La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XIX The song of the simoniac popes Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): at sunrise Place: Circle VIII (Malebolge): fraudulents Ditch III: simoniacs People: Dante, Virgilio, pope Niccolò III © 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 Sim n mago, o mi eri seguaci 3 4 6 che le c e di Dio, che di bontate 3 6 3 d on ssere sp e, e v i rapaci 1 3 6 8 per ro e per arg nto avolterate, 2 6 r convi n che per v i su ni la tr mba, (1) 3 6 7 6 però che ne la t rza b lgia state. 2 6 8 Già eravamo, a la segu nte t mba, 1 4 8 montati de lo sc glio in qu lla parte 2 6 8 9 ch’a punto s vra m !"o ’l f#sso pi$mba. 2 4 6 8 % s&mma sapï'nza, quanta(è l’arte 2 6 8 (9) che m)stri*in ci+lo,,in t-rra.e nel mal m/ndo, 2 4 6 9 12 e quanto giusto tua virtù comparte! 2 4 8 Io vidi per le c0ste1e per lo f2ndo 2 6 pi3na la pi4tra livida di fóri, 1 4 6 15 d’un largo tutti5e ciascun 6ra t7ndo. 2 4 7 (8) Non mi par8an m9n ampi né maggi:ri 4 6 che qu;’ che s<n nel mio b=l San Giovanni, 2 4 7 18 fatti per l>co d’i batte?@atAri; 1 4 l’un de li quali,BancCr non è mDlt’ anni, 1 4 6 8 rupp’ io per un che dEntro v’annegava: (1) 2 4 6 21 e quFsto sia suggGl ch’Hgn’ Imo Jganni. 2 6 8 FuKr de la bLccaMa ciascun soperchiava 1 4 7 d’un peccatNr li piOdiPe de le gambe 4 6 24 infinoQal grRsso,Se l’altro dTntro stava. 2 4 6 8 Le pianteUVranoWa tuttiXaccYZe[intrambe; 2 (3) 6 8 per che sì f\rte guizzavan le giunte, 3 4 7 27 che spezzate]aver^en rit_rte`e strambe. 3 6 8
2 O Simon Magus. O wretched followers, because the things of God which ought 3 to be the brides of righteousness, ye, rapacious, do prostitute for gold and silver, now it behoves for you the trumpet sound, 6 since ye are in the third pouch. We were now at the next tomb, having mounted on that part of the crag 9 which hangs plumb just over the middle of the ditch. O Supreme Wisdom, how great is the art which Thou dost display in heaven, on earth, and in the evil world! 12 and how justly does Thy Power apportion! Upon the sides and upon the bottom, I saw the livid stone full of holes 15 all of one size, and each was circular. They seemed to me not less wide nor larger than those that in my beautiful Saint John 18 are made for place of the baptizers; one of which, not many years ago, I broke for the sake of one who was stifling in it: 21 and let this be the seal to undeceive all men. Forth from the mouth of each were protruding the feet of a sinner, and his legs 24 up to the calf, and the rest was within. Both the soles of all of them were on fire, because of which their joints were twitching so hard 27 that they would have snapped ropes and withes.
3 Qual sualebil fiammeggiar de le ccdeeunte 2 6 9 mufversi pur su per la strgma buccia, 1 (4) 5 8 30 tal hra lì dai calcagniia le punte. (1/2) 4 7 «Chijè colui, maklstro, che si cruccia (2) 4 6 guizzando più che limaltri suni consorti», 2 4 6 8 33 diss’ io,p«e cui più rqggia fiamma succia?». 2 4 6 8 Ed rllisa me: «Se tu vut’ ch’i’ ti purti 2 4 7 là giù per quvlla ripa che più giace, 2 4 6 9 36 da lui saprai di séwe dx’ suyi tzrti». 2 4 6 (9) E{io: «Tanto m’è b|l, quanto}a te piace: 2 3 6 7 9 tu s~’ segnre,e sai ch’i’ non mi parto 1/2 4 6 (8) 39 dal tuo volre,e sai qul che si tace». 4 6 7 Allr venimmo in su l’argine quarto; 2 4 7 volgmmoe discendmmoa mano stanca 2 6 8 42 là giù nel fndo foracchiatoearto. (2) 4 8 Lo bun mastroancr de la suaanca 2 4 6 (9) non mi dipue, sì mi giunseal rtto (1) 4 (6) 8 45 di quel che si piangva con la anca. 2 6 « qual che s’ che ’l di sù tin di stto, 2 4 7 8 anima trista come pal commssa», 1 4 8 48 comincia’ioa dir, «se pu i, fa m¡tto». 3 6 8 9 Io stava come ’l frate che conf¢ssa 2 6 lo p£rfido¤assessin, che, p¥i ch’è fitto, (2) 6 7/8 51 richiama lui per che la m¦rte c§ssa. 2 4 8 Ed el gridò: «S¨’ tu già costì ritto, 2 4 6.7 9 s©’ tu già costì ritto, Bonifazio? 2.3 5 6 54 Di parªcchi«anni mi mentì lo scritto. 3 4 8
4 As the flaming of things oiled is wont to move only on the outer surface, 30 so was it there from the heels to the toes. “Who is he, Master, who torments himself, twitching more than the others his consorts,” 33 said I, “and whom a ruddier flame is sucking?” And he to me: “If thou wilt that I carry thee down there by the bank which is the more sloping, 36 from him thou shalt know of himself and of his wrongs.” And I: “Whatever pleases thee is to my liking: thou art Lord, and knowest that I part me not 39 from thy will, and thou knowest that which is unspoken.” Then we went upon the fourth embankment, turned, and descended on the left hand, 42 down to the bottom pierced with holes, and narrow. The good Master set me not yet down from his haunch, till he brought me to the cleft 45 of him who was thus lamenting with his shanks. “Whoso thou art, that keepest upside down, o wretched soul, planted like a stake,” 48 I began to say, “say a word, if thou canst.” I was standing like the friar who confesses the perfidious assassin, who, after he is fixed, 51 recalls him, in order to delay his death. And he cried out: “Art thou already standing there? Art thou already standing there, Boniface? 54 By several years the writing lied to me.
5 S¬’ tu sì t sto di qu®ll’ av¯r sazio 2 4 9 per lo qual non tem°sti tòrre±a ’nganno 3 4 6 8 57 la b²lla d³nna,´e pµi di farne strazio?». 2 4 6 8 Tal mi f¶c’ io, quai s·n col¸r che stanno, 1 4 6 8 per non int¹nder ciò ch’è lºr risp»sto, 4 (6) 8 60 qua¼i scornati,½e risp¾nder non sanno. 1 4 7 All¿r Virgilio disse: «Dilli tÀsto: 2 4 6 8 “Non sÁn colui, non sÂn colui che crÃdi”»; 2 4 6 8 63 eÄio rispuÅÆi cÇmeÈa me fuÉimpÊsto. (2) 4 8 Per che lo spirto tutti stËrseÌi piÍdi; 4 6 8 pÎi, sospirandoÏe con vÐce di pianto, 1 4 7 66 mi disse: «Dunque cheÑa me richiÒdi? 2 4 6 8 Se di saper ch’i’ sÓa ti cal cotanto, 4 6 8 che tuÔabbi però la ripa cÕrsa, 3 6 8 69 sappi ch’i’ fui vestito del gran manto; 1 4 6 9 e veramÖnte fui figliu×l de l’Ørsa, 4 6 8 cÙpido sì per avanzar liÚorsatti, 1 4 8 72 che sù l’avÛreÜe qui me miÝiÞin bßrsa. 2 4 7 (8) Di sàttoáal capo mio sân liãaltri tratti 2 (4) 6 8 che precedätter me simoneggiando, 4 6 75 per le fessure de la piåtra piatti. 4 8 Là giù cascheròæioçaltresì quando 2 5 6 9 verrà colui ch’i’ credèa che tu féssi, 2 4 7 78 allêr ch’i’ fëci ’l sùbito dimando. 2 4 6 Ma piùìè ’l tímpo già cheîi piè mi cïssi 2 4 6 8 e ch’i’ sðn stato coñì sottosòpra, 2 4 7 81 ch’ól non starà piantato côi piè rõssi: (1.2) 4 6 9
6 Art thou so quickly sated with that having, for which thou didst not fear to seize by guile 57 the beautiful Lady, and then to do her outrage?” Such I became as those who stand, through not comprehending that which is replied to them, 60 as if mocked, and know not what to answer. Then Virgil said: “Tell him quickly, I am not he, I am not he that thou thinkest.” 63 And I answered as was enjoined on me; whereat the spirit writhed violently both his feet; then, sighing and with tearful voice, 66 he said to me: “What then dost thou want of me? If to know who I am concern thee so much that thou hast therefore come down the bank, 69 know that I was vested with the Great Mantle: and verily I was a son of the She-Bear, so eager to advance the cubs, 72 that up there I put wealth, and here myself, into the purse. Beneath my head are the others dragged down that preceded me in simony, 75 flattened through the fissures of the rock. Down there shall I in my turn sink, when he shall come whom I believed that thou wast, 78 then when I put my sudden question; but already the time is longer that I have cooked my feet, and that I have been thus upside down, 81 than he will stay planted with his feet red;
7 ché döpo lui verrà di più laida÷øpra, 4 6 9 di vùr’ ponúnte,ûun pastor sanza lügge, 2 4 7 8 84 tal che conviýn che luiþe me ricu pra. 1 4 6 8 Nu vo Ia òn sarà, di cui si l gge 1 4 6 8 n ’ Maccab i; e c me a qu l fu m lle 4 (6) 8 87 suo r , co ì f a lui chi Francia r gge». 2 (4) 6 8 Io non s s’i’ mi fui qui tr ppo f lle, 3 6 7 8 ch’i’ pur rispu i lui a qu sto m tro: 2 (4) 6 8 90 «D h, r mi dì: quanto te ro v lle 1 2 4 5 8 N stro Segn re!in prima da san Pi"tro (1) 4 6 ch’#i pon$sse le chiavi%in sua balìa? 3 6 (8) 93 C&rto non chi'(e se non “Vi)mmi retro”. 1 4 7 8 Né Pi*r né li+altri t,lsero-a Matia 2 4 6 .ro/0d arg1nto, quando fu sortito 1 4 (6/8) 96 al l2co che perdé l’anima ria. 2 6 7 Però ti sta, ché tu s3’ b4n punito; (2) 4 6 8 e guarda b5n la mal t6lta mon7ta 2 4 7 99 ch’8sser ti f9ce c:ntra Carlo;ardito. 1 4 (6) 8 E se non f<sse ch’anc=r lo mi vi>ta 4 7 la rever?nza de le s@mme chiavi 4 8 102 che tu tenAsti ne la vita liBta, 2 4 8 ioCuDerEi parFleGancHr più gravi; 1 4 6 8 ché la vIstraJavariziaKil mLndoMattrista, 3 6 8 105 calcandoNi buOniPe sollevandoQi pravi. 2 4 8 Di vRi pastSr s’accTrseUil Vangelista, 2 4 6 quando colVi che siWde sXpra l’acque (1) 4 6 8 108 puttaneggiar cYi rZgi[a lui fu vista; 4 6 8
8 for after him will come, of uglier deed, from westward, a shepherd without law, 84 such as befits to cover him and me. A new Jason will he be, of whom it is read in Maccabees; and as to that one was compliant 87 his king, so to this one he who rules France shall be.” I know not if here I was too foolhardy that I answered him only in this strain: 90 “Pray now tell me, how much treasure did our Lord require of Saint Peter before he placed the keys in his keeping? 93 Surely he asked nothing save: ‘Follow thou me.’ Nor did Peter or the others of Matthias take gold or silver, when he was chosen by lot 96 to the place which the guilty soul had lost. Therefore stay thou, for thou art rightly punished, and guard well the ill-gotten money 99 that made thee bold against Charles. And were it not that even now forbids it to me reverence for the supreme keys 102 which thou heldest in the glad life, I would use still heavier words; for your avarice afflicts the world, 105 trampling down the good and exalting the bad. Ye shepherds the Evangelist had in mind, when she that sitteth upon the waters 108 was seen by him to fornicate with kings:
9 qu\lla che con le s]tte t^ste nacque, 1 6 8 e da le di_ce c`rnaabbbecargomdnto, 4 6 7 111 fin che virtuteeal suo marito piacque. 1 4 (6) 8 Fatto v’avfte dio d’grohe d’arginto; 1 4 6 7 e chejaltrokè da vlima l’idolatre, 3 (4) 6 114 se non ch’nlliouno,pe vqi nerorate csnto? (2) 3 4 6 8 Ahi, Costantin, di quanto mal fu matre, 1 4 6 8 non la tua conversitn, ma quulla dvte 1 3 6 (8) 117 che da te prwxeyil primo ricco patre!». (3) 4 6 8 E mzntr’ io li cantava cotai n{te, (2.3) 6 9 o|ira}o coscï~nza che ’l mordsse, 2 6 120 forte spingava con ambo le pite. 1 4 7 I’ credo bn ch’al mio duca piacsse, 2 4 7 con sì contnta labbia smpre atte (2) 4 6 8 123 lo sun de le parle vreesprsse. 2 6 8 Però con ambo le braccia mi pre; 2 4 7 e pi che tutto su mi s’bbeal ptto, 2 4 6 8 126 rimontò per la viande disce. 3 6 (7) Né si stancò d’avrmia sé distrtto, (1) 4 6 8 sì mn portò svra ’l clmo de l’arco 1 4 5 7 129 che dal quartoal quintoargineè trag tto. 3 5 6 (8) Quivi so¡avem¢nte spu£¤e¥il carco, 1 6 8 so¦ave per lo sc§glio sc¨ncio©ed ªrto 2 6 8 132 che sar«bbe¬a le capre duro varco. 3 6 8 Indi un altro vall®n mi fu scop¯rto. 1 3 6 (8)
10 she that was born with the seven heads, and from the ten horns had argument, 111 so long as virtue pleased her spouse. Ye have made you a god of gold and silver: and what else is there between you and the idolaters 114 save that they worship one, and ye a hundred? Ah Constantine! of how much ill was mother, not thy conversion, but that dowry 117 which the first rich Father took from thee!” And, while I was singing these notes to him, whether anger or conscience stung him, 120 he was kicking hard with both his feet. I believe, indeed, that it pleased my Leader, with so contented look did he all the while give heed 123 to the sound of the true words uttered. Thereupon with both his arms he took me, and when he had me wholly on his breast, 126 remounted along the way whereby he had descended. Nor did he tire of holding me clasped to him, till he had thus borne me up to the top of the arch which 129 is the passage from the fourth to the fifth embankment. Here he gently laid down his burden, gently because of the rugged and steep crag, 132 which would be a difficult pass for goats. Thence another great valley was discovered to me.
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