S'i' Fosse Foco [Da Un Sonetto Di Cecco Angiolieri]

If I Were Fire [From a Sonnet by Cecco Angiolieri]

S'i' Fosse Foco [Da Un Sonetto Di Cecco Angiolieri]

If I were fire, I would burn the world;S'i' fosse foco, arderei 'l mondo;
if I were wind, I would storm it;s'i' fosse vento, lo tempesterei;
if I were water, I would drown it;s'i' fosse acqua, ì' l'annegherei;
if I were God, I would send it to hells'i' fosse Dio, mandereil 'en profondo

if I were pope, then I would be happy,s'i' fosse papa, sarè allor giocondo,
for I would confound all Christians;che tutt'i cristiani imbrigherei;
if I were emperor, what would I do?s'i' fosse 'mperator, sa che farei?
I would cut off everyone's head rounda tutti mozzerei lo capo a tondo

if I were death, I would go to my father;s'i' fosse morte, andarei da mio padre;
if I were life, I would flee from him:s'i' fosse vita, fuggirei da lui:
likewise I would do with my mothersimilmente faria da mi' madre

if I were Cecco, as I am and was,s'i' fosse Cecco, come sono e fui,
I would take the young and graceful women:torrei le donne giovani e leggiadre:
and leave the old and ugly to others.e vecchie e laide lassarei altrui.