La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XIII The song of the forest of the suicides Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): towards dawn Place: Circle VII - Group II: violents against themselves (suicides and squanderers) People: Dante, Virgilio, Arpìe, Pier della Vigna (delle Vigne), Lano Macconi (da Siena), Iacopo da Sant’Andrea, Fiorentino suicida (who hanged himself) © 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 Non ra anc r di là N sso arrivato, 2 4 6 7 quando n i ci mett mmo per un b sco 3 6 3 che da ne n senti ro ra segnato. 4 6 7 Non fr nda v rde, ma di col r f sco; 1 2 4 9 non rami schi tti, ma nod i e ’nv lti; 1 2 4 8 6 non p mi v’ ran, ma st cchi con tòsco. 1 2 4 7 Non han sì aspri st rpi né sì f lti 2 4 6 8 qu lle fi re selvagge che ’n dio hanno (1) 3 6 9 9 tra C!cina"e Corn#to$i lu%ghi cólti. 2 6 8 Quivi le brutte&Arp'e lor nidi fanno, 1 4 6 8 che cacciar de le Str(fade)i Tro*iani 3 6 12 con tristo+annunzio di futuro danno. 2 4 8 Ali,hanno late,-e c.lli/e vi0i1umani, 1 2 4 6 8 piè con artigli,2e pennuto ’l gran v3ntre; 1 4 7 9 15 fanno lam4nti5in su li6alberi strani. 1 4 7 E ’l bu7n ma89stro «Prima che più:;ntre, 2 4 6 9 sappi che s<’ nel sec=ndo gir>ne», 1 4 7 18 mi cominciò?a dire,@«e sarai mAntre 4 6 9 che tu verrai ne l’orribil sabbiBne. (2) 4 7 Però riguarda bCn; sì vederai 2 4 6 (7) 21 cDEe che torrFen fGdeHal mio sermIne». 1 5 6 (8) Io sentJa d’Kgne parte trarre guai 1 3 4 6 8 e non vedLa persMna che ’l facNsse; 4 6 24 per ch’io tutto Omarrito m’arrestai. 2 3 6 CrPd’ ïo ch’Qi credRtte ch’io credSsse 2 4 6 8 che tante vTciUuscisser, tra quVi brWnchi, 2 4 6 27 da gXnte che per nYi si nascondZsse. 2 6
2 Nessus had not yet reached the yonder bank when we set forward through a wood 3 which was marked by no path. Not green leaves, but of a dusky color, not smooth boughs but gnarled and tangled, 6 not fruits were there, but thorns with poison. No thickets so rough or so dense have those savage wild-beasts that hold in hate 9 the tilled places between Cecina and Corneto. Here the foul Harpies make their nests, who chased the Trojans from the Strophades 12 with dismal announcement of future calamity. They have broad wings, and human necks and faces, feet with claws, and the great belly feathered. 15 They make lament on the strange trees. And the good Master began to say to me: “Before thou enterest farther, know that 18 thou art in the Second Round,” and wilt be, till thou shalt come to the horrible sand. Therefore look well around, and so shalt thou see 21 things that would take credence from my speech.” I heard wailings uttered on every side, and I saw no one who made them, 24 wherefore, all bewildered, I stopped. I believe that he believed that I believed that all these voices issued from amid those trunks 27 from people who because of us had hidden themselves.
3 Però disse ’l ma[\stro: «Se tu tr]nchi 2 3 6 (9) qualche frasch^tta d’una d’_ste piante, 1 4 6 8 30 li pensi`r c’hai si faran tutti manchi». 3 4 7 8 Allbr pcrsi la manodun pecofavante 2 3 6 8 e cglsihun ramicil dajun gran pruno; 2 6 (9) 33 e ’l trknco suo gridò: «Perché mi schiante?». 2 4 6 8 Da che fatto fu pli di sangue bruno, 3 6 8 ricominciòma dir: «Perché mi scnrpi? 4 6 8 36 non hai tu spirto di pietadeoalcuno? 2 4 8 Upmini fummo,qersr siam fatti sttrpi: 1 4 6 8 bun dovrvbb’ wsser la tua man più pia, 1 4 8 39 se state fxssimoyanime di szrpi». 2 4 7 C{me d’un stizzo v|rde ch’arso sia 1 4 6 8 da l’un d}’ capi, che da l’altro g~me 2 4 8 42 e cgola per vnto che va via, 2 6 sì de la schggia rttauscivainsi me 1 4 6 8 parlee sangue;nd’ io lasciai la cima 2 4 6 8 45 cadre,e sttti cme l’um che tme. 2 4 6 8 «S’lliavsse potuto crder prima», 1 3 6 8 rispue ’l savio mio,«anima la, 2 4 6 7 48 ciò c’ha veduto pur con la mia rima, 1 4 6 (9) non averbbein te la man dista; 4 6 8 ma la caincredibile mi f ce 3 6 51 indurlo¡ad ¢vra ch’a me st£sso p¤¥a. 2 4 8 Ma dilli chi tu f¦sti, sì che ’n v§ce 2 6 8 d’alcun’ amm¨nda tua fama rinfr©schi 2 4 7 54 nel mªndo sù, d«ve tornar li l¬ce». 2 4 5 8
4 Therefore said the Master: “If thou break off any twig from one of these plants, 30 the thoughts thou hast will all be cut short.” Then I stretched my hand a little forward and plucked a little branch from a great thornbush, 33 and its trunk cried out: “Why dost thou break me?” When it had become dark with blood it began again to cry: “Why dost thou tear me? 36 hast thou not any spirit of pity? Men we were, and now we are become stocks; truly thy hand ought to be more pitiful 39 had we been souls of serpents.” As from a green log that is burning at one of its ends, and drips from the other, 42 and hisses with the air that is escaping, so from that broken twig came out words and blood together; whereon I let the tip 45 fall, and stood like a man who is afraid. “If he had been able to believe before,” replied my Sage, “O injured soul, 48 what he has seen only in my verse, he would not have stretched out his hand on thee; but the incredible thing made me 51 prompt him to an act which weighs on me myself. But tell him who thou wast, so that, by way of some amends, he may refresh thy fame 54 in the world above, whereto it is allowed him to return.”
5 E ’l tr nco: «Sì col d®lce dir m’ad¯schi, 2 4 6 8 ch’i’ non p°sso tac±re;²e v³i non gravi 3 6 8 57 perch’ io´un pµco¶a ragionar m’inv·schi. 2 4 8 Io s¸n colui che t¹nniºambo le chiavi 2 4 6 7 del c»r di Federigo,¼e che le v½lsi, 2 6 60 serrando¾e diserrando, sì so¿avi, 2 6 8 che dal secrÀto suo quaÁiÂÃgn’ uÄm tÅlsi; 4 6 7.8.9 fÆde portaiÇal glorïÈÉoÊoffizio, 1 4 8 63 tanto ch’i’ ne perdË’ li sÌnniÍÎ ’ pÏlsi. 1 6 8 La meretrice che mai da l’ospizio 4 7 di CÐsare non tÑrse liÒÓcchi putti, 2 6 8 66 mÔrte comuneÕe de le cÖrti vizio, 1 4 8 infiammò c×ntra me liØanimi tutti; 3 4 6 7 e li ’nfiammatiÙinfiammar sìÚAugusto, 4 7 8 69 chÛ ’ liÜtiÝonÞr tornaroßin tristi lutti. 2 4 6 8 L’animo mio, per diàdegnáâo gusto, 1 4 8 credãndo col morir fuggir diädågno, 2 6 8 72 ingiusto fæce me cçntra me giusto. 2 4 6 7 9 Per le nève radéci d’êsto lëgno 3 6 8 vi giuro che già mai non ruppi fìde 2 6 8 75 al mio segnír, che fu d’onîr sì dïgno. 2 4 6 8 E se di vðiñalcun nel mòndo rióde, 4 6 8 confôrti la memõria mia, che giace 2 6 8 78 ancör del c÷lpo che ’nvidia le diøde». 2 4 7 Un pùcoúattûüe,ýe pþi «Da ch’ l si tace», 2 4 6 8 disse ’l po ta a me, «non p rder l’ ra; 1 4 6 8 81 ma parla, e chi di a lui, se più ti piace». 2 (4) 6 (8)
6 And the trunk: ‘ “Thou dost so allure me with sweet speech, that I cannot be silent, and may it not burden you, 57 that I am enticed to talk a little. I am he who held both the keys of the heart of Frederick, and who turned them, 60 locking and unlocking so softly, that from his secrets I kept almost every one. Fidelity so great I bore to the glorious office, 63 that I lost my sleep and my pulse thereby. The harlot, that never from the abode of Cæsar turned her strumpet eyes,— 66 the common death and vice of courts,— inflamed all minds against me, and they, inflamed, did so inflame Augustus 69 that my glad honors turned to dismal sorrows. My mind, through scornful disgust, thinking to escape scorn by death, 72 made me unjust toward my just self. By the strange roots of this tree I swear to you, that I never broke faith 75 to my lord who was so worthy of honor. And if one of you returns to the world, let him comfort my memory which yet lies prostrate 78 from the blow that envy gave it.” He paused a little, and then, “Since he is silent,” said the Poet to me, “lose not the hour, 81 but, if more please thee, speak and enquire of him.”
