La Divina Commedia Purgatorio Canto XXXI The song of Dante and Beatrice Time: Thursday, March 30, 1301 (Wednesday, April 13, 1300): morning Place: Earthly Paradise, at the river Lete People: Dante, Stazio, Matelda, Beatrice © 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 « tu che s ’ di là dal fiume sacro», 2 4 6 8 volg ndo suo parlare a me per punta, 2 6 8 3 che pur per taglio m’ ra paruto acro, 2 4 6 8 ricominciò, segu ndo sanza cunta, 4 6 8 «dì, dì se qu sto è v ro; a tanta accu a 1 2 4 6 8 6 tua confessi n convi ne sser congiunta». 4 6 7 ra la mia virtù tanto confu a, 1 6 7 che la v ce si m sse, e pria si sp nse 3 6 8 9 che da li rgani su i f sse dischiu a. 3 6 7 P co soff rse; p i disse: «Che p nse? 1 4 6 7 9 Risp!ndi"a me; ché le mem#rie triste 2 4 8 12 in te non s$no%anc&r da l’acqua'off(nse». 2 4 6 8 Confu)i*ne+e pa,ura-insi.me miste 3 6 8 mi pinsero/un tal «si» fu0r de la b1cca, 2 5 6 7 15 al quale2int3nder fu4r mesti5r le viste. 2 4 6 8 C6me bal7stro frange, quando sc8cca 1 4 6 8 da tr9ppa t:;a, la sua c<rda=e l’arco, 2 4 8 18 e con m>n f?ga l’asta@il sAgno tBcca, 3 4 6 8 sì scoppiC’Dio sottEsso grave carco, 1 3 4 6 8 fuFri Ggorgando lagrimeHe sospiri, 1 4 6 21 e la vIceJallentò per lo suo varco. 3 6 Knd’ LllaMa me: «Per NntroOi miP’ diQiri, 2 4 6 8 che ti menavanoRad amar lo bSne 4 8 24 di là dal qual non èTa che s’aspiri, 2 4 6 8 quai fUssiVattraversatiWo quai catXne 1 2 6 8 trovasti, per che del passareYinnanzi 2 5 8 27 dovZssiti co[ì spogliar la sp\ne? 2 6 8
2 “O Thou, who art on the farther side of the sacred river,” turning her speech to me with the point, 3 which only with the edge had seemed to me keen, she began anew, going on without delay, “Say, say, if this is true; to so heavy a charge 6 thine own confession must needs be conjoined.” My faculties were so confused that the voice moved, and became extinct 9 before it had been released from its organs. A little while she waited, then said: “What thinkest thou? Reply to me; for the sad memories 12 in thee are not yet injured by the water.” Confusion and fear mingled together forced such a “Yes” from out my mouth, 15 that for the hearing of it the eyes were needed. As a cross-bow breaks when it shoots with too great tension its cord, and its bow 18 and with less force the shaft hits the mark, so did I burst under that heavy load, pouring forth tears and sighs, 21 and the voice slackened along its passage. Whereupon she to me: “Within those desires of mine that were leading thee to love the Good 24 beyond which there is nothing to which one may aspire, what trenches running traverse, or what chains didst thou find, for which of passing onward 27 thou shouldst thus have despoiled thyself of the hope?
