La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto V The song of Paolo and Francesca Time: Saturday, March 25, 1301 (Friday, April 8, 1300): last hours Place: Circle II: lustful People: Dante, Virgilio, Minosse, Francesca da Rimini, Paolo Malatesta, Semiramide, Didone, Cleopatra, Elena, Achille, Paride, Tristano © 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 Co ì disc i del c rchio prima io 2 4 7 giù nel sec ndo, che m n l co cinghia 1 4 7 8 3 e tanto più dol r, che punge a gua io. 2 6 8 Stavvi Minòs orribilm nte, e ringhia: 1 4 8 essamina le c lpe ne l’intrata; 2 6 6 giudica e manda sec ndo ch’avvinghia. 1 4 7 Dico che quando l’anima mal nata 1 4 6 li vi n dinanzi, tutta si conf ssa; 2 4 6 9 e qu l conoscit r de le peccata 2 6 v de qual l co d’inf rno è da ssa; 1 4 7 cignesi con la c da tante v lte 1 6 8 12 quantunque gradi vu l che giù sia m ssa. 2 4 6 8 S mpre dinanzi a lui ne stanno m!lte: 1 4 6 8 vanno"a vic#nda ciascuna$al giudizio, 1 4 7 15 dicono%e&'dono(e p)i s*n giù v+lte. 1 4 7 9 «, tu che vi-ni.al dolor/0o1ospizio», 2 4 8 disse Minòs a me quando mi vide, 1 4 6 7 18 lasciando l’atto di cotanto2offizio, 2 4 8 «guarda c3m’ 4ntri5e di cui tu ti fide; 1 4 7 8 non t’inganni l’ampi6zza de l’intrare!». 3 6 21 E ’l duca mio7a lui: «Perché pur gride? 2 4 6 8 Non impedir lo suo fatale8andare: 4 8 vu9lsi co:ì colà d;ve si pu<te 1 4 6 7 24 ciò che si vu=le,>e più non dimandare». 1 4 6 ?r incomincian le dol@nti nAte 1 4 8 a farmisi sentire;BCr sDn venuto 2 6 7 27 là dEve mFlto pianto mi percuGte. 1 2 4 6
2 Thus I descended from the first circle down into the second, which girdles less space, 3 and so much more woe that it goads to wailing. There stands Minos horribly, and snarls: he examines the transgressions at the entrance; 6 he judges, and he sends according as he entwines himself. I mean, that when the ill born soul comes there before him, it confesses itself wholly, 9 and that discerner of the sins sees what place of Hell is for it; he girds himself with his tail so many times 12 as the grades he wills that it be sent down. Always many of them stand before him: they go, in turn, each to the judgment; 15 they speak and hear, and then are whirled below. “O thou that comest to the woeful inn,” said Minos to me, when he saw me, 18 leaving the act of so great an office, “beware how thou enterest, and to whom thou trustest thyself; let not the amplitude of the entrance deceive thee.” 21 And my Leader to him: “Wherefore dost thou too cry out? Hinder not his fated going; thus is it willed there where is power 24 for that which is willed: and ask no more.” Now the notes of woe begin to make themselves heard by me; now I am come 27 where much wailing smites me.
3 Io vHnniIin lJco d’Kgne luce muto, 2 4 6.8 che mugghia cLme fa mar per tempMsta, 2 4 7 30 se da contrari vNntiOè combattuto. 4 6 La bufPraQinfernal, che mai non rRsta, 3 6 8 mSna li spirti con la sua rapina; 1 4 8 33 voltandoTe percotUndo li molVsta. 2 6 Quando giungon davantiWa la ruXina, 1 3 6 quivi le strida,Yil compianto,Zil lam[nto; 1 4 7 36 bestemmian quivi la virtù divina. 2 4 8 Int\]i ch’a co^ì fatto torm_nto 2 6 7 `nno dannatiai peccatbr carnali, 1 4 8 39 che la ragicn sommdttonoeal talfnto. 4 6 E cgme li stornhi ne pirtan l’ali 2 6 8 nel frjddo tkmpo,la schimra largane piona, 2 4 6 8 42 copì quql fiato li spiriti mali 2 4 7 di qua, di là, di giù, di sù li mrna; 2 4 6 8 nulla speranza li confsrta mai, 1 4 8 45 non che di ptua, ma di minvr pwna. 4 9 E cxmeyi gru van cantando lzr lai, 2 4 7 facc{ndo|in }ere di sé lunga riga, 2 4 7 8 48 co~ì vid’ io venir, trando guai, 2 4 6 8 mbre portate da la dtta briga; 1 4 8 per ch’i’ dissi: «Mastro, chi s n qulle 3 6 9 51 gnti che l’aura nra sì gastiga?». 1 4 6 8 «La prima di colr di cui novlle 2 6 8 tu vu’ sapr», mi disse qullialltta, 2 4 6 8 54 «fuimperadrice di mlte favlle. 1 4 7
4 I had come into a place mute of all light, that bellows as the sea does in a tempest, 30 if it be combated by contrary winds. The infernal hurricane which never rests carries along the spirits with its rapine; 33 whirling and smiting it molests them. When they arrive before its rush, here are the shrieks, the complaint, and the lamentation; 36 here they blaspheme the divine power. I understood that to such torment are condemned the carnal sinners 39 who subject the reason to the appetite. And as their wings bear along the starlings in the cold season in a large and full troop, 42 so did that blast the evil spirits: hither, thither, down, up it carries them: no hope ever comforts them, 45 neither of repose, nor of less pain. And as the cranes go singing their lays, making in air a long line of themselves, 48 so I saw come, uttering wails, shades borne along by the aforesaid strife. Wherefore I said: “Master, who are these 51 folk whom the black air so castigates?” “The first of those of whom thou wishest to have knowledge,” said he to me then, 54 “was empress of many tongues.
