La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XVI The song of the sodomites 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, Iacopo Rusticucci, Guido Guerra, Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, Guglielmo Borsiere © 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 Già ra in l co nde s’udia ’l rimb mbo 1 2 4 5 8 de l’acqua che cad a ne l’altro giro, 2 6 8 3 simile a qu l che l’arnie fanno r mbo, 1 4 6 8 quando tre mbre insi me si partiro, 1 3 4 6 corr ndo, d’una t rma che passava 2 6 6 s tto la pi ggia de l’aspro martiro. 1 4 7 Ven an v r’ n i, e ciascuna gridava: 2 4 7 «Sòstati tu ch’a l’abito ne s mbri 1 4 6 9 ssere alcun di n stra t rra prava». 1 4 6 8 Ahimè, che piaghe vidi n ’ l r m mbri, 2 4 6 ric nti!e v"cchie, da le fiamme#inc$%e! 2 4 8 12 Anc&r m'n du(l pur ch’i’ me ne rim)mbri. 2 4 6 A le l*r grida+il mio dott,r s’att-.e; 4 8 v/lse ’l vi0o v1r’ me,2e 3«4r asp5tta», 1 3 6 (8) 15 disse,6«a cost7r si vu8le9:sser cort;<e. 1 4 6 7 E se non f=sse>il f?co che sa@Atta 4 6 la natura del lBcoC, i’ dicerDi 3 6 (7) 18 che mEglio stFsseGa te cheHa lIr la frJtta». 2 4 6 8 Ricominciar, cKme nLi restammo,MNi 4 5 7 9 l’antico vOrso;Pe quandoQa nRi fuSr giunti, 2 4 6 8 21 fTnnoUuna rVta di sé tuttiWe trXi. 1 4 7 8 Qual sYglionoZi campi[n far nudi\e]unti, 2 6 8 avvi^ando l_r pr`aabe lcr vantaggio, 3 5 6 8 24 prima che sden tra ler battutife punti, 1 4 6 8 cogì rotando, ciascunohil viiaggio 2 4 7 drizzavaja me, sì che ’n contrarokil clllo 2 4 5 8 27 facmvanai piè continüo vïaggio. 2 4 6
2 I was now in a place where the resounding of the water which was falling into the next circle 3 was heard, like that hum which the beehives make, when three shades together separated themselves, as they ran, from a troop that was passing 6 under the rain of the bitter torment. They came toward us, and each cried out: “Stop thou, who by thy garb seemest 9 to us to be one from our wicked city!” Ah me! what wounds I saw upon their limbs, recent and old, burnt in by the flames; 12 it grieves me still for them but to remember it. My Teacher gave heed to their cries; he turned his face toward me, and: “Now wait,” 15 he said; “to these one should be courteous, and were it not for the fire which the nature of the place shoots forth, I should say 18 that haste better befitted thee than them.” As we stopped, they began again the old verse, and when they had reached us 21 they all three made a wheel of themselves. As champions, naked and oiled, are wont to do, watching for their grip and their vantage, 24 before they exchange blows and thrusts, thus, wheeling, each directed his face on me, so that his neck was making 27 continuous journey in contrary direction to his feet.
3 E «Se miopria d’qsto lrco ssllo 1 4 6 8 rtndeuin dispvtto nwixe nystri prizghi», 1 4 6 8 30 cominciò l’uno,{«e ’l tinto|asp}tto~e brllo, 3 4 6 8 la fama nstrail tuoanimo pighi 2 4 7 a dirne chi tu s’, che i vivi pidi 2 6 8 33 coì sicuro per lo ’nfrno frghi. 2 4 8 Qusti, l’rme di cui pestar mi vdi, 1 3 (6) 8 tutto che nudoe dipelato vada, 1 4 8 36 fu di grado maggir che tu non crdi: (1) 3 6 (8) nepte fu de la buna Gualdrada; (2) 4 7 Guido Gurrabbe nme,ein sua vita 1 3 4 6 39 fce col snnoassaie con la spada. 1 4 6 L’altro, ch’apprsso me la rna trita, 1 4 6 8 è TegghiaioAldobrandi, la cui v ce 3 6 42 nel m¡ndo sù dovr¢a£¤sser gradita. 2 4 6 7 E¥io, che p¦sto s§n con l¨ro©in crªce, 2 4 6 8 I«copo Rusticucci fui,¬e c rto 1 6 8 45 la fi®ra m¯glie più ch’altro mi nu°ce». 2 4 6 7 S’i’ f±ssi stato dal f²co cop³rto, 2 4 7 gittato mi sar´i tra lµr di s¶tto, 2 6 8 48 e cr·do che ’l dott¸r l’avr¹a soffºrto; 2 6 8 ma perch’ io mi sar»i brusciato¼e c½tto, 3 6 8 vinse pa¾ura la mia bu¿na vÀglia 1 4 8 51 che di lÁroÂabbracciar mi facÃa ghiÄtto. 3 6 9 Poi cominciai: «Non dispÅtto, ma dÆglia 1 4 5 7 la vÇstra condiziÈn dÉntro mi fisse, 2 6 7 54 tanta che tardi tutta si dispÊglia, 1 4 6
