The Divine Comedy: Bilingual Edition (English – Italian)

By Dante Alighieri

Instead of memorizing vocabulary words, work your way through an actual well-written novel. Even novices can follow along as each individual English paragraph is paired with the corresponding Italian paragraph. It won't be an easy project, but you'll learn a lot.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Jun 27, 2018

Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) was an Italian poet. Born in Florence, Dante was raised in a family loyal to the Guelphs, a political faction in support of the Pope and embroiled in violent conflict with the opposing Ghibellines, who supported the Holy Roman Emperor. Promised in marriage to Gemma di Manetto Donati at the age of 12, Dante had already fallen in love with Beatrice Portinari, whom he would represent as a divine figure and muse in much of his poetry. After fighting with the Guelph cavalry at the Battle of Campaldino in 1289, Dante returned to Florence to serve as a public figure while raising his four young children. By this time, Dante had met the poets Guido Cavalcanti, Lapo Gianni, Cino da Pistoia, and Brunetto Latini, all of whom contributed to the burgeoning aesthetic movement known as the dolce stil novo, or “sweet new style.” The New Life (1294) is a book composed of prose and verse in which Dante explores the relationship between romantic love and divine love through the lens of his own infatuation with Beatrice. Written in the Tuscan vernacular rather than Latin, The New Life was influential in establishing a standardized Italian language. In 1302, following the violent fragmentation of the Guelph faction into the White and Black Guelphs, Dante was permanently exiled from Florence. Over the next two decades, he composed The Divine Comedy (1320), a lengthy narrative poem that would bring him enduring fame as Italy’s most important literary figure.

Book preview

Longfellow

INFERNO

INFERNO

Inferno: Canto I

Inferno: Canto I

Midway upon the journey of our life

I found myself within a forest dark,

For the straightforward pathway had been lost.

Nel mezzo del cammin di nostra vita

mi ritrovai per una selva oscura

che' la diritta via era smarrita.

Ah me! how hard a thing it is to say

What was this forest savage, rough, and stern,

Which in the very thought renews the fear.

Ahi quanto a dir qual era e` cosa dura

esta selva selvaggia e aspra e forte

che nel pensier rinova la paura!

So bitter is it, death is little more;

But of the good to treat, which there I found,

Speak will I of the other things I saw there.

Tant'e` amara che poco e` piu` morte;

ma per trattar del ben ch'i' vi trovai,

diro` de l'altre cose ch'i' v'ho scorte.

I cannot well repeat how there I entered,

So full was I of slumber at the moment

In which I had abandoned the true way.

Io non so ben ridir com'i' v'intrai,

tant'era pien di sonno a quel punto

che la verace via abbandonai.

But after I had reached a mountain's foot,

At that point where the valley terminated,

Which had with consternation pierced my heart,

Ma poi ch'i' fui al pie` d'un colle giunto,

la` dove terminava quella valle

che m'avea di paura il cor compunto,

Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders,

Vested already with that planet's rays

Which leadeth others right by every road.

guardai in alto, e vidi le sue spalle

vestite gia` de' raggi del pianeta

che mena dritto altrui per ogne calle.

Then was the fear a little quieted

That in my heart's lake had endured throughout

The night, which I had passed so piteously.

Allor fu la paura un poco queta

che nel lago del cor m'era durata

la notte ch'i' passai con tanta pieta.

And even as he, who, with distressful breath,

Forth issued from the sea upon the shore,

Turns to the water perilous and gazes;

E come quei che con lena affannata

uscito fuor del pelago a la riva

si volge a l'acqua perigliosa e guata,

So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward,

Turn itself back to re-behold the pass

Which never yet a living person left.

cosi` l'animo mio, ch'ancor fuggiva,

si volse a retro a rimirar lo passo

che non lascio` gia` mai persona viva.

After my weary body I had rested,

The way resumed I on the desert slope,

So that the firm foot ever was the lower.

Poi ch'ei posato un poco il corpo lasso,

ripresi via per la piaggia diserta,

si` che 'l pie` fermo sempre era 'l piu` basso.

And lo! almost where the ascent began,

A panther light and swift exceedingly,

Which with a spotted skin was covered o'er!

Ed ecco, quasi al cominciar de l'erta,

una lonza leggera e presta molto,

che di pel macolato era coverta;

And never moved she from before my face,

Nay, rather did impede so much my way,

That many times I to return had turned.

e non mi si partia dinanzi al volto,

anzi 'mpediva tanto il mio cammino,

ch'i' fui per ritornar piu` volte volto.

The time was the beginning of the morning,

And up the sun was mounting with those stars

That with him were, what time the Love Divine

Temp'era dal principio del mattino,

e 'l sol montava 'n su` con quelle stelle

ch'eran con lui quando l'amor divino

At first in motion set those beauteous things;

So were to me occasion of good hope,

The variegated skin of that wild beast,

mosse di prima quelle cose belle;

si` ch'a bene sperar m'era cagione

di quella fiera a la gaetta pelle

The hour of time, and the delicious season;

But not so much, that did not give me fear

A lion's aspect which appeared to me.

l'ora del tempo e la dolce stagione;

ma non si` che paura non mi desse

la vista che m'apparve d'un leone.

He seemed as if against me he were coming

With head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger,

So that it seemed the air was afraid of him;

Questi parea che contra me venisse

con la test'alta e con rabbiosa fame,

si` che parea che l'aere ne tremesse.

And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings

Seemed to be laden in her meagreness,

And many folk has caused to live forlorn!

Ed una lupa, che di tutte brame

sembiava carca ne la sua magrezza,

e molte genti fe' gia` viver grame,

She brought upon me so much heaviness,

With the affright that from her aspect came,

That I the hope relinquished of the height.

questa mi porse tanto di gravezza

con la paura ch'uscia di sua vista,

ch'io perdei la speranza de l'altezza.

And as he is who willingly acquires,

And the time comes that causes him to lose,

Who weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent,

E qual e` quei che volontieri acquista,

e giugne 'l tempo che perder lo face,

che 'n tutt'i suoi pensier piange e s'attrista;

E'en such made me that beast withouten peace,

Which, coming on against me by degrees

Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent.

tal mi fece la bestia sanza pace,

che, venendomi 'ncontro, a poco a poco

mi ripigneva la` dove 'l sol tace.

While I was rushing downward to the lowland,

Before mine eyes did one present himself,

Who seemed from long-continued silence hoarse.

Mentre ch'i' rovinava in basso loco,

dinanzi a li occhi mi si fu offerto

chi per lungo silenzio parea fioco.

When I beheld him in the desert vast,

Have pity on me, unto him I cried,

Whiche'er thou art, or shade or real man!

Quando vidi costui nel gran diserto,

Miserere di me, gridai a lui,

qual che tu sii, od ombra od omo certo! .

He answered me: "Not man; man once I was,

And both my parents were of Lombardy,

And Mantuans by country both of them.

Rispuosemi: "Non omo, omo gia` fui,

e li parenti miei furon lombardi,

mantoani per patria ambedui.

'Sub Julio' was I born, though it was late,

And lived at Rome under the good Augustus,

During the time of false and lying gods.

Nacqui sub Iulio, ancor che fosse tardi,

e vissi a Roma sotto 'l buono Augusto

nel tempo de li dei falsi e bugiardi.

A poet was I, and I sang that just

Son of Anchises, who came forth from Troy,

After that Ilion the superb was burned.

Poeta fui, e cantai di quel giusto

figliuol d'Anchise che venne di Troia,

poi che 'l superbo Ilion fu combusto.

But thou, why goest thou back to such annoyance?

Why climb'st thou not the Mount Delectable,

Which is the source and cause of every joy? "

Ma tu perche' ritorni a tanta noia?

perche' non sali il dilettoso monte

ch'e` principio e cagion di tutta gioia? ".

"Now, art thou that Virgilius and that fountain

Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech? "

I made response to him with bashful forehead.

"Or se' tu quel Virgilio e quella fonte

che spandi di parlar si` largo fiume? ",

rispuos'io lui con vergognosa fronte.

"O, of the other poets honour and light,

Avail me the long study and great love

That have impelled me to explore thy volume!

"O de li altri poeti onore e lume

vagliami 'l lungo studio e 'l grande amore

che m'ha fatto cercar lo tuo volume.

Thou art my master, and my author thou,

Thou art alone the one from whom I took

The beautiful style that has done honour to me.

Tu se' lo mio maestro e 'l mio autore;

tu se' solo colui da cu' io tolsi

lo bello stilo che m'ha fatto onore.

Behold the beast, for which I have turned back;

Do thou protect me from her, famous Sage,

For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble. "

Vedi la bestia per cu' io mi volsi:

aiutami da lei, famoso saggio,

ch'ella mi fa tremar le vene e i polsi".

Thee it behoves to take another road,

Responded he, when he beheld me weeping,

"If from this savage place thou wouldst escape;

A te convien tenere altro viaggio,

rispuose poi che lagrimar mi vide,

"se vuo' campar d'esto loco selvaggio:

Because this beast, at which thou criest out,

Suffers not any one to pass her way,

But so doth harass him, that she destroys him;

che' questa bestia, per la qual tu gride,

non lascia altrui passar per la sua via,

ma tanto lo 'mpedisce che l'uccide;

And has a nature so malign and ruthless,

That never doth she glut her greedy will,

And after food is hungrier than before.

e ha natura si` malvagia e ria,

che mai non empie la bramosa voglia,

e dopo 'l pasto ha piu` fame che pria.

Many the animals with whom she weds,

And more they shall be still, until the Greyhound

Comes, who shall make her perish in her pain.

Molti son li animali a cui s'ammoglia,

e piu` saranno ancora, infin che 'l veltro

verra`, che la fara` morir con doglia.

He shall not feed on either earth or pelf,

But upon wisdom, and on love and virtue;

'Twixt Feltro and Feltro shall his nation be;

Questi non cibera` terra ne' peltro,

ma sapienza, amore e virtute,

e sua nazion sara` tra feltro e feltro.

Of that low Italy shall he be the saviour,

On whose account the maid Camilla died,

Euryalus, Turnus, Nisus, of their wounds;

Di quella umile Italia fia salute

per cui mori` la vergine Cammilla,

Eurialo e Turno e Niso di ferute.

Through every city shall he hunt her down,

Until he shall have driven her back to Hell,

There from whence envy first did let her loose.

Questi la caccera` per ogne villa,

fin che l'avra` rimessa ne lo 'nferno,

la` onde 'nvidia prima dipartilla.

Therefore I think and judge it for thy best

Thou follow me, and I will be thy guide,

And lead thee hence through the eternal place,

Ond'io per lo tuo me' penso e discerno

che tu mi segui, e io saro` tua guida,

e trarrotti di qui per loco etterno,

Where thou shalt hear the desperate lamentations,

Shalt see the ancient spirits disconsolate,

Who cry out each one for the second death;

ove udirai le disperate strida,

vedrai li antichi spiriti dolenti,

ch'a la seconda morte ciascun grida;

And thou shalt see those who contented are

Within the fire, because they hope to come,

Whene'er it may be, to the blessed people;

e vederai color che son contenti

nel foco, perche' speran di venire

quando che sia a le beate genti.

To whom, then, if thou wishest to ascend,

A soul shall be for that than I more worthy;

With her at my departure I will leave thee;

A le quai poi se tu vorrai salire,

anima fia a cio` piu` di me degna:

con lei ti lascero` nel mio partire;

Because that Emperor, who reigns above,

In that I was rebellious to his law,

Wills that through me none come into his city.

che' quello imperador che la` su` regna,

perch'i' fu' ribellante a la sua legge,

non vuol che 'n sua citta` per me si vegna.

He governs everywhere, and there he reigns;

There is his city and his lofty throne;

O happy he whom thereto he elects! "

In tutte parti impera e quivi regge;

quivi e` la sua citta` e l'alto seggio:

oh felice colui cu' ivi elegge! ".

And I to him: "Poet, I thee entreat,

By that same God whom thou didst never know,

So that I may escape this woe and worse,

E io a lui: "Poeta, io ti richeggio

per quello Dio che tu non conoscesti,

accio` ch'io fugga questo male e peggio,

Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said,

That I may see the portal of Saint Peter,

And those thou makest so disconsolate. "

che tu mi meni la` dov'or dicesti,

si` ch'io veggia la porta di san Pietro

e color cui tu fai cotanto mesti".

Then he moved on, and I behind him followed.

Allor si mosse, e io li tenni dietro.

Inferno: Canto II

Inferno: Canto II

Day was departing, and the embrowned air

Released the animals that are on earth

From their fatigues; and I the only one

Lo giorno se n'andava, e l'aere bruno

toglieva li animai che sono in terra

da le fatiche loro; e io sol uno

Made myself ready to sustain the war,

Both of the way and likewise of the woe,

Which memory that errs not shall retrace.

m'apparecchiava a sostener la guerra

si` del cammino e si` de la pietate,

che ritrarra` la mente che non erra.

O Muses, O high genius, now assist me!

O memory, that didst write down what I saw,

Here thy nobility shall be manifest!

O muse, o alto ingegno, or m'aiutate;

o mente che scrivesti cio` ch'io vidi,

qui si parra` la tua nobilitate.

And I began: "Poet, who guidest me,

Regard my manhood, if it be sufficient,

Ere to the arduous pass thou dost confide me.

Io cominciai: "Poeta che mi guidi,

guarda la mia virtu` s'ell'e` possente,

prima ch'a l'alto passo tu mi fidi.

Thou sayest, that of Silvius the parent,

While yet corruptible, unto the world

Immortal went, and was there bodily.

Tu dici che di Silvio il parente,

corruttibile ancora, ad immortale

secolo ando`, e fu sensibilmente.

But if the adversary of all evil

Was courteous, thinking of the high effect

That issue would from him, and who, and what,

Pero`, se l'avversario d'ogne male

cortese i fu, pensando l'alto effetto

ch'uscir dovea di lui e 'l chi e 'l quale,

To men of intellect unmeet it seems not;

For he was of great Rome, and of her empire

In the empyreal heaven as father chosen;

non pare indegno ad omo d'intelletto;

ch'e' fu de l'alma Roma e di suo impero

ne l'empireo ciel per padre eletto:

The which and what, wishing to speak the truth,

Were stablished as the holy place, wherein

Sits the successor of the greatest Peter.

la quale e 'l quale, a voler dir lo vero,

fu stabilita per lo loco santo

u' siede il successor del maggior Piero.

