La Divina Commedia Inferno Canto IX The song of the city of Dite Time: Sunday, March 26, 1301 (Saturday, April 9, 1300): early morning hours Place: City walls of Dite Circle VI: heretics People: Dante, Virgilio, demons, Celestial messenger, the three furies (Megera, Aletto, Tesifone), Medusa © 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 Qu l col r che viltà di fu r mi pinse 1 3 6 8 vegg ndo il duca mio tornare in v lta, 2 4 6 8 3 più t sto d ntro il suo n vo ristrinse. 2 4 7 Att nto si fermò c m’ u m ch’asc lta; 2 6 8 ché l’ cchio n l pot a menare a lunga 2 6 8 6 per l’ ere n ro e per la n bbia f lta. 2 4 8 «Pur a n i converrà vincer la punga», 1 3 6 7 cominciò l, «se non … Tal ne s’off rse. 4 6 7 9 h quanto tarda a me ch’altri qui giunga!». 1.2 4 6 7 9 I’ vidi b n sì c m’ !i ricop"rse 2 4 5 7 lo cominciar con l’altro che p#i v$nne, 4 6 9 12 che fur par%le&a le prime div'rse; 2 4 7 ma nondim(n pa)ura*il suo dir di+nne, 4 6 9 perch’ io tra,-va la par.la tr/nca 2 4 8 15 f0rse1a peggi2r sent3nzia che non t4nne. 1 4 6 «In qu5sto f6ndo de la trista c7nca 2 4 8 disc8nde mai9alcun del primo grado, 2.4 6 8 18 che s:l per p;na<ha la speranza ci=nca?». 2 4 8 Qu>sta questi?n f@c’ io; e quAi «Di rado 1 4 6 8 incBntra», mi rispuCDe, «che di nEi 2 6 21 facciaFil camminoGalcun per qual io vado. 1 4 6 8 VHr è ch’altra fïata qua giù fui, 1/2 3 6 9 congiurato da quIllaJEritKn cruda 3 (6) 9 24 che richiamava l’LmbreMa’ cNrpi sui. 4 6 8 Di pOcoPQra di me la carne nuda, 2 3 6 8 ch’Rlla mi fSceTintrar dUntr’ a quVl muro, 1 4 6 7 27 per trarneWun spirto del cXrchio di Giuda. 2 4 7
2 That color which cowardice painted outwardly on me when I saw my Guide turn back, 3 repressed more speedily his own new color. He stopped attentive, like a man that listens, for the eye could not lead him far 6 through the black air, and through the dense fog. “Yet it shall be for us to win the fight,” began he, “unless Such an one offered herself to us. 9 Oh how long it is to me till Another arrive here!” I saw well how he covered up the beginning with the rest that came after, 12 which were words different from the first; but nevertheless his speech gave me fear, because I drew his broken phrase 15 perchance to a worse meaning than it held. “Into this depth of the dismal shell does any one ever descend from the first grade 18 who has for penalty only hope cut off?” This question I put, and he answered me: “Seldom it happens that any one of us 21 makes the journey on which I am going. It is true that another’time I was down here, conjured by that cruel Erichtho 24 who was wont to call back shades into their bodies. Short while had my flesh been bare of me, when she made me enter within that wall, 27 in order to draw thence a spirit of the circle of Judas.
3 QuYll’ è ’l più basso locoZe ’l più oscuro, 1/2 4 6 8 e ’l più lontan dal ci[l che tutto gira: 4 6 8 30 b\n s] ’l cammin; però ti fa sicuro. 1.2 4 6 Qu^sta palude che ’l gran puzzo spira 1 4 (7) 8 cigne dint_rno la città dol`nte, 1 4 8 33 u’ non potamobintrarecomai sanz’ ira». 1/2 4 6 8 E altro disse, ma non l’hd a mente; 2 4 8 però che l’fcchio m’avga tutto tratto 2 4 7 8 36 vhr’ l’alta tirreja la cima rovknte, 2 4 7 dlvemin un punto furon dritte ratto 1 4 6 8 tre fnrïeoinfernal di sangue tinte, 2 6 8 39 che mpmbra feminineqavrenose atto, 2 6 8 e con idre verdissimeturan cinte; 3 6 (8) serpentvlliwe cerastexavyen per crine, 3 6 8 42 znde le fi{re t|mpie}~ranoavvinte. 1 (4) 6 7 E qui, che bn conbbe le meschine 2 4 6 de la regina de l’ettrno pianto, 4 8 45 «Guarda», mi disse, «le ferci Erine. 1 4 8 Qust’ è Megra dal sinistro canto; 1/2 4 8 qulla che piange dal dstroèAltto; 1 4 7 48 Teifón è nel mo»;e tacquea tanto. 3 6 8 Con l’nghie si fenda ciascunail ptto; 2 6 8 battensia palmee gridavan sìalto, 2 4 7 51 ch’i’ mi strinsial pota per sosptto. 3 6 «Vgna Medu a: sì ’l far¡m di ¢malto», 1 4 6 8 dic£van tutte riguardando¤in giu¥o; 2 4 8 54 «mal non vengiammo¦in Tes§o l’assalto». 1 4 7
4 That is the lowest place, and the darkest, and the farthest from the Heaven which encircles all. 30 I know the road well; therefore assure thyself. This marsh which breathes out the great stench girds round the woeful city 33 wherein now we cannot enter without anger.” And more he said, but I have it not in mind, because my eye had wholly attracted me 36 toward the high tower with the ruddy summit, where in an instant were uprisen suddenly three infernal Furies, stained with blood, 39 who had the limbs of women and their action, and were girt with greenest hydras. They had for hair little serpents and cerastes, 42 wherewith their savage brows were bound. And he, who well recognized the handmaids of the queen of the eternal lamentation, 45 said to me: “Behold the fell Erinnyes; this is Megaera on the left side, she who wails on the right is Alecto, 48 Tisiphone is in the middle”: and therewith he was silent. With her nails each was tearing her breast; they were beating themselves with their hands, and crying out so loud 51 that I pressed close to the Poet through dread. “Let Medusa come, so we will make him of stone,” they all said, looking downward; 54 “ill was it we avenged not on Theseus his assault.”
5 «V¨lgiti ’n di©troªe ti«n lo vi¬o chiu o; 1 4 6 8 ché se ’l Gorgón si m®stra¯e tu ’l ved°ssi, 4 6 8 57 nulla sar±bbe di tornar mai su²o». 1 4 8 (9) Co³ì disse ’l ma´µstro;¶ed ·lli st¸ssi 2 3 6 8 mi v¹lse,ºe non si t»nne¼a le mie mani, 2 6 60 che con le sue½anc¾r non mi chiud¿ssi. 4 6 À vÁi ch’avÂte li ’ntellÃtti sani, 2 4 8 mirate la dottrina che s’ascÄnde 2 6 63 sÅtto ’l velame de li vÆrsi strani. 1 4 8 E già venìa su per le tÇrbideÈÉnde 2 4 5 8 un fracasso d’un suÊn, piËn di spavÌnto, 3 6 7 66 per cui tremavanoÍamendue le spÎnde, 2 4 8 non altrimÏnti fatto che d’un vÐnto 4 6 impetüÑÒo per liÓavvÔrsiÕardÖri, 4 8 69 che fi×r la sØlvaÙe sanz’ alcun rattÚnto 2 4 8 li rami schianta,ÛabbatteÜe pÝrta fÞri; 2 4 6 8 dinanzi polverßào va supárbo, 2 6 (8) 72 e fa fuggir le fiâreãe li pastäri. 4 6 Liåæcchi mi sciçlseèe disse:é«êr drizzaëil nìrbo 1 4 6 7 8 del viío su per quîlla schiumaïantica 2 (4) 6 8 75 per indiðñve quòl fummoóè più acôrbo». 2 3 6 Cõme le raneöinnanzi÷a la nimica 1 4 6 biscia per l’acqua si diløguan tutte, 1 4 8 78 fin ch’a la tùrra ciascuna s’abbica, 1 4 7 vid’ io più di milleúanime distrutte 2 5 6 fuggir coûì dinanziüad un ch’al passo 2 4 6 8 81 passava Stige con le pianteýasciutte. 2 4 8
6 “Turn thee round backwards, and keep thy sight closed, for if the Gorgon show herself, and thou shouldst see her, 57 no return upward would there ever be.” Thus said the Master, and he himself turned me, and trusted not to my hands 60 but with his own he also blinded me. O ye who have sound understandings, regard the doctrine that is hidden 63 under the veil of the strange verses! And already across the turbid waves was coming a crash of a sound full of terror, 66 at which both the shores trembled. Not otherwise it was than of a wind, impetuous by reason of the opposing heats, 69 which strikes the forest, and without any stay shatters the branches, beats down and carries them away; forward, laden with dust, it goes superb, 72 and makes the wild beasts and the shepherds fly. My eyes he loosed, and said, “Now direct the nerve of sight across that ancient scum, 75 there yonder where that fume is most bitter.” As the frogs before the hostile snake all vanish through the water, 78 till each huddles on the ground, I saw more than a thousand destroyed souls flying thus before One, who on foot 81 was passing over the Styx with soles unwet.
7 Dal vþlto rimov a qu ll’ ere grasso, 2 6 8 menando la sinistra innanzi sp sso; 2 6 8 84 e s l di qu ll’ ang scia par a lasso. 2 4 6 9 B n m’acc rsi ch’ lli ra da ci l m sso, 1 3 5 6 9 e v lsimi al ma stro; e qu i fé s gno 2 6 8 87 ch’i’ st ssi qu to ed inchinassi ad sso. 2 4 8 Ahi quanto mi par a pi n di di d gno! 1 2 6 7 V!nne"a la p#rta$e con una vergh%tta 1 4 90 l’ap&rse, che non v’'bbe(alcun rit)gno. 2 6 8 «* cacciati del ci+l, g,nte disp-tta», 3 6 7 cominciò .lli/in su l’orribil s0glia, 3 4 8 93 «1nd’ 2sta3oltracotanza4in v5i s’all6tta? 1 2 6 8 Perché recalcitrate7a qu8lla v9glia 2 6 8 a cui non pu:te;il fin mai<=sser m>zzo, 2 4 6 7.8 96 e che più v?lte v’ha cresciuta d@glia? 4 8 Che giAva ne le fata dar di cBzzo? 2 6 8 CCrbero vDstro, se bEn vi ricFrda, 1 4 7 99 ne pGrtaHancIr pelatoJil mKntoLe ’l gMzzo». 2 4 6 8 PNi si rivOlse per la strada lPrda, 1 4 8 e non fé mQttoRa nSi, ma fé sembiante 4 6 8 102 d’Tmo cuiUaltra cura stringaVe mWrda 1 4 6 8 che quXlla di colui che liYè davante; 2 6 8 e nZi mov[mmo\i pi]di^inv_r’ la t`rra, 2 4 6 8 105 sicuriaapprbsso le parcle sante. 2 4 8 Ddntro li ’ntrammo sanz’ alcuna guerra; 1 4 8 e io, ch’avfa di riguardar digio 2 4 8 108 la condizihn che tal fortizza sjrra, 4 6 8
8 From his face he was removing that thick air, waving his left hand oft before him, 84 and only with that trouble he seemed weary. Well I perceived that he was a messenger from Heaven, and I turned me to the Master, and he made sign 87 that I should stand quiet and bow down to him. Ah, how full of disdain he seemed to me! He came to the gate and with a little rod 90 he opened it, for it had no resistance. “O outcasts from Heaven! folk despised,” began he upon the horrible threshold, 93 “whence is this overweening harbored in you? Wherefore do ye kick against that Will from which its end can never be cut short, 96 and which many a time has increased your woe? What avails it to butt against the fates? Your Cerberus, if ye remember well, 99 still bears his chin and his throat peeled therefor.” Then he turned back over the filthy road, and said no word to us, but wore the semblance 102 of a man whom other care constrains and stings, than that of him who is before him. Then we moved our feet toward the city, 105 secure after his holy words. We entered there within without any strife: and I, who had desire to observe 108 the condition which such a stronghold locks in,
9 ckm’ io fui dlntro, l’mcchionintornopinvio: 2 4 6 8 e vqggiorad sgne man grande campagna, 2 4 6 7 111 pitna di duulove di tormwnto rio. 1 4 8 Sì cxmeyad Arli,z{ve R|dano stagna, 1/2 4 5 7 sì c}m’ a P~la, prsso del Carnaro 1/2 4 6 114 ch’Italia chiudee sui trmini bagna, 2 4 7 fannoi sepulcri tutt’ il lco varo, 1 4 6 8 co ì facvan quivi d’gne parte, 2 4 6 8 117 salvo che ’l mdo v’ra piùamaro; 1 4 6.8 ché tra liavlli fiammerano sparte, 4 6 7 per le qualiran sì del tuttoacci, 3 4 6 8 120 che frro più non chide verun’ arte. 2 6 Tutti li lr coprchiran sospi, 1 6 7 e fur n’uscivan sì duri lamnti, 2 4 7 123 che bn paran di mi eri¡e d’off¢£i. 2 4 6 E io: «Ma¤¥stro, quai s¦n qu§lle g¨nti 2 4 7 8 che, seppellite d©ntro da quªll’ arche, 1 4 6 126 si fan sentir c«i sospiri dol¬nti?». 4 7 E qu lli®a me: «Qui s¯n li°ere±ïarche 2 4 5/6 con l²r seguaci, d’³gne s´tta,µe m¶lto 4 6 8 129 più che non cr·di s¸n le t¹mbe carche. 1 4 6 8 Simile qui con simileºè sep»lto, 1 4 6 8 e¼i monim½nti s¾n più e m¿n caldi». 4 7 9 132 E pÀi ch’a la man dÁstra si fu vòlto, 2 5 6 passammo traÂi martìriÃe liÄalti spaldi. 2 6 8
10 soon as I was within, send my eye round about, and I see on every hand a great plain 111 full of woe and of cruel torment. As at Arles, where the Rhone stagnates, as at Pola, near the Quarnaro 114 which shuts Italy in and bathes her borders, the sepulchres make all the place uneven; so did they here on every side, 117 save that the manner was more bitter here; for among the tombs flames were scattered, by which they were so wholly heated 120 that no art requires iron more so. All their lids were lifted; and such dire laments were issuing forth from them 123 as truly seemed of wretches and of sufferers. And I: “Master, who are these folk that, buried within those coffers, 126 make themselves heard with their woeful sighs?” And he to me: “Here are the heresiarchs with their followers of every sect, and much 129 more than thou thinkest are the tombs laden. Like with like is buried here, and the monuments are more and less hot.” 132 And after he had turned to the right hand, we passed between the torments and the high battlements.
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