La Divina Commedia Purgatorio Canto XII The song of punished pride Time: Tuesday, March 28, 1301 (Monday, April 11, 1300): around noon Place: Cornice I: the superb Stairs to Cornice II People: Dante, Virgilio, Angel of Humility © 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 Di pari, come bu i che vanno a gi go, 2 6 8 m’andava io con qu ll’ anima carca, (2) 4 (6) 7 3 fin che ’l soff rse il d lce pedag go. 1 4 6 Ma quando disse: «Lascia lui e varca; 2 4 6 8 ché qui è bu no con l’ali e c i r mi, 2 4 7 6 quantunque può, ciascun pinger sua barca»; 2 4 6 7 dritto sì c me andar vu lsi rif ’mi 1 (3) 6 7 con la pers na, avv gna che i pensi ri 4 6 9 mi riman ssero e chinati e sc mi. 4 8 Io m’ ra m sso, e segu a volonti!ri (1) 4 7 del mio ma"#stro$i passi,%e&amendue 4 6 12 già mostravam c'm’ eravam legg(ri; 1 4 8 ed )l mi disse: «V*lgi li+,cchi-in giùe: 2 4 6 8 bu.n ti sarà, per tranquillar la via, 1 4 8 15 ved/r lo l0tto de le piante tue». 2 4 8 C1me, perché di l2r mem3ria sia, 1 (4) 6 8 s4vra5i sep6lti le t7mbe terragne 1 4 7 18 portan segnato qu8l ch’9lli:;ran pria, 1 4 6 7 8 <nde lì m=lte v>lte si ripiagne 1 3 4 6 per la puntura de la rimembranza, 4 21 che s?lo@a’ pïi dà de le calcagne; 2 4 6 sì vid’ io lì, ma di migliAr sembianza 1 3 4 8 secBndo l’artificio, figurato 2 6 24 quanto per via di fuCr del mDnteEavanza. 1 4 6 8 VedFa colui che fu nGbil creHato 2 4 7 più ch’altra creIatura, giù dal ciJlo 1 2 6 8 27 folgoreggiando scKnder, da l’un lato. 4 6
2 With even pace, like oxen that go yoked, I went on with that burdened soul so long 3 as the sweet Pedagogue allowed it; but when he said: “Leave him, and pass on, for here it is well both with the sail and with the oars, 6 as much as he can, for every one to urge his bark,” I straitened, as is required for walking, up again my body, although my thoughts 9 remained both stooping and abased. I had moved on, and was following willingly the steps of my Master, and both 12 were now showing how light we were, when he said to me: “Turn thine eyes downward; it will be well for thee, in order to cheer the way, 15 to look upon the bed of thy footsteps.” So that there may be memory of them, as above the buried, their tombs on the ground 18 bear engraved what they were before – whence often is weeping for them there, through the pricking of remembrance, 21 which only to the pious gives the spur – so I saw figured there, but of better semblance in respect of the workmanship, 24 all that for pathway juts out from the mountain. I saw him who was created noble more than any other creature, from heaven 27 as lightning falling down, on one side.
3 VedLa BrïarMo fitto dal tNlo 2 6 7 celestïal giacOr, da l’altra parte, 4 6 8 30 gravePa la tQrra per lo mortal gRlo. 1 4 9 VedSa TimbrTo, vedUa PVlladeWe Marte, 2 4 6 7 armatiXancYra,Zint[rno\al padre l]ro, 2 4 6 8 33 mirar le m^mbra d’i Giganti sparte. 2 4 8 Ved_a Nembròt a piè del gran lav`ro 2 4 6 8 quaai bmarrito,ce riguardar le gdnti 1 4 8 36 che ’n Sennaeàr con lui supfrbi fugro. 4 6 8 h Nïobè, con cheijcchi dolknti 4 6 7 vedlam io te segnatanin su la strada, 2 (3) 4 6 39 tra sottepe sqtte turi figliusli sptnti! 2 4 6 8 u Savùl, cwmexin su la prypria spada 3 4 8 quivi parzvi m{rto|in Gelbo}è, 1 4 6 42 che p~i non sentì piggia né rugiada! 2 5 6 8 flleAragne, sì vedaio te 2 4 6 8 (9) già m a ragna, tristain su li stracci 1 2 4 6 45 de l’pera che mal per te si fé. 2 6 8 Roboàm, già non par che minacci 4 (5) 7 quivi ’l tuo sgno; ma pin di spavnto 1 4 7 48 nel prtaun carro, sanza ch’altriil cacci. 2 4 6 8 Mostravaancr lo duro pavimnto 2 4 6 cmeAlmen a sua madre fé caro 1 4 7 9 51 parr lo venturatoaddornamnto. 2 6 Mostrava cmei figli si gittaro 2 4 6 svra Sennacherìb d ntro dal t¡mpio, 1 6 7 54 e c¢me, m£rto lui, quivi¤il lasciaro. 2 4 6 7
4 I saw Briareus transfixed by the celestial bolt, on the other side, lying 30 heavy upon the earth in mortal chill. I saw Thymbraeus, I saw Pallas and Mars, still armed, around their father, 33 gazing at the scattered limbs of the giants. I saw Nimrod at the foot of his great toil, as if bewildered, and looking round upon the people 36 that in Shinar had been proud with him. O Niobe! with what grieving eyes did I see thee portrayed upon the road 39 between thy seven and seven children slain! O Saul! how on thine own sword didst thou here appear dead on Gilboa, 42 which thereafter felt not rain or dew! O foolish Arachne, so did I see thee, already half spider, wretched on the shreds 45 of the work which to thy harm by thee was made! O Rehoboam! here not to threaten seems now thine image, but full of terror 48 a chariot bears it away before anyone pursues it.’’ The hard pavement showed also how costly to his mother Alcmæon made 51 the illfated ornament appear. It showed how his sons threw themselves upon Sennacherib within the temple, 54 and how, he dead, they left him there.
