We separated. I never saw them again. I had money in my pocket from the kind people of Yarmouth. I could go home to York. Or I could go to London and find another ship. The choice was mine. But shame made the decision for me.
2. Come
How
potevo
could I
andare
go
a casa?
home?
Tutti
Everyone
avrebbero riso
would laugh
di
at
me.
me.
"Ecco
"Here's
il ragazzo
the boy
che
who
è scappato
ran away
per mare!"
to sea!"
avrebbero detto.
they would say.
"Una tempesta
"One storm
e
and
è tornato
he came
piangendo
crying
a casa!"
home!"
Non potevo affrontare
I couldn't face
quella vergogna.
that shame.
Il mio orgoglio
My pride
era
was
più forte
stronger
del mio buon senso.
than my good sense.
Questa
This
è
is
la follia
the folly
della gioventù.
of youth.
How could I go home? Everyone would laugh at me. "Here's the boy who ran away to sea!" they would say. "One storm and he came crying home!" I couldn't face that shame. My pride was stronger than my good sense. This is the folly of youth.
3. Non ci vergogniamo
We are not ashamed
di
to
fare del male.
do wrong.
Ma
But
ci vergogniamo
we are ashamed
di
to
rimediare.
make amends.
Non ci vergogniamo
We are not ashamed
di
to
essere
be
sciocchi.
foolish.
Ma
But
ci vergogniamo
we are ashamed
di
to
diventare
become
saggi.
wise.
Così
So
sono andato
I went
a Londra.
to London.
Sulla strada
On the road
ho lottato
I fought
con
with
me stesso.
myself.
Ma
But
l'orgoglio
pride
ha vinto
won
ogni discussione.
every argument.
We are not ashamed to do wrong. But we are ashamed to make amends. We are not ashamed to be foolish. But we are ashamed to become wise. So I went to London. On the road I fought with myself. But pride won every argument.
4. A Londra
In London
sono rimasto
I stayed
per un po'.
for a while.
Il ricordo
The memory
della tempesta
of the storm
ha iniziato
began
a
to
svanire.
fade.
La mia paura
My fear
è diventata
became
più debole.
weaker.
Il mio desiderio
My desire
di avventura
for adventure
è diventato
became
più forte.
stronger.
Pensavo
I thought
meno
less
a casa.
about home.
Pensavo
I thought
meno
less
alle lacrime
about the tears
di mio padre.
of my father.
Pensavo
I thought
meno
less
agli avvertimenti
about the warnings
di Dio.
of God.
In London I stayed for a while. The memory of the storm began to fade. My fear became weaker. My desire for adventure became stronger. I thought less about home. I thought less about my father's tears. I thought less about God's warnings.
5. Alla fine
In the end
ho fatto
I made
la mia scelta.
my choice.
Avrei trovato
I would find
un'altra nave.
another ship.
Avrei provato
I would try
di nuovo.
again.
Avrei dimostrato
I would prove
che
that
non ero
I wasn't
un codardo.
a coward.
Avrei mostrato
I would show
a
to
tutti
everyone
che
that
potevo essere
I could be
un marinaio.
a sailor.
Ero
I was
lo sciocco più grande
the biggest fool
che
who
sia mai vissuto.
ever lived.
E
And
avrei pagato
I would pay
caro
dearly
per
for
la mia stupidità.
my stupidity.
In the end I made my choice. I would find another ship. I would try again. I would prove that I wasn't a coward. I would show everyone that I could be a sailor. I was the biggest fool who ever lived. And I would pay dearly for my stupidity.