Upon this journey, whence thou givest him vaunt,

Things did he hear, which the occasion were

Both of his victory and the papal mantle.

Per quest'andata onde li dai tu vanto,

intese cose che furon cagione

di sua vittoria e del papale ammanto.

Thither went afterwards the Chosen Vessel,

To bring back comfort thence unto that Faith,

Which of salvation's way is the beginning.

Andovvi poi lo Vas d'elezione,

per recarne conforto a quella fede

ch'e` principio a la via di salvazione.

But I, why thither come, or who concedes it?

I not Aeneas am, I am not Paul,

Nor I, nor others, think me worthy of it.

Ma io perche' venirvi? o chi 'l concede?

Io non Enea, io non Paulo sono:

me degno a cio` ne' io ne' altri 'l crede.

Therefore, if I resign myself to come,

I fear the coming may be ill-advised;

Thou'rt wise, and knowest better than I speak."

Per che, se del venire io m'abbandono,

temo che la venuta non sia folle.

Se' savio; intendi me' ch'i' non ragiono".

And as he is, who unwills what he willed,

And by new thoughts doth his intention change,

So that from his design he quite withdraws,

E qual e` quei che disvuol cio` che volle

e per novi pensier cangia proposta,

si` che dal cominciar tutto si tolle,

Such I became, upon that dark hillside,

Because, in thinking, I consumed the emprise,

Which was so very prompt in the beginning.

tal mi fec'io 'n quella oscura costa,

perche', pensando, consumai la 'mpresa

che fu nel cominciar cotanto tosta.

If I have well thy language understood,

Replied that shade of the Magnanimous,

"Thy soul attainted is with cowardice,

S'i' ho ben la parola tua intesa,

rispuose del magnanimo quell'ombra;

"l'anima tua e` da viltade offesa;

Which many times a man encumbers so,

It turns him back from honoured enterprise,

As false sight doth a beast, when he is shy.

la qual molte fiate l'omo ingombra

si` che d'onrata impresa lo rivolve,

come falso veder bestia quand'ombra.

That thou mayst free thee from this apprehension,

I'll tell thee why I came, and what I heard

At the first moment when I grieved for thee.

Da questa tema accio` che tu ti solve,

dirotti perch'io venni e quel ch'io 'ntesi

nel primo punto che di te mi dolve.

Among those was I who are in suspense,

And a fair, saintly Lady called to me

In such wise, I besought her to command me.

Io era tra color che son sospesi,

e donna mi chiamo` beata e bella,

tal che di comandare io la richiesi.

Her eyes where shining brighter than the Star;

And she began to say, gentle and low,

With voice angelical, in her own language:

Lucevan li occhi suoi piu` che la stella;

e cominciommi a dir soave e piana,

con angelica voce, in sua favella:

'O spirit courteous of Mantua,

Of whom the fame still in the world endures,

And shall endure, long-lasting as the world;

"O anima cortese mantoana,

di cui la fama ancor nel mondo dura,

e durera` quanto 'l mondo lontana,

A friend of mine, and not the friend of fortune,

Upon the desert slope is so impeded

Upon his way, that he has turned through terror,

l'amico mio, e non de la ventura,

ne la diserta piaggia e` impedito

si` nel cammin, che volt'e` per paura;

And may, I fear, already be so lost,

That I too late have risen to his succour,

From that which I have heard of him in Heaven.

e temo che non sia gia` si` smarrito,

ch'io mi sia tardi al soccorso levata,

per quel ch'i' ho di lui nel cielo udito.

Bestir thee now, and with thy speech ornate,

And with what needful is for his release,

Assist him so, that I may be consoled.

Or movi, e con la tua parola ornata

e con cio` c'ha mestieri al suo campare

l'aiuta, si` ch'i' ne sia consolata.

Beatrice am I, who do bid thee go;

I come from there, where I would fain return;

Love moved me, which compelleth me to speak.

I' son Beatrice che ti faccio andare;

vegno del loco ove tornar disio;

amor mi mosse, che mi fa parlare.

When I shall be in presence of my Lord,

Full often will I praise thee unto him.'

Then paused she, and thereafter I began:

Quando saro` dinanzi al segnor mio,

di te mi lodero` sovente a lui ".

Tacette allora, e poi comincia' io:

'O Lady of virtue, thou alone through whom

The human race exceedeth all contained

Within the heaven that has the lesser circles,

"O donna di virtu`, sola per cui

l'umana spezie eccede ogne contento

di quel ciel c'ha minor li cerchi sui,

So grateful unto me is thy commandment,

To obey, if 'twere already done, were late;

No farther need'st thou ope to me thy wish.

tanto m'aggrada il tuo comandamento,

che l'ubidir, se gia` fosse, m'e` tardi;

piu` non t'e` uo' ch'aprirmi il tuo talento.

But the cause tell me why thou dost not shun

The here descending down into this centre,

From the vast place thou burnest to return to.'

Ma dimmi la cagion che non ti guardi

de lo scender qua giuso in questo centro

de l'ampio loco ove tornar tu ardi ".

'Since thou wouldst fain so inwardly discern,

Briefly will I relate, ' she answered me,

'Why I am not afraid to enter here.

"Da che tu vuo' saver cotanto a dentro,

dirotti brievemente ", mi rispuose,

"perch'io non temo di venir qua entro.

Of those things only should one be afraid

Which have the power of doing others harm;

Of the rest, no; because they are not fearful.

Temer si dee di sole quelle cose

c'hanno potenza di fare altrui male;

de l'altre no, che' non son paurose.

God in his mercy such created me

That misery of yours attains me not,

Nor any flame assails me of this burning.

I' son fatta da Dio, sua merce', tale,

che la vostra miseria non mi tange,

ne' fiamma d'esto incendio non m'assale.

A gentle Lady is in Heaven, who grieves

At this impediment, to which I send thee,

So that stern judgment there above is broken.

Donna e` gentil nel ciel che si compiange

di questo 'mpedimento ov'io ti mando,

si` che duro giudicio la` su` frange.

In her entreaty she besought Lucia,

And said, "Thy faithful one now stands in need

Of thee, and unto thee I recommend him. "

Questa chiese Lucia in suo dimando

e disse: - Or ha bisogno il tuo fedele

di te, e io a te lo raccomando -.

Lucia, foe of all that cruel is,

Hastened away, and came unto the place

Where I was sitting with the ancient Rachel.

Lucia, nimica di ciascun crudele,

si mosse, e venne al loco dov'i' era,

che mi sedea con l'antica Rachele.

Beatrice said she, "the true praise of God,

Why succourest thou not him, who loved thee so,

For thee he issued from the vulgar herd?

Disse: - Beatrice, loda di Dio vera,

che' non soccorri quei che t'amo` tanto,

ch'usci` per te de la volgare schiera?

Dost thou not hear the pity of his plaint?

Dost thou not see the death that combats him

Beside that flood, where ocean has no vaunt? "

non odi tu la pieta del suo pianto?

non vedi tu la morte che 'l combatte

su la fiumana ove 'l mar non ha vanto? -.

Never were persons in the world so swift

To work their weal and to escape their woe,

As I, after such words as these were uttered,

Al mondo non fur mai persone ratte

a far lor pro o a fuggir lor danno,

com'io, dopo cotai parole fatte,

Came hither downward from my blessed seat,

Confiding in thy dignified discourse,

Which honours thee, and those who've listened to it.'

venni qua giu` del mio beato scanno,

fidandomi del tuo parlare onesto,

ch'onora te e quei ch'udito l'hanno ".

After she thus had spoken unto me,

Weeping, her shining eyes she turned away;

Whereby she made me swifter in my coming;

Poscia che m'ebbe ragionato questo,

li occhi lucenti lagrimando volse;

per che mi fece del venir piu` presto;

And unto thee I came, as she desired;

I have delivered thee from that wild beast,

Which barred the beautiful mountain's short ascent.

e venni a te cosi` com'ella volse;

d'inanzi a quella fiera ti levai

che del bel monte il corto andar ti tolse.

What is it, then? Why, why dost thou delay?

Why is such baseness bedded in thy heart?

Daring and hardihood why hast thou not,

Dunque: che e`? perche', perche' restai?

perche' tanta vilta` nel core allette?

perche' ardire e franchezza non hai,

Seeing that three such Ladies benedight

Are caring for thee in the court of Heaven,

And so much good my speech doth promise thee? "

poscia che tai tre donne benedette

curan di te ne la corte del cielo,

e 'l mio parlar tanto ben ti promette? ".

Even as the flowerets, by nocturnal chill,

Bowed down and closed, when the sun whitens them,

Uplift themselves all open on their stems;

Quali fioretti dal notturno gelo

chinati e chiusi, poi che 'l sol li 'mbianca

si drizzan tutti aperti in loro stelo,

Such I became with my exhausted strength,

And such good courage to my heart there coursed,

That I began, like an intrepid person:

tal mi fec'io di mia virtude stanca,

e tanto buono ardire al cor mi corse,

ch'i' cominciai come persona franca:

"O she compassionate, who succoured me,

And courteous thou, who hast obeyed so soon

The words of truth which she addressed to thee!

"Oh pietosa colei che mi soccorse!

e te cortese ch'ubidisti tosto

a le vere parole che ti porse!

Thou hast my heart so with desire disposed

To the adventure, with these words of thine,

That to my first intent I have returned.

Tu m'hai con disiderio il cor disposto

si` al venir con le parole tue,

ch'i' son tornato nel primo proposto.

Now go, for one sole will is in us both,

Thou Leader, and thou Lord, and Master thou. "

Thus said I to him; and when he had moved,

Or va, ch'un sol volere e` d'ambedue:

tu duca, tu segnore, e tu maestro".

Cosi` li dissi; e poi che mosso fue,

I entered on the deep and savage way.

intrai per lo cammino alto e silvestro.

Inferno: Canto III

Inferno: Canto III

"Through me the way is to the city dolent;

Through me the way is to eternal dole;

Through me the way among the people lost.

Per me si va ne la citta` dolente,

per me si va ne l'etterno dolore,

per me si va tra la perduta gente.

Justice incited my sublime Creator;

Created me divine Omnipotence,

The highest Wisdom and the primal Love.

Giustizia mosse il mio alto fattore:

fecemi la divina podestate,

la somma sapienza e 'l primo amore.

Before me there were no created things,

Only eterne, and I eternal last.

All hope abandon, ye who enter in! "

Dinanzi a me non fuor cose create

se non etterne, e io etterno duro.

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate ".

These words in sombre colour I beheld

Written upon the summit of a gate;

Whence I: Their sense is, Master, hard to me!

Queste parole di colore oscuro

vid'io scritte al sommo d'una porta;

per ch'io: Maestro, il senso lor m'e` duro.

And he to me, as one experienced:

"Here all suspicion needs must be abandoned,

All cowardice must needs be here extinct.

Ed elli a me, come persona accorta:

"Qui si convien lasciare ogne sospetto;

ogne vilta` convien che qui sia morta.

We to the place have come, where I have told thee

Thou shalt behold the people dolorous

Who have foregone the good of intellect. "

Noi siam venuti al loco ov'i' t'ho detto

che tu vedrai le genti dolorose

c'hanno perduto il ben de l'intelletto".

And after he had laid his hand on mine

With joyful mien, whence I was comforted,

He led me in among the secret things.

E poi che la sua mano a la mia puose

con lieto volto, ond'io mi confortai,

mi mise dentro a le segrete cose.

There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud

Resounded through the air without a star,

Whence I, at the beginning, wept thereat.

Quivi sospiri, pianti e alti guai

risonavan per l'aere sanza stelle,

per ch'io al cominciar ne lagrimai.

Languages diverse, horrible dialects,

Accents of anger, words of agony,

And voices high and hoarse, with sound of hands,

Diverse lingue, orribili favelle,

parole di dolore, accenti d'ira,

voci alte e fioche, e suon di man con elle

Made up a tumult that goes whirling on

For ever in that air for ever black,

Even as the sand doth, when the whirlwind breathes.

facevano un tumulto, il qual s'aggira

sempre in quell'aura sanza tempo tinta,

come la rena quando turbo spira.

And I, who had my head with horror bound,

Said: "Master, what is this which now I hear?

What folk is this, which seems by pain so vanquished? "

E io ch'avea d'error la testa cinta,

dissi: "Maestro, che e` quel ch'i' odo?

e che gent'e` che par nel duol si` vinta? ".

And he to me: "This miserable mode

Maintain the melancholy souls of those

Who lived withouten infamy or praise.

Ed elli a me: "Questo misero modo

tegnon l'anime triste di coloro

che visser sanza 'nfamia e sanza lodo.

Commingled are they with that caitiff choir

Of Angels, who have not rebellious been,

Nor faithful were to God, but were for self.

Mischiate sono a quel cattivo coro

de li angeli che non furon ribelli

ne' fur fedeli a Dio, ma per se' fuoro.

The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair;

Nor them the nethermore abyss receives,

For glory none the damned would have from them. "

Caccianli i ciel per non esser men belli,

ne' lo profondo inferno li riceve,

ch'alcuna gloria i rei avrebber d'elli".

And I: "O Master, what so grievous is

To these, that maketh them lament so sore? "

He answered: "I will tell thee very briefly.

E io: "Maestro, che e` tanto greve

a lor, che lamentar li fa si` forte? ".

Rispuose: "Dicerolti molto breve.

These have no longer any hope of death;

And this blind life of theirs is so debased,

They envious are of every other fate.

Questi non hanno speranza di morte

e la lor cieca vita e` tanto bassa,

che 'nvidiosi son d'ogne altra sorte.

No fame of them the world permits to be;

Misericord and Justice both disdain them.

Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass. "

Fama di loro il mondo esser non lassa;

misericordia e giustizia li sdegna:

non ragioniam di lor, ma guarda e passa".

And I, who looked again, beheld a banner,

Which, whirling round, ran on so rapidly,

That of all pause it seemed to me indignant;

E io, che riguardai, vidi una 'nsegna

che girando correva tanto ratta,

che d'ogne posa mi parea indegna;

And after it there came so long a train

Of people, that I ne'er would have believed

That ever Death so many had undone.

e dietro le venia si` lunga tratta

di gente, ch'i' non averei creduto

che morte tanta n'avesse disfatta.

