La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XXIV The song of Vanni Fucci Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): around eleven o’clock in the morning Place: Circle VIII (Malebolge): fraudulents Ditch VII: thieves People: Dante, Virgilio, Vanni Fucci © 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 In qu lla parte del giovan tto anno 2 4 9 che ’l s le i crin s tto l’Aquario t mpra 2 4 5 8 3 e già le n tti al m o dì s n vanno, 2 4 6 8 quando la brina in su la t rra ass mpra 1 4 8 l’imagine di sua sor lla bianca, 2 6 8 6 ma p co dura a la sua p nna t mpra, 2 4 8 lo villan llo a cui la r ba manca, 4 6 8 si l va, e guarda, e v de la campagna 2 4 6 9 biancheggiar tutta; nd’ i si batte l’anca, 3 4 6 8 rit!rna"in casa,#e qua$e là si lagna, 2 4 (6) 8 c%me ’l tapin che non sa che si faccia; 1 4 7 12 p&i ri'de,(e la speranza ringavagna, 1 2 6 vegg)ndo ’l m*ndo+av,r cangiata faccia 2 4 6 8 in p-co d’.ra,/e pr0nde suo vincastro 2 4 6 15 e fu1r le pecor2lle3a pascer caccia. 2 6 8 Co4ì mi f5ce 6bigottir lo mastro 2 4 8 quand’ io li vidi sì turbar la fr7nte, (2) 4 6 8 18 e co8ì t9sto:al mal giunse lo ’mpiastro; (3) 4 6 7 ché, c;me n<i venimmo=al guasto p>nte, 1 4 6 8 lo duca?a me si v@lse con quAl piglio 2 4 6 9 21 dBlce ch’io vidi primaCa piè del mDnte. 1 (4) 6 8 Le bracciaEapFrse, dGpoHalcun consiglio 2 4 6 8 elItto sJco riguardando prima 2 4 8 24 bKn la ruLina,Me diNdemi di piglio. 1 4 6 E cOme quPi ch’adQperaRed estima, (2) 4 6 che sSmpre par che ’nnanzi si provTggia, 2 4 6 27 coUì, levando me sù vVr’ la cima 2 4 6 7
2 In that part of the young year when the sun tempers his locks beneath Aquarius, 3 and now the nights are passing to the south, when the hoar frost copies on the ground the image of her white sister, 6 but the temper of her pen lasts little while, the rustic, whose provision fails, gets up and looks, and sees the plain 9 all white, whereat he smites his thigh, returns indoors, and grumbles to and fro, like the poor wretch who knows not what to do; 12 then goes out again and picks up hope, seeing the world to have changed face in short while, and takes his crook 15 and drives forth his sheep to pasture. Thus my Master made me dismayed, when I saw his brow so disturbed, 18 and thus speedily arrived the plaster for the hurt. For when we came to the ruined bridge, the Leader turned to me with that sweet 21 look which I first saw at the foot of the mount. He opened his arms, after taking some counsel with himself, looking first 24 well at the ruin, and laid hold of me. And as one who acts and considers, and seems always to provide in advance, 27 so, lifting me up toward the top
3 d’un ronchiWne,XavviYavaZun’altra sch[ggia 3 6 8 dic\ndo: «S]vra qu^lla p_i t’aggrappa; 2 4 6 8 30 ma t`nta pria s’è tal ch’alla ti rbggia». 2 4 6 7 Non cra via da vestito di cappa, (2) 4 7 ché noida pena,fgi lihveiejio sospinto, 2 4 5 6 8 33 potavam sù montar di chiappakin chiappa. 3 4 6 8 E se non flsse che da quml precinto 4 8 più che da l’altronora la cpsta cqrta, 1 4 (5) 8 36 non sr di lui, masio sarti bun vinto. (2) 4 6 8 Ma perché Malebvlgewinvxr’ la pyrta 3 6 8 del bassissimo pzzzo tutta p{nde, 3 6 8 39 lo sito di ciascuna valle p|rta 2 6 8 che l’una c}sta surge~e l’altra scnde; 2 4 6 8 ni pur venimmoal finein su la punta 1 2 4 6 42 nde l’ultima pitra si scosc nde. 1 3 6 La lna m’ra del polmn sì munta 2 4 8 quand’ io fui sù, ch’i’ non pota piùltre, (2) 4 8 45 anzi m’assii ne la prima giunta. 1 4 8 «Omai convin che tu coì ti spltre», 2 4 6 8 disse ’l mastro; «ché, seggndoin piuma, 1 4 6 8 48 in fama non si vin, né stto cltre; 2 6 (7) 8 sanza la qual chi sua vita consuma, 1 4 7 cotal vestigioin trra di sé lascia, 2 4 6 (9) 51 qual fummoin ereein acqua la schiuma. 2 4 7 E però lva sù; vinci l’ambascia 3 4 6 7 con l’animo che vincegne battaglia, 2 6 (7) 54 se col suo grave c rpo non s’accascia. 4 6
4 of a great rock, he was taking note of another splinter, saying: “Grapple next on that, 30 but try first if it be such that it can support thee.” It was no way for one clothed in a cloak, for we with difficulty, he light and I pushed up, 33 could mount from jag to jag. And had it not been that on that precinct the bank was shorter than on the other side, I do not know 36 about him, but I should have been completely vanquished. But because all Malebolge slopes toward the opening of the lowest well, 39 the site of each valley imports that one side is higher than the other. We came, however, at length, to the point 42 where the last stone is broken off. The breath was so milked from my lungs when I was up that I could no farther, 45 nay, sat me down on first arrival. “Henceforth it behoves thee thus to put off sloth,” said the Master, “for, sitting upon down 48 or under quilts, one comes not to fame, without which he who consumes his life leaves such vestige of himself on earth 51 as smoke in air, or the foam on water: and therefore rise up, conquer thy panting with the soul that wins every battle, 54 if it be not weighed down by its heavy body.
5 Più lunga scala convi¡n che si saglia; 2 4 7 non basta da cost¢ro£¤sser partito. 2 6 7 57 Se tu mi ’nt¥ndi,¦§r fa sì che ti vaglia». 2 4 (5) 7 Lev¨’mi©allªr, mostrandomi fornito 2 4 6 m«glio di l¬na ch’i’ non mi sentia, 1 4 60 e dissi: «Va, ch’i’ s n f®rte¯e°ardito». 2 4 7 Su per lo sc±glio prend²mmo la via, (1) 4 7 ch’³ra ronchi´µo, str¶tto·e malag¸vole, (1) 4 6 63 ed ¹rto piùºassai che qu»l di pria. 2 6 8 Parlando¼andava per non par½r fi¾vole; 2 4 9 ¿ndeÀuna voceÁuscì de l’altro fÂsso, 1 4 6 8 66 a parÃle formar disconvenÄvole. 3 6 Non so che disse,ÅancÆr che sÇvra ’l dÈsso 2 4 6 (8) fÉssi de l’arco già che varca quivi; 1 4 6 8 69 ma chi parlavaÊad ire parËa mÌsso. (2) 4 6 9 IoÍÎra vòltoÏin giù, ma liÐÑcchi vivi 4 6 8 non potÒanoÓireÔal fÕndo per lo scuro; 3 4 6 72 per ch’io: «MaÖ×stro, fa che tuØarrivi 2 4 6 (8) da l’altro cinghioÙe diÚmontiam lo muro; 2 4 8 ché, cÛm’ i’ÜÝdo quinciÞe non intßndo, 1 4 6 75 coàì giù vággioâe neãänteåaffiguro». 2 (3) 4 7 «Altra rispæsta», disse, «non ti rçndo 1 4 6 8 se non lo far; ché la dimandaèonésta 2 4 8 78 si dê’ seguir con l’ëpera tacìndo». 2 4 6 Noi discendímmoîil pïnte de la tðsta (1) 4 6 dñve s’aggiugne con l’ottava ripa, (1) 4 8 81 e pòi mi fu la bólgia manifôsta: 2 (4) 6
6 A longer stairway needs must be ascended: it is not enough to have departed from these; 57 if thou understandest me, now act so that it avail thee.” Then I rose up, showing myself better furnished with breath than I felt, 60 and said: “Go on, for I am strong and resolute.” Up along the crag we took the way, which was rugged, narrow, and difficult, 63 and far steeper than the one before. I was going along speaking in order not to seem exhausted, when a voice came out from the next ditch, 66 ill suited for forming words. I know not what it said, though I was already upon the back of the arch which crosses here; 69 but he who was speaking seemed moved to anger. I had turned downwards, but my living eyes could not go to the bottom, through the darkness: 72 wherefore I said: “Master, see that thou get to the next girth, and let us descend the wall, for as from this place I hear and do not understand, 75 so I look down and shape out nothing.” “Other reply,” he said, “I give thee not than the doing, for the becoming request 78 ought to be followed by the deed in silence.” We descended the bridge at its head, where it is joined with the eighth bank, 81 and then the pouch was apparent to me.
7 e võdiviö÷ntro terribile stipa 2 4 7 di serpønti,ùe di sì divúrsa mûna 3 6 8 84 che la memüriaýil sangueþanc r mi scipa. 4 6 8 Più non si vanti Libia con sua r na; (1) 4 6 ché se chelidri, iaculi e far e 4 6 87 produce, e c ncri con anfi ib na, 2 4 né tante pestil nzie né sì r e 2 6 (9) mostrò già mai con tutta l’Etï pia 2 4 6 90 né con ciò che di s pra al Mar R sso èe. 1 3 6 9 Tra qu sta cruda e tristissima c pia (2) 4 7 corr an g nti nude e spaventate, 2 4 6 93 sanza sperar pertugio o elitr pia: 1 4 6 con s rpi le man di tro av an legate; 2 5 6 8 qu lle ficcavan per le r n la c da 1 4 8 96 e ’l capo,!ed "ran dinanzi#aggroppate. 2 4 7 Ed $cco%a&un ch’'ra da nostra pr(da, 2 4 (5) 8 s’avventò)un serp*nte che ’l trafisse 3 6 99 là d+ve ’l c,llo-a le spalle s’ann.da. 1 4 7 Né/0 sì t1sto mai né2I si scrisse, 2 4 6 8 c3m’ 4l s’acc56e7e8arse,9e c:ner tutto 2 4 6 8 102 conv;nne che cascando divenisse; 2 6 e p<i che fu=a t>rra sì distrutto, 2 4 6 8 la p?lver si racc@lse per sé stAssa 2 6 105 e ’n quBl medCDmo ritornò di butto. 2 4 8 CoEì per li gran savi si confFssa 2 5 6 che la fenice mGreHe pIi rinasce, 4 6 8 108 quandoJal cinquecentKLimoMannoNapprOssa; 1 6 8
8 And I saw within it a terrible crowd of serpents, and of such strange kind 84 that the memory still curdles my blood. Let Libya with her sand vaunt herself no more; for though she bring forth chelydri, jaculi, and phareae, 87 and cenchri with amphisboena, either so many or so malignant plagues, she never showed with all Ethiopia, 90 nor with the land that lies on the Red Sea. Amid this cruel and most dismal swarm were running people naked and terrified, 93 without hope of hole or heliotrope. They had their hands tied behind with serpents, which fixed through the loins their tail 96 and their head, and were twisted up in front. And lo! at one, who was near our bank, darted a serpent that transfixed him 99 there where the neck is knotted to the shoulders. Nor O nor I was ever so quickly written as he took fire and burnt, and all ashes 102 needs must become as he fell; and when he was thus destroyed on the ground, the dust drew together of itself, 105 and in an instant into that same one returned. Thus by the great sages it is affirmed that the Phoenix dies, and then is born again 108 when she draws nigh to her five-hundredth year.
9 Prba né biQdoRin sua vita non pasce, 1 4 7 ma sSl d’incTnso lagrimeUe d’amVmo, 2 4 6 111 e nardoWe mirra sXn l’ultime fasce. 2 4 6 7 E qual è quYl che cade,Ze non sa c[mo, 3 4 6 per f\rza di dem]n ch’a t^rra_il tira, 2 6 8 114 o d’altra`oppilazian che lbga l’cmo, 2 6 8 quando si ldva, che ’nterno si mira 1 4 7 tutto fmarrito de la grandeganghscia 1 4 8 117 ch’illijha soffkrta,le guardando sospira: 1 4 7 tal mra ’l peccatnr levato poscia. 1.2 6 8 ph potqnza di Dio, quant’ è sevrra, 1 3 6 8 120 che cotai cslpi per vendttta cruscia! 3 4 8 Lo ducavil domandò pwi chixylloz{ra; 2 6 7 9 per ch’|i rispu}~e:«Io pivvi di Toscana, 2 4 (5) 6 123 pco tmpoè,in qu sta gla fira. (1) 3 4 (6) 8 Vita bestial mi piacquee non umana, 1 4 6 (8) sì cmea mul ch’i’ fui; sn Vanni Fucci 1 (2) 4 6 7 8 126 bstia,e Pistia mi fu dgna tana». 1 4 8 Eioal duca: «Dilli che non mucci, (2) 4 6 e domanda che clpa qua giù ’l pinse; 3 6 9 129 ch’io[’]il vidimo di sanguee di crucci». 1 3 4 7 E ’l peccatr, che ’nte, non s’infinse, 4 6 (8) ma drizzò vrso me l’animoe ’l vlto, 3 (4) 6 7 132 e di trista verggna si dipinse; 3 6 pi disse: «Più mi du l che tu m’hai c¡lto 1 2 4 6 8 ne la mi¢£ria d¤ve tu mi v¥di, 4 8 135 che quando fui de l’altra vita t¦lto. 2 4 6 8
10 In her life she feeds not on herb or grain, but only on tears of incense and amomum; 111 and nard and myrrh are her last windingsheet. And as he who falls, and knows not how, by force of a demon that drages him to ground, 114 or of other obstruction that binds the man when he rises and gazes around him, all bewildered by the great anguish 117 that he has suffered, and as he looks, sighs; such was that sinner after he had risen. Oh power of God ! how severe it is, 120 that showers down such blows for vengeance! My Leader then asked him who he was; whereon he answered: “I rained down from Tuscany 123 short time ago into this fell gullet. Bestial life, and not human, pleased me, like a mule that I was. I am Vanni Fucci, 126 beast, and Pistoia was my fitting den.” And I to my Leader: “Tell him not to slip away, and ask what sin thrust him down here, 129 for I have seen him a man of blood and of rages.” And the sinner who heard did not dissemble, but directed toward me his mind and his face, 132 and painted himself with dismal shame. Then he said: “It grieves me more, that thou hast caught me in the misery where thou seest me, 135 than when I was taken from the other life.
11 Io non p§sso negar qu¨l che tu chi©di; 1 3 6 in giù sªn m«sso tanto perch’ io fui 2 4 6 9 138 ladro¬a la sagrestia d’i b lli®arr¯di, 1 6 8 e falsam°nte già fu±app²sto³altrui. 4 6 8 Ma perché di tal vista tu non g´di, 3 5 6 8.9 141 se mai sarai di fuµr da’ lu¶ghi bui, 2 4 6 8 apri li·or¸cchi¹al mioºannunzio,»e¼½di. 1 4 8 Pist¾¿iaÀin pria d’i NÁri si dimagra; 2 4 6 144 pÂi FiorÃnza rinÄva gÅnteÆe mÇdi. 1 3 (6) 8 Tragge Marte vapÈr di Val di Magra 1 3 6 8 ch’è di tÉrbidi nuvoliÊinvoluto; 3 6 147 e con tempËstaÌimpetüÍÎaÏeÐagra 4 8 sÑvra Campo PicÒn fÓa combattuto; 1 3 6 7 Ônd’Õi repÖnte spezzerà la n×bbia, 2 4 8 150 sì ch’Øgne Bianco ne sarà feruto. 1 2 4 8 E dÙtto l’ho perché dolÚr ti dÛbbia!». 2 4 6 8
12 I cannot refuse that which thou askest. I am put so far down because I was 138 the thief in the sacristy with the fair adornments, and it was once falsely ascribed to another. But in order that thou enjoy not this sight, 141 if ever thou shalt be forth of these dark places, open thine ears to my announcement, and hear: Pistoia first strips herself of Blacks, 144 then Florence renovates her people and her fashions. Mars draws a vapor from Val di Magra which is wrapt in turbid clouds, 147 and with impetuous and bitter storm there shall be fighting on the Pescian plain, whence it shall suddenly rend the mist, 150 so that every White shall be smitten by it. And this I have said in order that it may grieve thee.”
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