Original | Traduzione italiana trovata qui |
THE UNKNOWN CITIZEN | IL CITTADINO IGNOTO |
| |
(To JS/07 M 378 This Marble Monument Is Erected by the State) | A Js/07/M/378 Lo Stato Dedica Questo Monumento Marmoreo |
| |
He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be | L'Ufficio Statistico attesta |
One against whom there was no official complaint, | che mai fu fatta contro di lui querela, |
And all the reports on his conduct agree | e rapporto sulla sua condotta non si dà |
That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a saint, | che non lo giudichi un santo nel senso moderno di un termine antiquato, |
For in everything he did he served the Greater Community. | perchè in ogni atto egli servì la Comunità. |
| |
Except for the War till the day he retired | A parte il periodo della Guerra, finchè andò in pensione |
He worked in a factory and never got fired, | lavorò in una fabbrica e mai fu licenziato, |
But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc. | ma piaceva ai padroni, Fudge Motors Inc. |
Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views, | Eppure non era un crumiro nè aveva idee bizzarre, |
For his Union reports that he paid his dues, | perchè il Sindacato attesta che pagava le sue quote |
(Our report on his Union shows it was sound) | (e ci è attestato che il Sindacato non mente) |
And our Social Psychology workers found | e i nostri Assistenti Sociali hanno rilevato |
That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink. | che era popolare tra i suoi compagni e non disdegnava un bicchiere. |
| |
The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day | La Stampa è convinta che comprasse ogni giorno un quotidiano |
And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way. | e che non reagisse alla pubblicità in modo strano. |
Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured, | Le polizze a suo nome mostrano che era assicurato a vita, |
And his Health-card shows he was once in hospital but left it cured. | e il suo Libretto Sanitario prova che andò in ospedale una volta ma ne uscì guarito. |
Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare | Le varie Ricerche di Mercato dichiarano |
He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan | che sapeva usufruire dei Piani Rateali |
And had everything necessary to the Modern Man, | e che aveva tutto quanto occorre all'Uomo Moderno, |
A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire. | un grammofono, una radio, un'auto e un frigo. |
Our researchers into Public Opinion are content | I vari Sondaggi d'Opinione rilevano soddisfatti |
That he held the proper opinions for the time of year; | che aveva l'opinione giusta al momento giusto; |
When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war, he went. | quando c'era la pace, voleva la pace; quando c'era la guerra, partiva. |
| |
He was married and added five children to the population, | Era sposato e accrebbe di cinque figli la popolazione, |
Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his generation. | numero perfetto secondo il nostro Eugenista per un padre della sua generazione, |
And our teachers report that he never interfered with their education. | e i nostri insegnanti riportano che non ostacolò mai i loro programmi. |
| |
Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd: | Era libero? Felice? Che domande assurde: |
Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard. | se qualcosa non avesse funzionato, di certo ne saremmo informati. |