5 A vizio di lussuria fu sì rtta, 2 6 che libito fé licitoin sua lgge, 2 6 57 per tòrreil biamoin chera condtta. 2 4 7 ll’ è Semiramìs, di cui si lgge 2 6 che succedttea Nino e fu sua sp¡¢a: 4 6 8 60 t£nne la t¤rra che ’l Soldan corr¥gge. 1 4 8 L’altra¦è col§i che s’anci¨e©amorª«a, 1 4 7 e ruppe f¬de al c®ner di Sich¯o; 2 4 6 63 p°i±è Cle²opatràs lussurï³´a. 1/2 6 µlena v¶di, per cui tanto r·o 1 4 7 8 t¸mpo si v¹lse,ºe v»di ’l grande¼Achille, 1 4 6 8 66 che con am½re¾al fine combatt¿o. 4 6 VÀdi Parìs, Tristano»;Áe più di mille 1 4 6 8 Âmbre mostrÃmmiÄe nominÅmmiÆa dito, 1 4 8 69 ch’amÇr di nÈstra vita dipartille. 2 4 6 PÉscia ch’ioÊËbbi ’l mio dottÌreÍudito 1 4 8 nomar le dÎnneÏanticheÐe ’ cavaliÑri, 2 4 6 72 pietà mi giunse,Òe fui quaÓi Ômarrito. 2 4 6 7 I’ cominciai: «PoÕÖta, volonti×ri 1 4 6 parlerØiÙa quÚi due che ’nsiÛme vanno, 3 6 8 75 e paÜion sìÝal vÞntoßàsser leggiári». 2 4 6 7 Ed âlliãa me: «Vedrai quando saranno 2 4 6 7 più prässoåa næi;çe tuèallér li priêga 2 4 6.8 78 per quëlloìamír cheîi mïna,ðed ñi verranno». 2 4 6 8 Sì tòsto cómeôil võntoöa n÷i li piøga, 2 4 6 8 mùssi la vúce:û«üýanimeþaffannate, 1 4 6 81 venite a n i parlar, s’altri n l ni ga!». 2 4 6 7
6 She was so abandoned to the vice of luxury that lust she made licit in her law 57 to take away the blame into which she had been brought. She is Semiramis, of whom it is read that she succeeded Ninus and had been his wife; 60 she held the land which the Sultan rules. That other is she who, for love, slew herself, and broke faith to the ashes of Sichaeus; 63 next is Cleopatra, the luxurious. See Helen, for whom so long a time of ill revolved; and see the great Achilles, 66 who fought to the end with love. See Paris, Tristan—” and more than a thousand shades he showed me, and, pointing to them, named to me, 69 whom love had parted from our life. After I had heard my Teacher name the dames of eld and the cavaliers, 72 pity overcame me, and I was well nigh bewildered. I began: “Poet, willingly would I speak with those two that go together, 75 and seem to be so light upon the wind.” And he to me: “Thou shalt see when they are nearer to us, and do thou then pray them 78 by that love which leads them, and they will come.” Soon as the wind sways them toward us, I lifted my voice: “O wearied souls, 81 come to speak with us, if Another deny it not.”
7 Quali col mbe dal di io chiamate 1 4 8 con l’ali alzate e f rme al d lce nido 2 4 6 8 84 v gnon per l’ ere, dal vol r portate; 1 4 8 cotali uscir de la schi ra v’ è Dido, 2 4 7 a n i ven ndo per l’ ere maligno, 2 4 7 87 sì f rte fu l’affettü o grido. 2 4 8 « animal grazï o e benigno 4 7 che visitando vai per l’ ere p rso 4 6 8 90 n i che tign!mmo"il m#ndo di sanguigno, 1 4 6 se f$sse%amico&il r' de l’univ(rso, 2 4 6 n)i pregher*mmo lui de la tua pace, 1 4 6 93 p+i c’hai pietà del n,stro mal perv-rso. 1 4 6 8 Di qu.l che/udire0e che parlar vi piace, 2 4 8 n1i2udir3mo4e parler5mo6a v7i, 1 4 8 96 m8ntre che ’l v9nto, c:me fa, ci tace. 1 4 8 Si;de la t<rra d=ve nata fui 1 4 6 8 su la marina d>ve ’l P? disc@nde 4 6 8 99 per avAr pace cB’ seguaci sui. 4 8 AmCr, ch’al cDr gentil ratto s’apprEnde, 2 4 6 7 prFGe costui de la bHlla persIna 1 4 7 102 che mi fu tJlta;Ke ’l mLdoMancNr m’offOnde. 4 6 8 AmPr, ch’a nulloQamatoRamar perdSna, 2 4 6 8 mi prTUe del costui piacVr sì fWrte, 2 6 8 105 che, come vXdi,YancZr non m’abband[na. 1 4 6 Am\r condusse n]i^ad una m_rte. 2 4 6 Ca`anabattcnde chida vita ci spense». 2 4 7 108 Qufste pargle da lhr ci fuir pjrte. 1 4 7
8 As doves, called by desire, with wings open and steady, to their sweet nest 84 come through the air borne by their will, these issued from the troop where Dido is, coming to us through the malign air, 87 so strong was the compassionate cry. “O living creature, gracious and benign, that goest through the black air visiting 90 us who stained the world blood-red, if the King of the universe were a friend we would pray Him for thy peace, 93 since thou hast pity on our perverse ill. Of what it pleases thee to hear, and what to speak, we will hear and we will speak to you, 96 while the wind, as now, is hushed for us. The city where I was born sits upon the seashore, where the Po descends, 99 to have peace with his followers. Love, which quickly lays hold on gentle heart, seized this one for the fair person 102 that was taken from me, and the mode still hurts me. Love, which absolves no loved one from loving, seized me for the pleasing of him so strongly 105 that, as thou seest, it does not even now abandon me. Love brought us to one death. Cain awaits him who quenched our life.” 108 These words were borne to us from them.
9 Quand’ iokintlmi qunll’ animeooffpnse, 2 4 7 china’qil viro,se tantotil tunni basso, 2 4 6 8 111 fin che ’l povwta mi disse: «Che pxnse?». 1 4 7 Quando rispuyzi, cominciai:{«|h lasso, 1 4 8 quanti d}lci pensi~r, quanto diio 1 3 6 7 114 menò costroal doloro passo!». 2 4 8 Pi mi riv lsia lroe parla’io, 1 4 6 9 e cominciai: «Francsca,i tui martìri 4 6 8 117 a lagrimar mi fanno tristoe pio. 4 6 8 Ma dimmi:al tmpo d’i dlci sospiri, 2 4 7 a chee cme concedtteamre 2 4 8 120 che conoscstei dubbii diiri?» 4 7 E qullaa me: «Nessun maggir dolre 2 4 6 8 che ricordarsi del tmpo felice 4 7 123 ne la mi ¡ria;¢e ciò sa ’l tuo dott£re. 4 6 7 Ma s’a con¤scer la prima radice 4 7 del n¥stro¦am§r tu¨hai cotanto©affªtto, 2 4 6 8 126 dirò c«me colui che piange¬e dice. 2 6 8 N i leggiavamo®un gi¯rno per dil°tto (1) 4 6 di Lancial±tto c²me³am´r lo strinse; 4 8 129 sµli¶eravamo·e sanza¸alcun sosp¹tto. 1 4 6 8 Per più fïate liº»cchi ci sospinse 2 4 6 qu¼lla lettura,½e scolor¾cci¿il viÀo; 1 4 8 132 ma sÁloÂun punto fu quÃl che ci vinse. 2 4 6.7 Quando leggÄmmoÅil diÆïato riÇo 1 4 8 Èsser basciato da cotantoÉamante, 1 4 8 135 quÊsti, che mai da me non fËa diviÌo, 1 4 6 8
10 Soon as I had heard those injured souls I bowed my face, and held it down so long 111 until the Poet said to me: “What art thou thinking?” When I replied, I began: “Alas! how many sweet thoughts, how great desire, 114 led these unto the woeful pass.” Then I turned me again to them, and spoke, and began: “Francesca, thy torments 117 make me sad and piteous to weeping. But tell me, at the time of the sweet sighs, by what and how did love concede to thee 120 to know thy dubious desires?” And she to me: “There is no greater woe than the remembering the happy time 123 in misery, and that thy Teacher knows. But if to know the first root of our love, thou hast so great desire, 126 I will do like one who weeps and tells. “We were reading one day, for delight, of Lancelot, how love constrained him. 129 We were alone and without any suspicion. Many times that reading urged our eyes, and took the color from our faces, 132 but only one point was it that overcame us. When we read of the longed-for smile being kissed by such a lover, 135 this one, who never shall be divided from me,
11 la bÍcca mi basciò tutto tremante. 2 6 7 GaleÎÏtto fu ’l libroÐe chi lo scrisse: 3 6 138 quÑl giÒrno più non vi leggÓmmoÔavante». 2 4 8 MÕntre che l’uno spirto quÖsto disse, 1 4 6 8 l’altro piang×a; sì che di pietade 1 4 6 141 io vØnni mÙn coÚì cÛm’ io morisse. 2 4 6 8 E caddi cÜme cÝrpo mÞrto cade. 2 4 6 8
12 kissed my mouth all trembling. Gallehaut was the book, and he who wrote it. 138 That day we read no farther in it.” While the one spirit said this, the other was so weeping that through pity 141 I swooned as if I had been dying, and fell as a dead body falls.
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