Agnolo Firenzuola

Agnolo Firenzuola (28 September 1493 – c. 1545) was an Italian poet and litterateur.

Agnolo Firenzuola

Quotes

• Usanza è di Natura, eve ella manchi
  In una cosa, di supplir coll’ altra.
  • Satira a S. Pandolfo Pucci (published 1548).
  • Translation: ’Tis Nature’s use, when in one point she fails.
    Aye in some other to make good the loss.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 435.

La Trinuzia (published 1549)

• Questa versiera vorrà pigliar due fave con una colomba.
  • Act II., Scene II. — (Golpe).
  • Translation: This ogress will want to catch two beans with one pigeon.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 393.

• Mal si puo trar da la rapa sangue.
  • Act II., Scene III. — (Dormi).
  • Translation: No blood is from a turnip to be drawn.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 357.
  • Compare: Perlone Zipoli, Malmantile Racquistato, VIII, 75: Di rapa sangue non si puo cavare.

• Cercate sempre cinque pie al montone.
  • Act II., Scene V. — (M. Bovina).
  • Translation: You always expect a sheep to have five legs.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 259.

I Lucidi (published 1549)

• Chi tutto vuole, nulla non ha.
  • Act I., Scene II. — (Lucido Tolto).
  • Translation: He who desires everything, has nothing.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 273.

• (Ben dice il proverblo ch’) egli è megllo abitare colle fiere in le spilonche, che avere in casa una femmina litlgiosa e perversa.
  • Act I., Scene II. — (Lucido Tolto).
  • Translation: Well says the proverb, that it is better to live with wild beasts in caves, than in the same house with a cross-grained and quarrelsome woman.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 297.

• Chi mal si marita non esce mai di fatica.
  • Act III., Scene V. — (Fiametta).
  • Translation: He who makes a bad marriage never escapes from his troubles.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 266.

• Chi vuol che una piaga sfoglie bene, paghi bene il medico : n’ è vero, Maestro? e chi vuol guarir lo paghi male.
  • Act V., Scene II. — (Cornelio).
  • Translation: He who would ease the pain of his wound, should pay his doctor well. Isn’t it so, Doctor? And he who would be cured should pay him badly.
  • Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 274.