La Divina Commedia Paradiso Canto XVII The song of the exile and of Dante’s mission 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 Qual v nne a Climenè, per accertarsi 1 2 6 di ciò ch’avéa inc ntro a sé udito, 2 4 6 8 3 qu i ch’anc r fa li padri ai figli scarsi; 1 3 (4) 6 8 tal ra io, e tal ra sentito 1 2 4 6 7 e da Beatrice e da la santa lampa 4 8 6 che pria per me av a mutato sito. 2 4 6 8 Per che mia d nna «Manda fu r la vampa 2 (3) 4 6 8 del tuo di io», mi disse, «sì ch’ lla sca 2 4 6 8 9 9 segnata b ne de la int rna stampa: 2 4 8 non perché n stra conosc nza cr sca 1 3 4 8 per tuo parlare, ma perché t’a u i 2 4 8 12 a dir la s te, sì che l’u m ti m!sca». 2 4 6 8 «" cara pi#ta mia che sì t’insu$i, (1) 2 4 6 8 che, c%me v&ggion le terr'ne m(nti 1 (2) 4 8 15 non cap)re*in trïangol due+ottu,i, 1 3 6 8 co-ì v.di le c/0e conting1nti 2 3 6 anzi che s2eno3in sé, mirando4il punto 1 4 6 8 18 a cui tutti li t5mpi s6n pre78nti; (2) 3 6 8 m9ntre ch’io:;ra<a Virgilio congiunto 1 4 7 su per lo m=nte che l’anime cura 1 4 7 21 e discend>ndo nel m?ndo defunto, 4 7 d@tte mi fuAr di mia vita futura 1 4 7 parBle gravi,CavvDgna ch’io mi senta 2 4 6 8 24 bEn tetrFgonoGai colpi di ventura; 1 3 6 per che la vHglia mia sarIa contJnta 2 (4) 6 8 d’intKnder qual fortuna mi s’apprLssa: 2 4 6 27 ché saMNtta previOa viPn più lQnta». 3 6 8
2 As came to Clymene, to ascertain concerning that which he had heard against himself 3 HE who still makes fathers chary toward their sons; such was I, and such was I perceived to be both by Beatrice, and by the holy lamp 6 which previously for my sake had changed its station. Wherefore my Lady: “Send forth the flame of thy desire”, said to me, “in such wise that it may issue 9 imprinted well by the internal stamp; not in order that our knowledge may increase through thy speech, but in order that thou accustom thyself 12 to tell thy thirst, so that one may give thee drink.” “O dear root of me, who so upliftest thyself that, even as see earthly minds 15 that can not be contained in a triangle two obtuse angles, so thou dost see contingent things, ere in themselves they are, gazing upon the Point 18 to which all times are present; while I was with Virgil conjoined, up over the mountain which cures the souls, 21 and while descending in the dead world, said to me were of my future life grave words; although I feel myself 24 truly four-square against the blows of chance. Wherefore my wish would be contented by hearing what fortune is drawing near for me; 27 for arrow foreseen comes more slack.”
3 CoRì diss’ ioSa quTlla luce stUssa 2 4 (6) 8 che pria m’avVa parlato;We cXme vYlle 2 (4) 6 (8) 30 Beatrice, fu la mia vZglia conf[ssa. 2 4 7 Né per ambage,\in che la g]nte f^lle 1 4 (6) 8 già s’inviscava pria che f_sse`anciao 1 4 6 8 33 l’Agnbl di Dio che le peccata tclle, 2 4 8 ma per chiare pardleee con precifo 3 6 latin rispughe quillojamkr patlrno, 2 4 (6) 8 36 chiumone parvonte del suo prpprio riqo: 1 4 8 «La contingrnza, che fusr del quadtrno 4 7 de la vustra matvra non si stwnde, 3 6 (8) 39 tuttaxè dipinta nel cospyttozett{rno; 1 4 8 necessità però quindi non pr|nde 4 6 7 se non c}me dal vi~oin che si spcchia 2.3 6 42 nave che per torrnte giù discnde. 1 6 (8) Daindi, sì cme vi nead orcchia 2 (4/5) 7 dlcearmonia dargano, mi vine 1 4 6 45 a vistail tmpo che ti s’apparcchia. 2 4 Qual si partoIplito d’Atne 1 4 6 per la spietatae prfida novrca, 4 6 48 tal di Fiornza partir ti convne. 1 4 7 Qusto si vulee qusto già si crca, 1 4 6 8 e tsto verrà fattoa chi ciò p nsa 2 (5) 6 (8.9) 51 là d¡ve Cristo tutto dì si m¢rca. (1) 4 6 8 La c£lpa seguirà la parte¤off¥nsa 2 6 8 in grido, c¦me su§l; ma la vend¨tta 2 6 54 f©a testimªnio«al v¬r che la disp nsa. (1) 4 6
4 Thus said I unto that same light which before had spoken to me, and, as willed 30 Beatrice, was my wish confessed. Not with ambiguous terms in which the foolish folk of old were entangled, before had been slain 33 the Lamb of God which taketh away sins, but with clear words and with plain speech made answer that paternal love, 36 enclosed and made manifest by its own smile: “Contingency, which outside the volume of your matter does not extend, 39 is all depicted in the Eternal Vision. Necessity yet thence it does not take, more than from the eye in which it is mirrored 42 does a ship which is going down the stream. Therefrom, even as comes to the ear sweet harmony from an organ, comes 45 to my sight the time that is preparing for thee. As departed Hippolytus from Athens, by reason of his pitiless and perfidious stepmother, 48 so from Florence depart thou must needs. This is willed, this is already sought for, and will soon be brought to pass, by him who meditates it 51 there where Christ every day is bought and sold. The blame will follow the injured party, in outcry, as is wont; but the vengeance 54 will be testimony to the truth which dispenses it.
5 Tu lascerai®¯gne c°±a dil²tta 1 4 (5) 7 più caram³nte;´e quµsto¶è qu·llo strale 1 4 6 8 57 che l’arco de lo¸essilio pria sa¹ºtta. 2 6 8 Tu proverai sì c»me sa di sale 1 4 (5) 8 lo pane¼altrui,½e c¾me¿è duro calle 2 4 (6) 8 60 lo scÀndereÁe ’l salir per l’altrui scale. 2 6 9 E quÂl che più ti graverà le spalle, 2 4 8 sarà la compagnia malvagiaÃe scÄmpia 2 6 8 63 con la qual tu cadraiÅin quÆsta valle; 3 6 8 che tuttaÇingrata, tutta mattaÈed Émpia 2 4 6 8 si farà cÊntr’ a te; ma, pËcoÌapprÍsso, 3 (4) 6 7 8 66 Îlla, non tu, n’avrà rÏssa la tÐmpia. 1 (3) 4 7 Di sua bestialitateÑil suo procÒsso 2 6 8 farà la prÓva; sì ch’a te fÔa bÕllo 2 4 6 8 9 69 avÖrti fatta parte per te st×sso. 2 4 6 Lo primo tuo refugioØe ’l primoÙostÚllo 2 4 6 8 sarà la corteÛia del gran Lombardo 2 6 8 72 che ’n su la scala pÜrtaÝil santoÞuccßllo; 4 6 8 ch’in teàavrà sì benigno riguardo, 2 4 (5) 7 che del fareáe del chiâder, tra vãi due, 3 6 75 fäa primo quål che tra liæaltriçè più tardo. 2 4 7 Con lui vedrai colui che ’mprèsso fue, 2 4 6 8 nascendo, sì da quésta stêlla fërte, 2 4 (6) 8 78 che notabili fìer l’ípere sue. 3 6 7 Non se ne sîn le gïntiðancñraòaccórte 1 4 6 8 per la novôllaõetà, ché pur növe÷anni 4 6 8 9 81 søn quùste rúteûintürno di lui týrte; 2 4 6 9
6 Thou shalt leave everything beloved most dearly; and this is 57 the arrow which the bow of exile first shoots. Thou shalt make proof how savors of salt the bread of others, and how is hard a path 60 the descending and the mounting of another’s stairs. And that which will weigh heaviest upon thy shoulders will be the evil and senseless company 63 with which thou wilt fall into this valley; which all ungrateful, all mad and malevolent will turn against thee; but short while after, 66 it, not thou, shall have red therefor the forehead. Of its bestiality, its own proceduce will afford the proof; so that for thee it will be well-becoming 69 to have made thee a party by thyself. Thy first refuge and first inn shall be the courtesy of the great Lombard 72 who upon the ladder bears the holy bird, who will have for thee such benign regard that, in doing and in asking, between you two, 75 that will be first, which between others is the slowest. With him shalt thou see one, who was so impressed, at his birth, by this strong star, 78 that notable will be his deeds. Not yet are the people aware of him, because of his young age; for only nine years 81 have these wheels around him revolved.
7 ma pria che ’l Guasco l’altoþArrigo inganni, 2 4 6 8 parran faville de la sua virtute 2 4 8 84 in non curar d’arg nto né d’affanni. 2 4 6 Le sue magnific nze conosciute (2) 6 saranno anc ra, sì che ’ su i nemici 2 4 (6) 8 87 non ne potran ten r le lingue mute. (1) 4 6 8 A lui t’asp tta e a’ su i benefici; 2 4 7 per lui f a tra mutata m lta g nte, 2 6 8 90 cambiando condizi n ricchi e mendici; 2 6 7 e portera’ne scritto ne la m nte 4 6 di lui, e n l dirai»; e disse c e 2 4 6 8 93 incredibili a qu i che f er pre nte. 3 6 8 P i giunse: «Figlio, qu ste s n le chi !e 1 2 4 6 8 di qu"l che ti fu d#tto;$%cco le ’nsidie 2 6 7 96 che di&tro'a p(chi giri s)n nasc*+e. 2 4 6 8 Non v,’ però ch’a’ tu-i vicini.invidie, 2 4 (6) 8 p/scia che s’infutura la tua vita 1 6 99 via più là che ’l punir di l0r perfidie». (1) 3 6 8 P1i che, tac2ndo, si mostrò spedita 1.2 4 8 l’anima santa di m3tter la trama (1) 4 7 102 in qu4lla t5la ch’io le p6rsi7ordita, 2 4 (6) 8 io cominciai, c8me colui che brama, 1 4 8 dubitando, consiglio da pers9na 3 6 105 che v:de;e vu<l dirittam=nte>e?ama: 2 4 8 «B@n vAggio, padre mio, sì cBme sprCna 1 2 4 6 (7.8) lo tDmpo vErso me, per cFlpo darmi 2 4 6 8 108 tal, ch’è più graveGa chi più s’abbandHna; 1 4 (6 7)
8 But ere the Gascon cheat the lofty Henry shall appear some sparkles of his virtue, 84 in his caring not for money nor for toils. His magnificences shall be known hereafter, so that his enemies 87 will not be able to keep their tongues mute about them. To him look thou, and to his benefits; by him shall be transformed many people, 90 changing condition rich and mendicant. And thou shalt bear hence written in thy mind of him, but thou shalt not tell it,”– and he told things 93 incredible to those who shall be present. Then he added: “Son, these are the glosses on which was said to thee: behold the snares 96 which behind few revolutions are hidden. Yet I would not that thy neighbors thou hate, because a future has thy life 99 far beyond the punishment of their perfidies.” When by its silence showed it had finished that holy soul putting the woof 102 into that web which I had held out to it, warped, I began, as he who longs, in doubt, for counsel from a person 105 who sees, and wills uprightly, and loves: “I see well, my Father, how spurs the time on toward me to give me a blow 108 such as is heaviest to him who most deserts himself;
9 per che di provedInzaJè buKn ch’io m’armi, (2) 6 8 sì che, se lLco m’è tMlto più caro, 1 2 4 7 111 io non perdNssi liOaltri per miPi carmi. 1 4 6 9 Giù per lo mQndo sanza fineRamaro, 1 4 6 8 e per lo mSnte del cui bTl cacume 4 8 114 liUVcchi de la mia dWnna mi levaro, 1 6 e pXscia per lo ciYl, di lumeZin lume, 2 6 8 ho[io\appr]^o qu_l che s’io ridico, 2 4 6 8 117 a m`lti faa sapbr di fcrtedagrume; 2 4 6 8 e s’ioeal vfro sgn timidohamico, 2 4 7 timo di pjrder viver tra colkro 1 4 6 120 che qulsto tmmpo chiamerannonantico». 2 4 8 La luceoin che ridpvaqil mio tersro 2 (4) 6 (8) ch’io trovai lì, si fé prima corusca, 1 3 4 7 123 qualeta raggio di sule spvcchio d’wro; 1 3 6 8 indi rispuxye: «Coscïznza fusca 1 4 8 o de la pr{pria|o de l’altrui verg}gna 4 8 126 pur sentirà la tua par~la brusca. 1 4 8 Ma nondimn, rimssagne menzgna, 4 6 7 tutta tua viï n fa manifsta; 1 6 129 e lascia pur grattar dv’ è la rgna. 2 4 6 8 Ché se la vce tua sarà molsta (1) (4) 6 8 nel primo gusto, vital nodrimnto 2 4 7 132 lascerà pi, quando sarà digsta. (3) 4 5 8 Qusto tuo grido farà cme vnto, 1 4 7 che le piùalte cime più percute; 4 6 8 135 e ciò non fa d’onr pcoargomnto. 2 4 6 7
10 wherefore with foresight it is good that I arm me, so that if the place be taken from me most dear, 111 I may not lose the others by my songs. Down through the world of endless bitterness, and over the mountain from whose fair summit 114 the eyes of my Lady uplifted me, and then through heaven from light to light, I have learned that which, if I tell again, 117 will have for many a savor of great bitterness; and if to the truth I am a timid friend, I fear to lose life among those 120 who will call this time ancient.” The light, within which was smiling my treasure that I had found there, first became flashing 123 as in the sun-beam a mirror of gold; then it replied: “A conscience dark, either with its own or with another’s shame, 126 will indeed feel thy speech to be harsh; but nevertheless, laid aside all falsehood, thy whole vision make manifest, 129 and let then the scratching be where the itch is; for if thy voice shall be molestful at the first taste, vital nourishment 132 it will leave, afterwards, when it shall be digested. This cry of thine shall do as the wind, which the loftiest summits strikes hardest; 135 and that is of honor no little argument.
11 Però ti son mostratein quste rte, 2 6 8 nel mntee ne la valle dolora 2 6 138 pur l’anime che sn di fama nte, 1 2 6 8 ché l’animo di qu l ch’¡de, non p¢£a 2 6 7 9 né f¤rma f¥de per ess¦mpro ch’a§ia 2 4 8 141 la sua radice¨inc©gnitaªe«asc¬a, 4 6 né per altro®argom¯nto che non pa°ia». (1) 3 6
12 Therefore have been shown to thee within these wheels, upon the mountain, and in the woeful valley 138 only the souls which are of fame known; for the mind of him who hears rests not, nor confirms its faith, by an example which has 141 its root unknown and hidden, nor by other argument which is not apparent.”
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