La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XXIX The song of the forgers Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): between one and two o’clock in the afternoon Place: Circle VIII (Malebolge): fraudulents Ditch IX: sowers of discords and schisms Ditch X: forgers People: Dante, Virgilio, Geri del Bello. Forgers: Griffolino d’Arezzo, Capocchio © 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 La m lta g nte e le div rse piaghe 2 4 8 av an le luci mie sì inebrïate, 2 4 6 7 3 che de lo stare a piangere ran vaghe. 4 6 8 Ma Virgilio mi disse: «Che pur guate? 3 6 8 perché la vista tua pur si soff lge 2 4 6 7 6 là giù tra l’ mbre triste mozzicate? 2 4 6 Tu non hai fatto sì a l’altre b lge; (1) 4 6 8 p nsa, se tu annoverar le cr di, 1 4 8 9 che miglia ventidue la valle v lge. 2 6 8 E già la luna è s tto i n stri pi di; 2 4 6 8 lo t mpo è p co omai che n’è conc sso, 2 4 6 (8) 12 e altro è da ved r che tu non v di». 2 6 (8) «Se tu!av"ssi», rispu#$’ io%appr&sso, 4 8 «att'(o)a la cagi*n per ch’io guardava, 2 6 8 15 f+rse m’avr,sti-anc.r lo star dim/sso». 1 4 6 8 Parte s0n giva,1e2io r3tro li4andava, 1 4 (6) 7 lo duca, già facc5ndo la risp6sta, 2 4 6 18 e soggiugn7ndo: «D8ntro9a qu:lla cava 4 6 (8) d;v’ io ten<a=>r li?@cchi sìAa pBsta, 2 4 5 6 8 crCdo ch’un spirto del mio sangue pianga 1 4 (7) 8 21 la cDlpa che là giù cotanto cEsta». 2 6 8 AllFr disse ’l maGHstro: «Non si franga 2 3 6 8 lo tuo pensiIr da quiJinnanzi sKvr’ Lllo. 4 6 7 24 AttMndiNad altro,Oed Pi là si rimanga; 2 4 6 7 ch’io vidi luiQa piè del ponticRllo 1/2 4 6 mostrartiSe minacciar fTrte col dito, 2 6 7 27 eUudi’ ’l nominar GVri del BWllo. 3 6 7
2 The many people and the divers wounds had so inebriated my eyes 3 that they were fain to stay for weeping; but Virgil said to me: “What art thou still watching? why does thy gaze still rest 6 down there among the dismal mutilated shades? Thou hast not done so at the other pits; consider, if thou thinkest to count them, 9 that the valley circles two and twenty miles; and already the moon is beneath our feet; the time is little now that is conceded to us, 12 and other things are to be seen than^these thou seest.” “If thou hadst,” replied I thereupon, “given heed to the reason why I was looking, 15 perhaps thou wouldst have permitted me yet to stay.” Meanwhile was going on, and I was going behind him, my Leader, now making my reply, 18 and adding: “Within that hollow where I was now holding my eyes so fixedly, I believe that a spirit of my own blood is weeping 21 for the guilt which costs so dear down there.” Then said the Master: “Let not be broken thy thought henceforth upon him; 24 attend to other things, and let him stay there; for I saw him at the foot of the little bridge, pointing thee out, and threatening fiercely with his finger, 27 and I heard him called Geri del Bello.’’
3 TuXYriZall[r sì del tutto\impedito 2 4 7 s]vra colui che già t^nne_Altaf`rte, 1 4 7 30 che non guardastiain là, sì fu partito». 4 6 7 «b duca mio, la vïolcnta mdrte 2 4 8 che non lieè vendicatafancgr», diss’ io, 3 6 8 33 «per alcun che de l’hnta sia consirte, 3 6 8 fjce lui dikdegnlmo;nond’ pl sqn gro 1 3 6 7.8 sanza parlarmi, sì csm’ iotestimo: 1 4 6 8 36 euin ciò m’havwl fattoxa sé più pio». 3 5 6 8 Coyì parlammozinfino{al l|co primo 2 4 6 8 che de lo sc}glio l’altra valle m~stra, 4 6 8 39 se più lume vi fsse, tuttoad imo. 3 6 8 Quando ni fummo sr l’ultima chistra (1) 4 7 di Maleblge, sì che i sui convrsi 4 6 (8) 42 potan parrea la veduta nstra, 2 4 8 lamnti saettaron me divrsi, 2 6 8 che di pietà ferratiavan li strali; 4 6 8 45 nd’ io liorcchi con le man coprsi. 2 4 8 Qual dolr fra, se de li spedali 1 3 4 (6) di Valdichiana tra ’l luglioe ’l settmbre 4 7 48 e di Marmmae di Sardignai mali 4 8 fsseroin una fssa tutti ’nsmbre, 1 (4) 6 8 tal ra quivi,¡e tal puzzo n’usciva 1 4 6 7 51 qual su¢l venir de le marcite m£mbre. 2 4 8 N¤i discend¥mmo¦in su l’ultima riva 1 4 7 del lungo sc§glio, pur da man sinistra; 2 4 6 8 54 e¨all©r fu la mia vista più viva 3 7 9
4 Thou wert then so wholly occupied with him who of old held Hautefort 30 that thou didst not look that way; so he went off.” “O my Leader, that his violent death has not yet been avenged for him,” said I, 33 “by any one who is a partner in the shame made him indignant; wherefore he went on without speaking to me, as I deem, 36 and thereby he has made me the more pitiful for him.” Thus we spoke as far as the first place on the crag which shows the next valley, 39 if more light were there, quite to the bottom. When we were above the last cloister of Malebolge, so that its lay brothers 42 could appear to our sight, divers lamentations pierced me, which had their arrows barbed with woe; 45 wherefore I covered my ears with my hands. Such suffering as there would be if, from the hospitals of Valdichiana between July and September, 48 and of Maremma and of Sardinia the sick were all in one ditch together, such was there here: and such stench came forth therefrom, 51 as is wont to come from gangrened limbs. We descended upon the last bank of the long crag, ever to the left hand, 54 and then my sight became livelier
5 giù vªr’ lo f«ndo, là ’v¬ la ministra 1 4 (6) de l’alto Sire infallibil giustizia 2 4 7 57 punisce®i falsador che qui registra. 2 6 8 Non cr¯do ch’a ved°r maggi±r tristizia 2 6 8 f²sse³in Eg´naµil p¶pol tutto·inf¸rmo, 1 4 6 8 60 quando fu l’¹ere sì piºn di malizia, 1 4 7 che li»animali,¼infino½al p¾cciol v¿rmo, 4 6 8 cascaron tutti,Àe pÁi le gÂntiÃantiche, (2) 4 6 8 63 secÄndo cheÅi poÆÇtiÈhanno per fÉrmo, 2 6 7 si ristorar di sÊme di formËche; 4 6 ch’ÌraÍa vedÎr per quÏllaÐoscura valle 1 4 6 8 66 languir li spirti per divÑrse biche. 2 4 8 Qual sÒvra ’l vÓntreÔe qual sÕvra le spalle 1 2 4 6 7 l’un de l’altro giacÖa,×e qual carpØne 1 3 6 8 69 si traÙmutava per lo tristo calle. 4 8 Passo passoÚandavam sanza sermÛne, 1 3 6 7 guardandoÜeÝascoltando liÞammalati, 2 6 72 che non potßan levar le làr persáne. (4) 6 8 Io vidi due sedâreãa sé poggiati, (2) 4 6 8 cäm’ a scaldar si påggia tægghiaça tègghia, 4 6 8 75 dal capoéal piè di schianze macolati; 2 4 6 e non vidi già mai menare strêgghia (3) 6 8 a ragazzoëaspettato dal segnìrso, 3 6 78 néía colui che mal volontiîr vïgghia, 4 6 9 cðme ciascun menava spñssoòil mórso 1 4 6 8 de l’unghie sôpra sé per la gran rabbia 2 4 6 9 81 del pizzicõr, che non ha più soccörso; 4 (8)
6 down toward the bottom, where the ministress of the High Lord — infallible Justice — 57 punishes the falsifiers whom she registers here. I do not believe it was a greater sorrow to see the whole people in Aegina sick, 60 when the air was so full of harm that the animals, even to the little worm, all fell dead, and afterwards the ancient people, 63 according as the poets hold for sure, were restored from seed of ants, then it was to see through that dark valley 66 the spirits languishing in different heaps. One was lying on the belly, and one on the shoulders of another, and one, on all fours, 69 was shifting himself along the dismal path. Step by step we went without speech, looking at and listening to the sick, 72 who could not lift their persons. I saw two seated leaning on each other, as pan is leaned against pan to warm, 75 spotted from head to foot with scabs; and never did I see currycomb plied by stable-boy for whom his lord is waiting, 78 or by one who stays awake unwillingly, as each was incessandy plying the bite of his nails upon himself, because of the great rage 81 of his itching which has no other relief.
7 e sì tra÷øvan giù l’unghie la scabbia, (2) (4) 6 7 cùme coltúl di scûrdova le scaglie 1 4 6 84 o d’altro püsce che più larghe l’abbia. 2 4 8 «ý tu che con le dita ti dismaglie», 2 6 cominciò ’l duca mioþa l’un di l ro, 3 4 6 8 87 «e che fai d’ sse tal v lta tanaglie, 4 7 dinne s’alcun Latino è tra cost ro 1 4 6 che s n quinc’ ntro, se l’unghia ti basti 2 4 7 90 etternalm nte a cot sto lavoro». 4 7 «Latin siam n i, che tu v di sì guasti 2 4 7 qui ambedue», rispu e l’un piang ndo; 1 4 6 8 93 «ma tu chi s ’ che di n i dimandasti?». 2 4 7 E ’l duca disse: «I’ s n un che disc ndo 2 4 (5) 7 con qu sto vivo giù di balzo in balzo, 2 4 6 8 96 e di mostrar lo ’nf rno a lui int ndo». 4 6 8 All r si ruppe lo comun rincalzo; 2 4 8 e tremando ciascuno a me si v lse 3 6 8 99 con altri che l’udiron di rimbalzo. 2 6 Lo bu n ma !stro"a me tutto s’acc#lse, 2 4 6 7 dic$ndo: «Dì%a l&r ciò che tu vu'li»; 2 4 6 7 102 e(io)incominciai, p*scia ch’+i v,lse: 2 6 7 (9) «Se la v-stra mem.ria non s’imb/li 3 6 (8) nel primo m0ndo da l’umane m1nti, 2 4 8 105 ma s’2lla viva s3tto m4lti s5li, 2 4 6 8 ditemi chi v6i si7te8e di che g9nti; 1 (5) 6 la v:stra sc;ncia<e fastidi=>a p?na 2 4 8 108 di pale@arviAa me non vi spavBnti». 4 6 7
8 And the nails were dragging down the scab, as a knife does the scales of bream, 84 or of other fish that has them larger still. “O thou, that art dismailing thyself with thy fingers,” began my Leader unto one of them, 87 “and who sometimes makest pincers of them, tell me if any Italian is among those who are here within, so may thy nails suffice thee 90 eternally for this work.” “Italians are we whom thou seest so spoiled here, both of us,” replied one weeping, 93 “but who are thou that askest of us?” And the Leader said: “I am one that descends with this living man down from ledge to ledge, 96 and I intend to show Hell to him.” Then their mutual support was broken; and each turned trembling to me, 99 with others who heard him by rebound. The good Master drew quite close to me, saying: “Say to them what thou wilt”; 102 and I began, since he wished it: “So may memory of you not steal away in the first world from the minds of men, 105 but may it live under many suns, tell me who ye are, and of what folk; let not your unseemly and loathsome punishment 108 fright you from disclosing yourselves unto me.”
9 «Io fui d’ArCzzo,DeEFlbero da SiGna», (1) 2 4 6 rispuHIe l’un, «mi fé mJttereKal fLco; 2 4 (6) 7 111 ma quMl per ch’io mori’ qui non mi mNna. 2 (4) 6 7 VOroPè ch’i’ dissi lui, parlandoQa giRco: 2 4 6 8 “I’ mi saprSi levar per l’TereUa vVlo”; (1) (4) 6 8 114 e quWi, ch’avXa vaghYzzaZe s[nno p\co, 2 4 6 8 v]lle ch’i’ li mostrassi l’arte;^e s_lo 1 6 8 perch’ io nol f`ci Dadalo, mi fbce (2) (3) 4 6 117 crdereda tal che l’avea per figliuflo. 1 4 7 Ma ne l’ultima bglgia de le dihce 3 6 me per l’alchìmia che nel mindojukai 1 4 8 120 dannò Minòs, a cui fallar non llce». 2 4 (6) 8 Emio dissinal poopta:q«rr fu già mai 2 3 6 7.8 gsnte sì vana ctme la sanuve? 1 4 (6) 123 Cwrto non la francxsca sì d’assai!». 1 (3) 6 (8) ynde l’altro lebbrz{o, che m’int|}e, 1 3 6 rispu~eal dtto mio: «Tr’mene Stricca 2 4 6 7 126 che sppe far le temperate sp e, 2 4 8 e Niccolò che la costuma ricca 4 8 del garfano prima discovrse 3 6 129 ne l’rto dve tal sme s’appicca; 2 6 7 e tra’ne la brigatain che disprse 2 6 Caccia d’Ascian la vignae la gran fnda, 1 4 6 9 132 e l’Abbagliato suo snno profrse. 4 7 Ma perché sappi chi sì ti secnda 4 (6) 7 cntrai Sani,aguzza vr’ me l’cchio, 1 4 6 (9) 135 sì che la faccia mia bn ti rispnda: (1) (4) 6 7
10 “I was of Arezzo and Albero of Siena,” replied one of them, “had me put in the fire; 111 but that for which I died does not bring me here. It is true that I said to him, speaking in jest, that I knew how to raise myself through the air in flight, 114 and he, who had lively desire and little wit, wished that I should show him the art, and only because I did not make him Daedalus, caused me 117 to be burned by one who had him for son; but to the last pouch of the ten, by reason of the alchemy that I practiced in the world, 120 condemned me Minos, to whom it is not allowed to err.” And I said to the Poet: “Now was ever people so vain as the Sienese? 123 surely not so the French by much.” Whereon the other leprous one, who heard me replied to my words: “Excepting Stricca, 126 who knew how to make moderate spendings; and Niccolò, who first invented the costly use of the clove, 129 in the garden where such seed takes root; and excepting the brigade in which squandered Caccia of Asciano his vineyard and his great wood, 132 and Abbagliato showed his wit. But that thou mayst know who thus seconds thee against the Sienese, sharpen thine eye toward me 135 so that my face may answer well to thee,
11 sì vedrai ch’io sn l’mbra di Capcchio, 1 3 (4) 6 che falsai li metalli con l’alchìmia; 3 6 138 e te de ricordar, se bn t’ad cchio, (2) 3 6 8 c¡m’ io fui di natura bu¢na scimia». 2 3 6 8
12 so wilt thou see that I am the shade of Capocchio, who falsified the metals by alchemy; 138 and thou shouldst recollect, if I descry thee aright, how I was a good ape of nature.”
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