Su patriottu Sardu a sos feudatarios [Procurad' e moderare]
Francesco Ignazio Mannu| Original | La versione inglese di John Warre Tyndale, da The Island of Sardinia,... |
| SU PATRIOTTU SARDU A SOS FEUDATARIOS [PROCURAD' E MODERARE] 1. Procurade e moderare, Barones, sa tirannia, Chi si no, pro vida mia, Torrades a pe' in terra! Declarada est già sa gherra Contra de sa prepotenzia, E cominzat sa passienzia ln su pobulu a mancare 2. Mirade ch'est azzendende Contra de ois su fogu; Mirade chi non est giogu Chi sa cosa andat a veras4; Mirade chi sas aeras Minettana temporale; Zente cunsizzada male, Iscultade sa 'oghe mia. 3. No apprettedas s 'isprone A su poveru ronzinu, Si no in mesu caminu S'arrempellat appuradu; Mizzi ch'es tantu cansadu E non 'nde podet piusu; Finalmente a fundu in susu S'imbastu 'nd 'hat a bettare. 4. Su pobulu chi in profundu Letargu fit sepultadu Finalmente despertadu S'abbizzat ch 'est in cadena, Ch'istat suffrende sa pena De s'indolenzia antiga: Feudu, legge inimiga A bona filosofia! 5. Che ch'esseret una inza, Una tanca, unu cunzadu, Sas biddas hana donadu De regalu o a bendissione; Comente unu cumone De bestias berveghinas Sos homines et feminas Han bendidu cun sa cria 6. Pro pagas mizzas de liras, Et tale olta pro niente, Isclavas eternamente Tantas pobulassiones, E migliares de persones Servint a unu tirannu. Poveru genere humanu, Povera sarda zenia! 7. Deghe o doighi familias S'han partidu sa Sardigna, De una menera indigna Si 'nde sunt fattas pobiddas; Divididu s'han sas biddas In sa zega antichidade, Però sa presente edade Lu pensat rimediare. 8. Naschet su Sardu soggettu A milli cumandamentos, Tributos e pagamentos Chi faghet a su segnore, In bestiamen et laore In dinari e in natura, E pagat pro sa pastura, E pagat pro laorare. 9. Meda innantis de sos feudos Esistiana sas biddas, Et issas fe ni pobiddas De saltos e biddattones. Comente a bois, Barones, Sa cosa anzena est passada? Cuddu chi bos l'hat dada Non bos la podiat dare. 10. No est mai presumibile Chi voluntariamente Hapat sa povera zente Zedidu a tale derettu; Su titulu ergo est infettu De s'infeudassione E i sas biddas reione Tenene de l'impugnare 11. Sas tassas in su prinzipiu Esigiazis limitadas, Dae pustis sunt istadas Ogni die aumentende, A misura chi creschende Sezis andados in fastu, A misura chi in su gastu Lassezis s 'economia. 12. Non bos balet allegare S'antiga possessione Cun minettas de presone, Cun gastigos e cun penas, Cun zippos e cun cadenas Sos poveros ignorantes Derettos esorbitantes Hazis forzadu a pagare 13. A su mancu s 'impleerent In mantenner sa giustissia Castighende sa malissia De sos malos de su logu, A su mancu disaogu Sos bonos poterant tenner, Poterant andare e benner Seguros per i sa via. 14. Est cussu s'unicu fine De dogni tassa e derettu, Chi seguru et chi chiettu Sutta sa legge si vivat, De custu fine nos privat Su barone pro avarissia; In sos gastos de giustissia Faghet solu economia 15. Su primu chi si presenta Si nominat offissiale, Fattat bene o fattat male Bastat non chirchet salariu, Procuradore o notariu, O camareri o lacaju, Siat murru o siat baju, Est bonu pro guvernare. 16. Bastat chi prestet sa manu Pro fagher crescher sa r’nta, Bastat si fetat cuntenta Sa buscia de su Segnore; Chi aggiuet a su fattore A crobare prontamente Missu o attera zante Chi l'iscat esecutare 17. A boltas, de podattariu, Guvernat su cappellanu, Sas biddas cun una manu Cun s'attera sa dispensa. Feudatariu, pensa, pensa Chi sos vassallos non tenes Solu pro crescher sos benes, Solu pro los iscorzare. 18. Su patrimoniu, sa vida Pro difender su villanu Cun sas armas a sa manu Cheret ch 'istet notte e die; Già ch 'hat a esser gasie Proite tantu tributu? Si non si nd'hat haer fruttu Est locura su pagare. 19. Si su barone non faghet S'obbligassione sua, Vassallu, de parte tua A nudda ses obbligadu; Sos derettos ch'hat crobadu In tantos annos passodos Sunu dinaris furados Et ti los devet torrare. 20. Sas r’ntas servini solu Pro mantenner cicisbeas, Pro carrozzas e livreas, Pro inutiles servissios, Pro alimentare sos vissios, Pro giogare a sa bassetta, E pro poder sa braghetta Fora de domo isfogare, 21. Pro poder tenner piattos Bindighi e vinti in sa mesa, Pro chi potat sa marchesa Sempre andare in portantina; S'iscarpa istrinta mischina, La faghet andare a toppu, Sas pedras punghene troppu E non podet camminare 22. Pro una littera solu Su vassallu, poverinu, Faghet dies de caminu A pe', senz 'esser pagadu, Mesu iscurzu e ispozzadu Espostu a dogni inclemenzia; Eppuru tenet passienzia, Eppuru devet cagliare. 23. Ecco comente s 'impleat De su poveru su suore! Comente, Eternu Segnore, Suffrides tanta ingiustissia? Bois, Divina Giustissia, Remediade sas cosas, Bois, da ispinas, rosas Solu podides bogare. 24. Trabagliade trabagliade O poveros de sas biddas, Pro mantenner' in zittade Tantos caddos de istalla, A bois lassant sa palla Issos regoglin' su ranu, Et pensant sero e manzanu Solamente a ingrassare. 25. Su segnor feudatariu A sas undighi si pesat. Dae su lettu a sa mesa, Dae sa mesa a su giogu. Et pastis pro disaogu Andat a cicisbeare; Giompidu a iscurigare Teatru, ballu, allegria 26. Cantu differentemente, su vassallu passat s'ora! Innantis de s'aurora Già est bessidu in campagna; Bentu o nie in sa muntagna. In su paris sole ardente. Oh! poverittu, comente Lu podet agguantare!. 27. Cun su zappu e cun s'aradu Penat tota sa die, A ora de mesudie Si zibat de solu pane. Mezzus paschidu est su cane De su Barone, in zittade, S'est de cudda calidade Chi in falda solent portare. 28. Timende chi si reforment Disordines tantu mannos, Cun manizzos et ingannos Sas Cortes han impedidu; Et isperdere han cherfidu Sos patrizios pius zelantes, Nende chi fint petulantes Et contra sa monarchia 29. Ai cuddos ch’in favore De sa patria han peroradu, Chi sa ispada hana ogadu Pro sa causa comune, O a su tuju sa fune Cheriant ponner meschinos. O comente a Giacobinos Los cheriant massacrare. 30. Però su chelu hat difesu Sos bonos visibilmente, Atterradu bat su potente, Ei s’umile esaltadu, Deus, chi s’est declaradu Pro custa patria nostra, De ogn’insidia bostra Isse nos hat a salvare. 31. Perfidu feudatariu! Pro interesse privadu Protettore declaradu Ses de su piemontesu. Cun issu ti fist intesu Cun meda fazilidade: Isse papada in zittade E tue in bidda a porfia. 32. Fit pro sos piemontesos Sa Sardigna una cucagna; Che in sas Indias s 'Ispagna Issos s 'incontrant inoghe; Nos alzaiat sa oghe Finzas unu camareri, O plebeu o cavaglieri Si deviat umiliare... 33. Issos dae custa terra Ch’hana ogadu migliones, Beniant senza calzones E si nd’handaiant gallonados; Mai ch’esserent istados Chi ch’hana postu su fogu Malaittu cuddu logu Chi criat tale zenìa 34. Issos inoghe incontr’na Vantaggiosos imeneos, Pro issos fint sos impleos, Pro issos sint sos onores, Sas dignidades mazores De cheia, toga e ispada: Et a su sardu restada Una fune a s’impiccare! 35. Sos disculos nos mand’na Pro castigu e curressione, Cun paga e cun pensione Cun impleu e cun patente; In Moscovia tale zente Si mandat a sa Siberia Pro chi morzat de miseria, Però non pro guvernare 36. Intantu in s’insula nostra Numerosa gioventude De talentu e de virtude Oz’osa la lass’na: E si algun ‘nd’imple’na Chircaiant su pius tontu Pro chi lis torrat a contu cun zente zega a trattare. 37. Si in impleos subalternos Algunu sardu avanz’na, In regalos non bastada Su mesu de su salariu, Mandare fit nezessariu Caddos de casta a Turinu Et bonas cassas de binu, Cannonau e malvasia. 38. De dare a su piemontesu Sa prata nostra ei s'oro Est de su guvernu insoro Massimu fundamentale, Su regnu andet bene o male No lis importat niente, Antis creen incumbeniente Lassarelu prosperare. 39. S'isula hat arruinadu Custa razza de bastardos; Sos privilegios sardos Issos nos hana leadu, Dae sos archivios furadu Nos hana sas mezzus pezzas Et che iscritturas bezzas Las hana fattas bruiare. 40. De custu flagellu, in parte, Deus nos hat liberadu. Sos sardos ch'hana ogadu Custu dannosu inimigu, E tue li ses amigu, O sardu barone indignu, E tue ses in s'impignu De 'nde lu fagher torrare 41. Pro custu, iscaradamente, Preigas pro su Piemonte, Falzu chi portas in fronte Su marcu de traitore; Fizzas tuas tant'honore Faghent a su furisteri, Mancari siat basseri Bastat chi sardu no siat. 42. S'accas 'andas a Turinu Inie basare des A su minustru sos pes E a atter su... giù m 'intendes; Pro ottenner su chi pretendes Bendes sa patria tua, E procuras forsis a cua Sos sardos iscreditare 43. Sa buscia lassas inie, Et in premiu 'nde torras Una rughitta in pettorra Una giae in su traseri; Pro fagher su quarteri Sa domo has arruinodu, E titolu has acchistadu De traitore e ispia. 44. Su chelu non faghet sempre Sa malissia triunfare, Su mundu det reformare Sas cosas ch 'andana male, Su sistema feudale Non podet durare meda? Custu bender pro moneda Sos pobulos det sensare. 45. S'homine chi s 'impostura Haiat già degradadu Paret chi a s'antigu gradu Alzare cherfat de nou; Paret chi su rangu sou Pretendat s'humanidade; Sardos mios, ischidade E sighide custa ghia. 46. Custa, pobulos, est s'hora D'estirpare sos abusos! A terra sos malos usos, A terra su dispotismu; Gherra, gherra a s'egoismu, Et gherra a sos oppressores; Custos tirannos minores Est prezisu humiliare. 47. Si no, chalchi die a mossu Bo 'nde segade' su didu. Como ch'est su filu ordidu A bois toccat a tessere, Mizzi chi poi det essere Tardu s 'arrepentimentu; Cando si tenet su bentu Est prezisu bentulare. | [THE SARDINIAN PATRIOTE'S HYMN TO THE FEUDATORIES] Endeavor to moderate, Oh barons! your tyranny ; For if not, upon my life. You will be humbled to the ground. War is e'en now decliired Against oppressive power, And patience in the people Is beginning to give way. Look to it — there is a fire Kindling against you all : Look to it — 'tis no light matter. But the thing is serious truth; Look to it — for the heavens Are menacing a storm. Oh ! race most ill-advised Listen to my voice. Do not apply the spur To your poor weary steed. Lest in the middle of your course He should resist you and rebel. See him so meagre and [stunted ?] That he can endure no more ; At length in dire confusion He will upset his burden. The people which in profound Lethargy was buried, Finally awakened Perceives itself in chains. And suffering the penalty Of ancient indolence : Feudality ! a law opposed To all sound wisdom. As though they were a vine, A field, or an inclosure. The villages they have given As gifts, or sold for gain : And like a herd Of cattle, and flocks of sheep. They have sold men and women With their unborn babes. For a few thousand livres, And sometimes for nothing, Are enslaved eternally Whole populations : And thousands of persons Serve a single tyrant : Poor human species ! Poor Sardinian race ! Ten or twelve families Have divided all Sardinia ; By unworthy means They have become its masters : They apportioned its [villages] In remote ages ; But the present day Will seek to remedy it. The Sardinian is born [subject] To a thousand hard commands; Tributes and exactions To be paid to his lord In cattle or in labor, In money or in produce ; He both pays for pasturage. And pays for sowing it. Long before feudality The villagers existed; They were then the lords Of the woods and cultured lands: How then to you, oh Barons ! Could the [wealth ?] of others pass? Whosoever gave it you Had not the power to give it. It is not to be presumed That of their own free will The poor folks should have yielded To exactions such as these : The title then in fact Is from their infeudation, And the