La Divina Commedia Paradiso Canto I The song of the ascent to heaven Time: Thursday, March 30, 1301 (Wednesday, April 13, 1300): noon Place: Earthly Paradise Sphere of Fire People: Dante, Beatrice © 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: 1902/1952 (Encyclopædia Britannica)
1 La gl ria di colui che tutto m ve 2 6 8 per l’univ rso p netra, e rispl nde 4 6 3 in una parte più e m no altr ve. 4 6 8 Nel ci l che più de la sua luce pr nde 2 4 8 fu’ io, e vidi c e che ridire 2 4 6 6 né sa né può chi di là sù disc nde; 1 2 3 4 (5) 8 perché appressando sé al suo di ire, 2 4 6 n stro intell tto si prof nda tanto, 1 4 8 9 che di tro la mem ria non può ire. 2 6 9 Veram nte quant’ io del r gno santo 3 6 8 ne la mia m nte pot i far te !ro, 4 7 8 12 sarà"#ra mat$ria del mio canto. (2 3) 6 (9) % bu&no'App(llo,)a l’ultimo lav*ro (1) 2 4 6 fammi del tuo val+r sì fatto va,o, 1 (4) 6 8 15 c-me dimandi.a dar l’amato/all0ro. (1) 4 6 8 Infino1a qui l’un gi2go di Parna3o 2 4 5 6 assai mi fu; ma45r con amendue 2 4 6 18 m’è6u7po8intrar ne l’ar9ngo rima:o. 2 4 7 ;ntra nel p<tto mio,=e spira tue 1 4 6 8 sì c>me quando M?rsïa tra@Asti (1 2) 4 6 21 de la vagBna de le mCmbra sue. 4 8 D divina virtù, se mi ti prEsti (1) 3 6 tanto che l’Fmbra del beGato rHgno 1 4 8 24 segnata nel mio capoIio manifJsti, 2 5 6 7 vedrK’miLal piè del tuo dilMtto lNgno 2 4 6 8 venireOe coronarmi de le fPglie 2 6 27 che la matQriaRe tu mi farai dSgno. 4 6 9
2 The glory of Him who moves everything penetrates through the universe, and is resplendent 3 in one part more and in another less. In the heaven which receives most of His light I have been, and have seen things which to recount neither knows how 6 nor has power he who from thereabove descends; because, drawing near to its own desire, our intellect enters so deep, 9 that the memory cannot follow after. Truly whatever of the Holy Realm I could treasure up in my mind 12 shall now be the theme of my song. O good Apollo, for this last labor make me such a vessel of thy worth 15 as thou demandest for the gift of the beloved laurel. Thus far one summit of Parnassus has been enough for me, but now with both 18 I need to enter the remaining arena. Enter into my breast, and breathe thou in such wise as when thou drewest Marsyas 21 from out the sheath of his limbs. O divine Power, if thou lend thyself to me so that the image of the Blessed Realm 24 imprinted within my head I may make manifest, thou shalt see me to thy chosen tree come, and crown myself then with those leaves 27 of which the theme and thou will make me worthy.
3 Sì rade vTlte, padre, se ne cUglie 1 2 4 6 per trïunfareVo cWXareYo poZ[ta, 4 6 30 c\lpa]e verg^gna de l’umane v_glie, 1 4 8 che parturir letizia`in su la liata 4 6 dblfica deïtà dovrca la frdnda 1 6 8 33 penefia, quandogalcun di séhassita. 2 4 6 8 Pjca favilla gran fiamma secknda: 1 4 6 7 flrse di rmtrona me con miglior vpci 1 (4) 6 9 36 si pregherà perché Cqrra risprnda. 4 6 7 Surgesai morttli per divurse fvci 1 4 8 la lucwrna del mxndo; ma da quylla 3 6 39 che quattro czrchi giugne con tr{ cr|ci, 2 4 6 9 con migli}r c~rsoe con miglire stlla 3 4 8 sce congiunta,e la mondana cra 1 4 8 42 più a suo mdo tmperae sugglla. 1 3 4 6 Fattoava di là manee di qua sra 1 3 5 6 9 tal fce,e quai tuttora là bianco 1 2 4 6 7 9 45 qulloemisprio,e l’altra parte nra, 1 4 6 8 quando Beatricein sul sinistro fianco 1 4 8 vidi rivltae riguardar nel sle: 1 4 8 48 aguglia sì non li s’affisseunquanco. 2 4 8 E sì cme secndo raggio sule 2 3 6 8 uscir del primo e risalire¡in su¢o, 2 4 8 51 pur c£me pelegrin che tornar vu¤le, 1 (2) 6 9 co¥ì de l’atto suo, per li¦§cchi¨infu©o 2 4 6 8 ne l’imagine mia,ªil mio si f«ce, 3 6 8 54 e fissi li¬cchi®al s¯le°±ltre n²str’ u³o. 2 4 6 7 (9)
4 So rarely, Father, are they gathered for triumph or of Cæsar or of poet, 30 (fault and shame of human wills,) that joy unto the joyous Delphic deity, should bring forth the Peneian 33 leaf, whenever it makes any one to long for it. Great flame follows a little spark: perhaps after me with better voices 36 prayer shall be made, whereto Cyrrha may respond. To mortals rises through different passages the lamp of the world, but from that 39 which joins four circles with three crosses with better course and with a better star it issues conjoined, and the mundane wax 42 more after its own fashion it tempers and seals. Almost had made morning there and evening here such a passage; and there all was white 45 that hemisphere, and the other part black, when I saw Beatrice turned to her left side, and gazing upon the sun: 48 never did eagle so fix himself upon it. And even as a second ray is wont to issue from the first, and mount upward again, 51 like a pilgrim who wishes to return; so from her action, infused through the eyes into my imagination, mine was made, 54 and I fixed my eyes upon the sun beyond our wont.
5 M´ltoµè licito là, che qui non l¶ce 1 3 6 8 a le n·stre virtù, mercé del l¸co 3 6 8 57 fatto per pr¹prio de l’umana spºce. 1 4 8 Io nol soff»rsi m¼lto, né sì p½co, 1 (2) 4 6 8 (9) ch’io nol ved¾ssi sfavillar dint¿rno, 1 (2) 4 8 60 cÀm’ fÁrro che bogliÂnteÃÄsce del fÅco; 2 6 7 e di sùbito parve giÆrnoÇa giÈrno 3 6 8 ÉssereÊaggiunto, cËme quÌi che puÍte 1 4 (6) 8 63 avÎsseÏil ciÐl d’un altro sÑleÒaddÓrno. 2 4 6 8 BeatrÔce tutta ne l’ettÕrne rÖte 2 4 8 fissa con li×Øcchi stava;ÙeÚioÛin lÜi 1 4 6 8 66 le luci fissi, di là sù rimÝte. 2 4 8 Nel suoÞaspßtto tal dàntro mi fái, 2 4 6 7 qual si fé Glâuco nel gustar de l’ãrba 1 3 4 8 69 che ’l fé consärtoåin mar de liæaltri dèi. 2 4 6 8 Traçumanar significar p r v rb 4 8 non si porèa; però l’essémplo basti 1 4 6 8 72 a cuiêesperïënza grazia sìrba. 2 6 8 S’i’íîra sïl di me quðl che creñasti 2 4 6 7 novellamònte,óamôr che ’l ciõl govörni, 4 6 8 75 tu ’l sai, che col tuo lume mi levasti. 1 2 (5) 6 Quando la r÷ta che tu sempitørni 1 4 7 deùiderato,úa sé mi fûceüattýþo 4 6 8 78 con l’armon a che t mperi e disc rni, 4 6 p rvemi tanto all r del ci lo acc o 1 4 6 8 de la fiamma del s l, che pi ggia o fiume 3 6 8 81 lago non f ce alcun tanto dist o. 1 4 6 7
6 Much is permitted there which here is not permitted to our faculties, by virtue of the place 57 made for the human race as its proper seat. Not long did I endure it, nor so little that I did not see it sparkle round about, 60 like iron that issues boiling from the fire. And on a sudden, day to day seemed to be added, as if He who has the power 63 had adorned the heaven with another sun. Beatrice on the eternal wheels was standing with her eyes wholly fixed, and on her I 66 fixed my eyes from thereabove removed. Looking at her I inwardly became such as Glaucus became on tasting of the grass 69 which made him consort in the sea of the other gods. Transhumanizing cannot be signified in words; therefore let the example suffice 72 him for whom grace reserves the experience. If I was only that of me which Thou didst create the last, O Love that governest the heavens, 75 Thou knowest, who with Thy light didst lift me. When the revolution which Thou makest eternal, being desired, made me attent unto itself 78 with the harmony which Thou dost attune and modulate, so much of the heaven then seemed to me enkindled by the flame of the sun, that rain or river 81 never made so widespread a lake.
7 La novità del su no e ’l grande lume 4 6 8 di l r cagi n m’acc ero un di io 2 4 6 84 mai non sentito di cotanto acume. 1 (2) 4 8 nd’ lla, che ved a me sì c m’ io, 2 (6) 7 (8) a quïetarmi l’animo comm sso, 4 6 87 pria ch’io!a dimandar, la b"cca#aprio 1 2 6 8 e cominciò: «Tu st$sso ti fai gr%sso 4 (5) 6 col falso&imaginar, sì che non v'di 2 6 (7) 90 ciò che vedr(sti se l’av)ssi sc*sso. 1 4 8 Tu non s+’,in t-rra, sì c.me tu cr/di; 1 3 4 (6/7) (9) ma f0lgore, fugg1ndo2il pr3prio sito, 2 6 8 93 non c4rse c5me tu ch’ad 6sso ri7di». 2 6 8 S’ io fui del primo dubbio di8vestito 2 4 6 per le sorri9e parol:tte br;vi, 4 8 96 d<ntro=ad un nu>vo più fu’?inretito 1 4 6 7 e dissi: «Già cont@nto r qu v 2 (4) 6 di grandeAammiraziBn; maCDraEammiro 2 6 8 99 cFm’ io trascGnda quHsti cIrpi lJvi». 2 4 (6) 8 Knd’ Llla,MapprNsso d’un pïo sospiro, 2 4 7 liOPcchi drizzò vQr’ me con quRl sembiante 1 4 6 (8) 102 che madre fa sSvra figlio deliro, 2 4 7 e cominciò: «Le cTUe tutte quante 4 6 8 hannoVWrdine tra lXro,Ye quZsto[è f\rma (1) 2 6 8 105 che l’univ]rso^a Dio fa simigliante. 4 6 (7) Qui v_ggion l’alte cre`ature l’arma 1 2 4 8 de l’ettbrno valcre,dil qual è fine 3 6 8 108 al qualeeè fatta la toccata nfrma. 2 4 8
8 The novelty of the sound and the great light kindled in me a desire concerning their cause, 84 never before felt with such keenness. Whereon she, who saw me as I see myself, to quiet my perturbed mind, 87 ere I mine to ask, opened her mouth and began: “Thou thyself makest thyself dull with false imagining, so that thou seest not 90 what thou wouldst see, if thou hadst shaken it off. Thou art not on earth, as thou believest; but lightning, flying from its proper site, 93 never ran as thou who art returning thereunto.” If I was divested of my first doubt by these brief little smiled-out words, 96 within a new one was I the more enmeshed. And I said: “Already I rested content concerning a great wonder; but now I wonder 99 how I can transcend these light bodies.” Whereon she, after a pitying sigh, directed her eyes toward me, with that look 102 which a mother turns on her delirious child, and she began: “All things whatsoever have order among themselves; and this is the form 105 which makes the universe like unto God. Herein the exalted creatures see the imprint of the Eternal Power, which is the end 108 for which the aforesaid rule is made.
9 Ne l’grdine ch’io dico shnoiaccline 2 6 8 tutte nature, per divjrse skrti, 1 4 8 111 piùlal principio lmrone mon vicine; 1 4 6 8 pnde si muqvonora divsrsi ptrti 1 4 8 per lo gran mar de l’ussere,ve ciascuna (3) 4 6 114 con istintowa lxi dato che la pyrti. 3 5 6 Quzsti ne p{rta|il f}co~invr’ la luna; 1 4 6 8 qusti n’ cr mortaliè permotre; 1 4 6 117 qu sti la trrain sé stringeeaduna; 1 4 6 7 né pur le creature che sn fre 2 6 (9) d’intellignza qust’ arco satta, 4 7 120 ma qulle c’hannointellttoeamre. 2 4 7 La provednza, che cotantoasstta, 4 8 del suo lume fa ’l cil smpre quïto 3 6 7 123 nel qual si vlge qul c’ha maggir fr tta; 2 4 6 9 e¡¢ra lì, c£me¤a sito decr¥to, 2 4 (5) 7 c¦n p§rta la virtù di qu¨lla c©rda 2 6 8 126 che ciò che scªcca drizza«in s¬gno li to. 2 4 6 8 V®ro¯è che, c°me f±rma non s’acc²rda 1 2 3 4 6 m³lte fïate´a l’intenziµn de l’arte, 1 4 8 129 perch’ a risp¶nder la mat·ria¸è s¹rda, 4 8 coºì da qu»sto c¼rso si diparte 2 (4) 6 tal½r la cre¾atura, ch’ha pod¿re 2 6 (8) 132 di piegar, coÀì pinta,Áin altra parte; 3 6 8 e sì cÂme vedÃr si può cadÄre 2 (3) 6 8 fÅco di nube, sì l’Æmpeto primo 1 4 6 7 135 l’attÇrra tÈrto da falso piacÉre. 2 4 7
10 In the order of which I speak, are disposed all natures, by diverse lots, 111 more or less near to their source; wherefore they are moved to different ports over the great sea of being, and each 114 with the instinct given to it which bears it on. This bears the fire upward toward the moon; this is the motive force in mortal hearts; 117 this binds together and unites the earth. Nor does only the created things which are without intelligence this bow shoot forth, 120 but also those which have understanding and love. The Providence that ordains all this makes always quiet with its own light the heaven within 123 which that one revolves which has the greatest speed. And thither now, as to a site decreed, the virtue of that bowstring is bearing us on, 126 which directs to a joyful mark whatever it shoots. It is true, that as the form does not accord often with the intention of the art, 129 because the material is deaf to respond, so from this course deviates sometimes the creature; for it has power, 132 to bend, though thus impelled, in another direction (even as may be seen to fall the fire of a cloud), if the first impetus, 135 turn it earthwards, diverted by false pleasure.
11 Non dÊi piùËammirar, se bÌne stimo, 2 (3) 6 8 lo tuo salir, se non cÍme d’un rivo 4 6 (7) 138 se d’alto mÎnte scÏnde giuÐoÑad imo. 2 4 6 8 Maraviglia sarÒbbeÓin te se, privo 3 6 8 9 d’impedimÔnto, giù ti fÕssiÖassi×o, 4 6 8 141 cØm’ a tÙrra quïÚteÛin fÜco vivo». 3 6 8 Quinci rivÝlseÞinvßr’ lo ciàloáil viâo. 1 4 6 8
12 Thou shouldst not, if I deem aright, wonder more at thy ascent, than at a stream 138 if it descends from a high mountain to the base. It would be a marvel in thee, if, deprived of hindrance, thou hadst sat below, 141 even as quiet in living fire on earth would be.” Thereon she turned again toward heaven her face.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyMjQzNA==