La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XX The song of the magicians and soothsayers Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): around six o’clock in the morning; at sunrise Place: Circle VIII (Malebolge): fraudulents Ditch IV: magicians and soothsayers People: Dante, Virgilio, Tiresia, Anfiarao, Arunte, Manto, Euripilo, Michele Scotto, Guido Bonatti, Asdente, some witches and soothsayers © 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 Di n va p na mi conv n far v rsi 2 4 8 e dar mat ra al vent imo canto 2 4 7 3 de la prima canz n, ch’è d’i somm rsi. 3 6 7 Io ra già disp sto tutto quanto (1/2) 6 8 a riguardar ne lo scop rto f ndo, 4 8 6 che si bagnava d’angosci o pianto; 4 8 e vidi g nte per lo vall n t ndo 2 4 9 venir, tac ndo e lagrimando, al passo 2 4 8 9 che fanno le letane in qu sto m ndo. 2 6 (8) C me ’l vi o mi sc e in l r più basso, 1 3 6 8 mirabilm!nte"apparve#$sser trav%lto 4 6 7 12 ciascun tra ’l m&nto'e ’l principio del casso, 2 4 7 ché da le r(ni)*ra tornato ’l v+lto, 4 (5) 8 e,in di-tro venir li convenia, 3 6 15 perché ’l ved.r dinanzi/0ra l1r t2lto. 2 4 6 (7) 9 F3rse per f4rza già di parla5ia 1 4 6 si trav6lse co7ì8alcun del tutto; 3 6 8 18 ma9io nol vidi, né cr:do che sia. 2 4 7 Se Dio ti lasci, lett;r, pr<nder frutto 2 4 7 8 di tua lezi=ne,>?r p@nsa per te stAsso 4 5 6 (9) 21 cBm’ io potCa tenDr lo viEoFasciutto, 2 4 6 8 quando la nGstraHimagine di prIsso 1 4 6 vidi sì tJrta, che ’l pianto de liKLcchi 1 3 4 7 24 le nMtiche bagnava per lo fNsso. 2 6 COrtoPio piangQa, poggiatoRaSun de’ rTcchi 1 4 6 8 del duro scUglio, sì che la mia scVrta 2 4 6 (9) 27 mi disse:W«AncXr sY’ tu de liZaltri sci[cchi? 2 4 6 8
2 Of a new punishment it behoves me to make verses, and give material to the twentieth canto 3 of the first lay, which is of the submerged. I was now wholly in position to look into the uncovered depth 6 which was bathed with tears of anguish, and I saw folk, along the great circular valley, come, silent and weeping, at the pace 9 which the litanies make in this world. As my sight descended lower on them, each appeared marvelously distorted 12 between the chin and the beginning of the chest; for their face was turned toward their reins, and they must needs go backwards, 15 because looking forward was taken from them. Perhaps indeed by force of palsy some one has been thus completely twisted, 18 but I never saw it, nor do I believe it can be. So may God let thee, Reader, gather fruit from thy reading, now think for thyself 21 how I could keep my face dry, when close at hand I saw our image so contorted that the weeping of the eyes 24 bathed the buttocks along the cleft. Truly I wept, leaning on one of the rocks of the hard crag, so that my Guide 27 said to me: “Art thou even yet among the other fools?
3 Qui vive la pietà quand’ è b\n m]rta; (1) 2 6 8 chi^è più scellerato che colui 2 6 30 che_al giudicio divin passi`n comparta? 3 6 8 Drizza la tbsta, drizza,ce vddiea cui 1 4 6 8 s’apfrsega lihicchi d’i Tebjn la tkrra; 2 4 8 33 per ch’li gridavan tutti: “Dmve rui, 2 4 6 8 Anfïarno? perché lasci la guorra?”. 4 (6) 7 E non restò di rupinareqa valle 4 8 36 finora Minòs che ciaschedunosafftrra. 1 4 8 Mira c’ha fatto putto de le spalle; 1 4 6 perché vvlse vedwr trxppo davante, 2 3 6 7 39 di rytro guardaze fa retr{|o calle. (2) 4 6 8 V}di Tir~ia, che mutò sembiante 1 4 8 quando di maschio fmmina divnne, (1) 4 6 42 cangiandosi le mmbra tutte quante; 2 6 8 e prima, pi, ribatter li convnne 2 4 6 li duo serp ntiavvlti, con la vrga, 2 4 6 45 che rïavsse le maschili pnne. 4 8 Arntaè qul ch’al vntre li s’attrga, 2 4 6 che n’ mnti di Luni, dve rnca 3 6 48 lo Carrare che di sttoalbrga, 4 (8) bbe tra ’ bianchi marmi la spelnca 1 4 6 per sua dimra;ndea guardar le stlle 4 5 8 51 e ’l mar non li ¡ra la veduta tr¢nca. 2 4 (8) E qu£lla che ricu¤pre le mamm¥lle, 2 6 che tu non v¦di, con le tr§cce sci¨lte, 2 4 8 54 e©ha di lફgne pil¬a p®lle, 2 4 5/8
