Italian into English please poem on a SHELLEY monument

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Donnamc
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Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Jan 2008 06:39

Italian into English please poem on a SHELLEY monument

Post by Donnamc »

Hi.
I wonder if anyone could help me - I want to translate these lines that i saw on a SHELLEY monument in San Terenzo. It was near where he drowned. I dont know who wrote them but it seems beautiful.

Da questo portico in cui si abbateva l'antica ombra di un leccio
il luglio del MDCCCXX11
Mary Godwin e Jame williams
attesero con lag imante ansi
Percy Bysshe Shelley
che da Livorno su fragil legno veleggiando
era approcato per improvisa fortuna
ai silenzii de le isole elisee
O benedette spiaggi
ove l'amore la liberta i sogni
non hanno catene

So far i have got
From this porch under the ancient shadow of a tree
in July 1872
MAry Godwin and Jame Williams
sadly waited for percy Bysshe Shelley
From Livorno on a fragile wood sailing boat
(this next line I cant figure out)

O holy (....)
Where love, liberty and dreams had no chance.

Its such a beautiful piece...
Thankyou in advance

Donna
ldngli
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Posts: 102
Joined: 23 Nov 2004 14:05

As per yr. request

Post by ldngli »

Apologies for the delay. If the original - once typos are removed - is:

Da questo portico in cui si abbaTteva
l'antica ombra di un leccio
il luglio del MDCCCXX11
Mary Godwin e Jame Williams
attesero con lagRimante ansiA
Percy Bysshe Shelley
che da Livorno su fragil legno veleggiando
era approDato per improVvisa fortuna
ai silenzii de le Isole Elisee.
O benedette spiaggE
ove l'amore, la libertÀ, i sogni
non hanno catene.

... then it means:

From this porch
("arcade" if not a shed leading into a dwelling),
whereon the ancient shadow of an ilex stretched out,
in July 1872
Mary Godwin and Jame Williams
waited - seized by tearful anxiousness -
for Percy Bysshe Shelley who,
after sailing from Leghorn on a frail craft,
had fortuitously landed on the quiet Elysean Islands.
Oh blessed beaches, where love, freedom and dreams
rule unfettered!

Please note: the "Elysean Fields" (here turned to "islands" due to the sailing context) are the afterlife of Greek mythology. Shelley had shipwrecked and - as recalled in your message - drowned.
Donnamc
Membre / Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Jan 2008 06:39

Thankyou so much

Post by Donnamc »

Thanks a lot. It is beautiful.

And thanks for correcting the typos. I got it from a marble stone laid in the wall of a house and I think some of the letters had been eroded by the sea winds and salt.

Best
Donna
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solbjerg
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Posts: 212
Joined: 01 Sep 2007 08:43
Location: Denmark

Re: Thankyou so much

Post by solbjerg »

Hello!
I just want to correct the translation of the Roman numerals it should be 1822, which is also the year of his death.
Cheers
solbjerg

Donnamc wrote:Thanks a lot. It is beautiful.

And thanks for correcting the typos. I got it from a marble stone laid in the wall of a house and I think some of the letters had been eroded by the sea winds and salt.

Best
Donna
Donnamc
Membre / Member
Posts: 3
Joined: 25 Jan 2008 06:39

Post by Donnamc »

Of course! I knew that.....
Thanks a lot
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