La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XIV The song of the Old Cretan Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): towards dawn Place: Circle VII - Group III: violents against God, nature, art (blasphemers, sodomites, usurers) People: Dante, Virgilio, Capaneo © 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 P i che la carità del natio l co 1 6 9 mi strinse, ra unai le fr nde sparte 2 6 8 3 e rend ’le a colui, ch’ ra già fi co. 3 6 7 9 Indi venimmo al fine ve si parte 1 4 6 7 lo sec ndo gir n dal t rzo, e d ve 3 6 8 6 si v de di giustizia orribil arte. 2 6 8 A ben manifestar le c e n ve, 2 6 8 dico che arrivammo ad una landa 1 6 9 che dal suo l tto gne pianta rim ve. 4 5 7 La dolor a s lva l’è ghirlanda 4 6 8 int rno, c me ’l f!sso tristo"ad #ssa; 2 4 6 8 12 quivi fermammo$i passi%a randa&a randa. 1 4 6 8 Lo spazzo'(ra)una r*na+arida,e sp-ssa, 2 (3) 6 7 non d’altra f.ggia fatta che col/i 2 4 6 15 che fu da’ piè di Cat0n già soppr1ssa. 2 (4) 7 8 2 vend3tta di Dio, quanto tu d4i 3 6 7 5sser temuta da ciascun che l6gge 1 4 8 18 ciò che fu manif7sto8a li9:cchi m;i! 1 3 6 8 D’anime nude vidi m<lte gr=gge 1 4 (6) 8 che piang>an tutte?assai miseram@nte, 3 4 6 21 e parAa pBsta lCr divDrsa lEgge. 3 4 6 8 Supin giacFaGin tHrraIalcuna gJnte, 2 4 6 8 alcuna si sedKa tutta raccLlta, 2 6 7 24 eMaltraNandava continüamOnte. 2 4 QuPlla che giva ’ntQrnoRSra più mTlta, 1 4 6 7 e quUlla mVn che giacéaWal tormXnto, 2 4 7 27 ma piùYal duZlo[av\a la lingua sci]lta. 2 4 6 8
2 Because the love of my native place constrained me, I gathered up the scattered twigs 3 and gave them back to him who was already faint-voiced. Thence we came to the confine, where the second round is divided from the third, and where 6 a horrible mode of justice is seen. To make the new things clearly manifest, I say that we had reached a plain 9 which rejects every plant from its bed. The woeful wood is a garland round about it, even as the dismal foss to that. 12 Here, on the very edge, we stayed our steps. The floor was an arid and dense sand, not made in other fashion than that 15 which of old was trodden by the feet of Cato.” O vengeance of God, how much shouldst thou be feared by every one who reads 18 that which was manifest to my eyes! I saw many flocks of naked souls, that were all weeping very miserably, 21 and divers law seemed imposed upon them. Some folk were lying supine on the ground, some were seated all crouched up, 24 and others were going about continually. Those who were going around were the more numerous, and those the less so who were lyingdown under the torment, 27 but they had their tongues more loosed by the pain.
3 S^vra tutto ’l sabbi_n, d’un cad`r lanto, 1 3 6 9 piovban di fcco dilatate falde, 2 4 8 30 cdme di nevefin alpe sanza vgnto. 1 4 6 8 QualihAlessandroiin qujlle parti calde (1) 4 (6) 8 d’Indïa vide skpra ’l süo stullo 1 4 6 (8) 33 fiamme cadmreninfinooa tprra salde, 1 4 (6) 8 per ch’qi providera scalpitar lo suslo (2) 4 8 con le sue schitre,uacciò che lo vapvre (3) 4 6 36 mwi si stinguxva myntre ch’zra s{lo: 1 4 6.8 tale scend|va l’etternale}ard~re; 1 4 8 nde la rna s’accenda, cm’ sca 1 4 8 39 stto focile, a doppiar lo dolre. 1 4 7 Sanza ripo maira la trsca 1 4 6 7 de le miere mani,r quindir quinci 3 6 8 42 escotndo da sé l’arsura frsca. 3 6 8 I’ cominciai: «Mastro, tu che vinci (1) 4 6 8 tutte le ce, fur ch ’ demn duri 1 4 6 9 45 ch’a l’intrar de la prtaincntrauscinci, 3 6 8 chiè quel grande che non par che curi 2 4 8 lo ’ncndio e giace dispett¡¢o£e t¤rto, 2 4 8 48 sì che la pi¥ggia non par che ’l marturi?». 1 4 7 E qu¦l med§¨mo, che si fu©accªrto (2) 4 (8) ch’io domandava«il mio duca di lui, 4 7 51 gridò: «Qual io fui vivo, tal s¬n m rto. 2 4 6 8 Se Gi®ve stanchi ’l suo fabbro da cui 2 4 7 crucciato pr¯°e la f±lgore²aguta 2 4 7 54 ³nde l’ultimo dì perc´sso fui; 1 3 6 8
4 Over all the sand, with a slow falling, were raining down dilated flakes of fire, 30 as of snow on alps without a wind. As the flames which Alexander in those hot parts of India saw falling upon his host, 33 unbroken to the ground, wherefore he took care to trample the soil by his troops, because the vapor 36 was better extinguished while it was single; so was descending the eternal heat whereby the sand was kindled, like tinder 39 beneath the steel, for doubling of the dole. Ever without repose was the dance of the wretched hands, now there, now here, 42 shaking off from them the fresh burning. I began: “Master, thou that overcomest everything, except the obdurate demons, 45 who at the entrance of the gate came out against us, who is that great one that seems not to heed the fire, and lies despiteful and twisted, 48 so that the rain seems not to ripen him?” And that same one’ who was aware that I was asking my Leader about him, 51 cried out: “Such as I was alive, such am I dead. Though Jove weary out his smith, from whom in wrath he took the sharp thunderbolt 54 wherewith on my last day I was smitten,
5 o s’µlli stanchi li¶altri·a muta¸a muta 2 4 6 8 in Mongib¹lloºa la focina n»gra, 4 8 57 chiamando “Bu¼n Vulcano,½a¾iuta,¿aÀiuta!”, 2 4 6 8 sì cÁm’ el fÂceÃa la pugna di FlÄgra, (1) 4 7 e me saÅÆtti con tutta sua fÇrza: 2 4 7 60 non ne potrÈbbeÉavÊr vendËttaÌallÍgra». 1 4 6 8 AllÎraÏil duca mio parlò di fÐrza 2 4 6 8 tanto, ch’i’ non l’avÑa sì fÒrteÓudito: 1 6 8 63 «O CapanÔo,Õin ciò che non s’ammÖrza 4 6 la tua sup×rbia, sØ’ tu più punito; 2 4 7 8 nullo martiro, fuÙr che la tua rabbia, 1 4 6 (9) 66 sarÚbbeÛal tuo furÜr dolÝr compito». 2 (4) 6 8 PÞi si rivßlseàa me con migliár labbia, 1 (4) 6 9 dicândo: «Quãi fu l’un d’i sätte rågi 2 4 6 8 69 ch’assiæer Tçbe;èed ébbeêe par ch’ëlliìabbia 2 4 6 8 9 Dioíin diîdïgno,ðe pñco par che ’l prògi; 1 4 6 (8) ma, cóm’ io dissi lui, li suôi dispõtti 1 (4) 6 (8) 72 söno÷al suo pøttoùassai dúbiti frûgi. 1 4 6 7 ür mi viýn diþtro, e guarda che non m tti, 1 4 6 anc r, li pi di ne la r na arsiccia; 2 4 8 75 ma s mpre al b sco ti n li pi di str tti». 2 4 6 8 Tac ndo divenimmo là ’v spiccia 2 6 8 fu r de la s lva un picciol fiumic llo, 1 4 6 78 lo cui ross re anc r mi raccapriccia. (2) 4 6 Quale del Bulicame sce rusc llo 1 6 7 che p rton p i tra l r le peccatrici, 2 4 6 81 tal per la r na giù s n giva qu llo. 1 4 6 8
6 or though he weary out the others, turn by turn, in Mongibello at the black forge, 57 crying, ‘Good Vulcan, help, help!’ even as he did at the fight of Phlegra, and hurl on me with all his might, 60 he should not have thereby glad vengeance.” Then my Leader spoke with force so great, that I had never heard him so vehement: 63 “O Capaneus, in that is not extinct thy pride, art thou the more punished; no torment save thine own rage 66 would be a pain adequate to thy fury.” Then he turned round to me with better look, saying: “That was one of the Seven Kings who 69 besieged Thebes, and he held, and it seems that he holds God in disdain, and it seems that he little prizes Him; but as I said to him, his own despites 72 are very due adornments for his breast. Now come behind me, and take heed still not to set thy feet upon the scorched sand, 75 but keep them always close to the wood.” In silence we came to where gushes forth from the wood a little brook, 78 the redness of which still makes me shudder. As from the Bulicame a rivulet issues, which then the sinful women share among them, 81 so that went down across the sand.