4 Here pity lives when it is quite dead. Who is more criminal than he 30 who brings passion to the Divine Judgment? Lift up thy head, lift up, and see him for whom the earth opened before the eyes of the Thebans, 33 whereat they all shouted: ‘Whither art thou rushing, Amphiaraus? Why dost thou leave the war?’ And he stopped not from falling headlong 36 down far as Minos, who lays hold on every one. Look, how he has made a breast of his shoulders! Because he wished to see too far before him, 39 he looks behind and goes a backward path. Behold Tiresias, who changed semblance, when from male he became female, 42 transforming all his members; and afterwards he was obliged to strike again with his rod the two entwined serpents, 45 ere he could regain his masculine plumage. He who has his back to this one’s belly is Aruns, who on the mountains of Luni (where grubs 48 the man of Carrara who dwells below) had a cave among white marbles for his abode, whence for looking at the stars 51 and the sea his view was not cut off. And she who covers her breasts, which thou dost not see, with her loose tresses, 54 and has on that side all her hairy skin,
5 Manto fu, che cercò per t¯rre m°lte; 1 3 6 8 p±scia si pu²³e là d´ve nacqu’ io; 1 4.6 7 57 ondeµun p¶co mi piace che m’asc·lte. 1 3 6 P¸scia che ’l padre suo di vita¹uscìo 1 (4) 6 8 e vºnne serva la città di Baco, (2) 4 8 60 qu»sta gran t¼mpo per lo m½ndo gio. 1 3 4 8 Su¾o¿in Italia bÀlla giaceÁun laco, 1 4 6 8 a piè de l’Alpe che sÂrra Lamagna 2 4 7 63 sÃvra Tiralli, c’ha nÄme Benaco. 1 4 7 Per mille fÅnti, crÆdo,Çe più si bagna 2 4 6 8 tra GardaÈe Val CamÉnicaÊe Pennino 2 4 6 66 de l’acqua che nel dËtto laco stagna. 2 6 8 LÌcoÍè nel mÎÏÐo là dÑve ’l trentino 1 4 6 (7) pastÒreÓe quÔl di BrÕsciaÖe ’l veron×Øe 2 4 6 69 segnar porÙa, s’Ú’ fÛsse quÜl cammino. 2 4 6 SiÝde PeschiÞra, bßlloàe fárteâarnãäe 1 4 6 8 da fronteggiar Bresciåniæe Bergamaschi, 4 6 72 çve la riva ’ntèrno più discéêe. 1 4 6 8 Ivi conviën che tutto quanto caschi 1 4 (6) 8 ciò che ’n grìmboía Benîco star non può, 1 3 6 8 75 e fassi fiume giù per vïrdi paschi. (2) 4 6 8 Tðsto che l’acquaña còrrer mótte cô, (1) 4 6 8 non più Benõco, ma Möncio si chiama (2) 4 7 78 fino÷a Govørnol, dùve cadeúin Pû. 1 4 6 8 Non mültoýha cþrso, ch’ l tr va una lama, 2 4 7 ne la qual si dist nde e la ’mpaluda; 3 6 81 e su l di state tal r sser grama. 2 4 7 (8)
6 was Manto, who roamed through many lands, then settled there where I was born; 57 whereof it pleases me that thou listen a little to me. After her father had departed from life, and the city of Bacchus had become enslaved, 60 she wandered long while through the world. Up in fair Italy lies a lake, at foot of the alp which shuts in Germany 63 above Tyrol, which is called Benaco. By a thousand founts, I think, and more, is bathed between Garda and Val Camonica, Apennino 66 by the water which settles in that lake. A place is in the middle there, where the Trentine Pastor and he of Brescia and the Veronese 69 might each give his blessing if he took that road. Peschiera, a fair and strong fortress, to front the Brescians and Bergamasques, 72 sits where the shore round about is lowest. There must needs all pour forth that which in the bosom of Benaco cannot stay, 75 and it becomes a river down through green pastures. Soon as the water gathers head to run, it is no longer called Benaco, but Mincio, 78 far as Governo, where it falls into the Po. It has no long course before it finds a flat, on which it spreads, and makes a marsh, 81 and is apt at times in summer to be noisome.
7 Quindi passando la v rgine cruda 1 4 7 vide t rra, nel m o del pantano, 1 3 6 84 sanza coltura e d’abitanti nuda. 1 4 8 Lì, per fuggire gne cons rzio umano, 1 4 5 8 rist tte con su i s rvi a far sue arti, 2 6 8 87 e visse, e vi lasciò suo c rpo vano. 2 6 8 Li u mini p i che ’nt rno rano sparti 1 4 6 (7) s’acc lsero!a qu"l l#co, ch’$ra f%rte 2 6 90 per lo pantan ch’av&a da tutte parti. 4 6 8 F'r la città s(vra qu)ll’ *ssa m+rte; 1 4 5 8 e per col,i che ’l l-co prima.el/sse, 4 6 8 93 Mantüa l’appellar sanz’ altra s0rte. 1 6 8 Già fu1r le g2nti sue d3ntro più sp4sse, 1 2 4 6 7 prima che la mattia da Ca5al6di 1 6 96 da Pinam7nte8inganno ricev9sse. 4 6 Però t’ass:nno che, se tu mai;<di (2) 4 6 (8) 9 originar la mia t=rra>altrim?nti, 4 7 99 la verità nulla menz@gna frAdi». 4 5 8 EBio: «MaCDstro,Ei tuFi ragionamGnti 2 4 6 mi sHn sì cIrtiJe prKndon sì mia fLde, 2 4 6 8 102 che liMaltri mi sarNen carbOni spPnti. 2 6 8 Ma dimmi, de la gQnte che procRde, 2 6 se tu ne vSdiTalcun dUgno di nVta; (2) 4 6 7 105 ché sWloXa ciò la mia mYnte rifiZde». 2 4 7 All[r mi disse: «Qu\l che da la g]ta 2 4 6 p^rge la barba_in su le spalle brune, 1 4 8 108 fu – quando Gr`cia fu di maschi vòta, 1 2 4 6 8
8 Passing that way, the savage virgin saw land in the middle of the fen, 84 without culture and bare of inhabitants. There, to avoid all human fellowship, she stayed with her servants to practice her arts, 87 and lived, and left there her body empty. Afterward the men who were scattered round about gathered to that place, which was strong 90 because of the fen which it had on all sides. They built the city over those dead bones, and for her who first had chosen the place, 93 they called it Mantua, without other augury. Formerly its people were more thick within it, before the stupidity of Casalodi 96 had been tricked by Pinamonte. Therefore I instruct thee that if thou ever hearest that my city had other origin, 99 no falsehood may defraud the truth.” And I: “Master, thy discourses are so certain to me, and so lay hold on my faith, 102 that the others would be to me as spent coals. But tell me of the people who are going onward, if thou seest any one of them worthy of note; 105 for only to that does my mind revert.” Then he said to me: “That one, who from his cheek stretches his beard over his dusky shoulders, 108 was an augur when Greece was so emptied of males
9 sì ch’a pana rimaber per le cune – (1) 3 6 cugure,de diede ’l punto con Calcanta 1 4 6 111 in fulidega tagliar la prima fune. 2 6 8 Eurhpiloijbbe nkme,le comì ’l canta 2 4 6 9 l’alta mia tragedìanin alcun loco: 1 (3) 6 9 114 bpn lo sai tu che la sai tutta quanta. 1 (3) 4 7 8 Quqll’ altro che nr’ fianchisè cotì puco, 2 6 9 Michvle Scwtto fu, che veramxnte 2 4 6 117 de le magiche fryde szppe ’l gi{co. 3 6 8 V|di Gu}do Bonatti; v~diAdnte, 1 3 6 (8) ch’avreint oal cuioea lo spago 2 4 6 120 ra vorrbbe, ma tardi si pnte. (1) 4 7 Vdi le triste che lasciaron l’ago, 1 4 8 la spulae ’l fuo,e fcersi ’ndivine; 2 4 6 123 fcer male con rbee con imago. 1 4 6 Ma vinneomai, ché già tine ’l confine 2 4 6 7 d’amendue liemisprie tcca l’nda 3 6 8 126 s tto Sobilia Ca¡ino¢e le spine; 1 4 7 e già£iern¤tte fu la luna t¥nda: 2 4 (6) 8 b¦n t§n d¨’ ricordar, ché non ti n©cque 1 3 6 (8) 129 alcuna vªlta per la s«lva f¬nda». 2 4 8 Sì mi parlava, e®andavamo¯intr°cque. (1) 4 8
10 that they scarcely remained for the cradles, and with Calchas he gave the moment 111 for cutting the first cable at Aulis. Eurypylus was his name, and thus sings him my lofty Tragedy in some place; 114 well thou knowest this, who knowest the whole of it. That other who is so spare in the flanks was Michael Scot, who verily 117 knew the game of magical deceptions. Behold Guido Bonatti, behold Asdente, who now would wish he had attended 120 to his leather and his thread, but too late repents. Behold the wretched women who left the needle, the spool, and the spindle, and became fortune-tellers; 123 they wrought spells with herbs and with image. But come on now, for already Cain with his thorns holds the confines of both the hemispheres, 126 and touches the wave below Seville; and already yesternight was the moon round; well shouldst thou remember it, for it did thee no harm 129 sometimes in the deep wood.” Thus he spoke to me, and we went on the while.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyMjQzNA==