La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto XXX The song of master Adamo Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): between one and two o’clock in the afternoon Place: Circle VIII (Malebolge): fraudulents Ditch X: forgers People: Dante, Virgilio, Griffolino d’Arezzo, mastro Adamo, Sinone, Capocchio, Gianni Schicchi, Mirra, wife of Putifarre © 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 Nel t mpo che Iun ne ra crucciata 2 6 7 per Semelè c ntra ’l sangue tebano, 4 5 7 3 c me mostrò una e altra fïata, 1 4 5 7 Atamante div nne tanto insano, 3 6 8 che vegg ndo la m glie con due figli 3 6 9 6 andar carcata da ciascuna mano, 2 4 8 gridò: «Tendiam le r ti, sì ch’io pigli 2 4 6 8 (9) la le on ssa e ’ le oncini al varco»; 4 8 9 e p i dist e i dispietati artigli, 2 4 8 prend ndo l’un ch’av a n me Le arco, 2 4 6 7 e rot llo e perc sselo!ad un sasso; 3 6 12 e qu"lla s’annegò con l’altro carco. 2 6 8 E quando la fortuna v#lse$in basso 2 6 8 l’alt%zza d&’ Tro'ian che tutto(ardiva, 2 6 8 15 sì che ’nsi)me col r*gno+il r, fu casso, (1) 3 6 8 -cuba trista, mi.era/e cattiva, 1 4 6 p0scia che vide Poliss1na m2rta, 1 4 8 18 e del suo Polid3ro4in su la riva 3 6 del mar si fu la dolor56a7acc8rta, 2 4 8 forsenn9ta latrò sì c:me cane; 3 6 (7) 21 tanto;il dol<r le fé la m=nte t>rta. 1 4 6 8 Ma né di T?be furie né tro@iane 2 4 6 8 si vider màiAin alcun tanto crude, 2 4 7 8 24 non punger bBstie, nonché mCmbraDumane, 2 4 7 8 quant’ io vidiEin dueFGmbre HmIrteJe nude, 2 3 5 6 8 che mordKndo corrLvan di quMl mNdo 3 6 (9) 27 che ’l pOrco quando del porcil si schiude. 2 4 8
2 At the time when Juno was wroth because of Semele against the Theban blood, 3 as she showed more than once, Athamas became so insane, that seeing his wife with her two sons 6 come laden on either hand, he cried out: “Spread we the nets, so that I may take the lioness and the young lions at the pass,” 9 and then he stretched out his pitiless talons, seizing the one who was named Learchus, and whirled him and dashed him on a rock; 12 and she drowned herself with her other burden. And when Fortune turned downward the loftiness of the Trojans which dared all, 15 so that together with his kingdom the king was undone, Hecuba, sad, wretched, and captive, after she saw Polyxena dead, 18 and descried her Polydorus on the seastrand, she the doleful, frantic, barked like a dog, 21 to such degree had grief distraught her mind. But neither furies of Thebes nor of Troy were ever seen in any one so cruel, 24 not in goading beasts much less human limbs, as those I saw in two pale and naked shades who were running, biting, in the way 27 that a boar does when he is let out from the sty.
3 L’una giunsePa CapQcchio,ReSin sul nTdo 1 3 6 del cUllo l’assannò, sì che, tirando, 2 6 (7) 8 30 grattar li fVceWil vXntreYal fZndo s[do. 2 4 6 8 E l’Aretin che rima\e, tremando 4 7 mi disse: «Qu]l foll^tto_è Gianni Schicchi, 2 4 6 8 33 e va rabbi`aobaltrui cocì conciando». 2 4 6 8 «dh», diss’ io lui, «se l’altro non ti ficchi 1 2 4 6 li dentifa dgsso, non ti sia fatica 2 4 (6.8) 36 a dir chihè, pria che di qui si spicchi». 2 4 5 8 Ed illija me: «Qukll’ è l’animalantica 2 4 5/6 7 di Mirra scellerata, che divmnne 2 6 39 al padre, funr del drittooampre,qamica. 2 4 6 8 Qurstasa peccar con tsso couì vvnne, 1 4 6 9 falsificando séwin altrui fxrma, 4 6 9 42 cyme l’altro che là szn va, sost{nne, (1) 3 6 8 per guadagnar la d|nna de la t}rma, 4 6 falsificare~in sé Buo Donati, 4 6 7 45 testandoe dandoal testamnto nrma». 2 4 8 E poi che i due rabbii fur passati 2 4 6 8 svra cu’ioava l’cchio tenuto, (1) 3/4 6 7 48 rivlsiloa guardar lialtri mal nati. 2 6 7 9 Io vidiun, fattoa guia di lëto, 1 2 3 4 6 pur ch’lliavsseavuta l’anguinaia 2 4 6 51 trnca da l’altro che l’umoha forcuto. 1 4 7 La graveidropesì, che sì dispaia 2 6 8 le mmbra con l’om r che mal conv¡rte, 2 6 8 54 che ’l vi¢o non risp£nde¤a la ventra¥ia, 2 6
4 One came at Capocchio, and in the nape of his neck struck his tusks, so that dragging him 30 it made his belly scratch along the solid bottom. And the Aretine, who remained trembling, said to me: “That mad sprite is Gianni Schicchi, 33 and he goes rabid dressing others thus.” “Oh!” said I to him, “so may the other not fix its teeth on thee, let it not be weariness to thee 36 to tell who it is before it breaks away from here.” And he to me: “That is the ancient soul of infamous Myrrha, who became 39 loving of her father beyond rightful love. She came thus to sinning with him by falsifying herself in another’s form, 42 even as the other, who goes off there, ventured, in order to gain the lady of the stud, to simulate in his own person Buoso Donati, 45 making a will and giving to the will due form.” And after the two rabid ones had passed on, upon whom I had kept my eye, 48 I turned it to look at the others of the evil born. I saw one shaped in fashion of a lute, had he only had his groin 51 cut short at the part where man is forked. The heavy dropsy which, so unmates the members with its ill-digested humor, 54 that the face does not correspond with the belly,
5 fac¦va lui ten§r le labbra¨ap©rte 2 4 6 8 come l’ªtico fa, che per la s«te 3 6 57 l’un v¬rso ’l m nto®e l’altro¯in sù rinv°rte. 1 2 4 6 8 «± v²i che sanz’ alcuna p³na si´te, 2 4 6 8 e non sµ¶io perché, nel m·ndo gramo», 2 4 6 8 60 diss’ ¸lli¹a nºi, «guardate»e¼attend½te 2 4 6 a la mi¾¿ria del maÀÁstroÂAdamo; 4 8 ioÃÄbbi, vivo,Åassai di quÆl ch’i’ vÇlli, (1) 2 4 6 8 63 eÈÉra, lasso!,Êun gËcciol d’acqua bramo. 2 4 6 8 Li ruscellÌtti che d’i vÍrdi cÎlli 4 8 del Casentin discÏndon giuÐoÑin Arno, 4 6 8 66 faccÒndoÓi lÔr canali frÕddiÖe m×lli, 2 4 6 8 sØmpre mi stannoÙinnanzi,Úe non indarno, 1 (4) 6 8 ché l’imagine lÛr vÜe più m’asciuga 3 6 8 69 che ’l maleÝÞnd’ io nel vßlto mi discarno. 2 4 6 La rigida giustizia che mi fruga 2 6 tragge cagiàn del locoáâv’ io peccai 1 4 6 8 72 a mãtter più li miäi sospiriåin fuga. 2 4 (6) 8 Iviæè Romçna, là dèv’ io falsai 1.2 4 6 8 la léga suggellata del Batista; 2 6 75 per ch’ioêil cërpo sùìarso lasciai. 2 4 6 7 Ma s’io vedíssi qui l’anima trista 2 4 6 7 di Guidoîo d’Alessandroïo di lðr frate, 2 6 9 78 per Fñnte Branda non daròi la vista. 2 4 (6) 8 Dóntro c’è l’una già, se l’arrabbiate 1 (3) 4 6 ômbre che vannoõintörno dicon v÷ro; 1 (4) 6 (8) 81 ma che mi val, c’ho le mømbra legate? (2) 4 7
6 was making him hold his lips open, as the hectic does, who for thirst 57 turns one toward his chin, and the other upward. “Oh ye, who are without any punishment, and I know not why, in this dismal world,” 60 said he to us, “behold and consider the misery of Master Adam. Living, I had enough of what I wished, 63 and now, alas! I long for a drop of water. The little brooks that from the green hills of the Casentin run down into the Arno, 66 making their channels cool and soft, stand ever before me, and not in vain; for their image dries me up far more 69 than the malady whereby I strip my face of flesh. The rigid justice that scourges me draws occasion from the place where I sinned 72 to set my sighs the more in flight. There is Romena, where I falsified the coin stamped with the Baptist, 75 for which on earth I left my body burnt. But if I could see here the miserable soul of Guido, or of Alessandro, or of their brother, 78 I would not give the sight for Fonte Branda. One of them is here within already, if the raging shades who go around speak true; 81 but what does it avail me who have my limbs bound?