7 nd’ io a lui: «Domandal tu anc ra (2) 4 6 8 di qu l che cr di ch’a me satisfaccia; 2 4 7 84 ch’i’ non potr i, tanta pietà m’acc ra». (2) 4 5 8 Perciò ricominciò: «Se l’ m ti faccia (2) 6 8 liberam nte ciò che ’l tuo dir pri ga, 4 6 (9) 87 spirito incarcerato, anc r ti piaccia 1 6 8 di dirne c me l’anima si l ga 2 (4) 6 in qu sti n cchi; e dinne, se tu pu i, 2 4 6 90 s’alcuna mai di tai m mbra si spi ga». 2 4 (6) 7 All r soffiò!il tr"nco f#rte,$e p%i 2 4 6 8 si convertì qu&l v'nto(in cotal v)ce: 4 6 (9) 93 «Brievem*nte sarà risp+sto,a v-i. 3 6 8 Quando si parte l’anima fer.ce 1 4 6 dal c/rpo01nd’ 2lla st3ssa s’è di4v5lta, 2 (4) 6 96 Minòs la manda6a la s7ttima f8ce. 2 4 7 Cade9in la s:lva,;e non l’è parte sc<lta; 1 4 7.8 ma là d=ve fortuna la bal>stra, 2 3 6 99 quivi germ?glia c@me gran di spAlta. 1 4 8 SurgeBin vermCnaDeEin pianta silvFstra: 1 4 7 l’ArpGe, pascHndo pIi de le sue fJglie, 2 4 6 102 fanno dolKre,LeMal dolNr fenOstra. 1 4 8 CPme l’altre verrQm per nRstre spSglie, 3 6 (8) ma non però ch’alcuna sTn rivUsta, 2 4 6 105 ché non è giustoVaver ciò ch’Wm si toglie. 4 6/7.8 Qui le strascinerXmo,Ye per la mZsta 1 6 s[lva saranno\i n]stri c^rpi_app`ai, 1 4 6 8 108 ciascunobal prun de l’cmbra sua moldsta». 2 4 6 8
8 Whereon I to him: “Do thou ask him further of what thou thinkest may satisfy me, 84 for I cannot, such great pity fills my heart.” Therefore he began again: “So may this man do for thee freely that which thy speech prays for, 87 spirit incarcerate, may it please thee yet to tell us how the soul is bound within these knots, and tell us, if thou canst, 90 if from such limbs any soul is ever loosed.” Then the trunk puffed strongly, and soon the wind was changed into this voice: 93 “Briefly shall ye be answered. When the ferocious soul departs from the body wherefrom itself has torn itself, 96 Minos sends it to the seventh gulf. It falls into the wood, and no part is chosen for it, but where fortune flings it 99 there it sprouts like a grain of spelt; it rises in a sapling and to a wild plant: the Harpies, feeding then upon its leaves, 102 give pain, and to the pain a window. Like the others we shall go for our spoils, but not, however, that any one may revest himself with them, for it 105 is not just for one to have that of which he deprives himself. Hither shall we drag them, and through the melancholy wood shall our bodies be suspended, 108 each on the thorn-tree of its molested shade.”
9 Neiferavamoganchraial trjncokattlmi, (1) 4 6 8 crednndo ch’altro ne volosse dire, (2) 4 (8) 111 quando npi fummo d’un romqr sorprrsi, (1/2) 4 8 similemtnteua colui che venire 4 7 svnte ’l pwrcoxe la cacciaya la sua pzsta, 1 3 6 114 ch’{de le b|stie,}e le frasche stormire. 1 4 7 ~d cco due da la sinistra csta, 2 4 8 nudie graffiati, fuggndo sì frte, 1 4 7 9 117 che de la slva romp enogne rsta. 4 7 8 Qul dinanzi:«r accrri,accrri, mrte!». 1 3 (4) 6 8 E l’altro, cui parva tardar trppo, 2 6 (9) 120 gridava: «Lano, sì non furoaccrte 2 4 6 (8) le gambe tuea le gistre dal Tppo!». 2 4 7 E pi che frse li fallia la lna, (2) 4 (8) 123 di sée d’un cespuglio fceun grppo. 2 6 8 Di ritroa l ro¡¢ra la s£lva pi¤na 2 4 5 8 di n¥re cagne, bram¦§e¨e corr©nti 2 4 7 126 cªme v«ltri ch’uscisser di cat¬na. 3 6 In qu l che s’appiattò mi®er li d¯nti, (2) 6 7 e qu°l dilaceraro±a brano²a brano; 2 6 8 129 p³i s´n portar quµlle m¶mbra dol·nti. (1) 4 5 7 Pr¸¹emiºall»r la mia sc¼rta per mano, 1 4 7 e men½mmi¾al cespuglio che piang¿a 3 6 132 per le rotture sanguinÀntiÁin vano. 4 8 «ÂÃIÄcopo», dicÅa, «da SantoÆAndrÇa, 2 6 8 che t’è giovato di me fare schÈrmo? 2 4 7 8 135 che cÉlpaÊhoËio de la tua vita rÌa?». 2 4 8
10 We were still attentive to the trunk, believing that it might wish to say more to us, 111 when we were surprised by an uproar, like one who perceives the wild boar and the chase coming toward his post, 114 and hears the beasts and the crash of the branches. And behold, two on the left hand, naked and scratched, flying so hard 117 that they broke through every barrier of the wood. The one in front was shouting: “Haste now! haste thee, Death!” and the other, who seemed to himself too slow: 120 “Lano, not so nimble were thy legs at the jousts of the Toppo”; and since perhaps his breath was failing, 123 of himself and of a bush he made a group. Behind them the wood was full of black bitches, ravenous and running 126 like greyhounds that had been slipped from the leash. On him who had squatted they set their teeth and tore him piecemeal, 129 then carried off those woeful limbs. My Guide then took me by the hand, and led me to the bush, which was weeping 132 in vain through its bleeding fractures. “O Jacomo of Sant’ Andrea,” it was saying, “what has it vantaged thee to make of me a screen? 135 What blame have I for thy wicked life?”
11 Quando ’l maÍÎstro fu sÏvr’ Ðsso fÑrmo, 1 4 6 8 disse: «Chi fÒsti, che per tante punte 1 4 8 138 sÓffi con sangue dolorÔÕo sÖrmo?». 1 4 8 Ed ×lliØa nÙi:Ú«ÛÜanime che giunte 2 4 6 siÝteÞa vedßr lo strazio diàonásto 1 4 6 141 c’ha le mie frânde sì da me diãgiunte, (1) 4 (6) 8 raccogliäteleåal piè del tristo cæsto. 3 6 8 I’ fui de la città che nel Batista 2 6 144 mutò ’l primo padrçne;èénd’ êi per quësto 2 3 6 8 sìmpre con l’arte sua la farà trista; 1 4 6 9 e se non físse che ’n sul passo d’Arno 4 8 147 rimaneîancïr di luiðalcuna vista, 2 4 6 8 quñ’ cittadin che pòi la rifondarno 4 6 sóvra ’l côner che d’õttila rimaöe, 1 3 6 150 avr÷bber fatto lavorareøindarno. 2 4 8 Io fùi gibúttoûa me de le mie caüe”. (1.2) 4 6
12 When the Master had stopped above it, he said: “Who wast thou, who through so many wounds 138 blowest forth with blood a woeful speech?” And he to us: “O souls that are arrived to see the shameful ravage 141 that has thus disjoined my twigs from me, collect them at the foot of the wretched bush. I was of the city which for the Baptist 144 changed her first patron;” wherefore he will always make her sorrowful with his art. And were it not that at the passage of the Arno 147 some semblance of him still remains, those citizens who afterwards rebuilt it upon the ashes that were left by Attila 150 would have done the work in vain.” I made a gibbet for myself of my own house.”
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