La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto I The song of the Dark Forest Time: Friday, March 24, 1301 (Thursday, April 7, 1300): night, Saturday, March 25, 1301 (Friday, April 8, 1300): sunrise Place: The dark forest and slope at the hill of grace People: Dante, the three beasts (Leopard, Lion, Wolf), Virgilio © 2021 Dr. M. Junker: Fonetics, metrics, accents colored, protected by Namirial SpA © 1994 Le Lettere: Critical Edition of the Divine Comedy (by Giorgio Petrocchi) English Translation by Charles Eliot Norton: 1901/1952 (Encyclopædia Britannica)
1 Nel m o del cammin di n stra vita 2 6 8 mi ritrovai per una s lva oscura, 4 8 3 ché la diritta via ra marrita. 4 6 7 Ahi quanto a dir qual ra è c a dura 1 2 4 6 8 sta s lva selvaggia e aspra e f rte 1 3 6 8 6 che nel pensi r rin va la pa ura! 4 6 Tant’ è amara che p co è più m rte; 1/2 4 7 9 ma per trattar del b n ch’i’ vi trovai, 4 6 9 dirò de l’altre c e ch’i’ v’h sc rte. 2 4 6 Io non s! b"n ridir c#m’ i’ v’intrai, 3/4 6 8 tant’ $ra pi%n di s&nno'a qu(l punto 1/2 4 6 12 che la verace via)abbandonai. 4 6 Ma p*i ch’i’ fui+al piè d’un c,lle giunto, 2 4 6 8 là d-ve terminava qu.lla valle 1 2 6 8 15 che m’av/a di pa0ura1il c2r compunto, 3 6 8 guardai3in alto4e vidi le sue spalle 2 4 6 vestite già de’ raggi del pian5ta 2 4 6 18 che m6na dritto7altrui per 8gne calle. (2) 4 6 8 All9r fu la pa:ura;un p<co qu=ta, 2 6 8 che nel lago del c>r m’?ra durata 3 6 7 21 la n@tte ch’i’ passai con tanta piAta. 2 6 8 E cBme quCi che con lDnaEaffannata, 2 4 7 uscito fuFr del pGlagoHa la riva, 2.4 6 24 si vIlgeJa l’acqua perigliKLaMe guata, 2 4 8 coNì l’animo mio, ch’ancOr fuggiva, 2 3 6 8 si vPlseQa rRtroSa rimirar lo passo 2 4 8 27 che non lasciò già mai persTna viva. 4 6 8
2 Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself in a dark wood, 3 where the right way was lost. Ah! how hard a thing it is to tell what this wild and rough and difficult wood was, 6 which in thought renews my fear! So bitter is it that death is little more. But in order to treat of the good that I found in it, 9 I will tell of the other things that I saw there. I cannot well report how I entered it, so full was I of slumber at that moment 12 when I abandoned the true way. But after I had reached the foot of a hill, where that valley ended 15 which had pierced my heart with fear, I looked upward, and saw its shoulders clothed already with the rays of the planet 18 which leads man aright along every path. Then was the fear a little quieted which had lasted in the lake of my heart 21 through the night that I had passed so piteously. And even as one who with spent breath, issued forth from the sea upon the shore, 24 turns to the perilous water and gazes, so did my mind, which still was flying, turn back to look again upon the pass 27 which never left person alive.
3 PUi ch’èi poVatoWun pXcoYil cZrpo lasso, 1 2 4 6 8 ripr[\i via per la piaggia di]^rta, 2 4 7 30 sì che ’l piè f_rmo s`mpreabra ’l più basso. 1 3 4 6 (7) Ed ccco, quadieal cominciar de l’frta, 2 4 8 una lgnza leggihraie prjsta mklto, 3 6 8 33 che di pll macolatomnra covorta; 3 6 7 e non mi si partia dinanzipal vqlto, 2 6 (8) anzi ’mpediva tantoril mio cammino, 1 4 6 36 ch’i’ fui per ritornar più vslte vòlto. 2 6 8 Ttmp’ ura dal principio del mattino, 2 6 e ’l svl montava ’n sù con quwlle stxlle 2 4 6 8 39 ch’yran con lui quando l’amzr divino 1 4 5 8 m{sse di prima qu|lle c}~e blle; 1 4 6 8 sì ch’a bne sperar m’ra cagine (1) 3 6 7 42 di qulla fira a la gatta plle 2 4 8 l’ra del tmpoe la dlce stagine; 1 4 7 ma non sì che paura non mi dsse 3 6 45 la vista che m’apparve d’un lene. 2 6 Qusti para che cntra me venisse 1 4 6 8 con la test’ altae con rabbia fame, 4 8 48 sì che para che l’ere ne tremsse. (1) 4 6 Ed una lupa, che di tutte brame 4 8 sembiava carca ne la sua magrzza, 2 4 8 51 e mlte gnti fé già viver grame, 2 4 7 8 qusta mi prse tanto di grav zza 1 4 6 con la pa¡ura ch’uscia di sua vista, 4 7 54 ch’io perd¢i la speranza de l’alt£zza. 3 6
4 After I had rested a little my weary body, I again took my way along the desert slope, 30 so that the firm foot was always the lower. And lo! almost at the beginning of the steep a she-leopard, light and very nimble, 33 which was covered with a spotted coat. And she did not withdraw from before my face, nay, hindered so my road 36 that I often turned to go back. The time was the beginning of the morning, and the Sun was mounting up with those stars 39 that were with him when the Love Divine first set in motion those beautiful things; so that were occasion to me of good hope 42 concerning that wild beast with the dappled skin the hour of the time and the sweet season; but not so that did not give me fear 45 the sight which appeared to me of a lion. He appeared to be coming against me, with his head high and with ravening hunger, 48 so that it appeared that the air was affrighted at him; and a she-wolf, which with all cravings seemed laden in her leanness, 51 and ere now had made many folk to live forlorn,— she brought on me so much heaviness, with the fear that came from sight of her, 54 that I lost hope of the height.
5 E qual è qu¤i che volonti¥ri¦acquista, 2 4 8 e giugne ’l t§mpo che p¨rder lo face, 2 4 7 57 che ’n tutti su©i pensiªr piange«e s’attrista; 2 4 6 7 tal mi f¬ce la b stia sanza pace, 1 3 6 8 che, ven®ndomi ’nc¯ntro,°a p±co²a p³co (1) 3 6 8 60 mi ripign´va là dµve ’l s¶l tace. 4 6 9 M·ntre ch’i’ rovinava¸in basso l¹co, 1 6 8 dinanziºa li»¼cchi mi si fu½off¾rto 2 4 8 63 chi per lungo sil¿nzio parea fiÀco. 3 6 9 Quando vidi costui nel gran diÁÂrto, 1 3 6 8 «M r re di me», gridaiÃa lui, 3 6 8 66 «qual che tu sÄi,Åod ÆmbraÇod Èmo cÉrto!». 1 4 6 8 RispuÊËemi: «Non Ìmo,ÍÎmo già fui, 2 6 7 e li parÏnti miÐi furon lombardi, 4 6 7 69 mantoÑani per patrïaÒambedui. 3 6 Nacqui s b I l ,ÓancÔr che fÕsse tardi, 1 4 6 (8) e vissiÖa R×ma sØtto ’l buÙnoÚAugusto 2 4 6 8 72 nel tÛmpo de li dèi falsiÜe bugiardi. 2 6 7 PoÝÞta fui,ße cantai di quel giusto 2 4 7 figliuàl d’Anchiáe che vânne di Trãäia, 2 4 7 75 påi che ’l supærboçIlïón fu combusto. 1 4 7 Ma tu perché ritèrniéa tanta nêëia? 2 4 6 8 perché non saliìil dilettíîo mïnte 2 4 8 78 ch’è principioðe cagiñn di tutta gòóia?». 3 6 8 «ôr sõ’ tu quöl Virgilio÷e quølla fùnte 1 3 6 8 che spandi di parlar sì largo fiume?», 2 6 8 81 rispuúû’ io lui con vergognüýa frþnte. 2 4 8
6 And such as is he who gains willingly, and the time arrives which makes him lose, 57 so that in all his thoughts he laments and is sad, such did the beast without peace make me, which, coming on against me, little by little, 60 was pushing me back, thither where the Sun is silent. While I was falling back to the low place, one presented himself before my eyes 63 who appeared faint-voiced through long silence. When I saw him in the great desert, “Have pity on me!” I cried to him, 66 “whatso thou be, whether shade or real man.” He answered me: “Not man; man once I was, and my parents were Lombards, 69 and both Mantuans by country. I was born sub Julio, though late, and I lived at Rome under the good Augustus, 72 at the time of the false and lying gods. I was a poet, and sang of that just son of Anchises who came from Troy, 75 after proud Ilion had been burned. But thou, why dost thou return to such great annoy? Why dost thou not ascend the delectable mountain 78 which is the source and cause of all joy?” “Art thou then that Virgil and that fount which pours forth so broad a stream of speech?” 81 replied I with bashful front to him:
7 « de li altri po ti on re e lume, 1 3 6 8 vagliami ’l lungo studio e ’l grande am re 1 4 6 8 84 che m’ha fatto cercar lo tuo volume. 3 6 8 Tu s ’ lo mio ma stro e ’l mio aut re, 1 6 tu s ’ s lo colui da cu’ io t lsi 1 3 6 8 87 lo b llo stilo che m’ha fatto on re. 2 4 8 V di la b stia per cu’ io mi v lsi; 1 4 7 a iutami da l i, fam o saggio, 2 6 8 90 ch’ lla mi fa tremar le v!ne"e#i p$lsi». 1 6 8 «A te convi%n ten&re'altro vïaggio», 2 4 6 7 rispu()e, p*i che lagrimar mi vide, 2 4 8 93 «se vu+’ campar d’,sto l-co selvaggio; 2 4 5 7 ché qu.sta b/stia, per la qual tu gride, (2) 4 8 non lascia0altrui passar per la sua via, 2 4 6 96 ma tanto lo ’mpedisce che l’uccide; 2 6 e1ha natura sì malvagia2e ria, 4 8 che mai non 3mpie la bram45a v6glia, 2 4 8 99 e d7po ’l pasto8ha più fame che pria. 2 4 7 M9lti s:n li;animali<a cui s’amm=glia, 1 3 6 8 e più saranno>anc?ra,@infin che ’l vAltro 2 4 6 8 102 verrà, che la farà morir con dBglia. 2 6 8 QuCsti non ciberà tDrra né pEltro, 1 6 7 ma sapïFnza,GamHreIe virtute, 4 7 105 e sua naziJn sarà tra fKltroLe fMltro. 4 6 8 Di quNllaOPmileQItalia fRa salute 2 3 6 8 per cui morì la vSrgine Cammilla, 2 4 6 108 EurTaloUe TurnoVe NiWo di ferute. 2 4 6
8 “O honor and light of the other poets! may the long study avail me and the great love, 84 which have made me search thy volume! Thou art my master and my author; thou alone art he from whom I took 87 the fair style that has done me honor. Behold the beast because of which I turned; help me against her, famous sage, 90 for she makes my veins and pulses tremble.” “It behoves thee to hold another course,” he replied, when he saw me weeping, 93 “if thou wouldst escape from this savage place; for this beast, because of which thou criest out, lets not any one pass along her way, 96 but so hinders him that she kills him; and she has a nature so malign and evil that she never sates her greedy will, 99 and after food has more hunger than before. Many are the animals with which she wives, and there shall be more yet, until the hound 102 shall come that will make her die of grief. He shall not feed on land or pelf, but wisdom and love and valor, 105 and his birthplace shall be between Feltro and Feltro. Of that low Italy shall he be the salvation, for which the virgin Camilla died, 108 and Euryalus, Turnus and Nisus of their wounds.
9 QuXsti la caccerà per Ygne villa, 1 6 8 fin che l’avrà rimZssa ne lo ’nf[rno, 1 4 6 111 là\]nde ’nvidia prima dipartilla. 1 2 4 6 ^nd’ io per lo tuo m_’ p`nsoae discbrno 2 6 7 che tu mi scgui,deeio sarò tua guida, 2 4 6 (8) 114 e trarrftti di qui per lgcohettirno; 3 6 8 jvekudirai le disperate strida, 1 4 8 vedrai lilantichi spiriti dolmnti, 2 4 6 117 ch’a la secnnda morte ciascun grida; 4 6 9 e vederai colpr che sqn contrnti 4 6 8 nel fsco, perché sptran di venire 2 5 6 120 quando che siaua le bevate gwnti. 1 4 8 A le quai pxi se tu vorrai salire, 3 4 6 8 anima fyaza ciò più di me d{gna: 1 4 6 9 123 con l|i ti lascerò nel mio partire; 2 6 ché qu}llo~imperadr che là sù rgna, 2 6 9 perch’ i’ fu’ ribellantea la sua lgge, 2 6 126 non vul che ’n sua città per me si vgna. 2 6 8 In tutte parti imprae quivi rgge; 2 4 6 8 quiviè la sua cittàe l’alto sggio: 1 6 8 129 h felice colui cu’ivielgge!». 3 6 8 Eioa lui: «Pota,io ti richggio 2 4 6 7/8 per qullo Dio che tu non conoscsti, 2 4 6 132 acciò ch’io fugga qusto malee pggio, 2 4 6 8 che tu mi mni là dv’ r dicsti, 2 4 6 8 sì ch’io vggia la p rta di san Pi¡tro 1 3 6 135 e col¢r cui tu fai cotanto m£sti». 3 6 8
10 He shall hunt her through every town till he shall have put her back again in Hell, 111 there whence envy first sent her forth. Wherefore I think and deem it for thy best that thou follow me, and I will be thy guide, 114 and will lead thee hence through the eternal place where thou shalt hear the despairing shrieks, shalt see the ancient spirits woeful 117 who each proclaim the second death. And then thou shalt see those who are contented in the fire, because they hope to come, 120 whenever it may be, to the blessed folk; to whom if thou wouldst then ascend, there shall be a soul more worthy than I for that. 123 With her I will leave thee at my departure; for that Emperor who reigns thereabove, because I was rebellious to His law, 126 wills not that through me any one should come into His city. In all parts He governs and there He reigns: there is His city and His lofty seat. 129 O happy the man whom thereto He elects!” And I to him: “Poet, I beseech thee by that God whom thou didst not know, 132 in order that I may escape this ill and worse, that thou lead me thither where thou now hast said, so that I may see the gate of St. Peter, 135 and those whom thou reportest so afflicted.”
11 All¤r si m¥sse,¦e§io li t¨nni di©tro. 2 4 6 8
12 Then he moved on, and I held behind him.
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