villages have a right To call it into question. Your taxes in the beginning Were exacted within limits, But soon they went onward Every day augmenting ; In proportion as increasing Your luxury increased, In proportion as in spending You left off all economy. It will not serve you to [allege] Your ancient possession ; But by menacing with prison With punishment and penalties With cords and with chains, The poor and ignorant, You have forced them to pay Your exorbitant demands. If at least you did employ it In the maintenance of justice. Punishing the wickedness Of bad men in your district ; Or if the good at least Could [enjoy] tranquillity ; If they could come and go In safety on the roads : This is the only end Of every tax and power ; That in security and quiet Men should live under the law : Of this end we are deprived By the avarice of the Baron ; For in affairs of justice only He becomes economical The first who presents himself Is appointed "offissiale" (*) ; He may do well, he may do ill, But he must ask no salary . Procurator, or notary, Or valet, or even lackey, Be he grey, or be he brown, He is good, enough to govern. Enough that he lend a hand To help increase the rents ; Enough that he replenish The purse of the noble lord. That he give all aid to the [ ... ] )(**) [ Sometimes illegally ? ] (***) The chaplain governs The village with one hand, With the other the disbursements. Oh feudal chiefs ! reflect That you do not hold your [vassals] Merely to increase your wealth. Merely that you may fleece them. (****) To defend your patrimony And your life, the peasant Must remain night and dayt With arms in his hands : If this is to be, Wherefore all this tribute 1 If there is to be no benefit It is madness then to pay. If the Baron does not Fulfil his obligation, Thou, vassal ! on thy part To nothing art obliged ; The taxes he has extorted In so many bygone years Are monies robbed from thee, Which he should render back. His rentals only serve To entertain mistresses. For carriages, for liveries, For useless servants, For encouragement to vice, For gambling at Faro: [ ... ] (*****) To enable him to have Some twenty dishes on his table; To enable the Marchesa To go always in her chair : Her narrow shoes, poor thing ! Compel her to go limping ; The stones are much too hard. She cannot go on foot. For one single letter The wretched vassal Has days of journey On foot, without being paid. Half barefoot, half unclothed Exposed to all inclemencies ; Still he must be patient. Still he must hold his peace. (******) [ Oh ! poor ones of the Village, Toil away ! toil away ! To maintain in the city So many pampered steeds, To you is left the straw. They have gathered in the grain. And think of nothing day or night But of their self-indulgence. My Lord the Baron Rises at eleven ; From his bed he goes to dinner, From dinner to the gaming table, From thence to pass the time He goes off to making love ; And night beginning to approach To balls, the theatre and gaieties. How differently does The vassal pass his hours ! Before the morning dawn He is already in the fields ; [Wind and snow are on] the mountain, In the plain a burning sun : Oh ! wretched man ! and how Art thou to endure all this ! He toils the whole day long With the spade and with the plough : At the hour of middle day He banquets on a crust : The Baron's dog in the town Is much better fed If it be one of that race Which they carry on their knees. ] Fearing reformation In disorders so extreme. By [manoeuvres] and intrigues The Cortes have prevented it ; They have striven to put down The most zealous of the patriots; Saying they are outrageous And enemies to monarchy. To those who have spoken out In favor of their country, Or have unsheathed their sword In the common cause, Either around their throats A rope they would have twisted, Or, as Jacobins, They would have had them massacred. Nevertheless heaven visibly Has defended the upright ; Has brought low the powerful. And exalted the humble : God, who has declared himself For this our country Will certainly protect us From all your treacheries. Perfidious Feudal Baron ! For private interest The avowed protector Are you of the Piedmontese ! With him you associate Without any scruple ; You — to live with him in the town, He— with you in the village. . Sardinia to the Piedmonteise Was as a golden land, What Spain found in the Indies They discovered here : Even a Piedmontese valet Might elevate his voice, To which plebeian or cavalier Was obliged to humble himself. They from out this land Have exported millions ; They came in without hose, And left it all embroidered ; Would they had never entered To light this firebrand I May that place be cursed Which gives life to such a race. They have here contracted Advantageous marriages ; For them were all emplo3rments, For them were all distinctions The greatest dignities Of the Church, the Robe, and Sword : To the Sarde was left A rope to hang himself. The worthless were sent us t For punishment and correction. With stipend and with pension, With office, and diploma ; In Russia such people Are sent into Siberia To die of misery,— But not to govern. Meanwhile in our island A numerous youth Of talent and of virtue Were left unheeded ; Or if any were employed They selected the most dull, For it turned to their account To deal with blinded folks. If to some subaltern employment A Sardinian had attained, One half of his salary Could not suffice for gifts ; It was needful he should send Blood horses to Turin, And good butts of wine " Cannonau " and " Malvasia ". To draw into Piedmont Our silver and our gold. Was in their government A fundamental maxim : The kingdom might go well or ill. To them it mattered not ; On the contrary it was inexpedient To allow it to prosper. The island has been ruined By this race of bastards; They have taken to themselves The privileges of Sardes From the archives they have robbed The most important charters, And then as worthless paper They have caused them to be burnt From this scourge in part God has delivered us ; The Sarde has expelled His injurious enemy : And thou wouldst be his friend, Oh ! unworthy Sardinian Baron! And thou art seeking means To bring them back again. For this unblushingly You praise up Piedmont ; Traitor! who bearest on thy brow The brand of treason ! Your daughters shew Great honor to the foreigner ; And descend to all dishonor If it be not with a Sarde. If by chance you go to Turin, There you must kiss The foot of the minister, And more too you understand ; To obtain what you aspire to You sell your native land, And strive perhaps in secret To vilify Sardinians. Your purse you leave there, And in return receive A cross upon your breast, A key upon your back. Your family is ruined That you may serve your time at [ ? ] And you have [gained] the title Of traitor and of spy. Heaven will not always Let mischief be triumphant ; The world is now reforming Things that are going in ; The system of Feudality Cannot last much more ; The sale of man for money Must very soon cease. Man who has been deceived And is long degraded Now seems to raise himself To his former position ; It seems that humanity Again asserts her rights. My Sardinians ! rouse yourselves And follow this your guide. This, Oh People, is the hour To eradicate abuses ; Down with all evil customs ! Down with despotic power ! War ! war to selfishness ! And war to the oppressor ! It is time to humble now All these petty, tyrants. If not some day in morsels You will bite your fingers [ ? ]; Now that the thread is spun Is the time to weave the cloth ; Beware that your repentance Do not come too late ; When the wind is in your [harbour ?] Is the proper time to winnow. |
