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There's a beautiful poem in roman dialect called "the war lullaby"[0] from this period. The last two stanzas speak of this, and go something like: Sleep ti

There's a beautiful poem in roman dialect called "the war lullaby"[0] from this period. The last two stanzas speak of this, and go something like: Sleep tight, my darling while this mess goes on sleep well, as tomorrow we'll see the kings again exchanging pleasantries good friends as before they're cousins, and amongst relatives you don't need formalities, again will turn friendly the personal relations. And reunited among them with no sign of remorse they'll give a nice speech on Peace and Labour to that dumb people spared by the gun. [0] in italian/romanesco http://www.la-poesia.it/poesie-di-trilussa/trilussa-ninna-nanna-della-guerra-4635-1.html http://www.la-poesia.it/poesie-di-trilussa/trilussa-ninna-na...

guelo 4y ago
I wouldn't translate "popolo cojone" as dumb people.
- EarthLaunch 4y ago
  I became interested in this Italian word and found this[0] casual translation: "cojone: bad word, but very useful! referring to someone who's an asshole, and stupid persons in general". Some of the older English references[1] also seem negative: "English had it as cullion a 16c. term of contempt for a man, "a mean wretch" (Shakespeare) also "a testicle" (Chaucer), from Middle English coujon, coilon (late 14c.), from Old French coillon "testicle; worthless fellow, dolt," from Latin coleus." I find that I can quite easily imagine the poet seeing people dying for these 'friends' while the stupid public (popolo cojone) attends a nice speech. 0: https://hinative.com/questions/10051415?locale=en-US#answer-25010550 https://hinative.com/questions/10051415?locale=en-US#answer-... 1: https://www.etymonline.com/word/cojones https://www.etymonline.com/word/cojones
- magneticnorth 4y ago
  How would you translate it?
  - 01acheru 4y ago
    A "coglione", which is the Italian word for the dialectal "cojone", is literally a testicle. Anyway you can also call someone a "coglione" and it means they are somewhere between dumb, jerk and ignorant.
  - guelo 4y ago
    "fucking people" would be closer since its supposed to be a curse word.
    - riffraff 4y ago
      but it's not a generic curse word, it's an insulting way of saying you're stupid, which is the more important part in this context. But yeah, I could not think of a better word in english, "traduttore traditore" as the saying goes :)

guelo 4y ago

I wouldn't translate "popolo cojone" as dumb people.

EarthLaunch 4y ago
I became interested in this Italian word and found this[0] casual translation: "cojone: bad word, but very useful! referring to someone who's an asshole, and stupid persons in general". Some of the older English references[1] also seem negative: "English had it as cullion a 16c. term of contempt for a man, "a mean wretch" (Shakespeare) also "a testicle" (Chaucer), from Middle English coujon, coilon (late 14c.), from Old French coillon "testicle; worthless fellow, dolt," from Latin coleus." I find that I can quite easily imagine the poet seeing people dying for these 'friends' while the stupid public (popolo cojone) attends a nice speech. 0: https://hinative.com/questions/10051415?locale=en-US#answer-25010550 https://hinative.com/questions/10051415?locale=en-US#answer-... 1: https://www.etymonline.com/word/cojones https://www.etymonline.com/word/cojones
magneticnorth 4y ago
How would you translate it?
- 01acheru 4y ago
  A "coglione", which is the Italian word for the dialectal "cojone", is literally a testicle. Anyway you can also call someone a "coglione" and it means they are somewhere between dumb, jerk and ignorant.
- guelo 4y ago
  "fucking people" would be closer since its supposed to be a curse word.
  - riffraff 4y ago
    but it's not a generic curse word, it's an insulting way of saying you're stupid, which is the more important part in this context. But yeah, I could not think of a better word in english, "traduttore traditore" as the saying goes :)