre e er tribbunale. | he needed the torturer and the tribunal. |
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16 - L’OVRA e il tribunale speciale | 16 - OVRA and the special tribunal |
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‘Nfatti pe’ garantisse in sempiterno | Indeed, to secure himself for ever |
pia er codice e lo fa tutto penale, | he takes the codes of law and makes them entirely “criminal”, |
pe’ cui ‘gni cittadino è un criminale | so that every citizen is a criminal |
basta che parla male der governo. | just suffice it that they speak ill of the government. |
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Poi pe’ stà più guardato ne l’interno | Then, to keep himself more guarded on the inside, |
pia un tribbunale e te lo fa speciale | he takes a tribunal and makes it “special”, |
‘ndove er giudice in toga è un generale | where the judge in his toga is a general |
più peggio de Caronte ne l’Inferno. | worser than Charon in Hell. |
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Poi pe’ spià fa l’Ovra, ‘na congrega | Then, to spy, he establishes the OVRA, a coven |
che fa’ che sparli a béve all’osteria | that - suppose you drivel on while you drink at the tavern - |
lei soffia e viè er carubba che te lega. | they blow and here comes the carabiniere to handcuff you. |
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Bastava, a bon bisogno, che ‘na spia | It sufficed, in essence, that a spy |
te sentiva a dì: «Er duce? E chemmefrega» | heard you say: «The Duce? And what do I care?» |
‘nnavi ar confino de Pantelleria. | and you ended up to Pantelleria internment. |
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17 - L’olio di ricino | 17 - Castor oil |
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Poi pe’ fà stà la gente assoggettata | Then to get the people submissive |
ne’ ‘gni paese c’era ‘no squadrista | in every village there was a squadrist |
che a chi ‘gn’annava a salutà fascista | who those who weren’t keen to make the fascist salute |
nottetempo je dava ‘n’incarcata. | at night he would beat them up. |
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A dieci contro uno e all’imboscata, | Ten against one, in an ambush, |
si t’aveva segnato su la lista, | if it had put your name on its list |
er Fascio te faceva carne pista | the Fascio made you ground meat |
o cor tortóre o co’ ‘na cortellata. | either with the baton or with a knife stab. |
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Ma ‘r servizzio più ‘nfame era quell’ojo | But the most heinous service was that oil |
che quann’uno pe’ forza lo beveva | which, when one was forced to drink it, |
te l’umijava drento ne l’orgojo. | it humiliated him in his dignity. |
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Lo diedero a mi’ nonno. E ‘sto poraccio | They gave it to my grandfather. And this unfortunate, |
mentre un lago de mmerda lo sciojeva | while a lake of shit dissolved him, |
piagneva com’un pupo, era ‘no straccio. | wailed like a child, he was in tatters. |
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18 - La repressione di massa | 18 - Mass repression |
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Si poi eri inzovverzivo e cospiravi | On top of that if you were a subversive and conspired |
pe’ fà er soccorso rosso der partito, | to carry red aid to the party, |
sàrvete fio, a cascacce eri fenito, | run for your life, son, failing determined your end, |
pòi stà sicuro nun te la cavavi. | you can be sure you would’t get away with that. |
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Pe’ quanto ch’eri tosto e che negavi | No matter how tough you were and denied |
e facevi lo gnori e l’impunito, | and you acted dumb and impudent, |
te daveno trentanni, garantito, | they gave you thirty years, guaranteed, |
margrado l’avvocati li più bravi. | despite the best lawyers. |
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E, dice, in quer frangente, er peggio male | And they say, at that juncture, the worst woe |
era che stavi solo a fà le spese, | was that you were alone to pay the price, |
nun facevi parlà manco un giornale. | you wouldn’t even attract the attention of a newspaper. |
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Sparivi ner silenzio generale, | You disappeared in the ordinary silence, |
no come mò che si te danno un mese | not like now, that if they give you a month |
lo deve dì puro er teleggiornale. | even the TV news must mention it. |
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19 - Matteotti | 19 – Matteotti |
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C’era er terore. E quanno Matteotti | Terror was reigning. And when Matteotti |
