Which Century Does This Cecco Angiolieri Sonnet Belong To?

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The discussion centers around a poem written in 1371 that reflects on the poet's struggle with vices, particularly drinking. The speaker expresses a sense of resignation regarding their inability to abstain from alcohol, humorously justifying their indulgence due to the discomfort of their body. The poem also critiques local wine while favoring Greek imports, linking the enjoyment of wine to a cheerful disposition. Participants in the thread engage in guessing the poet's identity, with suggestions pointing towards medieval figures like Petrarca and Cecco Angiolieri, highlighting the poem's nostalgic tone and its connection to the poet's life experiences. The conversation emphasizes the poem's historical context and invites further exploration of medieval poetry.

What century was this sonnet written?

  • before 1300

    Votes: 4 57.1%

  • 1300s

    Votes: 2 28.6%

  • 1400s

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 1500s

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 1600s

    Votes: 1 14.3%

  • 1700s

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 1800s

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 1900 to present

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    7
marcus
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TUTTO QUEST'ANNO CH'È,
MI SON FRUSTATO ...

Tutto quest'anno ch'è, mi son frustato
di tutti i vizi che solìa avere;
non m'è rimasto se non quel di bere,
del qual me n'abbi Iddio per escusato,
ché la mattina, quando son levato,
el corpo pien di sal mi par avere;
adunque, di': chi si porìa tenere
di non bagnarsi la lingua e 'l palato?
E non vorrìa se non greco e vernaccia,
ché mi fa maggior noia il vin latino,
che la mia donna, quand'ella mi caccia.
Deh ben abbi chi prima pose 'l vino,
che tutto 'l dì mi fa star in bonaccia;
i' non ne fo però un mal latino.

[I can't reveal the poet's name because that would give it away. Try to guess the period without googling!]

Here is an approximate translation:


FOR THIS WHOLE YEAR
I'VE MANAGED TO REPRESS ...

For this whole year I've managed to repress
all my accustomed vices, none remain
except for drink. And if I don't abstain
God will excuse what's simply not my fault,
since at whatever hour I rise and dress
my body feels as if it's packed with salt.
In such a case, I ask, who could resist
wetting tongue and palate - so what's wrong?
But on a good Greek import I insist
because the local wine annoys me - more
than when my lady drives me from her door.
He did a noble thing who first made wine
(which keeps me feeling cheerful all day long!)
That's one, at least, whom I shall not malign.
 
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The poem was written in Carenna (a small village in Friuli) the 14. of July, 1371, probably between 4PM and 8PM.
 
arildno said:
The poem was written in Carenna (a small village in Friuli) the 14. of July, 1371, probably between 4PM and 8PM.

that is not a bad guess, arildno---so good you must be serious about it (all evidence to contrary)
please enter it on the poll----just click on the "1300s" button and then on "vote"

anyone who has already guessed and wants to check some of these old voices out can look at brindin.com, kind of treasurehouse of 9 centuries of European poetry, a fair amount of which strikes me as funny whether or not intended

http://www.brindin.com/
 
Since I don't know a word Italian, I cannot judge when the original text ought to have been written. However:
I am reasonably certain the poem belongs to the medieval times, and Petrarca and Dante are just about the only Italian poets I know about from about that time (shows how uncultured I am). A lady features in the poem, and both these poets dedicated some collection of their poems to a lady (now that I think of it, if it is Dante, then it ought to have been written in the 1200s rather than the 1300s).

There is yet another possibility with that lady, that this is some sort of troubadour poem; in that case, a date prior to the 1300s is perhaps likelier..

If I were to guess at a poet, I'd say Petrarca.
 
arildno said:
Since I don't know a word Italian, I cannot judge when the original text ought to have been written. However:
I am reasonably certain the poem belongs to the medieval times,...

since your first languange is more kin to German than Italian, I have made another poll this time with voices in your language group

You and selfAdjoint both have good detective skill, and good ears for the old voices. I wish some others would try----if only to guess which of the two of you is right!
 
Cecco Angiolieri was the poet who lived from 1260 to 1312. That narrows it down.
 
And after his wild youth he married and settled down and had many children and by 1300 was a pillar of the Siennese community So that certainly does narrow it down. Good!:smile:
 
marcus said:
And after his wild youth he married and settled down and had many children and by 1300 was a pillar of the Siennese community So that certainly does narrow it down. Good!:smile:
The poem may have been written as a piece of nostalgic reminiscence for himself...:frown:
 
Well, I just found this thread and since Arildno actually knew the exact time the poem was written, I was inclined to go with his answer. :biggrin:
 
  • #10
Congratulations to selfAdjoint and Andre!

Cecco Angiolieri lived around 1260-1312 and became a steady respectable Siennese in later life so this is definitely a pre-1300 poem
 

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