5 Mostrava la ru¥ina¦e ’l crudo sc§mpio 2 6 8 che fé Tamiri, quando disse¨a Ciro: 2 4 6 8 57 «Sangue sitisti,©eªio di sangue t’«mpio». 1 4 6 8 Mostrava c¬me in r®tta si fuggiro 2 4 6 li¯Assiri, p°i che fu m±rto²Olof³rne, 2 4 7 60 e´anche le reliquie del martiro. 2 6 Vedµva Tr¶·ia¸in c¹nereºe»in cav¼rne; 2 4 6 ½¾Ilïón, c¿me te bassoÀe vile 1 4 5 7 8 63 mostravaÁil sÂgno che lì si discÃrne! 2 4 7 Qual di pennÄl fu maÅÆstroÇo di stile 1 4 7 che ritraÈÉsse l’ÊmbreËe ’ tratti ch’ivi 4 6 8 66 mirar farÌenoÍunoÎingÏgno sottile? 2 4 7 MÐrti li mÑrtiÒeÓi vivi parÔan vivi: 1 4 6 9 non vide mÕi di me chi videÖil v×ro, 2 4 6 8 69 quant’ io calcai, fin che chinato givi. 2 4 5 8 Ør superbÙte,Úe via col viÛoÜaltÝro, 1 4 6 8 figliuÞli d’ßva,àe non chinateáil vâlto 2 4 6 8 72 sì che veggiateãil västro mal sentåro! (1) 4 6 8 Piùæçra già per nèi del ménte vòlto 1 4 6 8 e del cammin del sêleëassai più spìío 4 6 8 75 che non stimava l’animo non sciîlto, 2 4 6 quando colui che sïmpreðinnanziñattòóo 1 4 6 8 andava, cominciò: «Drizza la tôsta; 2 6 7 78 non è più tõmpo di gir sì sospö÷o. 2 4 7 8 Vødi colàùun angel che s’apprústa 1 4 6 per venir vûrso nüi; výdi che tþrna 3 4 6 7 81 dal servigio del dì l’anc lla s sta. 3 6 8
6 It showed the ruin and the cruel butchery that Tomyris wrought, when she said to Cyrus, 57 “For blood thou hast thirsted, and with blood I fill thee.” It showed how in rout fled the Assyrians after Holofernes was killed, 60 and also the remnants of the victim. I saw Troy in ashes, and in caverns: O Ilion, how cast down and abject did thee 63 show the image which is there discerned! What Master has there been of pencil or of style that could draw the shadows and the lines which there 66 would make every subtile genius wonder? Dead seemed the dead, and the living alive. Not better than I saw he who saw the truth, 69 all that I trod on, while I went bent down. – Now be ye proud, and go your way with haughty look, ye sons of Eve, and bend not down your face 72 so that ye may see your evil path! More of the mountain had now been circled by us, and of the sun’s course far more spent, 75 than my mind, not disengaged, was aware, when he, who always attentive in advance went, began: “Lift up thy head; 78 there is no longer time for going thus abstracted. See yonder an Angel, who is making ready to come toward us: see how is returning 81 from the service of the day the sixth hand-maiden.
