La Divina Commedia Paradiso Canto XVI The song of ancient Florence Time: Thursday, March 30, 1301 (Wednesday, April 13, 1300): not specified (after Easter) Place: Fifth Sky: Mars People: Dante, Beatrice, Cacciaguida © 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 p ca n stra nobiltà di sangue, 1 2 4 8 se glorïar di te la g nte fai 4 6 8 3 qua giù d ve l’aff tto n stro langue, 2 (3) 6 8 mirabil c a non mi sarà mai: (2) 4 (6) (9) ché là dove appetito non si t rce, 2 (3) 6 (8) 6 dico nel ci lo, io me ne glor ai. 1 4 5 B n s ’ tu manto che t sto racc rce: 1 (3) 4 7 sì che, se non s’app n di dì in die, (1.2) (4) 6 8 9 lo t mpo va dint rno con le f rce. 2 6 Dal ‘v i’ che prima a R ma s’offer e, 2 (4) 6 in che la sua famiglia m n pers vra, 2 6 8 12 ricominci ron le par le mie; 4 8 nde Beatrice, ch’!ra"un p#co sc$vra, 1 4 (6 8) rid%ndo, parve qu&lla che toss'o 2 4 6 15 al primo fallo scritto di Gin(vra. 2 4 6 Io cominciai: «V)i si*te+il padre mio; 1 4 5 6 8 v,i mi date-a parlar tutta bald.zza, 1 3 6 7 18 v/i mi levate sì, ch’i’ s0n più ch’io. 1 4 6 8 Per tanti rivi s’1mpie d’allegr2zza 2 4 6 la m3nte mia, che di sé fa letizia 2 4 7 21 perché può sosten4r che non si sp5zza. 2 3 6 (8) Ditemi dunque, cara mia primizia, 1 4 6 8 quai fu6r li v7stri8antichi9e quai fu:r li;anni 1 2 4 6 8 9 24 che si segnaro<in v=stra püerizia; 4 6 ditemi de l’ov>l di San Giovanni 1 6 8 quanto?@raAallBra,Ce chiDEran le gFnti 1 2 4 (6) 7 27 traGHsso dIgne di piùJalti scanni». 2 4 8
2 O our petty nobility of blood! If glory in thee folk thou makest 3 down here, where our affection languishes, a marvel it will be to me nevermore; for there, where appetite is not perverted, 6 I mean in Heaven, I myself gloried in thee. Truly art thou a cloak which quickly shortens, so that, if naught be added from day to day, 9 Time goes round about thee with his shears. With the You, which first Rome was to tolerate, in which her family least perseveres, 12 my words began again. Whereat Beatrice, who was a little withdrawn, smiling, seemed like her, who coughed 15 at the first fault that is written of Guenever. I began: “You are my father, you give me to speak all confidence; 18 you uplift me so that I am more than I. By so many streams is filled with gladness my mind that it makes of itself a joy, 21 in that it can bear this and not burst. Tell me then, my beloved forefather, who were your ancestors, and what were the years 24 that were reckoned in your boyhood. Tell me of the sheepfold of St. John, how large it was then, and who were the people 27 within it worthy of the highest seats.”
3 CKme s’avvivaLa lo spirar d’i vMnti 1 4 8 carbNneOin fiamma, coPì vid’ io quQlla 2 4 7 9 30 luce risplRndereSa’ miTi blandimUnti; 1 4 7 e cVmeWa liXYcchi miZi si fé più b[lla, 2 4 6 8 co\ì con v]ce più d^lce_e so`ave, 2 4 7 33 ma non con quasta modbrna favclla, 2 4 7 dissemi: «Da qudl dì che fu dettof‘ v ’ 1 6 9 al partogin che mia madre, ch’èhir santa, 2 6 8.9 36 s’allevïò di mejknd’ lra grave, 4 6 8 al suo Lemnn cinqueconto cinquanta 2 4 7 e trpnta fiqte vrnne qussto ftco 2 4 6 8 39 a rinfiammarsi sutto la sua pianta. 4 6 Livantichi miwixeyio nacqui nel lzco 2 4 6 7 d{ve si tru|va pria l’ultimo s}sto (1) 4 6 7 42 da qu~i che crreil vstroannüal gico. 2 4 6 9 Basti d’i mii maggi riudirne qusto: 1 4 6 8 chii si fsser ende vnner quivi, 2 4 6 8 45 piùè tacr che ragionareonsto. 1.2 4 8 Tutti colr ch’a qul tmporan ivi 1 4 (6) 7 (8) da potr arme tra Martee ’l Batista, 3 4 7 48 ranoil quinto di qui ch’r sn vivi. 1 4 7 8 Ma la cittadinanza, ch’èr mista 6 9 di Campi, di Certaldo e di Fegghine, 2 6 51 pura ved¡esi ne l’ultimo¢artista. 1 4 7 £h quanto f¤ra m¥glio¦§sser vicine 1 2 (4) 6 7 qu¨lle g©nti ch’io dico,ªe«al Galluzzo 1 3 6 54 e¬a Trespi no®av¯r v°stro confine, 4 6 7
4 As is quickened at the breathing of the winds a coal into flame, so I saw that 30 light glow at my blandishments: and as to my eyes it became more beautiful, so with voice more sweet and soft, 33 but not with this modern speech, it said to me: “From that day on which was said Ave, unto the child-birth in which my mother, who now is sainted, 36 was lightened of me with whom she had been burdened, to its Lion five hundred, fifty, and thirty times this fire had come 39 to reinflame itself beneath his paw. My ancestors and I were born in the place where is reached first the last ward 42 by him who runs in your annual game. Let it suffice thee of my elders to hear this; as to who they were, and whence they came hither, 45 more is silence than speech becoming. All those who at that time were there able to bear arms, between Mars and the Baptist, 48 were the fifth of them who are living. But the citizenship, which is now mixed with Campi, with Certaldo, and with Fighine, 51 pure was to be seen in the lowest artisan. Oh, how much better it would be that were neighbors those folk of whom I speak, and at Galluzzo 54 and at Trespiano to have your boundary,
5 che±av²rle d³ntro´e sostenµr lo puzzo 2 4 8 del villan d’Agugli¶n, di qu·l da Signa, 3 6 8 57 che già per barattare¸ha l’¹cchioºaguzzo! 2 6 8 Se la g»nte ch’al m¼ndo più traligna 3 6 (8) non f½sse stata¾a C¿Àare novÁrca, 2 4 6 60 ma cÂme madreÃa suo figlio benigna, (1/2) 4 7 tal fattoÄè fiorentinoÅe cambiaÆe mÇrca, 1 3 6 8 che si sarÈbbe vòltoÉa SimifÊnti, (4) 6 63 là dËveÌandava l’ÍvoloÎa la cÏrca; (1) (4) 6 sarÐesi MontemurloÑancÒr dÓ’ CÔnti; 2 6 8 sarÕenoÖi C×rchi nel pioviØr d’AcÙne, 2 4 8 66 e fÚrseÛin ValdigriÜveÝi BuondelmÞnti. 2 6 Sßmpre la confuàián de le persâne 1 6 principio fu del mal de la cittade, 2 4 6 69 cãme del västroåil cibo che s’appæne; (1) 4 6 e ciçco tèro piùéavaccio cade 2 4 (6) 8 che ciêcoëagnìllo;íe mîlte vïlte taglia 2 4 6 8 72 piùðe mñglioòuna che le cinque spade. 1 3 4 8 Se tu riguardi LunióeôOrbiõaglia 2 4 6 cöme s÷noøite,ùe cúme se ne vanno (1) 4 (6) 75 di rûtroüad ýsse Chiuþi e Sinigaglia, 2 4 6 udir c me le schiatte si disfanno 2 (3) 6 non ti parrà n va c a né f rte, (1) 4 5 7 78 p scia che le cittadi t rmine hanno. 1 6 8 Le v stre c e tutte hanno l r m rte, 2 4 6 7 sì c me v i; ma c lasi in alcuna (1.2) 4 6 81 che dura m lto, e le vite s n c rte. 2 4 7
6 than to have them within, and to endure the stench of the churl of Aguglione, and of him of Signa, 57 who already for barratry has his eye sharp! If the folk who are the most degenerate in the world had not been unto Cæsar as a stepdame, 60 but like a mother to her son benignant, there is one who has become a Florentine, and is a money-changer and trader, who would have been turned back to Simifonti, 63 where used to go his grandsire about begging; Montemurlo would belong still to its Counts, the Cerchi would be in the parish of Acone, 66 and perhaps in Valdigreve the Buondelmonti. Ever the intermingling of persons was the beginning of harm to the city, 69 as is to the body the food which is loaded on. And a blind bull falls more headlong than the blind lamb; and oftentimes cuts 72 more and better one sword than five. If thou regard Luni and Urbisaglia, how they have gone, and how are going their way 75 after them Chiusi and Sinigaglia, to hear how families are undone, it will not appear to thee a strange thing or a hard, 78 since even cities have their term. All things of yours have their death even as yourselves; but it is concealed in some 81 that last long, while lives are short.
7 E c me ’l v lger del ci l de la luna 2 4 7 cu pre e discu pre i liti sanza p a, 1 4 6 8 84 co!ì fa di Fior"nza la Fortuna: 2 (3) 6 per che non d#e parer mirabil c$%a (2) 4 6 8 ciò ch’io dirò de li&alti Fiorentini 1 (2) 4 6 87 'nde(è la fama nel t)mpo nasc*+a. 1.2 4 7 Io vidi li,Ughi-e vidi.i Catellini, (1) 2 4 6 Filippi, Gr/ci,0Ormanni1e2Alberichi, 2 4 6 90 già nel calare,3illustri cittadini; 1 4 6 e vidi co4ì grandi c5me6antichi, 2 (5) 6 (8) con qu7l de la Sann8lla, qu9l de l’Arca, 2 6 8 93 e Soldani:ri;e<Ardinghi=e Bostichi. 4 7 S>vra la p?rta ch’al pre@AnteBè carca 1 4 8 di nCva fellonDa di tanto pEFo 2 6 8 96 che tGsto fHaIiattura de la barca, 2 4 6 JranoKi Ravignani,LMnd’ è discNOo 1 6 8 il cPnte GuidoQe qualunque del nRme 2 4 7 99 de l’alto BellinciSneTha pUscia prVWo. 2 6 8 QuXl de la PrYssa sapZva già c[me 1 4 7 9 r\gger si vu]le,^e_av`a Galigaaio 1 4 7 102 doratabin caca sua già l’dlsaee ’l pfme. 2 (4) 6 8 Grand’ gra già la colhnna del Vaiio, 1 2 4 7 Sacchjtti, Giukchi, Fifantile Barucci 2 4 7 105 e Gallime quni ch’arrossan per lo stapio. 2 4 6 Lo cqppo di che nacquerori Calfucci 2 6 sra già grande,te giàuvran tratti 1 (3) 4 (7) 8 108 a le curule SiziiwexArrigucci. 4 6
8 And as the revolution of the heaven of the Moon covers and uncovers the shores without a pause, 84 so does with Florence Fortune. Wherefore should not appear to thee a marvellous thing what I shall tell of the high Florentines, 87 whose fame by time is hidden. I saw the Ughi, and I saw the Catellini, Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi, 90 even in their decline, illustrious citizens; and I saw, as great as they were old, with him of La Sannella, him of L’ Arca, 93 and Soldanieri, and Ardinghi, and Bostichi. Over the gate ( which at present is laden with new felony of such great weight 96 that soon there will be jettison from the bark), were the Ravignani, from whom is descended the Count Guido, and whosoever the name 99 of the high Bellincionje has since taken. He of La Pressa knew already how one should rule, and Galigaio had 102 gilded in his house already the hilt and pummel. Great were already the column of the Vair, the Sacchetti, Giuochi, Fifanti, and Barucci, 105 and Galli, and they who blush for the bushel. The stock from which sprang the Calfucci was already great, and already had been drawn 108 to the curule chairs the Sizii and Arrigucci.
9 yh qualizio vidi qu{i che s|n disfatti 1 2 4 6 8 per l}r sup~rbia!e le palle de l’ro 2 4 7 111 fioran Fiornzain tutt’ i sui gran fatti. 2 4 6 8 Co ì facenoi padri di colro 2 4 6 che, smpre che la vstra chia vaca, 1 2 6 8 114 si fanno grassi standoa consistro. 2 4 6 L’oltracotata schiatta che s’indraca 4 6 ditroa chi fugge,ea chi mstra ’l dnte 1 (3) 4 (7) 8 117 o vr la brsa, cm’ agnl si placa, 2 4 (6) 8 già venìa sù, ma di pcciola gnte; 1 3 4 7 sì che non piacquead Ubertin Donato (1) 4 8 120 che pil sucero il fé l¡r par¢nte. 2 4 7 (8) Giࣤra ’l Caponsacco nel mercato (1) 2 6 disc¥¦o giù da Fi§¨ole,©e giફra 2 4 6 (9) 123 bu¬n cittadino Giuda e®Infangato. 1 4 6 Io dirò c¯°a±incredibile²e v³ra: 1 3 4 7 nel p´cciol cµrchio s’entrava per p¶rta 2 4 7 126 che si nomava da qu·i de la P¸ra. 4 7 Ciascun che de la b¹llaºins»gna p¼rta 2 6 8 del gran bar½ne¾il cui n¿meÀe ’l cui prÁgio 2 4 (6) 7 (9) 129 la fÂsta di TommaÃo riconfÄrta, 2 6 daÅÆssoÇÈbbe miliziaÉe privilÊgio; 2 3 6 avvËgna che con pÌpol si raÍuni 2 (4) 6 132 Îggi colui che la fascia col frÏgio. 1 4 7 GiàÐÑran GualterÒttiÓeÔImportuni; 1 2 6 eÕancÖr sar×a BØrgo più quïÙto, 3 5 6 8 135 se di nÚvi vicin fÛsser digiuni. 3 6 7
10 Oh, how great did I see those who have been undone by their pride! and the balls of gold 111 made Florence flourish with all their great deeds. So did the fathers of those who, whenever your church is vacant, 114 become fat by staying in consistory. The overweening race which is as a dragon behind him who flies, and to him who shows tooth 117 or purse as a lamb is gentle, already was coming up, but from small folk, so that it did not please Ubertin Donato 120 that afterward this father-in-law made him their kinsman. Already had Caponsacco into the market place descended down from Fiesole, and already was 123 a good citizen Giuda and Infangato. I will tell a thing incredible and true; into the little circle one entered by a gate 126 which was named for those of La Pera. Everyone who bears the beautiful ensign of the great baron whose name and whose worth 129 the feast of Thomas keeps fresh, from him had knighthood and privilege; although with the populace unites himself 132 to-day he who binds it with a border. Already there were Gualterotti and Importuni; and even now would be the Borgo more quiet, 135 if of new neighbors they had gone fasting.
11 La caÜa di che nacqueÝil vÞstro flßto, 2 6 8 per lo giusto diàdágno che v’ha mârti 3 6 138 e puãäe fineåal væstro viver liçto, 2 4 6 8 èraéonorata,êëssaìe suíi consîrti: 1 4 6 8 o Buondelmïnte, quanto mal fuggisti 4 6 8 141 le nðzze süe per liñaltrui confòrti! 2 4 8 Mólti sarôbber liõti, che son tristi, 1 4 6 se Dio t’avösse conceduto÷ad øma 2 4 8 144 la prima vùlta ch’a città venisti. 2 4 8 Ma convenúesi,ûa quülla piýtra scþma 4 (6) 8 che guarda ’l p nte, che Fior nza f sse 2 4 8 147 vittima ne la sua pace postr ma. 1 (6) 7 Con qu ste g nti, e con altre con sse, 2 4 7 vid’ io Fior nza in sì fatto rip o, 2 4 6 7 150 che non av a cagi ne nde piang sse. 4 6 7 Con qu ste g nti vid’ io glorï o (2) 4 7 e giusto il p pol suo, tanto che ’l giglio 2 4 6 7 153 non ra ad asta mai p sto a ritr o, 2 4 6 7 né per divi ï n fatto vermiglio». 1 6 7
12 The house of which was born your weeping, by reason of its just indignation which has slain you, 138 and put an end to your glad living, was honored, both itself and its consorts. Oh Buondelmonte, how ill didst thou flee 141 its nuptials through the persuasions of another! Many would be glad who now are sorrowful, if God had conceded thee to the Ema 144 the first time that thou camest to the city. But it behoved to that mutilated stone which guards the bridge that Florence should offer 147 a victim in her last hour of peace. With these families, and with others with them, I saw Florence in such repose 150 that she had no occasion why she should weep. With these families I saw so glorious and so just her people that the lily 153 was upon the staff never set reversed, nor by divisions made vermilion.”
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