When some among them I had recognised,

I looked, and I beheld the shade of him

Who made through cowardice the great refusal.

Poscia ch'io v'ebbi alcun riconosciuto,

vidi e conobbi l'ombra di colui

che fece per viltade il gran rifiuto.

Forthwith I comprehended, and was certain,

That this the sect was of the caitiff wretches

Hateful to God and to his enemies.

Incontanente intesi e certo fui

che questa era la setta d'i cattivi,

a Dio spiacenti e a' nemici sui.

These miscreants, who never were alive,

Were naked, and were stung exceedingly

By gadflies and by hornets that were there.

Questi sciaurati, che mai non fur vivi,

erano ignudi e stimolati molto

da mosconi e da vespe ch'eran ivi.

These did their faces irrigate with blood,

Which, with their tears commingled, at their feet

By the disgusting worms was gathered up.

Elle rigavan lor di sangue il volto,

che, mischiato di lagrime, a' lor piedi

da fastidiosi vermi era ricolto.

And when to gazing farther I betook me.

People I saw on a great river's bank;

Whence said I: "Master, now vouchsafe to me,

E poi ch'a riguardar oltre mi diedi,

vidi genti a la riva d'un gran fiume;

per ch'io dissi: "Maestro, or mi concedi

That I may know who these are, and what law

Makes them appear so ready to pass over,

As I discern athwart the dusky light. "

ch'i' sappia quali sono, e qual costume

le fa di trapassar parer si` pronte,

com'io discerno per lo fioco lume".

And he to me: "These things shall all be known

To thee, as soon as we our footsteps stay

Upon the dismal shore of Acheron. "

Ed elli a me: "Le cose ti fier conte

quando noi fermerem li nostri passi

su la trista riviera d'Acheronte".

Then with mine eyes ashamed and downward cast,

Fearing my words might irksome be to him,

From speech refrained I till we reached the river.

Allor con li occhi vergognosi e bassi,

temendo no 'l mio dir li fosse grave,

infino al fiume del parlar mi trassi.

And lo! towards us coming in a boat

An old man, hoary with the hair of eld,

Crying: "Woe unto you, ye souls depraved!

Ed ecco verso noi venir per nave

un vecchio, bianco per antico pelo,

gridando: "Guai a voi, anime prave!

Hope nevermore to look upon the heavens;

I come to lead you to the other shore,

To the eternal shades in heat and frost.

Non isperate mai veder lo cielo:

i' vegno per menarvi a l'altra riva

ne le tenebre etterne, in caldo e 'n gelo.

And thou, that yonder standest, living soul,

Withdraw thee from these people, who are dead! "

But when he saw that I did not withdraw,

E tu che se' costi`, anima viva,

partiti da cotesti che son morti".

Ma poi che vide ch'io non mi partiva,

He said: "By other ways, by other ports

Thou to the shore shalt come, not here, for passage;

A lighter vessel needs must carry thee. "

disse: "Per altra via, per altri porti

verrai a piaggia, non qui, per passare:

piu` lieve legno convien che ti porti".

And unto him the Guide: "Vex thee not, Charon;

It is so willed there where is power to do

That which is willed; and farther question not. "

E 'l duca lui: "Caron, non ti crucciare:

vuolsi cosi` cola` dove si puote

cio` che si vuole, e piu` non dimandare".

Thereat were quieted the fleecy cheeks

Of him the ferryman of the livid fen,

Who round about his eyes had wheels of flame.

Quinci fuor quete le lanose gote

al nocchier de la livida palude,

che 'ntorno a li occhi avea di fiamme rote.

But all those souls who weary were and naked

Their colour changed and gnashed their teeth together,

As soon as they had heard those cruel words.

Ma quell'anime, ch'eran lasse e nude,

cangiar colore e dibattero i denti,

ratto che 'nteser le parole crude.

God they blasphemed and their progenitors,

The human race, the place, the time, the seed

Of their engendering and of their birth!

Bestemmiavano Dio e lor parenti,

l'umana spezie e 'l loco e 'l tempo e 'l seme

di lor semenza e di lor nascimenti.

Thereafter all together they drew back,

Bitterly weeping, to the accursed shore,

Which waiteth every man who fears not God.

Poi si ritrasser tutte quante insieme,

forte piangendo, a la riva malvagia

ch'attende ciascun uom che Dio non teme.

Charon the demon, with the eyes of glede,

Beckoning to them, collects them all together,

Beats with his oar whoever lags behind.

Caron dimonio, con occhi di bragia,

loro accennando, tutte le raccoglie;

batte col remo qualunque s'adagia.

As in the autumn-time the leaves fall off,

First one and then another, till the branch

Unto the earth surrenders all its spoils;

Come d'autunno si levan le foglie

l'una appresso de l'altra, fin che 'l ramo

vede a la terra tutte le sue spoglie,

In similar wise the evil seed of Adam

Throw themselves from that margin one by one,

At signals, as a bird unto its lure.

similemente il mal seme d'Adamo

gittansi di quel lito ad una ad una,

per cenni come augel per suo richiamo.

So they depart across the dusky wave,

And ere upon the other side they land,

Again on this side a new troop assembles.

Cosi` sen vanno su per l'onda bruna,

e avanti che sien di la` discese,

anche di qua nuova schiera s'auna.

My son, the courteous Master said to me,

"All those who perish in the wrath of God

Here meet together out of every land;

Figliuol mio, disse 'l maestro cortese,

"quelli che muoion ne l'ira di Dio

tutti convegnon qui d'ogne paese:

And ready are they to pass o'er the river,

Because celestial Justice spurs them on,

So that their fear is turned into desire.

e pronti sono a trapassar lo rio,

che' la divina giustizia li sprona,

si` che la tema si volve in disio.

This way there never passes a good soul;

And hence if Charon doth complain of thee,

Well mayst thou know now what his speech imports. "

Quinci non passa mai anima buona;

e pero`, se Caron di te si lagna,

ben puoi sapere omai che 'l suo dir suona".

This being finished, all the dusk champaign

Trembled so violently, that of that terror

The recollection bathes me still with sweat.

Finito questo, la buia campagna

tremo` si` forte, che de lo spavento

la mente di sudore ancor mi bagna.

The land of tears gave forth a blast of wind,

And fulminated a vermilion light,

Which overmastered in me every sense,

La terra lagrimosa diede vento,

che baleno` una luce vermiglia

la qual mi vinse ciascun sentimento;

And as a man whom sleep hath seized I fell.

e caddi come l'uom cui sonno piglia.

Inferno: Canto IV

Inferno: Canto IV

Broke the deep lethargy within my head

A heavy thunder, so that I upstarted,

Like to a person who by force is wakened;

Ruppemi l'alto sonno ne la testa

un greve truono, si` ch'io mi riscossi

come persona ch'e` per forza desta;

And round about I moved my rested eyes,

Uprisen erect, and steadfastly I gazed,

To recognise the place wherein I was.

e l'occhio riposato intorno mossi,

dritto levato, e fiso riguardai

per conoscer lo loco dov'io fossi.

True is it, that upon the verge I found me

Of the abysmal valley dolorous,

That gathers thunder of infinite ululations.

Vero e` che 'n su la proda mi trovai

de la valle d'abisso dolorosa

che 'ntrono accoglie d'infiniti guai.

Obscure, profound it was, and nebulous,

So that by fixing on its depths my sight

Nothing whatever I discerned therein.

Oscura e profonda era e nebulosa

tanto che, per ficcar lo viso a fondo,

io non vi discernea alcuna cosa.

Let us descend now into the blind world,

Began the Poet, pallid utterly;

I will be first, and thou shalt second be.

Or discendiam qua giu` nel cieco mondo,

comincio` il poeta tutto smorto.

Io saro` primo, e tu sarai secondo.

And I, who of his colour was aware,

Said: "How shall I come, if thou art afraid,

Who'rt wont to be a comfort to my fears? "

E io, che del color mi fui accorto,

dissi: "Come verro`, se tu paventi

che suoli al mio dubbiare esser conforto? ".

And he to me: "The anguish of the people

Who are below here in my face depicts

That pity which for terror thou hast taken.

Ed elli a me: "L'angoscia de le genti

che son qua giu`, nel viso mi dipigne

quella pieta` che tu per tema senti.

Let us go on, for the long way impels us. "

Thus he went in, and thus he made me enter

The foremost circle that surrounds the abyss.

Andiam, che' la via lunga ne sospigne".

Cosi` si mise e cosi` mi fe' intrare

nel primo cerchio che l'abisso cigne.

There, as it seemed to me from listening,

Were lamentations none, but only sighs,

That tremble made the everlasting air.

Quivi, secondo che per ascoltare,

non avea pianto mai che di sospiri,

che l'aura etterna facevan tremare;

And this arose from sorrow without torment,

Which the crowds had, that many were and great,

Of infants and of women and of men.

cio` avvenia di duol sanza martiri

ch'avean le turbe, ch'eran molte e grandi,

d'infanti e di femmine e di viri.

To me the Master good: "Thou dost not ask

What spirits these, which thou beholdest, are?

Now will I have thee know, ere thou go farther,

Lo buon maestro a me: "Tu non dimandi

che spiriti son questi che tu vedi?

Or vo' che sappi, innanzi che piu` andi,

That they sinned not; and if they merit had,

'Tis not enough, because they had not baptism

Which is the portal of the Faith thou holdest;

ch'ei non peccaro; e s'elli hanno mercedi,

non basta, perche' non ebber battesmo,

ch'e` porta de la fede che tu credi;

And if they were before Christianity,

In the right manner they adored not God;

And among such as these am I myself.

e s'e' furon dinanzi al cristianesmo,

non adorar debitamente a Dio:

e di questi cotai son io medesmo.

For such defects, and not for other guilt,

Lost are we and are only so far punished,

That without hope we live on in desire. "

Per tai difetti, non per altro rio,

semo perduti, e sol di tanto offesi,

che sanza speme vivemo in disio".

Great grief seized on my heart when this I heard,

Because some people of much worthiness

I knew, who in that Limbo were suspended.

Gran duol mi prese al cor quando lo 'ntesi,

pero` che gente di molto valore

conobbi che 'n quel limbo eran sospesi.

Tell me, my Master, tell me, thou my Lord,

Began I, with desire of being certain

Of that Faith which o'ercometh every error,

Dimmi, maestro mio, dimmi, segnore,

comincia' io per voler esser certo

di quella fede che vince ogne errore:

"Came any one by his own merit hence,

Or by another's, who was blessed thereafter? "

And he, who understood my covert speech,

"uscicci mai alcuno, o per suo merto

o per altrui, che poi fosse beato? ".

E quei che 'ntese il mio parlar coverto,

Replied: "I was a novice in this state,

When I saw hither come a Mighty One,

With sign of victory incoronate.

rispuose: "Io era nuovo in questo stato,

quando ci vidi venire un possente,

con segno di vittoria coronato.

Hence he drew forth the shade of the First Parent,

And that of his son Abel, and of Noah,

Of Moses the lawgiver, and the obedient

Trasseci l'ombra del primo parente,

d'Abel suo figlio e quella di Noe`,

di Moise` legista e ubidente;

Abraham, patriarch, and David, king,

Israel with his father and his children,

And Rachel, for whose sake he did so much,

Abraam patriarca e David re,

Israel con lo padre e co' suoi nati

e con Rachele, per cui tanto fe';

And others many, and he made them blessed;

And thou must know, that earlier than these

Never were any human spirits saved. "

e altri molti, e feceli beati.

E vo' che sappi che, dinanzi ad essi,

spiriti umani non eran salvati".

We ceased not to advance because he spake,

But still were passing onward through the forest,

The forest, say I, of thick-crowded ghosts.

Non lasciavam l'andar perch'ei dicessi,

ma passavam la selva tuttavia,

la selva, dico, di spiriti spessi.

Not very far as yet our way had gone

This side the summit, when I saw a fire

That overcame a hemisphere of darkness.

Non era lunga ancor la nostra via

di qua dal sonno, quand'io vidi un foco

ch'emisperio di tenebre vincia.

We were a little distant from it still,

But not so far that I in part discerned not

That honourable people held that place.

Di lungi n'eravamo ancora un poco,

ma non si` ch'io non discernessi in parte

ch'orrevol gente possedea quel loco.

"O thou who honourest every art and science,

Who may these be, which such great honour have,

That from the fashion of the rest it parts them? "

"O tu ch'onori scienzia e arte,

questi chi son c'hanno cotanta onranza,

che dal modo de li altri li diparte? ".

And he to me: "The honourable name,

That sounds of them above there in thy life,

Wins grace in Heaven, that so advances them. "

E quelli a me: "L'onrata nominanza

che di lor suona su` ne la tua vita,

grazia acquista in ciel che si` li avanza".

In the mean time a voice was heard by me:

"All honour be to the pre-eminent Poet;

His shade returns again, that was departed. "

Intanto voce fu per me udita:

"Onorate l'altissimo poeta:

l'ombra sua torna, ch'era dipartita".

After the voice had ceased and quiet was,

Four mighty shades I saw approaching us;

Semblance had they nor sorrowful nor glad.

Poi che la voce fu restata e queta,

vidi quattro grand'ombre a noi venire:

sembianz'avevan ne' trista ne' lieta.

To say to me began my gracious Master:

"Him with that falchion in his hand behold,

Who comes before the three, even as their lord.

Lo buon maestro comincio` a dire:

"Mira colui con quella spada in mano,

che vien dinanzi ai tre si` come sire:

That one is Homer, Poet sovereign;

He who comes next is Horace, the satirist;

The third is Ovid, and the last is Lucan.

quelli e` Omero poeta sovrano;

l'altro e` Orazio satiro che vene;

Ovidio e` 'l terzo, e l'ultimo Lucano.

Because to each of these with me applies

The name that solitary voice proclaimed,

They do me honour, and in that do well. "

Pero` che ciascun meco si convene

nel nome che sono` la voce sola,

fannomi onore, e di cio` fanno bene".

Thus I beheld assemble the fair school

Of that lord of the song pre-eminent,

Who o'er the others like an eagle soars.

Cosi` vid'i' adunar la bella scola

di quel segnor de l'altissimo canto

che sovra li altri com'aquila vola.

When they together had discoursed somewhat,

They turned to me with signs of salutation,

And on beholding this, my Master smiled;

Da ch'ebber ragionato insieme alquanto,

volsersi a me con salutevol cenno,

e 'l mio maestro sorrise di tanto;

And more of honour still, much more, they did me,

In that they made me one of their own band;

So that the sixth was I, 'mid so much wit.

e piu` d'onore ancora assai mi fenno,

ch'e' si` mi fecer de la loro schiera,

si` ch'io fui sesto tra cotanto senno.

Thus we went on as far as to the light,

Things saying 'tis becoming to keep silent,

As was the saying of them where I was.

Cosi` andammo infino a la lumera,

parlando cose che 'l tacere e` bello,

si` com'era 'l parlar cola` dov'era.

We came unto a noble castle's foot,

Seven times encompassed with lofty walls,

Defended round by a fair rivulet;

Venimmo al pie` d'un nobile castello,

sette volte cerchiato d'alte mura,

difeso intorno d'un bel fiumicello.

This we passed over even as firm ground;

Through portals seven I entered with these Sages;

We came into a meadow of fresh verdure.

Questo passammo come terra dura;

per sette porte intrai con questi savi:

giugnemmo in prato di fresca verdura.

People were there with solemn eyes and slow,

Of great authority in their countenance;

They spake but seldom, and with gentle voices.

Genti v'eran con occhi tardi e gravi,

di grande autorita` ne' lor sembianti:

parlavan rado, con voci soavi.

Thus we withdrew ourselves upon one side

Into an opening luminous and lofty,

So that they all of them were visible.

Traemmoci cosi` da l'un de' canti,

in loco aperto, luminoso e alto,

si` che veder si potien tutti quanti.

There opposite, upon the green enamel,

Were pointed out to me the mighty spirits,

Whom to have seen I feel myself exalted.

Cola` diritto, sovra 'l verde smalto,

mi fuor mostrati li spiriti magni,

che del vedere in me stesso m'essalto.

I saw Electra with companions many,

'Mongst whom I knew both Hector and Aeneas,

Caesar in armour with gerfalcon eyes;

I' vidi Eletra con molti compagni,

tra ' quai conobbi Ettor ed Enea,

Cesare armato con li occhi grifagni.

I saw Camilla and Penthesilea

On the other side, and saw the King Latinus,

Who with Lavinia his daughter sat;

Vidi Cammilla e la Pantasilea;

da l'altra parte, vidi 'l re Latino

che con Lavina sua figlia sedea.

I saw that Brutus who drove Tarquin forth,

Lucretia, Julia, Marcia, and Cornelia,

And saw alone, apart, the Saladin.

Vidi quel Bruto che caccio` Tarquino,

Lucrezia, Iulia, Marzia e Corniglia;

e solo, in parte, vidi 'l Saladino.

When I had lifted up my brows a little,

The Master I beheld of those who know,

Sit with his philosophic family.

Poi ch'innalzai un poco piu` le ciglia,

vidi 'l maestro di color che sanno

seder tra filosofica famiglia.

All gaze upon him, and all do him honour.

There I beheld both Socrates and Plato,

Who nearer him before the others stand;

Tutti lo miran, tutti onor li fanno:

quivi vid'io Socrate e Platone,

che 'nnanzi a li altri piu` presso li stanno;

Democritus, who puts the world on chance,

Diogenes, Anaxagoras, and Thales,

Zeno, Empedocles, and Heraclitus;

Democrito, che 'l mondo a caso pone,

Diogenes, Anassagora e Tale,

Empedocles, Eraclito e Zenone;

Of qualities I saw the good collector,

Hight Dioscorides; and Orpheus saw I,

Tully and Livy, and moral Seneca,

e vidi il buono accoglitor del quale,

Diascoride dico; e vidi Orfeo,

Tulio e Lino e Seneca morale;

Euclid, geometrician, and Ptolemy,

Galen, Hippocrates, and Avicenna,

Averroes, who the great Comment made.

Euclide geometra e Tolomeo,

Ipocrate, Avicenna e Galieno,

Averois, che 'l gran comento feo.

I cannot all of them pourtray in full,

Because so drives me onward the long theme,

That many times the word comes short of fact.

Io non posso ritrar di tutti a pieno,

pero` che si` mi caccia il lungo tema,

che molte volte al fatto il dir vien meno.

The sixfold company in two divides;

Another way my sapient Guide conducts me

Forth from the quiet to the air that trembles;

La sesta compagnia in due si scema:

per altra via mi mena il savio duca,

fuor de la queta, ne l'aura che trema.

And to a place I come where nothing shines.

E vegno in parte ove non e` che luca.

Inferno: Canto V

Inferno: Canto V

Thus I descended out of the first circle

Down to the second, that less space begirds,

And so much greater dole, that goads to wailing.

Cosi` discesi del cerchio primaio

giu` nel secondo, che men loco cinghia,

e tanto piu` dolor, che punge a guaio.

There standeth Minos horribly, and snarls;

Examines the transgressions at the entrance;

Judges, and sends according as he girds him.

Stavvi Minos orribilmente, e ringhia:

essamina le colpe ne l'intrata;

giudica e manda secondo ch'avvinghia.

I say, that when the spirit evil-born

Cometh before him, wholly it confesses;

And this discriminator of transgressions

Dico che quando l'anima mal nata

li vien dinanzi, tutta si confessa;

e quel conoscitor de le peccata

Seeth what place in Hell is meet for it;

Girds himself with his tail as many times

As grades he wishes it should be thrust down.

vede qual loco d'inferno e` da essa;

cignesi con la coda tante volte

quantunque gradi vuol che giu` sia messa.

Always before him many of them stand;

They go by turns each one unto the judgment;

They speak, and hear, and then are downward hurled.

Sempre dinanzi a lui ne stanno molte;

vanno a vicenda ciascuna al giudizio;

dicono e odono, e poi son giu` volte.

"O thou, that to this dolorous hostelry

Comest, " said Minos to me, when he saw me,

Leaving the practice of so great an office,

O tu che vieni al doloroso ospizio,

disse Minos a me quando mi vide,

lasciando l'atto di cotanto offizio,

"Look how thou enterest, and in whom thou trustest;

Let not the portal's amplitude deceive thee. "

And unto him my Guide: "Why criest thou too?

"guarda com'entri e di cui tu ti fide;

non t'inganni l'ampiezza de l'intrare! ".

E 'l duca mio a lui: "Perche' pur gride?

Do not impede his journey fate-ordained;

It is so willed there where is power to do

That which is willed; and ask no further question. "

Non impedir lo suo fatale andare:

vuolsi cosi` cola` dove si puote

cio` che si vuole, e piu` non dimandare".

And now begin the dolesome notes to grow

Audible unto me; now am I come

There where much lamentation strikes upon me.

Or incomincian le dolenti note

a farmisi sentire; or son venuto

la` dove molto pianto mi percuote.

I came into a place mute of all light,

Which bellows as the sea does in a tempest,

If by opposing winds 't is combated.

Io venni in loco d'ogne luce muto,

che mugghia come fa mar per tempesta,

se da contrari venti e` combattuto.

The infernal hurricane that never rests

Hurtles the spirits onward in its rapine;

Whirling them round, and smiting, it molests them.

La bufera infernal, che mai non resta,

mena li spirti con la sua rapina;

voltando e percotendo li molesta.

When they arrive before the precipice,

There are the shrieks, the plaints, and the laments,

There they blaspheme the puissance divine.

Quando giungon davanti a la ruina,

quivi le strida, il compianto, il lamento;

bestemmian quivi la virtu` divina.

I understood that unto such a torment

The carnal malefactors were condemned,

Who reason subjugate to appetite.

Intesi ch'a cosi` fatto tormento

enno dannati i peccator carnali,

che la ragion sommettono al talento.

And as the wings of starlings bear them on

In the cold season in large band and full,

So doth that blast the spirits maledict;

E come li stornei ne portan l'ali

nel freddo tempo, a schiera larga e piena,

cosi` quel fiato li spiriti mali

It hither, thither, downward, upward, drives them;

No hope doth comfort them for evermore,

Not of repose, but even of lesser pain.

di qua, di la`, di giu`, di su` li mena;

nulla speranza li conforta mai,

non che di posa, ma di minor pena.

And as the cranes go chanting forth their lays,

Making in air a long line of themselves,

So saw I coming, uttering lamentations,

E come i gru van cantando lor lai,

faccendo in aere di se' lunga riga,

cosi` vid'io venir, traendo guai,

Shadows borne onward by the aforesaid stress.

Whereupon said I: "Master, who are those

People, whom the black air so castigates? "

ombre portate da la detta briga;

per ch'i' dissi: "Maestro, chi son quelle

genti che l'aura nera si` gastiga? ".

"The first of those, of whom intelligence

Thou fain wouldst have, " then said he unto me,

"The empress was of many languages.

"La prima di color di cui novelle

tu vuo' saper", mi disse quelli allotta,

"fu imperadrice di molte favelle.

To sensual vices she was so abandoned,

That lustful she made licit in her law,

To remove the blame to which she had been led.

A vizio di lussuria fu si` rotta,

che libito fe' licito in sua legge,

per torre il biasmo in che era condotta.

She is Semiramis, of whom we read

That she succeeded Ninus, and was his spouse;

She held the land which now the Sultan rules.

Ell'e` Semiramis, di cui si legge

che succedette a Nino e fu sua sposa:

tenne la terra che 'l Soldan corregge.

The next is she who killed herself for love,

And broke faith with the ashes of Sichaeus;

Then Cleopatra the voluptuous. "

L'altra e` colei che s'ancise amorosa,

e ruppe fede al cener di Sicheo;

poi e` Cleopatras lussuriosa.

Helen I saw, for whom so many ruthless

Seasons revolved; and saw the great Achilles,

Who at the last hour combated with Love.

Elena vedi, per cui tanto reo

tempo si volse, e vedi 'l grande Achille,

che con amore al fine combatteo.

Paris I saw, Tristan; and more than a thousand

Shades did he name and point out with his finger,

Whom Love had separated from our life.

Vedi Paris, Tristano"; e piu` di mille

ombre mostrommi e nominommi a dito,

ch'amor di nostra vita dipartille.

After that I had listened to my Teacher,

Naming the dames of eld and cavaliers,

Pity prevailed, and I was nigh bewildered.

Poscia ch'io ebbi il mio dottore udito

nomar le donne antiche e ' cavalieri,

pieta` mi giunse, e fui quasi smarrito.

And I began: "O Poet, willingly

Speak would I to those two, who go together,

And seem upon the wind to be so light. "

I' cominciai: "Poeta, volontieri

parlerei a quei due che 'nsieme vanno,

e paion si` al vento esser leggeri".

And, he to me: "Thou'lt mark, when they shall be

Nearer to us; and then do thou implore them

By love which leadeth them, and they will come. "

Ed elli a me: "Vedrai quando saranno

piu` presso a noi; e tu allor li priega

per quello amor che i mena, ed ei verranno".

Soon as the wind in our direction sways them,

My voice uplift I: "O ye weary souls!

Come speak to us, if no one interdicts it. "

Si` tosto come il vento a noi li piega,

mossi la voce: "O anime affannate,

venite a noi parlar, s'altri nol niega! ".

As turtle-doves, called onward by desire,

With open and steady wings to the sweet nest

Fly through the air by their volition borne,

Quali colombe dal disio chiamate

con l'ali alzate e ferme al dolce nido

vegnon per l'aere dal voler portate;

So came they from the band where Dido is,

Approaching us athwart the air malign,

So strong was the affectionate appeal.

cotali uscir de la schiera ov'e` Dido,

a noi venendo per l'aere maligno,

si` forte fu l'affettuoso grido.

"O living creature gracious and benignant,

Who visiting goest through the purple air

Us, who have stained the world incarnadine,

"O animal grazioso e benigno

che visitando vai per l'aere perso

noi che tignemmo il mondo di sanguigno,

If were the King of the Universe our friend,

We would pray unto him to give thee peace,

Since thou hast pity on our woe perverse.

se fosse amico il re de l'universo,

noi pregheremmo lui de la tua pace,

poi c'hai pieta` del nostro mal perverso.

Of what it pleases thee to hear and speak,

That will we hear, and we will speak to you,

While silent is the wind, as it is now.

Di quel che udire e che parlar vi piace,

noi udiremo e parleremo a voi,

mentre che 'l vento, come fa, ci tace.

Sitteth the city, wherein I was born,

Upon the sea-shore where the Po descends

To rest in peace with all his retinue.

Siede la terra dove nata fui

su la marina dove 'l Po discende

per aver pace co' seguaci sui.

Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize,

Seized this man for the person beautiful

That was ta'en from me, and still the mode offends me.

Amor, ch'al cor gentil ratto s'apprende

prese costui de la bella persona

che mi fu tolta; e 'l modo ancor m'offende.

Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving,

Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly,

That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me;

Amor, ch'a nullo amato amar perdona,

mi prese del costui piacer si` forte,

che, come vedi, ancor non m'abbandona.

Love has conducted us unto one death;

Caina waiteth him who quenched our life! "

These words were borne along from them to us.

Amor condusse noi ad una morte:

Caina attende chi a vita ci spense".

Queste parole da lor ci fuor porte.

As soon as I had heard those souls tormented,

I bowed my face, and so long held it down

Until the Poet said to me: What thinkest?

Quand'io intesi quell'anime offense,

china' il viso e tanto il tenni basso,

fin che 'l poeta mi disse: Che pense? .

When I made answer, I began: "Alas!

How many pleasant thoughts, how much desire,

Conducted these unto the dolorous pass! "

Quando rispuosi, cominciai: "Oh lasso,

quanti dolci pensier, quanto disio

meno` costoro al doloroso passo! ".

Then unto them I turned me, and I spake,

And I began: "Thine agonies, Francesca,

Sad and compassionate to weeping make me.

Poi mi rivolsi a loro e parla' io,

e cominciai: "Francesca, i tuoi martiri

a lagrimar mi fanno tristo e pio.

But tell me, at the time of those sweet sighs,

By what and in what manner Love conceded,

That you should know your dubious desires? "

Ma dimmi: al tempo d'i dolci sospiri,

a che e come concedette Amore

che conosceste i dubbiosi disiri?