S'i' Fosse Foco [Da Un Sonetto Di Cecco Angiolieri]
S'i' fosse foco, arderei 'l mondo;
s'i' fosse vento, lo tempesterei;
s'i' fosse acqua, ì' l'annegherei;
s'i' fosse Dio, mandereil 'en profondo
s'i' fosse papa, sarè allor giocondo,
che tutt'i cristiani imbrigherei;
s'i' fosse 'mperator, sa che farei?
a tutti mozzerei lo capo a tondo
s'i' fosse morte, andarei da mio padre;
s'i' fosse vita, fuggirei da lui:
similmente faria da mi' madre
s'i' fosse Cecco, come sono e fui,
torrei le donne giovani e leggiadre:
e vecchie e laide lassarei altrui.
If I Were Fire [From a Sonnet by Cecco Angiolieri]
If I were fire, I would burn the world;
if I were wind, I would storm it;
if I were water, I would drown it;
if I were God, I would send it to hell
if I were pope, then I would be happy,
for I would confound all Christians;
if I were emperor, what would I do?
I would cut off everyone's head round
if I were death, I would go to my father;
if I were life, I would flee from him:
likewise I would do with my mother
if I were Cecco, as I am and was,
I would take the young and graceful women:
and leave the old and ugly to others.