La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XXIII The song of the hypocrites Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): around nine o’clock in the morning Place: Circle VIII (Malebolge): fraudulents Ditch VI: hypocrites People: Dante, Virgilio, Catalano de’ Malavolti, Loderingo degli Andalò, Caifa, Anna, the members of the Sinedrio © 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 Taciti, s li, sanza compagnia 1 4 6 n’andavam l’un dinanzi e l’altro d po, 3 4 6 8 3 come frati min r vanno per via. 1 3 6 7 Vòlt’ ra in su la favola d’I po 2 6 lo mio pensi r per la pre nte rissa, 4 8 6 d v’ l parlò de la rana e del t po; 2 4 7 ché più non si par ggia ‘m ’ e ‘issa’ 2 6 8 che l’un con l’altro fa, se b n s’acc ppia 2 4 6 8 9 principio e fine con la m nte fissa. 2 4 8 E c me l’un pensi r de l’altro sc ppia, 4 6 8 co ì nacque di qu llo un altro p i, 2 3 6 8 12 che la prima pa ura mi fé d ppia. 3 6 (9) Io pensava co!ì: ‘Qu"sti per n#i 1 3 6 7 s$no scherniti con danno%e con b&ffa 1 4 7 15 sì fatta, ch’ assai cr'do che l(r nòi. 2 5 6 9 Se l’ira s)vra ’l mal vol*r s’aggu+ffa, 2 4 6 8 ,i ne verranno di-tro più crud.li (1) 4 6 8 18 che ’l cane/a qu0lla li1vre ch’2lli3acc4ffa’. 2 4 6 (8) Già mi sent5a tutti6arricciar li p7li 1 4 5 8 de la pa8ura9e stava:in di;tro<int=nto, 4 6 8 21 quand’ io dissi: «Ma>?stro, se non c@li 3 6 teAe me tostamBnte,Ci’Dho pavEnto 1 3 6 d’i Malebranche. NFi liGavHm già diItro; 4 6 8 24 io li ’magino sì, che già li sJnto». 1 3 6 (8) E quKi: «S’i’ fLssi di piombato vMtro, 2 4 8 l’imagine di fuNr tua non trarrOi 2 6 7 27 più tPstoQa me, che quRlla dSntro ’mpTtro. 2 4 6 8
2 Silent, alone, and without company, we were going on, one before, the other behind, 3 as Minor Friars go along the way. Upon the fable of Aesop was turned my thought by the present brawl, 6 in which he told of the frog and the mouse; for now and this instant are not more alike than the one is to the other, if be rightly coupled 9 beginning and end by the attentive mind. And as one thought bursts out from another, so then from that was born another 12 which made my first fear double. I was thinking in this wise: These through us have been put to scorn, and with such harm and trick 15 as I believe must vex them gready; if anger be added to ill-will, they will come after us more merciless 18 than the dog to the hare which he snaps up. Already I was feeling my hair all bristling with fear, and was backwards intent, 21 when I said: “Master, if thou dost not conceal thyself and me speedily, I am afraid of the Malebranche; we have them already after us; 24 I so imagine them that I already feel them.” And he: “If I were of leaded glass, I should not draw to me thine outward image 27 more quickly than I receive thine inward.