7 S’io fùssi pur di tantoúancûr leggüro 2 4 6 8 ch’i’ potýssiþin c nt’ anni andare un’ ncia, 3 5 6 8 84 io sar i m sso già per lo senti ro, 1.3 4 6 cercando lui tra qu sta g nte sc ncia, (2) 4 6 8 con tutto ch’ lla v lge undici miglia, 2 4 6 7 87 e m n d’un m o di trav rso non ci ha. 2 4 8 Io s n per l r tra sì fatta famiglia; 2 4 7 ’ m’indussero a batter li fiorini 1 3 6 90 ch’av van tr carati di mondiglia». 2 4 6 E io a lui: «Chi s n li due tapini 2 4 6 8 che fumman c me man bagnate ’l v rno, 2 4 6 8 93 giac ndo str tti!a’ tu"i d#stri confini?». 2 4 7 «Qui li trovai –$e p%i v<a non di'rno –», 1 4 6 7 rispu()e, «quando pi*vvi+in qu,sto gr-ppo, 2 4 6 8 96 e non cr.do che d/eno0in sempit1rno. 3 6 L’una2è la falsa ch’accusò Gio34ppo; 1 4 8 l’altr’ è ’l falso Sin5n gr6co di Tr78ia: 1 3 6 7 99 per f9bbre:aguta gittan tanto l;ppo». 2 4 6 8 E l’un di l<r, che si recò=a n>?ia 2 4 8 f@rse d’Asser nomato sìBoscuro, 1 3 6 8 102 col pugno li percCsse l’Dpa crEFia. 2 6 8 QuGlla sonò cHme fIsseJun tamburo; 1 4 7 e mastroKAdamo li percLsseMil vNlto 2 4 8 105 col braccio suo, che non parve mOn duro, 2 4 7 dicPndoQa lui:R«AncSr che mi sia tTlto 2 4 6 lo muUver per le mVmbra che sWn gravi, 2 6 108 hoXioYil braccioZa tal mesti[re sci\lto». 2 4 6 8
8 If I were only still so light that in a hundred years I could go one inch, 84 I should already have set out along the path, seeking for him among this disfigured folk, although it circles round eleven miles, 87 and has not here less than a half mile across. Because of them I am among such a family; they induced me to strike the florins 90 which had three carats of base-metal.” And I to him: “Who are the two poor wretches that are smoking like wet hands in winter, 93 lying close to thy confines on the right ?” “Here I found them, and they have not since given a turn,” he answered, “when I rained down into this trough, 96 and I do not believe they will give one to all eternity. One is the false woman who accused Joseph, the other is the false Sinon the Greek, from Troy: because 99 of their sharp fever they throw out such great reek.” And one of them, who took it ill perhaps to be named so darkly, 102 with his fist struck him on his stiff paunch; it sounded as if it were a drum; and Master Adam struck him on the face 105 with his arm which did not seem less hard, saying to him: “Though be taken from me moving because of my limbs which are heavy, 108 I have an arm free for such need.”
9 ]nd’ ^i rispu_`e: «Quando tuaandavi 2 4 6 8 al fubco, non l’avci tu codì presto; 2 6 7 9 111 ma sìfe più l’avgi quando coniavi». 2 4 6 7 E l’idrhpico: «Tu di’ vir di qujsto: 3 6 8 ma tu non fksti sì vlr testimmnio 2 4 7 114 là ’vn del vor fpstiqa Trrsia richtsto». 1 4 (5) 7 «S’io dissi falso,ue tu falsastivil cwnio», 1.2 4 6 8 disse Sinxn; «e syn qui per un fallo, 1 4 7 9 117 e tu per più ch’alcun altro demznio!». 2 4 6 7 «Ric{rditi, spergiuro, del cavallo», 2 6 rispu|}e qu~l ch’avéainfiata l’pa; 2 4 6 8 120 «e seti ro che tuttoil mndo sallo!». 2 4 6 8 «E te sia r a la stende ti crpa», 2 4 6 7 disse ’l Grco, «la lingua,e l’acqua marcia 1 3 6 8 123 che ’l vntreinnanzia licchi sì t’assipa!». 2 4 6 8 Allrail monetir: «Coì si squarcia 2 6 8 la bcca tua per tuo mal cme sule; 2 4 (6) 7 (8) 126 ché s’i’ho steeomr mi rinfarcia, 1 2/3 4 7 tuhai l’arsurae ’l capo che ti du le, (1) 2 4 6 e per leccar lo sp¡cchio di Narcisso, 4 6 129 non vorr¢sti£a ’nvitar m¤lte par¥le». 3 6 7 Ad ascoltarli¦§r’ io del tutto fisso, 4 6 8 quando ’l ma¨©stro mi disse:ª««r pur mira, 1 4 7 8 (9) 132 che per p¬co che t co non mi risso!». 3 6 Quand’ io ’l senti’®a me parlar con ira, 2 4 6 8 v¯lsimi v°rso lui con tal verg±gna, 1 4 6 8 135 ch’anc²r per la mem³ria mi si gira. 2 6
10 Whereon he replied: “When thou wast going to the fire thou hadst it not thus ready; 111 but so and more thou hadst it when thou wast coining.” And he of the dropsy: “Thou sayest true of this, but thou wast not so true a witness 114 there where thou wast questioned of the truth at Troy.” “If I said false, thou didst falsify the coin,” said Sinon, “and I am here for a single sin, 117 and thou for more than any other demon.” “Remember, perjurer, the horse,” answered he who had the puffed up paunch, 120 “and be it ill for thee that all the world knows it.” “And for thee be ill the thirst wherewith cracks,” said the Greek, “thy tongue and the putrid water 123 that makes thy belly thus a hedge before thine eyes.” Then the coiner: “Thus gapes thy mouth for its own harm as it is wont, 126 for if I have thirst, and humor stuffs me, thou hast the burning, and the head that pains thee, and to lick the mirror of Narcissus 129 thou wouldst not want many words of invitation.” I was wholly fixed in listening to them, when the Master said to me: “Now only look! 132 for it wants but little that I quarrel with thee.” When I heard him speak to me with anger, I turned me toward him with such shame 135 that even yet it circles through my memory.
11 Qual è colui che suo dannaggio s´gna, 2 4 6 8 che sognando desidera sognare, 3 6 138 sì che quel ch’è, cµme non f¶sse,·ag¸gna, 1 3 4 8 tal mi f¹c’ io, non possºndo parlare, 1 4 7 che di»ïava scusarmi,¼e scusava 4 7 141 me tuttavia,½e nol mi cred¾a fare. 1 4 6 9 «Maggi¿r difÀtto mÁn vergÂgna lava,» 2 4 (6) 8 disse ’l maÃÄstro, «che ’l tuo non è stato; 1 4 7 144 però d’Ågne trestizia ti diÆgrava. 2 3 6 E fa ragiÇn ch’io ti sia sÈmpreÉallato, (2) 4 (5) 8 se piùÊavviËn che fortuna t’accÌglia 2 4 7 147 dÍve sÎen gÏntiÐin simigliante piato: (1) 3 4 8 ché volÑr ciòÒudireÓè bassa vÔglia». 3 4 6 8
12 And as is he who dreams of his harm, and, dreaming, desires to dream, 138 so that he longs for that which is, as if it were not, such I became, not being able to speak; for I desired to excuse myself, and I was excusing myself 141 all the while, and never thought that I was doing it. “Less shame washes away a greater fault,” said the Master; “than thine has been, 144 therefore disburden thyself of all sadness, and make reckoning that I am always at thy side, if again it happen that fortune find thee 147 where people may be in a similar wrangle; for the wish to hear this is a base wish.”
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyMjQzNA==