Please don't feel annoyed
In being told about the great valour
Of the most clever among the Roman Braves,
Whose name is mentioned more than any other.
Just because he was well endowed with brains,
Although he was born a commoner,
And had great projects on his mind,
I feel like praising his feats.

I'll tell what was in his mind and in his heart
When the terrible news was heard,
That the wicked Turk, with such an army,
Had positioned himself by Vienna;
Furthermore, I'll tell you with how much care
He looked after the arrangement of the celebrations
That were held in Rome, very lavishly too,
When the news of some victories was heard.
Muses! You, who sit besides
The beardless God of songs,
Don't think that I will invoke you,
Because I don't feel like doing so;
I am a commoner, and you are quite haughty,
So I won't disturb you, and I'll be happy
With one of your servants, one of those
Who wash the dishes and lick the plates clean.

One of these trollops is just fit
For being my Patron, I hope you won't mind,
Because I have already decided
To follow the common people.
To whom gives me trouble, she'll throw in their face
One of her dirty and greasy flanels,
While I, with my wonderful quill,
Pluck the strings of my lute.

But since I have no Muse to assist me
Who could defend me well in the case of need
From people who act pedantically,
And go proud of being slanderous,
Having already foreseen my ill-luck,
I resort to Clement's Clemence,
And if such an authority reassures me,
I shall no longer fear these critics.
Peaceful stood Rome
During year sixteen thousand eighty-three,
And everybody, in idleness,
Was doing what carefree people do;
Really nobody was aware
Of being so close to a terrible mishap,
But without any particular thought,
As usual, the people spent their time on trifle.

Some went for a walk in the City,
To show off a bit, in groups of two or three,
Some others stayed indoors and played,
Some at the Sun inn or at the Three Kings inn;
Others, as nowadays has become a custom,
Sat in coffee bars,
With a peaceful and tranquil expression,
Discussing about this and that.
Vienna is no doubt a City
That few places may compare to;
The Emperors choose it as their residence,
Because it really has features of high level;
The place is so rich, its appearance so beautiful,
That I cannot describe this enough:
Who does not believe our words,
That the city is so nice, should go and visit it.

So these were the problems, this was the fear,
That caused the people's concern,
In thinking with so much worry
Of the poor Vienna under siege;
And the people were constantly anxious
That the Turks may capture it,
And if the slightest commotion was heard,
Everybody panicked in fear.
He is the most feared among the Romans,
Being the leader of the braves,
With a strong and muscular build,
Clever at wrestling, he floors the strongest fighters.
And when he wants to shed blood,
He does great feats with the sling and the sword,
And those who pick a quarrel with him know well.
He is called, and is proud of this, Meo Patacca.
With the typical attitude of a Trastevere dweller,
He kept going, and his whimsical way of walking
Disguised the progress of a Paladin,
One who could compete with the toughest;
Then, in the very center of Campo Vaccino,
A place where to learn how to fight with stones,
He stops and says: « Now let this be my Capitolium,
I want to talk to you right here'.

Campo Vaccino is a place off the beaten track
Not far from the Colosseum, scarsely inhabited,
Where the cattle-market
Is held every eight days.
It's rather wide and long, but completely flat,
In the center it is sheltered from the sun,
As a double row of trees all of the same height
Runs from one end to the other.

Meo wants to stand high, and he sees a cart
Left there by the cart-drivers;
He also notices a broken column,
Which he thinks is better for someone like him;
So, he jumps on it with both feet,
As it is flat and wide;
Being accustomed to making such leaps,
He lands on it as straight as a pole.
'Each of you go and find, as soon as possible,
Some thirty braves, yet cunning ones,
The kind who already knocked down opponents,
Who do not change their minds, and stand still;
Bring them to me, straight away,
We need facts, not words;
I hope to gather some two hundred more by myself
among the strongest ones, most cunning and ready to kill.
I'm already aware than many of you will say
That we are exaggerating things,
Because the Turks will make us regret
Having come to provoke them:
I answer that there are, and there will be,
Against those loathsome people, good soldiers
To help us, and let's see who is to perish
If these warriors will support us.

Come on, take courage, what are we waiting for?
Let's go united to lend our help
To the venerable City, before it falls,
What a coward is he who delays his participation;
Now let's go looking for partners.'
Meanwhile his speech was broken
By the party, who could not remain silent:
'Hail Meo Patacca, they said, hail'.
'As soon as we reach the number
Of five hundred, and we can present ourselves,
I really want to make an invitation,
To let others come and see our team right here.
Every Gentleman will be surprised,
And will show himself generous with us,
So that it will be impossible for him
Not to give us some kind contribution.

And as soon as we reach the battlesite,
Indeed, we won't have to worry
About looking for provisions,
As we will no longer need an aid,
Because as we defeat the enemy,
And we kill hundreds of Turks,
You and I can collect a huge loot
Of jackets, sabres, turbans, gold and coins'.