La Divina Commedia Purgatorio Canto XXV The song of the theory of the soul Time: Wednesday, March 29, 1301 (Tuesday, April 12, 1300): from two to four in the afternoon Place: Stairs to Cornice VII Cornice VII: the lustful People: Dante, Virgilio, Stazio © 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 ra ra nde ’l salir non vol a st rpio; 1 2 3 6 9 ché ’l s le avéa il c rchio di merigge 2 4 6 3 lasciato al T uro e la n tte a lo Sc rpio: 2 4 7 per che, c me fa l’u m che non s’affigge 2 (3) 6 (8) ma vassi a la via sua, che che li appa ia, 2 6 8 6 se di bi gno stimolo il trafigge, 4 6 co ì intrammo n i per la calla ia, 2 4 6 uno innanzi altro prend ndo la scala 1 3 4 7 9 che per art!zza"i salit#r dispa$ia. 4 8 E quale%il cicogn&n che l'va l’ala 2 6 8 per v(glia di volare,)e non s’att*nta 2 6 8 12 d’abbandonar lo nido,+e giù la cala; 4 6 8 tal ,ra-io con v.glia/acc01a2e sp3nta 1 (2) 4 6 8 di dimandar, ven4ndo5infino6a l’atto 4 6 8 15 che fa colui ch’a d7cer s’argom8nta. (2) 4 6 Non lasciò, per l’andar che f9sse ratto, 1 3 6 8 lo d:lce padre mio, ma disse: «Sc;cca 2 (4) 6 8 18 l’arco del dir, che ’nfino<al f=rro>hai tratto». 1 4 6 8 All?r sicuram@nteAapri’ la bBcca 2 6 8 e cominciai: «CCme si può far magro 4 5 8 21 là dDve l’uEpo di nodrir non tFcca?». 1 4 8 «Se t’ammentassi cGme MeleHagro 4 6 si consumòIal consumar d’un stizzo, 4 8 24 non fJra», disse,K«a te quLsto sìMagro; (1) 2 4 6 7 (9) e se pensassi cNme,Oal vPstro guizzo, 4 6 8 guizza dQntroRa lo spScchio vTstraUimage, 1 3 6 8 27 ciò che par duro ti parrVbbe vizzo. 1 (3) 4 8
2 It was the hour in which the ascent allowed no delay; for the Sun had left the meridian circle 3 to the Bull, and the Night to the Scorpion; wherefore as does the man who does not stop, but goes on his way, whatever may appear to him, 6 if the goad of necessity prick him, so did we enter through the gap, one before the other, taking the stairway 9 which by its narrowness unpairs the climbers. And as the little stork that lifts its wing through will to fly, and dares not 12 abandon the nest, and lets it drop, so was I, with will kindled and quenched to ask, coming as far as to the motion 15 that he makes who proposes to speak. Nor did forbear, though our going was swift, my sweet Father, but he said: “Discharge 18 the bow of speech which up to the iron thou hast drawn.” Then confidently I opened my mouth, and began: “How can one become lean, 21 where the need of nourishment is not felt?” “If thou wouldst call to mind how Meleager was consumed by the consuming of a brand, 24 this would not be,” he said, “to thee so difficult; and if thou wouldst think, how at your quivering quivers within the mirror your image, 27 that which seems hard to thee would seem easy.
3 Ma perché dWntroXa tuo volYr t’adage, 3 4 (6) 8 Zcco qui Stazio;[e\io lui chi]mo^e pr_go 1 (3) 4 6 (7) 8 30 che s`aabr sanatcr de le tue piage». 3 6 «Se la vedutadetterna li diflggo», 4 6 rispuhie Stazio, «là djve tu sie, 2 4 6 (7 (9)) 33 discklpi me non potlrt’ io far nmgo». 2 4 (5) 8 Pni cominciò: «Se le parole mie, 1 4 8 figlio, la mpnte tua guardaqe ricrve, 1 4 6 7 36 lume ti fserotal cume che tu die. 1 4 6 (9) Sangue perfvtto, che pwi non si bxve 1 4 7 (8) da l’assetate vyne,ze si rimane 4 6 39 qua{i|alim}nto che di m~nsa lve, 1 4 8 prnde nel crea tutte mmbraumane 1 4 6 8 virtute informativa, cme qullo 2 6 (8) 42 ch’a farsi qulle per le vne vane. 2 4 8 Ancr digsto, scndev’ è più bllo 2 4 6 8 tacr che dire;e quindi pscia gme 2 4 6 8 45 svr’ altrui sanguein natural vallo. 3 4 8 Ivi s’accglie l’unoe l’altroinsime, 1 4 6 8 l’un dispstoa patire,e l’altroa fare 1 3 6 8 48 per lo perf tto l¡co¢£nde si pr¤me; 4 6 7 e, giunto lui, comincia¥ad operare 1 2 4 6 co¦agulando prima,§e p¨i©avviva 4 6 8 51 ciò che per sua matªra fé constare. 1 4 6 8 Anima fatta la virtute«attiva 1 4 8 qual d’una pianta,¬in tanto differ nte, 1 4 6 54 che qu®sta¯è°in v±a²e qu³lla´è giàµa riva, 2 4 6 8
4 But in order that thou mayst be inwardly at ease in respect to thy wish, lo, here is Statius, and I call on him, and pray 30 that he be now the healer of thy wounds.” ”If the eternal view to him I explain,” replied Statius, “where thou art present, 33 let it excuse me that to thee I cannot make denial.” Then he began, “If my words, son, thy mind regards and receives, a light 36 for thee they will be unto the ‘How,’ which thou askest. Perfect blood, which is never drunk up by the thirsty veins, but remains 39 like the food which thou removest from the table, takes in the heart of all the human members a virtue informative, as being that 42 which to become them goes through the veins. Digested still further, it descends to the part whereof it is more becoming to be silent than to speak; and from there, after45 wards, it drops upon another’s blood in the natural vessel. There meet one and the other together; the one ordained to be passive, and the other to be active 48 because of the perfect place wherefrom it is pressed out; and, conjoined with the former, the latter begins to operate, first by coagulating, and then it quickens 51 that to which for its own material it gives consistency. Having become a soul the active virtue, like that of a plant (in so far different 54 that this is on the way, and that already arrived),
5 tanto¶·vra p¸i, che già si m¹veºe s»nte, 1 2 4 6 8 c¼me spungo marino;½e¾indi¿imprÀnde 3 6 8 57 ad organar le pÁsseÂÃnd’ è semÄnte. 4 6 8 År si spiÆga, figliuÇlo,ÈÉr si distÊnde 1 3 6 7 la virtù ch’è dal cËr del generante, 3 4 6 60 dÌve naturaÍa tutte mÎmbraÏintÐnde. 1 4 6 8 Ma cÑme d’animal divÒgna fante, 2 6 8 non vÓdi tuÔancÕr: quÖst’ è tal punto, 2 4 6 (7) 8 63 che più s×vio di te fé giàØerrante, 3 6 8 sì che per sua dottrina fé disgiunto 1 (4) 6 (8) da l’animaÙil possibileÚintellÛtto, 2 6 66 perché da lui non videÜÝrganoÞassunto. 2 4 6 7 Aprißa la verità che viàneáil pâtto; 1 6 8 e sappi che, sì tãsto cämeåal fæto 2 4 5 6 (8) 69 l’articular del cçrebroèè perfétto, 4 6 lo motêr primoëa lui si vìlge liíto 3 4 6 8 sîvra tant’ arte di natura,ïe spira 1 (3) 4 8 72 spirito nðvo, di vertù replñto, 1 4 8 che ciò che tròvaóattivo quivi, tira 2 4 6 8 in sua sustanzia,ôe fassiõun’alma söla, (2) 4 6 8 75 che vive÷e sønteùe séúin sé rigira. 2 4 6 8 E perché mûnoüammiri la parýla, 4 6 guardaþil cal r del s l che si fa vino, 1 4 6 78 giunto a l’om r che de la vite c la. 1 4 8 Quando Làche is non ha più del lino, 1 3 8 s lvesi da la carne, e in virtute 1 6 81 ne p rta s co e l’umano e ’l divino: 2 4 7
6 then so works, that now it moves and feels, as a sea-fungus does; and then it proceeds 57 to organize the powers of which it is the germ. Now is displayed, son, now is diffused the virtue, which issues from the heart of the begetter, 60 where nature on all the members is intent. “But how from an animal it becomes a rational being, not seest thou as yet; this is such a point 63 that one wiser than thou it made once to err, so that in his teaching he separated from the soul the potential intellect, 66 because by it he saw no organ assumed. Open to the truth which is coming thy breast, and know that, so soon as in the embryo 69 the articulation of the brain is perfect, the Primal Motor turns to it with joy over such art of nature, and breathes into it 72 a new spirit replete with virtue, which that which it finds active there draws into its own substance, and becomes one single soul 75 which lives and feels and on itself circles. And that thou mayst the less wonder at my words, consider the warmth of the sun which becomes wine, 78 combining with the juice that from the vine flows. And when Lachesis has no more thread, this soul is loosed from the flesh, and virtually 81 bears away with itself both the human and the divine;
7 l’altre pot nze tutte quante mute; 1 4 6 8 mem ria, intellig nza e volontade 2 6 84 in atto m lto più che prima agute. 2 4 6 8 Sanza restarsi, per sé st ssa cade 1 4 8 mirabilm nte a l’una de le rive; 4 6 87 quivi con sce prima le sue strade. 1 4 6 T sto che l co lì la circunscrive, 1 4 6 la virtù formativa raggia int rno 3 6 8 90 co ì e quanto ne le m mbra vive. 2 4 8 E come l’ ere, quand’ è ben pï!rno, (2) 4 (7) 8 per l’altrui raggio che ’n sé si refl"tte, 3 4 7 93 di div#rsi col$r div%nta&add'rno; 3 6 8 co(ì l’)ere vicin quivi si m*tte 2 3 6 7 e+in qu,lla f-rma ch’è.in lui sugg/lla 2 4 8 96 virtüalm0nte l’alma che rist1tte; 4 6 e simigliante p2i3a la fiamm4lla 4 6 che s5gue6il f7co là ’vunque si muta, 2 4 6 7 99 s8gue lo spirto sua f9rma nov:lla. 1 4 7 Però che quindi;ha p<scia sua paruta, 2 4 6 è chiamata=>mbra;?e quindi@Argana pBi ((1) 3) 4 6 7 102 ciascun sentireCinfinoDa la veduta. 2 4 6 Quindi parliEmoFe quindi ridiGm nHi; 1 4 6 9 quindi facciIm le lagrimeJe ’ sospiri 1 4 6 105 che per lo mKnteLavMr sentiti puNi. 4 6 8 SecOndo che ciPaffliggonoQi diRiri 2 6 e liSaltriTaffUtti, l’Vmbra si figura; 2 4 6 108 e quWst’ è la cagiXn di che tu miri». 2.3 6 (9)
8 the other faculties all of them mute, but memory, understanding, and will 84 in action far more than before acute. Without a stop, it falls of itself, marvellously, to one of the banks. 87 Here it first knows its own roads. Soon as the place there circumscribes it, the formative virtue rays out around it, 90 in like shape and size, as in the living members. And as the air when it is full of rain, by reason of the rays of another which are reflected in it, 93 with divers colors becomes adorned, so here the neighboring air shapes itself in that form which imprints upon it 96 virtually the soul that has stopped. And then like the flamelet which follows the fire whithersoever it shifts, 99 so does follow the spirit its new form. Since thereafter it has its aspect from this, it is called a shade; and thence it organizes 102 every sense even to the sight; thence we speak, and thence we laugh, thence we make the tears and the sighs, 105 which on the mountain thou mayst have heard. According as impress us our desires and our other affections, the shade is shaped; 108 and this is the cause of that at which thou wonderest.”
9 E già venutoYa l’ultima tortura (2) 4 6 s’Zra per n[i,\e vòlto]a la man d^stra, 1 4 6 9 111 ed eravamo_att`ntiaad altra cura. 4 6 8 Quivi la ripa fibmmacin fudr balestra, 1 4 6 8 e la cornfce spira figtohin suio 4 6 8 114 che la refljtteke vla da lmi sequnstra; 4 6 8 ond’ ir ne convenpa dal lato schiuqo 2 6 8 ad unorad uno;setio temua ’l fvco 2 4 6 8 117 quinci,we quindi temxva cadyr giuzo. 1 3 6 9 Lo duca mio dic{a: «Per qu|sto l}co (2) 4 6 8 si vu~l tenrea licchi strttoil fr no, 2 4 6 8 120 però ch’errar potrbbesi per pco». 2 4 6 ‘S mmae D s cl m nt ae’ nel sno 1 3 6 al grandeardreallraudi’ cantando, 2 4 6 8 123 che di vlger mi fé calr non mno; 3 6 8 e vidi spirti per la fimmaandando; 2 4 8 per ch’io guardavaa lroea’ mii passi, 2 4 6 126 compartndo la vistaa quandoa quando. 3 6 8 Apprssoil fine ch’a qull’ inno fassi, 2 4 (7) 8 gridavanoalto: ‘V r m n n c gn sc ’; 2 4 6 (8) 129 indi ricomincivan l’inno bassi. 1 6 8 Fin tolo,¡¢nco gridavano:£«Al b¤sco 2 4 7 si t¥nne Di¦na,§ed ¨lice cacci©nne 2 4 6 132 che di Vªnere«av¬a sentito il tòsco». 3 6 8 Indi®al cantar tornavano;¯indi d°nne 1 4 6 8 grid±vano²e mariti che fu³r casti 2 6 9 135 c´me virtuteµe matrim¶nio·imp¸nne. 1 4 8
10 And now we had come to the last circuit, and had turned to the right hand, 111 and were intent upon another care. Here the bank shoots forth flame, and the ledge breathes a blast upward 114 which drives it back, and sequesters a path from it. Wherefore it was needful to go along the open side one by one; and I was afraid of the fire, 117 on the one hand and on the other I was afraid of falling off. My Leader said, “Along this place, one must keep upon the eyes tight the rein, 120 because one might go astray for little.” “Summae Deus clementiae,” in the bosom of the great burning, I then heard being sung, 123 which to turn made me care not less. And I saw spirits going through the flame; wherefore I looked at them and at my own steps, 126 apportioning to each my sight from moment to moment. After the end that is made to that hymn, they loudly cried: “Virum non cognosco”; 129 then began again the hymn with low voice; this finished, they cried anew: “To the wood kept herself Diana, and Helice drove therefrom, 132 who of Venus had tasted the poison.” Then to their singing they returned; then wives they cried aloud and husbands who were chaste, 135 as virtue and marriage enjoin upon us.
11 E qu¹sto mºdo cr»do che l¼r basti 2 4 6 9 per tutto½il t¾mpo che ’l f¿co liÀabbruscia: 2 4 7 138 con tal cura conviÁneÂe con tai pasti (2) 3 6 (9) che la piaga da sÃzzo si ricuscia. 3 6
12 And this mode I believe suffices them for all the time that the fire burns them. 138 With such cure it is needful, and with such diet, that the last wound of all should be closed up.
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