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"The Dialogue Between an Almanac Seller and a Passer-By", by Leopardi

Dernière mise à jour : 17 avr. 2023





The Dialogue Between an Almanac Seller and a Passer-By

by Giacomo Leopardi




Almanac Seller. — Almanacs ! New Almanacs ! New Calendars ! Who wants new Almanacs ?


Passer-by. — Almanacs for the New Year ?


Almanac Seller. — Yes, Sir.


Passer-by. — Do you think this New Year will be a happy one ?


A. — Yes, to be sure, Sir.


P. — As happy as last year ?


A. — Much more so.


P. — As the year before ?


A. — Still more, Sir.


P. — Why ? Should you not like the New Year to resemble one of the past years ?


A. — No, Sir, I should not.


P. — How many years have gone by since you began to sell almanacs ?


A. — About twenty years, Sir.


P. — Which of the twenty should you wish the New Year to be like ?


A. — I do not know.


P. — Do you not remember any particular year which you thought a happy one ?


A. — Indeed I do not, Sir.


P. — And yet life is a fine thing, is it not ?


A. — So they say.