Antonio Veneziano (poet)

Antonio Veneziano (Monreale, 1543 - Castellammare del Golfo, 19 August 1593) was a Sicilian poet who wrote mainly in Sicilian. He is considered among the greatest poets who wrote in Sicilian, which include Giovanni Meli, Domenico Tempio and Nino Martoglio. He is perhaps the first major figure in Sicilian literature following the Sicilian School which predates him by three centuries. During his life time, he was well known for his poetry both within Sicily and far beyond. He also wrote in Italian and Latin.

Life and works

Veneziano was a contemporary of the great Spanish writer Cervantes (Sicily was under Spanish rule at this time). As it happens, both shared a cell after being captured by Barbary pirates around 1575. He wrote his greatest work, "Celia" during his period of imprisonment in Algeria (he was released in 1579). Cervantes is reported as having said that Veneziano had earned a passage to Paradise through this collection of poems ("Celia" means a jest or joke in both Sicilian and Italian). He wrote other works of poetry, also delving in satire and bawdy rhymes.

When once asked why he chose to write in Sicilian rather than a recognised literary language such as Italian or Spanish, he replied to the effect that if a man is to seduce a woman, he must do so in her mother tongue. It is unclear whether a pun was intended.

The whole of his works were assembled in 1967 in a publication entiled: "Ottave", edited by A. Rigoli.

Examples of his poetry

Some extracts from his collection, "Celia", appear below (circa 1575 - 1580). While the subject matter of the first poem, love, is typical enough of early Sicilian poetry, the second is a bit more atypical, possessing a whimsical quality.

No. vii

No. viii

References

* "Arba Sicula" Volume II, 1980 (bilingual: Sicilian and English) - source of the examples of poetry and English translation.