7 Di rever nza il vi o e li atti add rna, 4 6 8 sì che i dil tti lo ’nvïarci in su o; 1 4 8 84 p nsa che qu sto dì mai non raggi rna!». 1 4 6 7 Io ra b n del suo ammonir u o (1) 4 6 9 pur di non p rder t mpo, sì che ’n qu lla 1 4 6 8 87 mat ria non pot a parlarmi chiu o. 2 (4) 6 8 A n i venìa la cre atura b lla, 2 4 8 biancovestito e ne la faccia quale 4 8 90 par tremolando mattutina st lla. 1 4 8 Le braccia!ap"rse,#e$indi%ap&rse l’ale; 2 4 6 8 disse: «Venite: qui s'n pr(sso)i gradi, 1 4 6 8 93 e*agevolem+nte,omai si sale. 6 8 A qu-sto.invito v/gnon m0lto radi: 2 4 6 8 o g1nte2umana, per volar sù nata, 2 4 9 96 perché3a p4co v5nto co6ì cadi?». 2 4 6 9 Men7cci89ve la r:ccia;<ra tagliata; 2 3 6 7 quivi mi batté l’ali per la fr=nte; 1 5 6 99 p>i mi promi?e sicura l’andata. 1 4 7 C@meAa man dBstra, per salireCal mDnte 1 3 4 7 dEve siFde la chiGHa che soggiIga 1 3 6 102 la bJn guidata sKpra RubacLnte, 2 4 6 si rMmpe del montar l’ardNta fOga 2 6 8 per le scalPe che si fQroRad etade 4 7 105 ch’Sra sicuroTil quadUrnoVe la dWga; (1) 4 7 coXì s’allYnta la ripa che cade 2 4 7 quivi bZn ratta da l’altro gir[ne; 1 3 4 7 108 ma quinci\e quindi l’alta pi]tra rade. 2 4 6 8
8 With reverence adorn thine acts and thy face so that it may please him to direct us upward. 84 Think that this day never dawns again.” I was well used to his admonition never to lose time, so that on that 87 theme he could not speak to me obscurely. The beautiful creature came toward us, clothed in white, and in his face such 90 as seems the tremulous morning star. His arms he opened, and then he opened his wings; he said: “Come: here at hand are the steps, 93 and easily henceforth does one ascend. Very few come to these tidings. O human race, born to fly upward, 96 wherefore at a little wind dost thou so fall?” He led us to where the rock was cleft; here he struck his wings across my forehead, 99 then promised me secure progress. As on the right hand, to ascend the mountain, where the church sits which dominates 102 the well-guided city above Rubaconte, the bold flight of the ascent is broken by the stairs, which were made in an age 105 when the record and the stave were secure, so the bank is made easier which falls here very steeply from the next round; 108 but on this side and that the high rock grazes.
9 N^i volg_ndo`ivi le nastre persbne, 1 3 4 7 ‘B c t paup r s sp r t !’ vdci 2 4 7 111 cantaron sì, che nol direa sermfne. 2 4 6 8 Ahi quanto sgn divhrse quille fjci 1 2 4 6 8 da l’infernali! ché quivi per canti 4 7 114 s’kntra,le là giù per lammnti fernci. 1 4 7 Già montavam su per li scaglion santi, 1 4 5 9 ed psser mi parqa trrppo più lisve 2 6 7 (9) 117 che per lo pian non mi parta davanti. 4 8 und’ io: «Mavwstro, dì, qual cxya grzve 2 4 6 (7.8) levata s’è da me, che nulla qua{i 2 4 6 8 120 per me fatica,|andando, si ric}ve?». 2 4 6 Rispu~e: «Quandoi P che sn rimai 2 4 6 8 ancr nel vlto tuo pr sso che stinti, 2 4 6 7 123 saranno, cm’ è l’un, del tutto rai, 2 (5) 6 8 fer li tui piè dal bun volr sì vinti, 1 4 6 8 (9) che non pur non fatica sentiranno, (2 3) (4) 6 126 ma fa diltto lrosser sù pinti». (2) 4 6 7 9 Allr fc’ io cme colr che vanno 2 4 (5) 8 con cain capo non da lr saputa, 2 4 6 8 129 se non che ’ cnnialtrui sospecciar fanno; 2 4 6 9 per che la manoad accertar s’aiuta, (2) 4 8 e crcae truva e qu¡llo¢officio£ad¤mpie 2 4 6 8 132 che non si può fornir per la veduta; (4) 6 e con le dita de la d¥stra sc¦mpie 4 8 trovai pur s§i le l¨ttere che ’ncise 2 3 4 6 135 qu©l da le chiaviªa me s«vra le t¬mpie: 1 4 6 7
10 As we turned our persons thither, voices sang Beati pauperes spiritu 111 in such wise that speech could not tell it. Ah, how different are these passes from those of Hell! for here with songs 114 one enters, and there below with fierce lamentations. Already we were mounting up over the holy stairs, and it seemed to me I was far more light 117 than I had seemed before upon the plain. Whereon I: “Master, say, what heavy thing has been lifted from me, so that almost no 120 fatigue, as I go on, is felt by me?” He answered: When the P’s which remain still on thy forehead, almost extinct, 123 shall be, as one is, quite erased, thy feet will be so conquered by goodwill that not only will they not feel fatigue, 126 but it will be delight to them to be urged upward.” Then I did like those who are going with something on their head unknown to them, 129 unless the signs of others make them suspect; wherefore the hand assists to ascertain, and seeks and finds, and performs that office 132 which cannot be accomplished by the sight; and with the fingers of my right hand outspread, I found six only of those letters which had incised 135 he of the keys upon my temples:
11 a che guardando, il mio duca sorri®e. 2 4 7
12 looking at which my Leader smiled.
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