j’annò sotto de brutto co’ l’accuso, | slogged hard and uglily with his accusations, |
er Puzza biastimò, storcette er muso | the Stinker cursed, he twisted his muzzle |
e zagajò: «Mò questo me l’à rotti!». | and stuttered «Now this one has broken my balls!». |
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Poi chiama tre squadristi galeotti, | Then he calls three villainous squadrists, |
je dice come perpetrà l’abbuso, | tells them how to perpetrate the abuse, |
quelli vanno e la sera fu concruso | those ones go and in the evening was concluded |
er fatto loffio, senza strilli e botti. | the loathsome deed, without screams and bangs. |
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Lo ritrovorno poi alla Quartarella [10] | Eventually they found him at Quartarella |
massacrato de córpi de pugnale, | massacred by dagger stabs, |
a faccia a tera, giù, drento la zella. | face down, in the filth. |
| |
Lui quanno stava già ferito male | As for him, when he was already seriously wounded |
j’uscì ‘na frase celebre ch’è quella: | a renowned phrase got out of his mouth and it was |
«M’ammazzerete a me, no l’ideale». | «You will perhaps kill me, not the ideal». |
| |
20 - Gramsci | 20 - Gramsci |
| |
Gramsci era un gobbo ma però gigante. | Gramsci was a hunchback, but a giant. |
‘N antro genio così chi se lo sogna? | Another genius like that, who dares to dream of another? |
E er duce, pe’ smorzàllo, ‘sta carogna, | And the Duce, to smother him, this carrion, |
je dà er ‘gastolo peggio ch’un brigante. | gives him a life sentence worse than to a brigand. |
| |
Je ne fece passà de tutte e tante | He made him suffer many [disgraces] and of all types |
drento a ‘na cella peggio de ‘na fogna, | in a cell worse than a sewer, |
j’impiombava deppiù sempre la gogna | loading his pillory with ever more lead |
fino a ridùllo un schertro diambulante. | until he made him a lame/limping/claudicant skeleton. |
| |
Ma prima de morìcce ne ‘st’inferni | But before dying in these hells |
stette sempre a penzà, sera e matina, | he always kept thinking, evening and morning, |
puro de notte a scrìve li quaderni. | even at night, to write the Prison Notebooks. |
| |
La profezzia più sua ‘nze pò scordàlla: | His most characteristic prophecy can’t be forgotten: |
«Stronzi, co’ voi l’Italia andrà in rovina | «Turds! With you, Italy will fall into ruin |
e a noi ce toccherà poi de sarvàlla». | and it will be up to us to save her». |
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21 - Il tradimento dei chierici | 21 - The clerks’ betrayal |
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Doppodeché co’ l’ojo e la galera | Afterwards, with the oil and the gaol |
liquidò li nimichi più giurati, | he liquidated his most sworn enemies, |
l’antri avverzari ‘npo’ più spampanati | the other adversaries, a bit more unscrupulous/unprincipled, |
li coruppe e je fece fà cariera. | he bribed them and made them advance in their career. |
| |
Fu ‘n obbrobbio er véde ‘na tiritera | It was an opprobrium/ignominy seeing a parade/pantomime |
d’ecchise oppositori patentati | of ex certified opponents |
dì: «Mbè, vor dì che s’erimio sbajati» | say: «So what? Must be that we were wrong to begin with» |
e annà cor fezze e la camiscia nera. | and move forward with fezzes and black shirts. |
| |
E si pòi perdonà che l’impiegati | And if you can forgive that employees, |
pe’ ‘r pane annorno a fà l’arzabandiera | for the bread, went on to hoist the flag |
vestiti da ammiraji e da sordati, [11] | dressed up like admirals and soldiers, |
| |
nun ze spiega, fu propio ‘na schifezza, | it can’t be explained, it was yuck, |
sentì tanti povèti laureati | to hear so many poets laureate |
a cantà: «Giovinezza, giovinezza». | singing: «Youth, oh youth». |
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22 - L’abbaglio | 22 - Razzle dazzle |
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E poi certe mignotte, ‘tàcci loro, | And then certain whores, curse their ancestors’ souls, |
je se misero tutte a fà la rota, | set themselves to fan their peacock tails |
strillànno: «Che fustaccio, che pilota», | clamouring: «What a hot sturdy stud, what a pilot», |
perdenno puro l’urtimo decoro. | thus losing the least decorum. |
| |
‘Nzomma all’intorno je se fece un coro | In short, all around him was soon an ensemble |
de ruffiani, magnaccia, gente sciota, | of ruffians, pimps, simpletons |
laichi, preti, burini, gente nota, | laymen, priests, peasants, notorious people, |
morti de fame in cerca de lavoro. | death starving poor looking for an employer. |
| |
Ereno troppi. E quando all’adunate | They were too many. And when at their gatherings |
a mijara se daveno a ‘st’inganno | in thousands gave themselves away to this deception |
te sentivi l’idee più disperate. | it occurred to hear the most disparate/desperate ideas. |
| |
Mi’ patre, avanti a tutto quer malanno, | My father, in front of all this plague, |
s’ingrugnava, sbiancava e borbottava: | uglified in the face, turned pale and grunted: |
«‘Mmazzeli quante merde che ce stanno». | «Slay them! How many turds there are!». |
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23 - I colpevoli del consenso | 23 - Those guilty of the consensus |
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Ereno merde o no? Questo è er problema. | Were they turds or were they not? That is the question. |
Er più era genterella sempriciona | Most of them were common people, simpletons, |
educata da piccola a èsse bona, | raised since childhood to be good, |
a penzà senza tanto tevorema. | to think without much of a speculation. |
| |
Che mò vòi dà a la massa l’anatema? | Why?, now you want to give the masses the anathema? |
Quello je tocca ar papa e a la corona, | That must be addressed to the pope and the crown |
propenzi a ‘na cultura stramiciona | inclined to a trollopish culture |
pe’ cui la gente allora era più scema. | such that people back then were more dimwit. |
| |
Er popolo che c’entra? Sdottrinato | What did the people have got to do with it? Indoctrinated |
a créde ch’er re è sagro, er papa è dio, | to believe that the king is sacred, the pope is god, |
nun à da créde a un «duce consagrato»? | don’t they have to believe a «consecrated leader»? |
| |
L’anatema va a chi s’è cortivato | The anathema belongs to those who have bred to themselves |
er popolo da pollo, cor «pio pio», | the people, with «peep, peep» calls, |
pe’ fallo ar dunque còtto e cucinato. | to get it cooked and roasted when needed. |
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24 - L’era fascista | 24 - The fascist era |
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Basta. Er Puzzone, doppo avé schiaffato | Enough. The Stinker, after tossing |
l’opposizzione drento ‘na galera, | the opposition inside a jail, |
fa ar re: «Qui, maestà, ce vò ‘n’antra era, | says to the king: «Here, majesty, is needed a new era, |
ciovè ‘n’era fascista pe’ lo Stato». | that is, a fascist era for the State». |
| |
L’antro, purché nun sii mai lui toccato, | The other one, as long as he does not get touched himself, |
conzente a métte er fascio a la bandiera, | assents to put the Fasces (bundle of wooden rods) on the flag, |
ch’er sabbato se va in camicia nera | that on Saturdays people are required to wear black shirts |
e ch’a casa ciài un capofabbricato. | and that at home you have an air-raid warden. |
| |
Poi er Puzza che te fa? Er Dopolavoro, | Then what does the Stinker do? National Recreational Club, |
er Luce, Tespi, er treno popolare, [12] | LUCE Institute, Carro di Tespi, Popular [Tourist] Trains, |
e sventra Roma pe’ dà l’aria ar Foro. | and disembowels Rome to give air to the Foro Italico. |
| |
Poi cor métte più tasse fa Littoria, | Then, by increasing taxes, he founds Littoria [= Latina], |
che si pe’ li buzzurri fu ‘n affare | which, if for the northern mountainers was a steal, |
pe’ li burini fu pane e cicoria. [13] | for Lazian peasants was bread and chicory. |
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25 - La premilitare | 25 - Pre-military service |
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Poi er Puzza, già co’ Hitler pe’ compare, | Then the Stinker, with Hitler already as an accomplice, |
descide che l’Italia è assai gueriera, | decides that Italy is very much bellicose, |
ch’è ‘na razza de prodi, forte e fiera, | that it is a race of warriors, strong and proud, |
e inventa puro la premilitare. | and also invents the pre-military service. |
| |
Ciovè ‘gni giovenotto co’ ‘st’affare | That is, every schoolboy with this innovation |
era un milite, ossia er sabbatossera | was a soldier, or in other words, on Saturday nights |
‘nnava in caserma pe’ giocà a la guera | went to the barracks to play war |
e a cantà in coro er Carmo Secolare. [14] | and sing in unison Horace’s Carmen Saeculare. |
| |
Lui se credeva co’ ‘sta gran fregnaccia | He was deluding himself, with this great bullshit, |
che l’italiano, poco imbellicista, | that the Italians, who are no belligerent, |
l’addestrava a guardà la morte in faccia. | he was training them to stare death in the face. |
| |
Sta’ fresco! Se n’accorze, ‘sto giggione, | Stay cool! He sure realised, eventually, this presumptuous, |
che l’italiano, nato pacifista, | that the Italian, born pacifist, |
si ‘na guera ‘gne piace pia er fugone. | if a war does not suit him, he makes a run for it. |
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26 - Le sanzioni | 26 - Sanctions |
| |
Daje e daje a giocà a fà lo sbrasone, | Insist and insist playing the braggart’s act, |
l’economia j’annò culo pe’ tera | the economy collapsed butt on the ground |
e lui se la pijò co’ l’Inghirtera | and he took it out on England |
p’i cinque pasti e la perfidarbione. [15] | because of the five meals and the Perfidious Albion. |
| |
Dice ch’appetto d’ogni antra nazzione | He says that, with respect to other nations, |
l’Italia nun potrà mai fà cariera, | Italy will never be able to advance |
perché è povera, senza ‘na mignera, | because it’s poor, without a mine, |
e chi nun cià l’Impero è ‘n accattone. | and those who don’t own an Empire are beggars. |
| |
Dice: si nun me date ‘na colonia | He says: if you won’t give me a colony |
vòr dì, co’ le cattive o co’ le bone, | it means, by hook or by crook, |
io me la pijo e fo ‘na Babbilonia. | I’ll go and get me one, and I’ll raise a Babylon. |
| |
Ar sentillo zazzà co’ ‘sta manfrina | After hearing him blustering on with this charade |
Ciurcill s’incazza, j’arma la sanzione | Churchill gets all pissed off, arms a sanction against him |
e l’Italia fu messa a columbrina. | and Italy was forced on her knees. |
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27 - I gerarchi | 27 - Party hierarchs |
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Cominciorno così li tempi scuri, | Thus began the dark years, |
‘ndove l’Italia, presa ne la stretta, | when Italy, being cornered, |
se rivelò ‘no straccio d’Italietta, | revealed itself a little Italy in tatters, |
margrado li gerarchi e li tammuri. | despite the hierarchs and the drums. |
| |
‘Nvece de dàsse pace e stà sicuri | Instead of preserving peace and staying secure |
‘sti bulli, pett’in fori e fava eretta, | these bullies, chest out and carrot erect, |
coreveno a pedagna e in bicicretta | kept running on foot and on bicycle |
pe’ fàsse véde tosti, usteri e puri. | to get to be seen tough, austere and pure. |
| |
‘Nvece ereno eroi da baraccone | However, they were mountebank heroes |
come tanti piroli de bijardo | like many billiard pins |
che come soffi vanno a pecorone. | which, as you blow, fly away upside down. |
| |
Ereno puro ladri: er più gajardo | They were also thieves: the most valiant |
fu Ciano, ch’era genero ar Puzzone, | was Ciano, who was the Stinker’s son-in-law, |
e che, a quer tempo, s’arubbò un mijardo. | and who, at the time, nicked a billion to himself. |
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28 - La guerra in Africa Orientale | 28 - The war in East Africa |
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Quanno la lira j’annò a quota zero, | When the lira collapsed to ground zero, |
pe’ riparà la disoccupazzione | to protect us against high unemployment rates, |
‘nvece de fà la cassa integrazzione | instead of instituting the Redundancy Fund, |
‘sto sgorgio[16]1 che te fa? Te fa l’Impero. | this freak of nature what does he do? He makes the Empire. |
| |
Fu ‘n Impero straccione, quest’è vero, | It was a ragamuffin empire, that’s right, |
ma er popolo affamato più accattone | but the hungriest among the people, the most trampish |
ciannò come pe’ fà l’emigrazzione | went there like an alternative to emigration |
e no perché era un popolo gueriero. | and not because it was a people of warriors. |
| |
Ma a li negri ‘gne piacque ‘sto concetto, | But the negroes didn’t like this notion, |
e come ciaffacciassimo ar confino | and as soon as we showed up at the border |
co’ le frecce ce presero de petto. | with the arrows they received us head on. |
| |
Scajassimo de brutto pe’ ‘n annetto, | We got beaten uglily for about a year, |
poi er Puzza tirò er gasse, ‘st’assassino, | then the Stinker launched a gas attack, this murderer, |
e strinze er Negus drento ar vicoletto. | and cornered the Negus in a narrow alley. |
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29 - L’Impero | 29 - The Empire |
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L’Impero c’era, però er verbo magna | Now the empire was there, but the verb to eat [= to steal] |
s’era aggravato co’ ‘sta gran follia | was now aggravated with this great folly |
e er Puzza, co’ l’apprausi in sagristia, | and the Stinker, with cheers from the sacristy, |
rimobbilita e fa la guera in Spagna. | remobilises [the army] and participates in the war in Spain. |
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E poi doppo ‘st’obbrobbrio de campagna | And then, after this opprobrium of campaign, |
ciariciccia e ar re Zogghe d’Arbania | he tries it again, and the king Zog of Albany |
je zompa addosso e poi lo caccia via | he jumps on him and then chases him away |
pe’ fà re Sciabboletta. È ‘na cuccagna. | to make king Little Saber. It’s a Cockaigne [party time]. |
| |
Da quer giorno, ci’avessimo l’onore | Since that day, we had the honour |
d’avecce come capo de lo Stato | to have there as head of the State |
un re du’ vòrte e puro imperatore. | a king twice, and emperor too. |
| |
Ma Sciabboletta je cambiò er favore, | But Little Saber returned him the favour, |
lo fece maresciallo e fu ordinato | he made him marshal, and it was decreed |
ch’er Puzza se chiamava er Fondatore. | that the Stinker was to be named the Founder. |
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30 - La seconda guerra mondiale | 30 - World War Two |
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Poi Hitler fa la guera, ‘sta gran jena, | Then Hitler starts the war, this great hyena, |
e er Puzza lì pe’ lì restò neutrale; | and the Stinker at first remained neutral; |
ma poi casca la Francia, e ‘st’animale | but then France falls, and this beast/brute |
je dà ‘na cortellata ne la schiena. | stabs them at the back. |
| |
Poi vò spezzà la Grecia. Fu ‘na pena. | Then he wants to break Greece. It was a pain. |
Quella ‘nze spezza e ce se messe male, | That one doesn’t break, and things went awry, |
pijàssimo ‘na biada [17] incolossale | we got a colossal defeat |
finché nun ‘rivò er crucco a cammià scena. | until the Kraut arrived to change scenery. |
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‘Nzomma fu chiaro come er paternostro | In short, it was clear like the paternoster |
a vedecce smagrà a quella magnera | seeing us getting leaner in that manner |
che la guera nun è mestiere nostro. | that war was not our trade/profession. |
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‘Nvece ‘sto sgrancio, già cor culo a tera, | Instead, this freak, with his butt already on the ground, |
c’intigna, strilla: «Vojo er marenostro», | Insists on that, and yells: «I want the Mare Nostrum», |
e va a sfidà la Russia e l’Inghirtera. | and goes on challenging Russia and England. |
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31 - Otto milioni di baionette | 31 - Eight million [bayonets] |
| |
E mò pò èsse solo un rimbambito | And now you can only be retarded/demented |
a dì che vò rivalutà er Puzzone. | to say you want to reconsider the judgement over the Stinker. |
Ma quello fu ‘na pippa, ‘n imbrojone, | But that one was a duffer, a fraudster, |
e pe’ quello fenì com’è fenito. | and that’s why he ended up as he did. |
| |
Te basterebbe che se fece ardito | It would suffice you that he made himself bold |
de fà la guera a Ciurcille e Baffone | to move war against Churchill and Moustache [= Stalin] |
senz’avecce li tanki e l’aviazzione. | without possessing tanks and the aviation. |
Che ciavéa? Li gerarchi der partito? | What did he have? The Party hierarchs? |
| |
Bboni quelli! Ma pe’ giocà a tresette! | Those were good! But to play tressette! |
Avecceli a nimichi era ‘no sguazzo, | Having them as enemies was a fresh water dabbling, |
puro er Negus stava a fàlli a fette. | even the Negus was there, cutting them into slices. |
| |
Lui poi bluffò, lo viddero e perdette; | Then he bluffed, they saw his hand and he lost; |
e così je toccò stoppasse ar cazzo | and so he had to rub to his cock |
l’otto mijoni sui de bajonette. | the eight million bayonets of his. |
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32 - La guerra perduta | 32 - The war lost |
| |
Mamma che sveje! Neve o solleóne, | Mum, what wake-up! Snow or dog days, |
li nostri, in Russia o ar Continente nero, | ours, in Russia or in the Black Continent, |
s’ereno fanti annorno ar cimitero, | if they were infantrymen they ended up in a cemetery, |
si generali a casa, cor fugone. | if generals, home, making a run for it. |
| |
Ne pijassimo tante sur groppone | We received so many blows on the rump |
e annassimo tarmente sottozzero | and we went so much under the zero line, |
tra bombe, caristia, mercatonero, | among bombs, famine, black market, |
ch’erimio un mortimpiede appecorone. | that we were a dead lifted on its knees. |
| |
Quannoché Ikke [18] poi sbarcò in Sicija | When Ike eventually landed in Sicily, |
Sciabboletta, sbiancato de paura, | Little Saber, bleached with fear, |
fa: «Cazzo, qui me gioco la famija». | says: «Fuck, here I am gambling away the dynasty». |
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Poi chiama Grandi e quello je conzija: | Then he calls Grandi, and that one advises him: |
«Maestà, qui ce vò ‘na gran congiura | «Majesty, here is needed a great conspiracy |
pe’ levà er Puzza senza parapija». | to get us rid of the Stinker without turmoil». |
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33 - La notte del Gran Consiglio | 33 - The night of the Great [Council] |
| |
Detto e fatto. ‘Na sera, a mezzanotte, | No sooner said than done. One evening, at midnight, |
quanno er Puzza riduna er Gran Conzijo, | when the Stinker summons up the Great Council, |
Grandi s’arza e fa: «Duce, semo ar cijo, | Grandi gets up and says: «Duce, we are on the brink |
o te levi de mezzo o qui sò bòtte». | you either step out or here come the blows». |
| |
Intramezzo a ‘ste facce galeotte | Among these villainous faces |
er Puzza smiccia Ciano e co’ ‘n bisbijo | the Stinker spies Ciano and with a whisper |
je fa: «Tuquoque puro, me sei un fijo». | he says: «Tu quoque too, you’re a son to me». |
Ma l’antro: «A no’ 1, stavorta ce l’ài rotte» | But the other: «Hey granpa, this time you broke our balls». |
| |
Votorno. Er Puzza casca in minoranza, | They voted. The Stinker fell in minority, |
s’incazza ma poi leva la seduta | he gets pissed off but then he adjourns/suspends the meeting |
e sorte in fretteffuria dalla stanza. | and storms hotfoot out of the room. |
| |
Poi va dar re, speranno la speranza | Then he goes to the king, hoping the hope |
che quello, che j’è comprice, l’aiuta | that that one, who is his accomplice, might help him |
a fregà Grandi e l’antri sottopanza. | to dupe Grandi and the other minions. |
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34 - Il 25 luglio | 34 - 25th of July |
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Quanno er Puzzone j’arivò a palazzo, | When the Stinker arrived to his palace, |
fa er re: «Duce, m’ài rotto li cojoni». | the king says: «Duce, you broke my balls». |
E lui: «Sagra maestà, lei mi perdoni». | And he to him: «Majesty, forgive me». |
E Sciabboletta: «Nun perdóno un cazzo». | And Little Saber: «I do not forgive shit». |
| |
E intigna: «Qui sta annà tutto a rampazzo, | And he insists: «Here everything is going pear shaped, |
manco l’arpini vònno stà più boni, | not even the Alpines want to be good, |
sfottono puro a me co’ le canzoni [19] | they mock even me in their songs, |
pe’ cui ò desciso, do a Badojo er mazzo». | therefore I have decided: I’m giving Badoglio the whole pack». |
| |
Er duce sbianca e senza più cipijo | The Duce turns pale, and with no more scowl on his face, |
tartaja: «Ma pe’ me nun c’è speranza?». | he stutters: «But, is there no hope left for me?». |
E l’antro: «Vàllo a dì ar tu’ Gran Gonzijo». | And the other: «Go ask that to your Great Council». |
| |
Poi l’accongeda. E lì, mentre un famijo | Then he dismissed him. And there, as a stooge |
j’opre la porta, ariva l’ambulanza | opens up the door for him, the ambulance arrives |
e se lo suca su come un conijo. | and sucks him on like a rabbit. |
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35 - I 45 giorni | 35 - The 45 days |
| |
Durante li quarantacinque giorni [20] | During the forty-five days |
ar Puzza, in un arbergo pe’ confino, | the Stinker, in a hotel as internment, |
je telefona Hitler da Berlino | Hitler calls him from Berlin on the telephone |
e je fa: «Sta tranquillo ch’aritorni». | and tells him: «Stay cool, you are coming back». |
| |
Po’, a nun poté pia er toro pe’ li corni, | Then, being unable to grab the bull by the horns, |
perché Badojo gioca a rimpiattino, | because Badoglio plays hide-and-seek, |
Hitler scoggita un piano soprafino; | Hitler devices an astute razor-sharp plan; |
piazza li crucchi a tutti li dintorni. | he places the Krauts all around. |
| |
Sicché all’istante stesso all’armistizio, | So that, on the selfsame instant of the armistice, |
zac, de sanbrutto [21], giù a tutta callara | zac, straight-away, down at all speed, |
l’essèsse occupa tutto a precipizzio. | The SS occupies headlong everything. |
| |
L’esercituccio nostro, un San Cilizzio, | The tiny army of ours, an under-equipped Saint Cilice, |
ner dubbio si se spara o nun se spara, | in doubt whether shooting or not, |
se sbraga e venne er giorno der giudizzio. | they lose their pants, and came the day of judgment. |
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36 - La fuga di Pescara | 36 - The flight to Pescara |
| |
Er re Sordato (ch’omo de corata!) | The Soldier King (what a brave heart man!) |
s’era squajato già a prima matina | Had already sneaked away in the early morning |
co’ Badojo, co’ Umberto, la reggina, | with Badoglio, with Umberto, the queen, |
lassànno Roma sola abbandonata. | leaving Rome alone and abandoned. |
| |
Fori Porta San Paolo ‘na brigata | Outside Porta San Paolo, a brigade |
ciebbe trecento morti, ‘na rovina, | had three hundred casualties, a havoc, |
e co’ loro la gente cittadina | and with them the people of the city |
sparò dall’arba fino alla nottata. | kept shooting from dawn to late at night. |
| |
Poi fenì tutto. E cominciò er terore. | Then all was over. And began the terror. |
Ma cominciò puro la Resistenza | But also began the Resistance |
pe’ sarvà ‘npo’ la pelle ‘npo’ l’onore. | to save a bit the skin, a bit the honour. |
| |
Poi Hitler mannò a Campo Imperatore | Then Hitler sent to Campo Imperatore |
l’essèsse a prelevà co’ tutta urgenza | the SS to extract with maximum urgency |
er Puzza già ridotto un cacatore. | the Stinker already reduced a cesspit. |
| |
37 - La Repubblica Sociale | 37 - The Social Republic |
| |
Come ch’er Puzza venne libberato | As soon as the Stinker got freed |
ciariòca e, benché vecchio balucano, [22] | he does it again and, although old, half-blind, |
rifà er fascio e lo fa ripubbricano, | he reorganises the fascist groups and makes them republican, |
ciovè si nun è zuppa è pan bagnato. | that is, if it's not soup, it's soaked bread. |
| |
Co’ ‘st’accrocco balordo e rimediato | With this oafish and patched up contraption |
s’alloga su ner norde cispatano, | he resettles in the Cispadane North, |
fa er traditore com’un Coriolano, | he betrays like a Coriolan, |
e contro Roma vò fà ‘n antro Stato. | and against Rome wants to establishe another State. |
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Ciovè fa ‘na Ripubbrica sociale, | That is, he establishes a Social Republic, |
ma er popolo ‘nce casca, resta assente | but the people do not fall for it, they remain absent |
da quer giogo servaggio e criminale. | from that yoke/toy/game wild and criminal. |
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Lui, vecchio, se ‘ncarogna e gioca duro; | As to himself, aged, he gets ever stinkier and plays hardball; |
basti a penzà, benché j’era parente, | it suffices to consider, although he was his relative, |
pijò Ciano e lo fece sbàtte ar muro. | he caught Ciano and had his back pulled against the wall. |
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38 - Il 25 aprile | 38 - The 25th of April |
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Durò du’ anni er regno der terore, | It went on for two years, the reign of terror, |
un camaro de morti senz’uguale. | a flood of dead without comparison. |
Però mentreché a lui j’annava male | However, while for him things were going wrong, |
stavòrta er vento a noi ce fu a favore. | this time for us they were favourable. |
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Sicché, quannoché già contava l’ora | So that, while he was already counting his hours, |
pe’ via della rivorta generale, | because of the general revolt, |
er Puzza pija, va dar cardinale 1 | the Stinker takes his decision, he goes to the cardinal |
p’arèndese a l’inglesi co’ l’onore. | to surrender to the English with honour. |
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Trattò puro co’ noi. Ma Longo, duro | He negotiated with us too. But Longo, tough, |
je disse de piantàlla ch’era l’ora | he told him to give it a rest, because it was time, |
e lui smammò de notte a cielo scuro. | and he sneaked away at night under a dark sky. |
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Ma quanno stava già guasi ar sicuro, | But when he was already almost safe, in security, |
guasi in Svizzera su ‘na scorciatora, | almost in Switzerland, on a shortcut, |
‘ntoppò li partiggiani e finì ar muro. | he ran into the partizans and ended against the wall. |
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39 - Dongo | 39 - Dongo |
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Come er Puzza smicciò li partiggiani | As the Stinker spotted the partizans |
a scoprillo vestito da tedesco, | as they found him disguised as German, |
sortì dar càmio e disse, fresco fresco: | he got out of the van and said, cool and fresh, |
«Pace e bene, semo tutti italiani». | «Peace and love, we are all Italians». |
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Uno je fece: «E tira su le mani». | One said to him: «Come on, raise your hands». |
Lui abbozza e poi co’ nunzocché furbesco | He put up with that, and then somewhat slyishly |
je fa: «Si me sarvate io ce riesco | says to him: «If you save me, I can get to |
da fàvve a tutti ricchi pe’ domani». | make you all rich within tomorrow». |
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E se riccomannava, ‘sto gran boja, | And he commended himself to them, this great executioner, |
dicenno ch’era sempre socialista | saying he was still a socialist |
e ch’era tutta córpa dei Savoja. | and that all was fault of the Savoias. |
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Ma venne er capo e disse: «Sì, ciài voja! | But the chief came up and said: «Sure, you wish! |
Tu se’ segnato, er primo de la lista». | You are marked the first on the list». |
Je sparò ‘n petto e ce levò ‘sta noja. | He shot him in the chest and he got us rid of this bother. |
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40 - Piazzale Loreto | 40 - Piazzale Loreto |
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Li gerarchi che funno fuscilati | The hierarchs who were shot |
l’attaccorno a ‘na pompa de benzina, | they hanged them down a petrol pump, |
sicché li milanesi a la matina | so that the Milanese, in the morning, |
pe’ li piedi li viddero appiccati. | by the feet, upside down, could see them hanged. |
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C’era er Puzza e li mejo potentati | The Stinker was there too, and the top overlords |
che commannorno la ripubbrichina | who were in charge of the little republic, |
e restò esposta, ‘sta genìa assassina, | and they remained on display, this progeny of assassins, |
‘ndove tanti n’aveva truscidati. | there where many they had slaughtered/butchered before. |
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Mò, dice, fu ‘no sfreggio e certa gente | Now, some say, it was a defacement, and some people |
vò ch’a Loreto avemo esaggerato, | claim that in Piazzale Loreto we exaggerated, |
e c’è puro qualcuno che se pente. | and there are also those who regret that. |
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Io no. Pe’ chi la fa da prepotente | Not me. For those who behave as bullies |
la Bibbia già l’aveva degretato: | the Bible had already decreed: |
la legge è “occhio a occhio dente a dente”. | the law is “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth”. |
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41 - Vigilanza | 41 – Surveillance |
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Così finì er Puzzone. Ma la storia | Thus ended the Stinker. But History |
ce ‘nzegna che ce tocca restà attenti, | instructs us that we have got to remain vigilant, |
perché si è vero che nun stàmo ar venti | because, although it is true that we are no more in the 20s, |
solo un cojone se pò dà all’ufòria. | only an asshole can celebrate with euphoria. |
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‘Nfatti er fascismo è come la cicoria, | In fact, fascism is like chicory, |
pò crésce dappertutto e nun la senti; | it can grow anywhere and you won’t notice that; |
quindi è sbajato fà li corcontenti, | therefore it’s wrong to act all happy-go-lucky, |
scordà er passato e pèrde la memoria. | forget the past and lose out the memory. |
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Ar contrario! Ce vò più viggilanza | On the contrary! More alertness is needed |
e operà, co’ le bone e le cattive, | and taking action, by hook or by crook, |
perché lui resti sempre in minoranza. | to make sure he remains minority. |
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Così si lui, dioguardi, passa er fosso | So that if, god forbid, he jumps over the ditch, |
sò cazzi sua, ce trova sur chi vive | he is in fucking trouble, he finds us on the alert, |
e allora, core mio, taja ch’è rosso! | and then, sweetheart, cut it that’s red. |
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[2] Generone, medio ceto mercantile, ricco.
[3] Sciabboletta, nomignolo affibbiato dai romani a Vittorio Emanuele III.
[4] A cavacecio sta per sulle spalle.
[5] Vittorio Emanuele III conferì a Mussolini il Collare dell’Annunziata, il cui possesso elevava al rango di «cugino» del re.
[6] La bomba, il cappello duro.
[7] Ladiclavi sta per laticlavio, simbolo senatoriale.
[8] Benedetto Croce ebbe a dichiarare la inutilità di una storia del fascismo, ch’egli defini una parentesi.
[9] Listone, la lista per le elezioni del 1924 nella quale, insieme ai fascisti, si presentarono molti, e noti, candidati del mondo democratico-liberale
[10] Località vicino a Roma dove fu ritrovato Matteotti
[11] Il regime fascista ideò per gli impiegati statali delle divise di tipo militare, con i gradi
[12] Dopolavoro, Film Luce, Carro di Trespi, treni popolari: iniziative di tempo libero e propagandistiche del regime fascista.
[13] È noto l’antagonismo fra gli assegnatari settentrionali («buzzurri») delle terre di bonifica e le popolazioni locali dell’Agro Romano e dei Monti Lepini («burini»).
[14] I fascisti adottarono come proprio l’inno di Orazio.
[15] La propaganda fascista definiva l’Inghilterra (la perfida Albione) «il popolo dai cinque pasti».
[16] Sgorgio sta per sgorbio.
[17] Biada sta per sconfitta.
[18] Ikke sta per Ike (Eisenhower).
[19] Nella “Storia di un anno”, lo stesso Mussolini dirà che, a inizio del colloquio, il re gli disse in tono agitato: «Così non si va più avanti. L’Italia è in tocchi. L’esercito è moralmente a terra. I soldati non vogliono più battersi. Gli alpini cantano una canzone nella quale dicono che non vogliono più fare la guerra per conto di Mussolini».
[20] Dal 25 luglio all’8 settembre 1943.
[21] Sanbrutto sta per ex abrupto (Belli, 1547)
[22] Balucano, semicieco, che va a tentoni.