A translation of Pascoli’s celebrated ode “A Ciapin”

In my last post, we looked at one of Barbera’s most famous appearances in literature. In Giovanni Pascoli’s “A Ciapin” (“To Ciapin”), the poet refers to Barbera using the feminine definite article: La Barbera. The line is often cited as evidence that Barbera is one of the rare examples of a feminine grape name. As promised, here is a translation of the poem in its entirety. Next week, I’ll share my commentary.

Buona lettura! I hope you enjoy the poem as much as I enjoyed translating it…

“To Ciapin”

An ode by Giovanni Pascoli (1855-1912). Originally published in 1899; reprinted in the anthology “Odi e Inni” in 1906.

Translated by Jeremy Parzen.

Not a drop has been shared from that pure

vintage you stored in the cellar below

three years ago, for when Pinotto*

arrives on leave.

that vintage flowed from the oak

on the hill, I believe; it despised the soil;

because no other had so much of your iron,

ironclad Piedmont;

like Abba Garima’s red tide,**

that vintage simmered as it was

shaken by a gloomy pulse under

the first moon of March;

and now it’s kept in a sturdy bottle,

a silent but strong heart that holds back

yesterday’s wrath and the long, dreary

thought of revenge:

Trusty Ciapin, let that vintage shudder

in the darkened bottles marked

with cautious wax! Leave it be and let

that Barbera age!

Do not drink the wine of the hero who seeks

in his drink oblivion for his heart and

trembling legs! He lives: There he is, wandering

alone among the ambas.***

Save the wine of the hero, silent

but alive. Unknown constellations

watch him, as do the lions’ broad eyes

between the acacias

Save the wine of the hero who wants

what he wants, who remains at the post

where he will return like the sun, determined

and happy, when…

Save what he keeps still in his heart

when our morsels are like dogs

to the savage ghebbì† and our honor

is like a servant…

Save your vermilion Barbera

for a day, not far off, when

all wrapped in his flag

Galliano returns.

* Giuseppe Galliano. Pinotto is a diminutive of Giuseppe.

** Abba Garima was one of the “Nine Saints” who helped to bring Christianity to Ethiopia in the 5th century. He and the other saints supposedly crossed the Red Sea from Asia (the Middle East) to Africa.

*** An amba is an distinctive Ethiopian landform, not unlike a mesa.

† A gehbbi is a royal fortress-city.

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