La Stornellino (Un Contrasto.)	The Starling (A Lover's Quarrel.)
O marfattore ! O quanto mal facesti ! i' avevo uno storno a me me lo prendesti.– E se i' te l' ho toro i' so ch' i' ho fatto male ; ma i' tu stornellino i' te lo vo pagare. Per i' pagamento i' ti vò' dar' un piano che pe' tre vorte l' anno c' ci sega i' grano. Per i' pagamento i' piano nun voggh' io ; e te rechiello pure lo stornellino mio. O marfattore ! quanto mal facesti ! i' avevo uno storno a me me lo togghiesti. Per i' pagamento i' ti vo' dar' un poggio che pe' tre vôrte a l' anno e' ci si sega l' orzo. Per i' pagamento i' poggio nun voggh' io; e te rechiello pure lo stornellino mio. O marfattore, etc. Per i' pagamento ti vo' dar' un palazzo ; le pietre tutte d' oro, e le mura di sasso. Per i' pagamento i palazzo nun voggh’ io ; e ti rechiello pure lo stornellino mio. O marfattore, etc Per i' pagamento ti vo dar' un cavallo ; la brigghia tutta d' oro, la sella di cristallo. Per i pagamento i' cavallo nun voggh' io ; e ti rechiello pure lo stornellino mio. 0 marfattore, etc. Per i' pagamento ti vo' dar' na fanciulla che 'ghi ène bianca e rosa e non è bon' a nulla. Per i pagamento la fanciulla la voggh' io ; e te rechiello pure lo stornellino mio. O marfattore, etc.	O thou sad wrong-doer ! 0 what evil hast thou rendered ! I had a birdie for my pet ; Thou hast him from me sundered ! In that I took him from thee, 'Twas wrong I won’t say nay ; Also for that pet birdie I'll surely thee repay. And for to make that payment, I'll give thee such a plain,1 That in the course of every year Thrice thou may'st cut the grain. Now for the promised payment, No plain of thine for me ; But I require thee to bring My birdie back to me. O thou sad wrong-doer ! 0 what evil hast thou rendered ! I had a birdie for my pet ; Thou hast him from me sundered. Then for to make that payment, I'll give thee such a hill, That three full times in every year For barley thou may'st till. Now for that promised payment, No hill of thine for me ; But I require thee to bring My birdie back to me. O thou sad wrong-doer! Then for to make that payment, A palace I'll bestow ; The stones shall all be golden, The walls of rock I trow. Now for that promised payment No palace offer me ; But I require thee to bring My birdie back to me. O thou sad wrong-doer ! Then for to make that payment, I’ll bring thee a fine stallion ; The bridle shall be golden, Of crystal bright the pillion. Now for that promised payment, No stallion offer me ; But I require thee to bring My birdie back to me. O thou sad wrong-doer ! Then for that promised payment, An infant2 I will bring, All over pretty pink and white, No good for anything. Now for that promised payment, That infant give to me ; Still I require thee to bring My birdie back to me. O thou sad wrong-doer !
1 Piano, primarily a plain, is specially used for the little bits of flat on a steep hill-side of which the thrifty mountaineers take such advantage. 2 The meaning of this is rather obscure, unless the child is meant as a gage d'amour. Her acceptance of it, and the sly demand for the restitution of her pet all the same, makes up a very pretty conceit.

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Busk, R. H. The Folk-Songs of Italy. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co., 1887. 112-117

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