4 “And if the wretchedness of this soft place bring us and our prayers into contempt,” 30 began one, “and our darkened and scorched aspect, let our fame incline thy mind to tell us who thou art, that thy living feet 33 so securely rubbest through Hell. He whose tracks, thou seest me trample, although he go naked and stripped of skin, 36 was of greater degree than thou thinkest. He was grandson of the good Gualdrada; his name was Guido Guerra, and in his life 39 he did much with wisdom and with the sword. The other who treads the sand behind me is Tegghiaio Aldobrandi, whose reputation 42 should be cherished in the world above. And I, who am set with them on the cross, was Jacopo Rusticucci, and surely 45 my savage wife more than aught else injures me.” If I had been sheltered from the fire I should have cast myself below among them, 48 and I believe that the Teacher would have permitted it; but because I should have been burnt and baked, fear overcame my good will 51 which made me greedy to embrace them. Then I began: “Not contempt, but grief, did your condition fix within me, 54 such that slowly will it be all divested,
5 tËsto che quÌsto mio segnÍr mi disse 1 (4.6) 8 parÎle per le qualiÏi’ mi pensai 2 6 7 57 che qual vÐi siÑte, tal gÒnte venisse. 2 4 7 Di vÓstra tÔrra sÕno,Öe s×mpre mai 2 4 6 8 l’Øvra di vÙiÚe liÛonorati nÜmi 1 4 8 60 con affeziÝn ritrassiÞeßascoltai. 4 6 Lascio lo fàleáe vâ per dãlci pämi 1 4 6 8 promåssiæa me per lo verace duca; 2 4 8 63 ma ’nfinoçal cèntro pria convién ch’i’ têmi». 2 4 6 8 «Se lungamënte l’anima conduca 4 6 le mìmbra tue», rispuíîe quïlliðancñra, 2 4 6 8 66 «e se la fama tua dòpo te luca, 4 6 (7) 9 corteóiaôe valõr dì se dimöra 3 6 7 ne la n÷stra città sì cøme suùle, 3 6 7 69 o se del tutto se n’è gita fúra; 4 8 ché Guigliûlmo Borsiüre,ýil qual si duþle 3 6 8 con n i per p co e va là c i compagni, 2 4 7 72 assai ne cruccia con le sue par le». 2 4 8 «La g nte nu va e i sùbiti guadagni 2 4 6 org glio e di mi ura han generata, 2 6 (7) 75 Fior nza, in te, sì che tu già t n piagni». 2 4 5 7.8 Co ì gridai con la faccia levata; 2 4 7 e i tre, che ciò int er per risp sta, 2 4 6 78 guardar l’un l’altro c m’ al v r si guata. 2 4 8 «Se l’altre v lte sì p co ti c sta», 2 4 7 rispu er tutti, «il satisfare altrui, 2 4 8 81 felice te se sì parli!a tua p"sta! 2 4 7
6 soon as this my Lord said to me words by which I bethought me 57 that such folk as ye are were coming. I am of your city; and I have always rehearsed and heard with affection 60 your deeds and honored names. I am leaving the gall, and going for sweet fruits promised to me by my veracious Leader; 63 but far as to the centre I needs must first descend.” “So may thy soul long direct thy limbs,” replied he then, 66 “and so may thy fame shine after thee, say if courtesy and valor abide in our city as of wont, 69 or if they have quite gone forth from it? For Guglielmo Borsiere, who is in torment with us but short while, and is going yonder with our companions, 72 afflicts us greatly with his words.” “The new people and the sudden gains have engendered pride and excess, 75 Florence, in thee, so that already thou weepest therefor.” Thus I cried with uplifted face, and the three, who understood this for answer, 78 looked one at the other, as one looks at truth. “If other times it costs thee so little,” replied they all, “to satisfy others, 81 happy thou if thus thou speakest at thy pleasure.
