Al gatto vecchio,
Dice il proverbio, dagli topo tenero.
Translation: To the old cat,
So says the proverb, give a tender mouse.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 244.
“Il Capello Parlante, Act III, Sc. I. — (Lancourt).”
Camillo Federici (1749–1802) Italian actor and playwright (1749-1802)
Le apparenze spesse volte convincono ed ingannano.
Translation: Appearances are very often both convincing and deceiving.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 351.
“Act I., Scene I. — (Vicenzo).”
Alessandro Piccolomini (1508–1579) Italian writer and philosopher
Il mondo va invecchiando e peggiorando di mano in mano.
Translation: The world grows older and grows worse from generation to generation.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 317.
L’Alessandro (1544)
“Act I, scene II. — (Polinico).”
Bernardo Dovizi book La calandria
Un padrone, quanti ha più servi, tanti più ha inimici.
Translation: The more servants a master has, the more enemies he has.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 432.
La Calandria (c. 1507)
“Act I, scene II. — (Fesserio).”
Bernardo Dovizi book La calandria
Non può il vitello, e vuol che porti il hue.
Translation: He cannot manage the calf, and wants to carry the ox.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 377.
La Calandria (c. 1507)
“Santa Agnesa, Act I., Scene II. — (Lascone).”
Giovanni Maria Cecchi (1518–1587) Italian poet, playwright, writer and notary
Ogni laccio
O sia di seta, o d’oro, o si di fune
Strigne ed affoga.
Translation: Every bond,
Be it of silk, or gold, or vulgar hemp,
Presses and suffocates.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 385.
“Act III., Scene V. — (Fiametta).”
Agnolo Firenzuola (1493–1543) Italian poet and litterateur
Chi mal si marita non esce mai di fatica.
Translation: He who makes a bad marriage never escapes from his troubles.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 266.
I Lucidi (published 1549)
“Candelaio, Act IV, Scene XVII.”
Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) Italian philosopher, mathematician and astronomer
(Lucia.)
Chi vuole che la quaresima gli paia corta, si faccia debito per pagare a Pasqua.
Translation: He who wants Lent to seem short, should contract a debt to be repaid at Easter.
Translation reported in Harbottle’s Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 275
“The Wild Gallant, act ii. scene. 1.”
John Dryden (1631–1700) English poet and playwright of the XVIIth century
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)
