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LEGEND IN THE DIALECT DI TRISUNGO DI ARQUATA DEL TRONTO Written down by Alighiero Castelli nel 1896 Il Pellegrino C’era ‘nu patre e ‘na madre, avé ‘na figghia e andava a San Giacomo de Galizia: se fermarono là da ‘n ‘osteria: disse a la figghia – Va rifare il letto dò va li pellegrine a riposare –O mamma mamma, non posso soletta‘n posso buttà coperta sopra ‘l letto –Glie respose ‘l figghie del pellegrine:- Andamo, ca ce voglie venì io – O donna donna, a me no’ me toccare co’ disonore avesse da calare – Prese ‘na tassa e la mise ‘n saccoccia- O mamma mamma , te do brutta novella, s’hanno rubata chella tazza bella,chella che era bella ‘nocoronata: ‘l figlie del pellegrì se l’ha rubata- O figghie figghie, avesse fatte queste, te merteriste d’essere ‘mpiccate –Passate che fu ‘n annue e tre giorni,quanne tornava, se sentì chiamare:- Checche, sente chiamà ‘n quello faggettodove lasciammo quel figliuol soletto –- Francesca mia, attendi a camminare la vogghia fa tue fighie vaneggiare –- Anch’io sente ‘n voce dal faggettodove lasciammo quel figliol soletto –- O babbe, andate da lu Podestà.dice che la condanna la ragione-Lu Podestà sta a pranzo a spezza una galle:- O Podestà, che te pòzze fa prode,faccia de re deventa ‘mperatore:lu mie figliol l’hanno ‘mpiccato a torte,se lì le forche vive e non è morte-- Sciocca quanne stu dalle canta e vola……………………………………………………….E quille galle pe vertù de Diese nisse ‘n terra e cominciò a cantare – - Vanne a chiamare la figghia dell’oste –- O pazzerella pazzerella matta,come passa la cosa de la tassa?De queste te lu diche, signor mie:era un giovene belle e me piaceva;la tassa ghie la mésse pe la via – - Che sse mertarebbe la tua faccia bella?De farlu ‘nu cascì ‘n miezz’a la terra,Che asse mmettarebbe la tua faccia cara?De farlu ‘nu cascì ‘n miezza ‘na piana- Prima che se faccia ‘ssu casscine,vogghie vedé lu figghie del pellegrine - |
“The Pilgrim” is a popular legend in dialect and written in verse which Alighiero Castelli collected in the countryside of Trisungo di Arquata and printed in 1896 in his periodical “Vita Popolare Marchigiana”. The text, which contains several incongruences, seems to be the reworking of older oral traditions of various origins (see for example the figure of the Mayor). What’s more, the religious theme of pilgrimage (which almost seems to form the background to the events narrated) is lost early on and a gloomy love story with tragic consequences takes its place.And so we come to the events that the legend narrates: a family sets off on the long pilgrimage that will take it to Santiago de Compostela. One evening it stops to spend the night at an inn. The innkeeper sends her daughter to prepare the room for the guests. The girl has already fallen in love at first sight with the pilgrim’s son (who was evidently not bad looking) and tries to find a chance to be alone with him. So she tells him that she is frightened to go upstairs on her own and has him accompany her. Here, however, the normal roles become inverted, with the girl trying to persuade him to stay with her. When he refuses (the story doesn’t tell us why…), she decides to vindicate herself and, unknown to the boy, hides a valuable cup in his pocket. (It is to be noted that the word cup can take on the metaphorical value of the female sexual organ in spoken dialect. There is perhaps an implied allusion in the tale, given the frank and popular nature of the plot). The girl then makes a scene in front of everyone that is the crux of the tale, accusing the boy of the theft. And seeing that in those times there was no magistrates’ court and things were done quickly, the (innocent) boy was arrested and hanged from a beech tree. A year and three days pass (the value of these three days eludes me, but they evoke memories of magical mathematics) before the family returns home from its pilgrimage to Galizia. And it is here, right in front of the cursed inn, that the boy’s voice is heard coming from the beech, telling how things really happened. After their initial surprise, his parents run to the Mayor and ask for justice, affirming to have heard the voice of their executed son. The magistrate, who is sitting at a table and is just about to sink his teeth into a roast chicken, laughs and says that the event is as improbable as the chicken he is about to eat being able to crow again. No sooner has he said it than the chicken gets its feathers back, rises up and starts to crow. The “crazy girl” who through her caprices brought about the tragic event, is led before the Mayor. Now in difficulty because of the miracle, she tells all, confessing to have been blinded by passion and jealousy. She is to be burnt at the stake in the middle of the countryside, but first, she wants to see the pilgrim’s son again… Will there be another miracle, maybe the work of St. James? The story finishes abruptly, leaving people free to imagine the ending they want: what counts for the unknown author is the lesson that must be learnt from the event: passion can cause tragedy if there is deception: the truth will always come out and divine justice will always have the last word. Bibliography: - “Pellegrini per la Spagna” Flash Mensile di Vita Picena n. 60 March 1983 P. 34-35 by Bernardo Nardi
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