7 Però, se campi d’#sti lu$ghi bui 2 4 6 8 e t%rni&a rived'r le b(lle st)lle, 2 6 8 84 quando ti gioverà d*cere+“I’ fui”, 1 6 7 9 fa che di n,i-a la g.nte fav/lle». 1 4 7 Indi rupper la r0ta,1e2a fuggirsi 1 3 6 87 ali sembiar le gambe l3ro4i5n6lle. 1 4 6 8 Un 7men non sar8a possuto dirsi 2 (6) 8 t9sto co:ì c;m’ <’ fu=ro spariti; 1 4 7 90 per ch’al ma>?stro parve di partirsi. 4 6 Io lo seguiva,@e pAcoBeravCm iti, (1) 4 6 9 che ’l suDn de l’acqua n’Era sì vicino, 2 4 (6.8) 93 che per parlar sarFmmoGa pHnaIuditi. 4 6 8 CJme quKl fiume c’ha prLprio cammino (1) 4 7 prima dal MMnte ViNo ’nvOr’ levante, 1 4 6 8 96 da la sinistra cPsta d’Apennino, 4 6 che si chiamaQAcquachRta suSo,Tavante (3) 6 8 che si divalli giù nel basso lUtto, 4 6 8 99 eVa Forlì di quel nWmeXè vacante, 4 7 8 rimbYmba là sZvra San Bened[tto 2 4 (5) 7 de l’Alpe per cad\re]ad una sc^_a 2 6 102 `ve dovaa per millebcsser recdtto; (1) 4 6 7 coeì, giù d’una ripa discoscfga, 2 (3) 6 trovammo risonar quhll’ acqua tinta, 2 6 8 105 sì che ’n pic’ jrakavrla l’ormcchianoffopa. 1 4 6 8 Ioqavrasuna ctrdauintvrno cinta, (1) 3 6 8 e con wssa pensaixalcuna vylta 3 6 8 108 prznder la l{nza|a la p}lle dipinta. 1 4 7
8 Wherefore, if thou escapest from these dark places, and returnest to see again the beautiful stars, 84 when it shall rejoice thee to say, ‘I have been,’ mind thou tell of us to the people.” Then they broke the wheel, and in flying 87 their swift legs seemed wings. An amen could not have been said so quickly as they had disappeared: 90 wherefore it seemed well to my Master to depart. I followed him, and we had gone little way before the sound of the water was so near to us, 93 that had we spoken we had scarce been heard. As that river which holds its own course first from Monte Viso toward the east, 96 on the left flank of the Apennine,— which is called Acquacheta up above, before it sinks down into its low bed, 99 and at Forli has lost that name— reverberates there above San Benedetto in falling from the alp with a single leap, 102 where ought to be shelter for a thousand; thus, down from a precipitous bank, we found that dark water resounding, 105 so that in short while it would have hurt the ears. I had a cord girt around me, and with it I had once thought 108 to take the leopard of the painted skin.
9 P~scia ch’io l’bbi tutta da me scilta, 1 4 6 9 sì cme ’l duca m’ava comandato, (1) 4 7 111 prsilaa lui aggroppatae ravvlta. 1 4 7 nd’ i si vlseinvr’ lo dstro lato, 2 4 6 8 ealquanto di lunge da la spnda 3 6 114 la gittò giuoin qull’ alto burrato. 3 4 7 ‘E’ pur convin che novità rispnda’, 2 4 8 dica fra me medmo,‘al nvo cnno 2 4 6 8 117 che ’l mastro con l’cchio sì secnda’. 3 6 8 Ahi quanto cauti liu mini¡¢sser di£nno 1 2 4 6 8 pr¤sso¥a col¦r che non v§ggion pur l’¨vra, 1 4 (6) 7 120 ma per ©ntroªi pensi«r miran col s¬nno! 3 6 7 El disse a me: «T®sto verrà di s¯vra 1/2 4 5 8 ciò ch’io°att±ndo²e che³il tuo pensi´r sµgna; 1 (2) 4 (7) 9 123 t¶sto convi·n ch’al tuo vi¸o si sc¹vra». 1 4 (6) 7 Sºmpre»a qu¼l v½r c’ha faccia di menz¾gna 1 4 6 d¿’ l’uÀm chiuder le labbra fin ch’el puÁte, 2 3 6 8 126 però che sanza cÂlpa fa vergÃgna; 2 4 6 ma qui tacer nol pÄsso;Åe per le nÆte 2 4 6 di quÇsta comedìa, lettÈr, ti giuro, 2 6 8 129 s’Élle non sÊen di lunga grazia vòte, 1 4 6 8 ch’i’ vidi per quËll’ Ìere grÍssoÎe scuro 2 6 8 venir notandoÏuna figuraÐin suÑo, 2 4 8 132 maravigliÒÓaÔad Õgne cÖr sicuro, 4 (6) 8 sì come t×rna colui che va giuØo (1) 4 7 talÙraÚa sÛlver l’àncora ch’aggrappa 2 4 6 135 o scÜglioÝoÞaltro che nel mareßè chiuào, 2 4 8
10 After I had loosed it wholly from me, as my Leader had commanded me, 111 I reached it to him gathered up and coiled. Whereon he turned toward the right, and, somewhat far from the edge, 114 threw it down into that deep gulf. “And surely, it must be that some novelty respond,” said I to myself, “to the novel signal 117 which the Master so follows with his eye.” Ah! how cautious ought men to be near those who see not only the deed, 120 but with their wisdom look within the thoughts! He said to me: “That will soon come up which I await, and what thy thought is dreaming 123 must soon discover itself to thy sight.” To that truth which has the aspect of falsehood a man ought always to close his lips so far as he can, 126 because without fault it causes shame; but here I cannot be silent, and by the notes of this comedy, Reader, I swear to thee, 129 — so may they not be void of lasting grace — that I saw through that thick and dark air a shape come swimming upwards, 132 marvelous to every steadfast heart, like as he returns who goes down sometimes to loose an anchor that grapples 135 either a rock or aught else which is hidden in the sea,
11 che ’n sù si stándeâe da piè si rattrappa. 2 4 7
12 who stretches upward, and draws in his feet.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyMjQzNA==