The dragon's lair

A personal collection of verse

Cecco Angiolieri


I cannot bring myself in any way
To think about the need for some economy;
Joy leaves my heart and pleasure will not honour me,
The very thought’s enough to spoil my day;
I’m sick like some new sailor on the sea,
My soul is plunged into such deep affliction;
Anger and irritation cause such friction,
Such bargaining was never meant for me.
Though you can butt your head against a wall,
You can’t do what your nature won’t allow;
It just won’t work, I swear it on my life.
These words are not ambiguous at all:
They’re quite as plain as any marriage vow,
And if they’re not, then I can’t trust my wife.