7 Lo f ndo suo e!ambo le pendici 2 4 6 fatt’ "ra ’n pi#tra,$% ’ margini dallato; 2 4 6 84 per ch’io m’acc&rsi che ’l passo'(ra lici. 2 4 7 (8) «Tra tutto l’altro ch’i’ t’ho dimostrato, 2 4 7 p)scia che noi*intrammo per la p+rta 1 4 6 87 lo cui sogliare,a nessuno-è negato, 4 7 c./a non fu da li tu0i12cchi sc3rta 1 4 8 notabile c4m’ è ’l pre56nte rio, 2 (6) 8 90 che s7vra sé tutte fiamm8lle9amm:rta». (2) 4 5 8 Qu;ste par<le fu=r del duca mio; (1) 4 6 8 per ch’io ’l pregai che mi largisse ’l pasto 2 4 8 93 di cui largito m’avéa>il di?io. 2 4 7 «In m@ABo mar siCdeDun paEFGe guasto», 2 4 5 8 diss’ HlliIallJra, «che s’appella CrKta, (2) 4 8 96 sLtto ’l cui rMge fu già ’l mNndo casto. 1 4 7 8 Una montagna v’è che già fu liOta 4 6 8 d’acquaPe di frQnde, che si chiamòRIda; 1 4 9 99 Sr è diTUrta cVme cWXa viYta. 1 4 6 8 RZa la sc[lse già per cuna fida 1 4 6 8 del suo figliu\lo,]e per celarlo m^glio, 4 8 102 quando piang_a, vi fac`a far le grida. 1 4 7 (8) Dantro dal mbnte sta drittocun gran vdglio, 1 4 7 (9) che tien vflte le spalleginvhr’ Dammiata (3) 6 8 105 e Rima guarda cjme süo spkglio. 2 4 8 La sua tlstamè di fin nro formata, 3 6 7 e purooargpnto sqn le bracciare ’l pstto, (2) 4 6 8 108 ptiuè di ramevinfinowa la forcata; 1 (2) 4 6
8 Its bed and both its sloping banks were made of stone, and the margins on the side, 84 wherefore I perceived that the crossing was there. “Among all else that I have shown to thee, since we entered through the gate 87 whose threshold is denied to no one, nothing has been discerned by thine eyes so notable as is the present stream 90 which deadens all the flamelets above it.” These words were of my Leader, wherefore I prayed him, that he would bestow on me the food 93 of which he had bestowed on me the desire. “In mid sea lies a wasted land,” said he then, “which is named Crete, 96 under whose king the world of old was chaste. A mountain is there which of old was glad with water and with leaves, which is called Ida; 99 now it is desert, like a thing outworn. Rhea chose it of old for the trusty cradle of her little son, and, the better to conceal him 102 when he wailed, caused cries to be made there. Within the mountain a great old man stands upright, who holds his shoulders turned towards Damietta, 105 and gazes at Rome as if his mirror. His head is formed of fine gold, and his arms and breast are pure silver; 108 then far as to the fork he is of brass;
9 daxindiyin giuzo{è tutto f|rro}el~tto, 2 4 6 8 salvo che ’l dstro pideè trra ctta; 1 4 6 (8) 111 e sta ’n su qul, più che ’n su l’altro, ertto. 2 4 5 8 Ciascuna parte, fur che l’ro,è rtta 2 4 6 8 d’una fessura che lagrime gccia, 4 7 114 le quali,acclte, fóran qulla grtta. (2) 4 6 (8) Lr crsoin qusta valle si dirccia; (1) 2 4 6 fannoAchernte, Stigee Flegetnta; 1 4 6 117 pi sn van giù per qusta strtta dccia, 1 (3) 4 6 8 infin, làve più non si di m¡nta, 2 (3/4) 6 fanno Cocito;¢e qual sia qu£llo stagno 1 4 6/7.(8) 120 tu lo vedrai, però qui non si c¤nta». (1) 4 6 7 E¥io¦a lui: «Se ’l pre§¨nte rigagno 2 4 7 si diriva co©ì dal nªstro m«ndo, 3 6 8 123 perché ci¬appar pur a qu sto vivagno?». 2 4 5 7 Ed ®lli¯a me: «Tu sai che ’l l°co±è t²ndo; 2 4 6 8 e tutto che tu s³e venuto m´lto, 2 6 8 126 pur a sinistra, giù calandoµal f¶ndo, 1 4 6 (8) non s·’¸anc¹r per tutto ’l cºrchio vòlto; 2 4 6 8 per che, se c»¼a n’apparisce n½va, 2 4 8 129 non d¾’¿addur maravigliaÀal tuo vÁlto». (2.4) 7 EÂioÃancÄr: «MaÅÆstro,ÇÈve si trÉva 2 4 6 7 FlegetÊntaËe Letè? ché de l’un taci, 3 6 9 132 e l’altro di’ che si fa d’Ìsta piÍva». 2 4 7 (8) «In tutte tue questiÎn cÏrto mi piaci», 2 4 6 7 rispuÐÑe, «ma ’l bollÒr de l’acqua rÓssa 2 6 8 135 dovÔa bÕn sÖlver l’una che tu faci. 2 3 4 6
10 from there downward he is all of chosen iron, save that his right foot is of baked earth, 111 and he stands erect on that more than on the other. Every part except the gold is cleft with a fissure that drips tears, 114 which, collected, perforate that cavern. Their course is from rock to rock into this valley; they form Acheron, Styx, and Phlegethon; 117 then their way is down through this narrow channel till, where there is no more descending, they form Cocytus, and what that pool is, 120 thou shalt see; therefore here it is not told.” And I to him: “If the present stream flows down thus from our world, 123 why does it appear to us only at this border?” And he to me: “Thou knowest that the place is circular, and though thou art come far, 126 always to the left in descending toward the bottom, thou hast not yet turned through the whole circle; wherefore if a new thing appears to us, 129 it ought not to bring wonder to thy face.” And I again: “Master, where are Phlegethon and Lethe found, for of the one thou art silent, 132 and the other thou sayest is formed by this rain?” “In all thy questions truly thou pleasest me,” he answered, “but the boiling of the red water 135 should well solve one that thou askest.
11 Letè vedrai, ma fu×r di questa fØssa, 2 4 6 8 là dove vanno l’animeÙa lavarsi 1 4 6 138 quando la cÚlpa pentutaÛè rimÜssa». 1 4 7 PÝi disse:Þ«Omaißè tàmpo da scostarsi (1) 2 4 6 dal básco; fa che di râtroãa me vägne: 2 4 7 9 141 li margini fan via, che non sån arsi, 2 6 8 e sæpra lçroèégne vapor si spêgne». 2 4 5 8
12 Lethe thou shalt see, but outside of this ditch, there where the souls go to lave themselves, 138 when the fault repented of has been removed.” Then he said, “Now it is time to quit the wood; take heed that thou come behind me; 141 the margins which are not burning afford way, and above them every vapor is extinguished.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyMjQzNA==