La Divina Commedia Purgatorio Canto XVII The song of the theory of love Time: Tuesday, March 28, 1301 (Monday, April 11, 1300): towards sunset Place: Stairs to Cornice IV Cornice IV: the slothful People: Dante, Virgilio, Angel of Peace © 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 Ric rditi, lett r, se mai ne l’alpe 2 6 8 ti c lse n bbia per la qual ved ssi 2 4 8 3 non altrim nti che per p lle talpe, (1) 4 8 c me, quando i vap ri umidi e sp ssi 1 3 6 7 a diradar com nciansi, la sp ra 4 6 6 del s l debilem nte ntra per ssi; 2 6 7 e f a la tua imagine legg ra 2 6 in giugnere a ved r c m’ io rividi 2 6 8 9 lo s le in pr a, che già nel corcar ra. 2 4 6 9 Sì, pareggiando i mi i c!’ passi fidi 1 4 6 8 del mio ma"#stro,$usci’ fu%r di tal nube 2 4 6 7 9 12 ai raggi m&rti già n'’ bassi lidi. 2 4 6 8 ()imaginativa che ne rube (1) 6 talv*lta sì di fu+r, ch’,m non s’acc-rge 2 4 6 7 8 15 perché dint.rno su/nin mille tube, 2 4 6 8 chi m0ve te, se ’l s1nso non ti p2rge? 1 2 4 6 (8) M3veti lume che nel ci4l s’inf5rma, 1 4 8 18 per sé6o per vol7r che giù lo sc8rge. 2 6 8 De l’empi9zza di l:i che mutò f;rma 3 6 9 ne l’ucc<l ch’a cantar più si dil=tta, 3 6 7 21 ne l’imagine mia>apparve l’?rma; 3 6 8 e qui fu la mia m@nte sì ristrAtta 2 (3) 6 8 dBntro da sé, che di fuCr non venìa 1 4 7 (8) 24 cDEa che fFsseGallHr da lIi ricJtta. 1 4 6 8 PKi piLvve dMntroNa l’alta fantaOia 1 2 4 6 un crucifisso, dispettPQoRe fSro 4 8 27 ne la sua vista,Te cotal si moria; 4 7
2 Recall to mind, Reader, if ever on the alps a cloud closed round thee, through which thou couldst see 3 not otherwise than the mole through its skin, how, when the humid and dense vapors begin to dissipate, the orb 6 of the sun enters feebly through them; and thy imagination will be swift in coming to see, how I saw again 9 the sun at first, which was already at its setting. Thus matching mine to the trusty steps of my Master, I issued forth from such a cloud 12 to the rays already dead on the low shores. O faculty of imagination, that so steal us dost some times from outward things that a man heeds it not, 15 although around him a thousand trumpets are sounding, who moves thee if the sense afford thee naught? Thee moves a light, which is formed in the heavens, 18 by itself, or by a will which guides it downward. Of the pitilessness of her who changed her form into the bird that most delights in singing, 21 appeared in my imagination the vestige. And here was my mind so shut up within itself that from without came 24 nothing which then might be received by it. Then there rained down within my raised fantasy, one crucified, despiteful and fierce 27 in his look, and thus was he dying.
3 intUrnoVad WssoXYraZil grande[Assü\ro, 2 4 (5) 7 Estèr sua sp]^a_e ’l giusto Mardoc`o, 2 4 6 30 che fuaal direbecal far codìeintfro. 2 4 7 9 E cgme quhstaiimagine rompjo (2 4) 6 sé per sé stkssa,la guima d’una bulla 1 4 6 33 cui manca l’acqua sntto qual si foo, (2) 4 6 8 sursepin mia viqïrnesuna fanciulla 1 3 6 piangtndo furte,ve dicwa:x«y regina, 2 4 7 8 36 perché per irazhai voluto{|sser nulla? 2 4 7 8 Anci}a t’hai per non p~rder Lavina; 2 4 7 r m’hai perduta!Io sn ssa che lutto, 1 (2) 4 5 7 39 madre,a la tua pra ch’a l’altrui ru ina». 1 4 5 8 Cme si frangeil snnove di butto (1) 4 6 7 nva luce percuteil vio chiuo, (1) 3 6 8 42 che fratto guizza pra che muia tutto; 2 4 6 8 coì l’imaginar mio cadde giuo 2 6 7 8 tsto che lumeil vlto mi percsse, 1 4 6 45 maggir assai che qul ch’èin nstrouo. 2 4 6 8 I’ mi volga per ved r ¡v’ io f¢sse, 1 4 7 9 quando£una v¤ce disse «Qui si m¥nta», 1 4 6 8 48 che da¦§gne¨altro©intªnto mi rim«sse; (3 4) 6 e f¬ce la mia v glia tanto pr®nta 2 6 8 di riguardar chi¯°ra che parlava, 4 6 51 che mai non p±²a, se non si raffr³nta. 2 4 7 Ma c´meµal s¶l che n·stra vista grava 2 4 6 8 e per sov¸rchio sua figura v¹la, 4 6 8 54 coºì la mia virtù quivi mancava. 2 (4) 6 7
4 Around him were the great Ahasuerus, Esther, his wife, and the just Mordecai, 30 who was so blameless in word and deed. And as this image burst of itself, in manner of a bubble 33 for which the water fails, under which it was formed, there rose in my vision a maiden, weeping bitterly, and she was saying: “O queen, 36 wherefore through anger hast thou willed to be naught? Thou hast slain thyself in order not to lose Lavinia; now thou hast lost me: I am she that grieves, 39 mother, at thy destruction, before that of another.” As sleep is broken, when of a sudden the new light strikes the closed eyes, 42 and, broken, quivers before it wholly dies, so my imagining fell down, soon as a light struck my face, 45 greater by far than that to which we are accustomed. I was turning to see where I was, when a voice said: “Here is the ascent”: 48 and this withdrew me from every other object of attention, and made my will so eager to behold who it was that was speaking, 51 that it never rests till it is face to face. But, as before the sun which weighs down our sight, and by excess veils its own shape, 54 so here my power failed.
5 «Qu»sto¼è divino spirito, che ne la 1 4 6 via da½ir sù ne drizza sanza pr¾go, 1 (3) 4 6 8 57 e col suo lume sé med¿Àmo cÁla. (2) 4 8 Sì fa con nÂi, cÃme l’uÄm si fa sÅgo; 1 4 7 ché qualeÆaspÇtta prÈgoÉe l’uÊpo vËde, 2 4 6 8 60 malignamÌnte già si mÍtteÎal nÏgo. 4 6 8 Ðr accordiamoÑa tantoÒinvitoÓil piÔde; 1 4 6 8 procacciÕm di salir prÖa che s’abbui, 3 6 7 63 ché p×i non si porØa, se ’l dì non riÙde». 2 (3) 6 8 CoÚì disseÛil mio duca,ÜeÝio con lui (2) 3 6 8 volgÞmmoßi nàstri passiáad una scala; 2 4 6 66 e tâsto ch’ioãal primo grado fui, 2 4 6 8 senti’mi prässo quaåiæun muçver d’ala 2 4 6 8 e ventèrmi nel viéoêe dir: ‘B ë t 3 6 8 69 p c f c , che sìn sanz’ ira mala!’. 2 6 8 Giàíîran sïvra nði tanto levati 1 2 6 7 liñòltimi raggi che la nótte sôgue, 1 4 8 72 che le stõlleöapparivan da più lati. 3 6 9 ‘÷ virtù mia, perché sì ti diløgue?’, 3 4 6 7 fra me stùsso dicúa, ché mi sentiva 3 6 75 la pûssa de le gambe püstaýin triþgue. 2 6 8 Noi eravam d ve più non saliva 1 4 (5) 7 (8) la scala sù, ed eravamo affissi, 2 4 8 78 pur c me nave ch’a la piaggia arriva. 1 4 8 E io att i un p co, s’io udissi 2 4 6 8 alcuna c a nel n vo gir ne; 2 4 7 81 p i mi v lsi al ma stro mio, e dissi: 1 3 6 8
6 “This is a divine spirit who on the way to go up directs us, without our asking, 57 and with his own light conceals himself. He so deals with us as a man does with himself; for he who waits for asking and sees the need, 60 malignly sets himself already to denial. Now let us accord our feet to such an invitation; let us press forward to ascend before it grow dark, 63 for after, it would not be possible until the day returns.” Thus said my Leader; and I and he turned our steps to a stairway; 66 and, soon as I was on the first step, I felt near me a motion as if of a wing, and a fanning on my face, and I heard say: “Beati 69 pacifici, who are without evil anger.” Already were, so lifted above us, the last sunbeams, on which the night follows, 72 that the stars were appearing on many sides. “O my strength, why dost thou so melt away?” I said to myself, for I felt 75 the power of my legs put in truce. We were now where no farther ascended the stair, and we were stayed fast, 78 even as a ship that arrives at the shore: and I listened for a while, if I might hear anything in the new circle. 81 Then I turned to my Master, and said:
7 «D lce mio padre, dì, quale offensi ne 1 4 6 7 si purga qui nel giro d ve s mo? 2 4 6 84 Se i piè si stanno, non st a tuo serm ne». 2 4 7 Ed lli!a me: «L’am"r del b#ne, sc$mo 2 4 6 8 del suo dov%r, quiritta si rist&ra; 4 6 87 qui si ribatte'il mal tardato r(mo. 1 4 6 8 Ma perché più)ap*rto+int,ndi-anc.ra, 3 4 6 8 v/lgi la m0nte1a me,2e prenderai 1 4 6 90 alcun bu3n frutto di n4stra dim5ra». 2 (3) 4 7 «Né cre6at7r né cre8atura mai», 1 4 5 8 cominciò9:l, «figliu;l, fu sanza<am=re, 4 6 (7) 8 93 o naturale>o d’animo;?e tu ’l sai. 4 6 9 Lo naturale@è sAmpre sanzaBerrCre, 4 6 8 ma l’altro puDteEerrar per maloFobiGtto 2 4 6 8 96 o per trHppoIo per pJco di vigKre. 3 6 MLntre ch’MlliNè nel primo bOn dirPtto, 1 3.4 6 8 e nQ’ secRndi sé stSsso miTura, 4 7 99 Usser non può cagiVn di mal dilWtto; 1 4 6 8 ma quandoXal mal si tYrce,Zo con più cura 2 4 6 8/9 o con m[n che non d\e c]rre nel b^ne, 3 6 7 102 c_ntra ’l fatt`reaadbvra sua fattura. 1 4 6 Quinci comprcnder pudi ch’esser convfne 1 4 6 7 amgr semhntaiin vji d’kgne virtute 2 4 6 7 105 e d’lgnemoperazinn che morta ppne. 2 6 8 qr, perché mai non può da la salute 1 3 4 6 amrr del suo subistto vtlger viuo, 2 (4) 6 8 108 da l’vdio prwprio sxn le cyze tute; 2 4 6 8
8 “My sweet Father, say what offence is purged here in the circle where we are: 84 if our feet be stopped, let not thy discourse be stayed.” And he to me: “The love of good, defective in its duty, is here restored; 87 here is plied again the ill-slackened oar. But that thou mayst still more clearly understand, turn thy mind to me, and thou shalt gather 90 some good fruit from our delay. “Neither Creator nor creature,” he began, “my son, was ever without love, 93 either natural, or of the mind, and this thou knowest. The natural is always without error; but the other may err either through an evil object, 96 or through little, or through too much vigor. While love is directed on the primal goods, and with due measure on the secondary, 99 it cannot be the cause of ill-delight. But when it is bent to evil, or with more zeal, or with less, than it ought, runs to good, 102 against the Creator his own creature is working. Hence thou canst comprehend that of necessity is love the seed in you of every virtue, 105 and of every action that deserves punishment. “Now since never can from the welfare love turn its sight of its subject, 108 all things are secure from hatred of themselves;
9 e perché{int|nder non si può divi}o, 3 4 (6) 8 e per sé stante,~alcunosser dal primo, (3) 4 6 7 111 da qulloodiaregne effttoè decio. 2 4 5 7 Rsta, se dividndo bne stimo, 1 6 8 che ’l mal che s’amaè del prssimo;ed sso 2 4 (5) 7 114 amr nascein tr mdiin vstro limo. 2 3 5 6 8 È chi, per sser suo vicin sopprsso, 1 2 4 8 spraeccellnza,e sl per qusto brama 1 4 6 8 117 ch’l sia di sua grandzza in basso m¡sso; (2) 6 8 è chi pod¢re, grazia,£on¤re¥e fama 1 2 4 6 8 t¦me di p§rder perch’ altri sorm¨nti, 1 4 7 120 ©nde s’attrista sì che ’l contrarioªama; 1 4 6 9 ed è chi per ingiuria par ch’a«¬nti, 2.3 6 8 sì che si fa de la vend tta ghi®tto, 1 4 8 123 e tal convi¯n che ’l male°altrui±impr²nti. 2 4 6 8 Qu³sto trif´rmeµam¶r qua giù di s·tto 1 4 6 8 si piange:¸¹r vº’ che tu de l’altro»int¼nde, 2 (3) 4 6 8 126 che c½rre¾al b¿n con Àrdine corrÁtto. 2 4 6 Ciascun confuÂamÃnteÄun bÅneÆapprÇnde 2 6 8 nel qual si quÈti l’animo,Ée diÊira; 2 (4) 6 129 per che di giugner lui ciascun contËnde. 4 6 8 Se lÌntoÍamÎreÏa lui vedÐr vi tira 2 4 6 8 oÑa luiÒacquistar, quÓsta cornice, 3 6 7 132 dÔpo giusto pentÕr, ve ne martira. 3 6 Altro bÖn è che non fa l’u×m felice; 1 3 4 (6) 7 8 non è felicità, non è la buØna 2 6 8 135 essÙnza, d’Úgne bÛn fruttoÜe radice. 2 (4) 6 7
10 and since conceived of as divided and standing by itself can be no being from the First, 111 from hating Him every affection is cut off. It follows, if, thus distinguishing, I rightly judge, that the evil which is loved is that of one’s neighbor; and 114 this love has its birth in three modes in your clay. There is he who through the abasement of his neighbor, hopes to excel and only on this account longs 117 that from his greatness he may be brought low. There is he who power, favor, honor, and fame fears loss of, because another surmounts; 120 whereat he is so saddened that he loves the contrary. And there is he who seems so resentful for injury that he becomes greedy of vengeance, 123 and such a one must needs coin harm for others. This triform love for down below is wept. Now I would that thou hear of the other – 126 that which runs to the good in faulty measure. Every one confusedly conceives of a good in which the mind may be at rest, and desires it; 129 wherefore to attain to it everyone strives. If be slack the love that to look on this draws you, or to acquire it, this cornice, 132 after just repentance, torments you for it. Another good there is, which does not make man happy; it is not happiness, it is not the good 135 essence, the fruit and root of every good.
11 L’amÝr ch’ad Þsso trßppo s’abbandàna, 2 4 6 di sávr’ a nâi si piange per trã cärchi; 4 6 9 138 ma cåme tripartito si ragiæna, 2 6 tçcciolo,èacciò che tu per te ne cérchi». 1 (4) 6 8
12 The love which to this abandons itself too much above us is wept for in three circles; 138 but how it is reckoned tripartite, of this I am silent, in order that thou seek it out for thyself.”
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