This article originally appeared in the December 2023/January 2024 issue of Dream of Italy.
A poem by the 14th century Italian poet, Folgòre da San Gimignano, pseudonym of Giacomo di Michele (c. 1270-1332).
| Di Gennaio di Folgòre da San Gimignano I’ doto voi, nel mese de gennaio, corte con fochi di salette accese, camer’ e letta d’ogni bello arnese, lenzuol’ de seta e copertoi di vaio,tregèa, confetti e mescere a razzaio, vestiti di doagio e di rascese: e ‘n questo modo star a le defese, mova scirocco, garbino e rovaio.
Uscir di for alcuna volta il giorno,
e quando fosse la compagna stanca, |
In January by Folgòre da San Gimignano In January I give you a hall with fires of dry grass burning, bedrooms and beds with the most beautiful furnishings, sheets of silk and blankets of fur,comfitures, sweets and sparkling wine, clothes of silk from Douai and of wool from Arras; and in this way may you remain sheltered, whether sirocco or libeccio or tramontane may blow.
May you go outside sometimes during the day,
and when the company is tired, |