The cattle, who had lost all but a few patches of their winter coats, began to low in the meadows; the crooked-legged lambs began to play round their bleating mothers, who were losing their wool; swift-footed children began to run along the quickly-drying paths marked with imprints of bare feet, the merry voices of women who were bleaching their linen began to chatter by the ponds, and the axes of peasants, getting ready their wooden ploughs and harrows, clicked in the yards.
Gli armenti, che non avevano ancora del tutto mutato il pelo, presero a muggire nei pascoli, e gli agnelli dalla zampe ritorte ruzzarono intorno alle madri belanti che mutavano il vello, mentre i ragazzi dalle gambe agili presero a correre per i tratturi che, rasciugandosi, conservavano le impronte dei piedi scalzi; accanto allo stagno crepitarono le voci allegre delle comari intente a candeggiar le tele, e sulle aie risonarono le accette dei contadini che racconciavano aratri ed erpici.