I. IL GATTO COGLI STIVALI.

 

(PUSS IN BOOTS.)

 

[1]si sarebbero mangiata, would have devoured.

 

[2]non sapeva darsi pace, could not console himself.

 

[3]per essergli toccata, for having received.

 

[4]faceva egli a dire, he went on to say.

 

[5]faceva finta... inteso, pretended not to notice them.

 

[6]non siete stato, you have not been.

 

[7]pigliasse, subjunctive used after Sebbene.

 

[8]col fare il morto, by playing dead.

 

[9]Eccoti. Pronouns are joined to the interjection ecco, just as to a verb; ti intimates the interest of the hearer in what is going on.

 

[10]dal Re (French chez le roi), to the king's palace. Da has a variety of meanings in the following selecions, such as from, by, for, to or at the house of, suited to, as.

 

[11]entrato che fu, as soon as he had entered.

 

[12]gran, for grande.

 

[13]Di' al tuo, Say to your. The forms of the second person singular are used in addressing inferiors; also in speaking to children, intimate friends, and near relatives.

 

[14]della caccia del suo padrone, of his master's killing.

 

[15]doveva recarsi, was to go.[Page 104]

 

[16]avrebbe potuto, perfect of the conditional used wher the simple tense would be expected.

 

[17]con quanta... gola, with all his might.

 

[18]corressero, subjunctive used after verb of commanding.

 

[19]faceva spiccare... persona, set off his good looks.

 

[20]fini fini, repetition for emphasis; occurs frequently in Italian in case of adjectives or adverbs.

 

[21]fosse, subjunctive used in indirect question; in l. 2 of next page, used after a superlative.

 

[22]sarebbe parso, it would have seemed; parere conjugated with essere.

 

[23]per dirne una, for example.

 

[24]dal vedersi... leone, at seeing a lion before his eyes.

 

[25]Di lì a poco, After a little.

 

[26]come sarebbe a dire, in other words.

 

[27]Vostra maestà sia la benvenuta, Welcome to your majesty.

 

[28]di, than.

 

[29]dovevano; compare note 15.