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The Unknown Citizen

W.H. Auden
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OriginalTraduzione italiana trovata qui‎
THE UNKNOWN CITIZENIL 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 beL'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 agreee 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 retiredA 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 founde 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 dayLa 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 declareLe varie Ricerche di Mercato dichiarano
He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Planche 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 contentI 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.


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