3 Pur mU venVenoWi tuX’ pensiYr tra ’ miZi, (1.2) 4 6 8 con simile[atto\e con simile faccia, 2 4 7 30 sì che d’intrambi]un s^l consiglio f_i. (1) 4 6 8 S’`lliaè che sì la dbstra ccsta giaccia, 2 4 6 8 che ndi possiam ne l’altra belgia scfndere, (2) 4 6 8 33 ngi fuggirhm l’imaginata caccia». (1) 4 8 Già non compié di tal consiglio rindere, 1 4 (6) (8) ch’io li vidi venir con l’ali tjke (1) (3) 6 (8) 36 non mllto lungi, per volmrne prnndere. 2 4 8 Lo duca mio di sùbito mi prope, 2 4 6 cqme la madre ch’al romrresè dtsta 4 8 39 e vude prvssowa sé le fiammexaccyze, 2 4 6 8 che pr{nde|il figlio}e fugge~e non s’arrsta, (2) 4 6 (8) avndo più di lui che di sé cura, 2 (4) 6 9 42 tanto che slouna camiscia vsta; 1 (4) 8 e giù dal cllo de la ripa dura (2) 4 8 supin si di dea la pendnte rccia, 2 4 8 45 che l’un d’ latia l’altra blgia tura. 2 4 6 8 Non crse mai sì tstoacqua per dccia 2 4 6 7 a vlger ruta di molin terragno, 2 4 8 48 quand’ lla più verso le paleapprccia, 2 (4) 5 8 cme ’l mastro mio per quel vivagno, 1 4 6 (8) portandosene me svra ’l suo ptto, 2 6 7/9 51 cme suo figlio, non cme compagno. (1) 4 6 (7) A pna furoi piè sui giunti al l¡tto 2.4 7 8 del f¢ndo giù, ch’£’ furon in sul c¤lle 2 4 6 54 sovr¥sso n¦i; ma non l짨ra sosp©tto: 2 4 7/7
4 Even now came thy thoughts among mine, with like action and like look, 30 so that of both I made one sole counsel. If it be that the right bank lies so that we can descend into the next pouch, 33 we shall escape from the imagined chase.” He had not yet finished reporting this counsel, when I saw them coming with wings spread, 36 not very far off, with will to take us. My Leader on a sudden took me, as a mother who is wakened by the noise, 39 and sees the kindled flames close to her, who takes her son and flies, and, having more care of him than of herself, 42 stays not so long as only to put on a shift: and down from the ridge of the hard bank, he gave himself supine to the sloping rock 45 that closes one of the sides of the next pouch. Never ran water so swiftly through a duct, to turn the wheel of a land-mill, 48 when it approaches nearest to the paddles, as my Master over that border, bearing me along upon his breast 51 as his son and not as a companion. Hardly had his feet reached the bed of the depth below, when they were on the ridge 54 right over us; but here there was no fear,
5 ché l’alta provedªnza che l«r v¬lle 2 6 9 p rre ministri de la f®ssa quinta, 1 4 8 57 pod¯r di partirs’ indi°a tutti t±lle. 2 6 8 Là giù trovammo²una g³nte dipinta 2 4 7 che giva´intµrno¶assai con l·nti passi, 2 4 6 8 60 piang¸ndo¹e nel sembiante stancaºe vinta. 2 6 8 »lli¼av½an cappe con cappucci bassi (1) 4 8 dinanzi¾a li¿Àcchi, fatte de la taglia (2) 4 6 63 cheÁin Clugnì per li mÂnaci fassi. 4 7 Di fuÃr dorate sÄn, sì ch’ÅlliÆabbaglia; 2 4 6 8 ma dÇntro tutte piÈmbo,Ée gravi tanto, 2 4 6 8 66 che Federigo le mettÊa di paglia. 4 8 ËhÌin ettÍrno faticÎÏo manto! 1 4 8 NÐi ci volgÑmmoÒancÓr pur a man manca 1 4 6 7 9 69 con lÔroÕinsiÖme,×intØntiÙal tristo pianto; (2) 4 6 8 ma per lo pÚÛo quÜlla gÝnte stanca 4 (6) 8 venìa sì pian, che nÞißeravam nuàvi (2) 4 6 9 72 di compagniaáad âgne mãver d’anca. 4 6 8 Per ch’ioäal duca mio: «Fa che tu tråvi 2 4 6 7 alcun ch’al fattoæoçal nème si conésca, 2 4 6 75 e liêëcchi, sììandando,íintîrno mïvi». 2 6 8 Eðun che ’ntñòe la paróla tôsca, 2 4 di rõtroöa n÷i gridò: «Tenøteùi piúdi, (2) 4 6 8 78 vûi che corrüte sì per l’ýura fþsca! 1 4 6 8 F rse ch’avrai da me qu l che tu chi di». 1 4 6 7 nde ’l duca si v lse e disse: «Asp tta, (1) 3 6 8 81 e p i sec ndo il suo passo proc di». 2 (4) 7
6 for the high Providence that willed to set them as ministers of the fifth ditch 57 deprived them all of power of departing thence. There below we found a painted people who were going round with very slow steps, 60 weeping, and in their semblance weary and subdued. They had cloaks, with hoods lowered before their eyes, fashioned of the cut 63 which is made for the monks in Cologne. Outwardly they are gilded, so that it dazzles, but within all lead, and so heavy 66 that those Frederick used to have put on were of straw. O mantle wearisome for eternity! We turned, still ever to the left hand, 69 along with them, intent on their sad plaint. But because of the weight, that tired folk were coming so slowly that we had fresh 72 company at every movement of the haunch. Wherefore I to my Leader: “Contrive to find some one who may be known by deed or name, 75 and while thus going move thine eyes around.” And one who heard the Tuscan speech cried out behind us: “Stay your feet, 78 ye who run thus through the dusky air; perchance thou shalt have from me that which thou askest.” Whereon my Leader turned and said: “Wait, 81 and then proceed according to his pace.”
7 Rist tti, e vidi due mostrar gran fr tta 2 4 6 8 (9) de l’animo, col vi o, d’ sser m co; 2 6 8 84 ma tard vali ’l carco e la via str tta. 3 6 9 Quando fu r giunti, assai con l’ cchio bi co 1 4 6 8 mi rimiraron sanza far par la; 4 6 8 87 p i si v lsero in sé, e dic an s co: (1/3) 6 9 «Costui par vivo!a l’atto de la g"la; 2 4 6 e s’#’ s$n m%rti, per qual privil&gio (2) 4 7 90 vanno scop'rti de la grave st(la?». 1 4 8 P)i disser me: *«+ T,sco, ch’al coll-gio 1 2 4 6 de l’ip.criti tristi s/’ venuto, 3 6 93 dir chi tu s0’ non av1re2in dispr3gio». 1 4 7 E4io5a l6ro:7«I’ fui nato8e cresciuto 2 4 7 s9vra ’l b:l fiume d’Arno;a la gran villa, 1 (3/4) 6 (9) 96 e s<n col c=rpo ch’i’>h? s@mpreAavuto. 2 4 8 Ma vBi chi siCte,Da cui tanto distilla 2 4 7 quant’ i’ vEggio dolFr giù per le guance? 3 6 7 99 e che pGnaHèIin vJi che sì sfavilla?». 3 (4) 6 E l’un rispuKLeMa me: «Le cappe rance 2 4 6 8 sNn di piOmbo sì grPsse, che li pQRi 1 3 6 102 fan coSì cigolar le lTr bilance. 1 3 6 8 Frati godUnti fummo,Ve bolognWXi; 1 4 6 io CatalanoYe quZsti Loderingo 1 4 6 105 nomati,[e da tua t\rra]insi^me pr_`i 2 (5) 6 8 came sublecdsser teltofun ugm solingo, 1 3 4 6 8 per conservar sua pace;he fummo tali, 4 6 8 108 ch’ancir si parejintkrno dal Gardingo». 2 4 6
8 I stopped, and saw two show great haste of mind, by their look, to be with me, 84 but their load and the narrow way retarded them. When they had come up, awhile, with eye askance, they gazed at me without speaking a word; 87 then they turned to one another, and said one to the other: “This one seems alive by the action of his throat; and if they are dead, by what privilege 90 do they go uncovered by the heavy stole?” Then they said to me: “O Tuscan, who to the college of the wretched hypocrites art come, 93 hold it not in disdain to tell who thou art.” And I to them: “I was born and grew up on the fair river of Arno, at the great town, 96 and I am in the body that I have always had. But who are ye, from whom such woe distils, as I see, down along your cheeks? 99 and what penalty is it that so glitters on you?” And one of them replied to me: “The orange hoods are of lead so thick that the weights 102 thus make their scales to creak. Jovial Friars were we, and Bolognese; I named Catalano and he Loderingo, 105 and together taken by thy city, as one man alone is usually chosen, in order to preserve its peace: and we were such 108 as still is apparent round about the Gardingo.”
9 Io cominciai:l«m frati,ni vostri mali …»; 4 6 8 ma più non dissi, ch’a l’pcchio mi cqrse 2 4 7 111 un, crucifissorin tsrra con tre pali. 1 4 6 Quando mi vide, tutto si disttrse, 1 4 6 soffiando ne la barba con sospiri; 2 6 114 e ’l frate Catalan, ch’a ciò s’accurse, 2 6 8 mi disse: «Quvl confitto che tu miri, 2 4 6 (8) consigliòwi Farixyi che convenza 3 6 117 p{rre|un u}m per lo p~poloa’ martìri. 1 3 6 Attraversatoè, nudo, ne la via, 4 5 6 cme tu vdi,ed è mestir ch’ l snta 1 4 8 120 qualunque passa, come pa, pria. 2 4 (6) 8 Ea tal mdoil scero si stnta (3) 4 6 in qusta fssa,e lialtri dal concilio 2 4 6 123 che fu per li Giudi mala semnta». 2 6 7 Allr vid’ io maravigliar Virgilio 2 4 8 svra colui ch’ra distoin crce 1 4 5 8 126 tanto vilmnte ne l’ettrnoessilio. 1 4 8 Pscia drizzòal frate cotal v ce: 1 4 6 9 «Non vi dispiaccia, se vi l¡ce, dirci 1 4 8 129 s’a la man d¢stra giace£alcuna f¤ce 3 4 6 8 ¥nde n¦i§amendue possiamo¨uscirci, 1 3 6 8 sanza costrigner de li©angeli nªri 1 4 7 132 che v«gnan d’¬sto f ndo®a dipartirci». 2 (4) 6 Rispu¯°e±adunque: «Più che tu non sp²ri 2 4 6 8 s’appr³ssa´un sasso che da la gran cµrchia 2 4 (9) 135 si m¶ve·e varca tutt’ i vall¸n f¹ri, 2 4 6 9
10 I began: “O Friars, your ills”— but more I said not, for there struck my eye 111 one crucified upon the ground with three stakes. When he saw me he writhed all over, blowing into his beard with sighs: 114 and the Friar Catalano, who observed it, said to me: “That transfixed one, whom thou lookest at, counseled the Pharisees that it was expedient 117 to put one man to torture for the people. Traverse and naked is he on the path, as thou seest, and he first must needs feel 120 how much whoever passes weighs. And in like fashion his father-in-law is stretched in this ditch, and the others of that Council 123 which for the Jews was seed of ill.” Then I saw Virgil marvel over him that was outstretched in a cross 126 so vilely in the eternal exile. Afterwards he addressed this speech to the Friar: “May it not displease you, if it be allowed you, to tell us 129 if any opening lies on the right hand, whereby we two can go out hence without constraining any of the Black Angels 132 to come to deliver us from this deep.” He answered then: “Nearer than thou hopest is a rock that from the great encircling wall 135 starts and spans all the savage valleys,
11 salvo che ’n quºsto»è r¼tto½e n¾l cop¿rchia; 1 4 6 8 montar potrÀte su per la ruÁina, 2 4 6 138 che giaceÂin cÃstaÄe nel fÅndo sopÆrchia». 2 4 7 Lo duca stÇtteÈun pÉcoÊa tËsta china; 2 4 6 8 pÌi disse: «Mal contava la biÍÎgna (1) 2 4 6 141 colui cheÏi peccatÐr di quaÑuncina». 2 6 8 E ’l frate: Ò«IoÓudi’ già direÔa BolÕgna 2 (4) 5 6 7 del diÖvol vizi×assai, tra ’ qualiØudi’ 2 4 6 (8) 144 ch’ÙlliÚè bugiardoÛe padre di menzÜgna». 1 2 4 6 ApprÝssoÞil ducaßa gran passi sàn gì, 2 4 6 7 turbatoáun pâco d’ira nel sembiante; 2 (4) 6 147 ãnd’ io da li ’ncarcati mi parti’ 2 6 diätroåa le pæste de le care piante. 1 4 8
12 save that at this one it is broken, and does not cover it. Ye will be able to mount up over the ruin 138 that lies against the side, and heaps up at the bottom.” My Leader stood a little while with bowed head, then said: “Ill did he report the matter 141 who hooks the sinners yonder.” And the Friar: “Of old at Bologna I used to hear tell of vices enough of the devil, among which I heard 144 that he is a liar, and the father of falsehood.” Then my Leader went on, with great steps, disturbed a little with anger in his look; 147 whereon I departed from the burdened ones, following the prints of the beloved feet.
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