Three Sayings from Campania
On the need to take chances if you want to get anywhere:
‘Chi 'nfruce nun luce.’
('Those who hide can’t shine.')
The brevity and simplicity of agricultural metaphors make them timeless, and this one is no exception:
‘Chiove dint' 'a terra toia.’
('It rains on your land.')
All is going well for you.
As visually eloquent as any verse by Tennyson:
'Chi semmena spine nun adda ji scauzo.’
('Those who sow thorns shouldn’t walk barefoot.')
Three Sayings from Emilia Romagna
On the limits of memory and experience:
‘Ed quall ch’ha da bvgnir a’n gh’è vec ch’a’s ricorda.’
(‘No old man remembers what is to come.’)
Brief and simple like Spring itself:
‘Avril al la fiôr, maz al gh’dà l’udôr.’
(‘April brings the flower, May the scent.’)
On trouble and ageing:
‘Da zôven a ‘s zerch I guai, da vec I vénnen da per lôr.’
(‘The young seek trouble, but trouble find its way to the old all by itself.’)
Over the last few days, I have learnt that most local sayings have two things in common - they use small words to talk about big things and their value increases the more you share them. And these qualities make them nothing short of priceless.
Alberico Collina