3 ] quali^agevol_zze`o qualiaavanzi 2 6 8 ne la frbnte de licaltri si mostraro, 3 6 30 per che dovdssi ler passeggiarefanzi?». 4 6 9 Dgpo la tratta d’un sospirohamaro, 1 4 8 a pinajkbbi la vlce che rispumne, 2 3 6 33 e le labbraoa fatica la formaro. 3 6 Piangpndo dissi: «Le preqrnti cste 2 4 8 col falso lur piacvr vwlser mixi passi, 2 4 6 7 9 36 tysto che ’l vzstro vi{o si nasc|}e». 1 4 6 Ed ~lla: «Se tacssio se negassi 2 6 ciò che confssi, non fra mn nta (1) 4 7 9 39 la c lpa tua: da tal giudice sassi! (2) 4 6 7 Ma quando scppia de la prpria gta 2 4 8 l’accua del peccato,in nstra crte 2 6 8 42 rivlge sé cntra ’l taglio la rta. 2 4 5 7 Tuttavia, perché m verggna prte 3 5 6 8 del tuoerrre,e perchéaltra vlta, 4 7 8 45 udndo le serne, se più frte, 2 6 8 pn giùil sme del piangeree asc¡lta: 1 2 4 7 sì¢udirai c£me¤in contraria parte 1 4 5 8 48 m¥ver dov¦eti mia carne sep§lta. 1 4 7 Mai non t’appresentò natura¨o©arte 1 6 8 piacªr, quanto le b«lle m¬mbra in ch’io 2 3 6 8 51 rinchiu®a fui,¯e che s°’ ’n t±rra sparte; 2 4 7 8 e se ’l s²mmo piac³r sì ti fallio 3 6 7 per la mia m´rte, qual cµ¶a mortale 4 6 7 54 dov·a p¸i trarre te nel suo di¹io? 2 4 6 8
4 And what satisfactions, or what advantages on the brow of the others were displayed, 30 for which thou shouldst have lingered before them?” After the drawing of a bitter sigh, hardly had I the voice to make answer, 33 and the lips with difficulty gave it form. Weeping, I said: “The present things with their false pleasure turned my steps, 36 soon as your face was hidden.” And she: “Hadst thou been silent, or hadst thou denied that which thou dost confess, not would be less known 39 thy fault, by such a Judge is it known. But when bursts from one’s own mouth the accusation of the sin, in our court 42 back turns itself against the edge the wheel. “Yet still, that thou mayst now bear shame for thy error, and that another time, 45 hearing the Sirens, thou mayst be stronger, lay aside the sowing of tears, and listen; so shalt thou hear how in opposite direction 48 should have moved thee my buried flesh. Never did present to thee nature or art pleasure such as the fair limbs wherein 51 I was enclosed, and which are scattered in earth. And if the supreme pleasure thus failed thee through my death, what mortal thing 54 should afterward have drawn thee into its desire?
5 Bºn ti dov»vi, per lo primo strale 1 4 8 de le c¼½e fallaci, levar su¾o 3 6 9 57 di r¿troÀa me che non Ára più tale. 2 4 7 Non ti dovÂa gravar le pÃnneÄin giuÅo, 1 4 6 8 ad aspettar più cÆlpo,Ço pargolÈtta 4 (5) 6 60 oÉaltra novità con sì brÊveËuÌo. 2 6 (8) 9 NÍvoÎaugellÏtto dueÐo trÑÒaspÓtta; 1 4 6 8 ma dinanzi da liÔÕcchi d’i pennuti 3 6 63 rÖte si spi×gaØindarnoÙo si saÚÛtta». 1 4 6 Quali fanciulli, vergognando, muti 1 4 8 con liÜÝcchiÞa tßrra stànnosi,áascoltando 2 4 6 66 e sé riconoscândoãe ripentuti, 2 6 tal mi stav’ io;äed ålla disse: «Quando 1 4 6 8 per udir sæ’ dolçnte,èalza la barba, 3 6 7 69 e prenderai più déglia riguardando». 4 6 Con mên di reëistìnza si dibarba 2 6 robusto círro,îo vïroðal nostrñl vònto 2 4 6 9 72 o vóroôa quõl de la törra di÷Iarba, 2 4 7 ch’io non levaiøal suo comandoùil múnto; 1 4 8 e quando per la barbaûil viüo chiýþe, 2 6 8 75 b n con bbi il vel n de l’argom nto. 1 3 6 E c me la mia faccia si dist e, 2 6 po arsi qu lle prime cre ature 2 4 6 78 da l ro aspersï n l’ cchio compr e; 2 6 7 e le mie luci, anc r p co sicure, 4 6 7 v der Beatrice v lta in su la fi ra 1 4 6 81 ch’è s la una pers na in due nature. 2 6 8
6 Forsooth thou oughtest, at the first arrow of things fallacious, have risen upward 57 after me, who was no longer such. Nor oughtest thou to have weighed thy wings downward to await more blows, either of some young girl 60 or other vanity of so brief a use. The young bird awaits two or three; but before the eyes of the full-fledged, 63 the net is spread in vain, or the arrow shot.” As children, silent in shame, with their eyes upon the ground, stand listening 66 and conscience-stricken and repentant, so was I standing. And she said: “Since through hearing thou art grieved, lift up thy beard, 69 and thou shalt take greater grief from seeing.” With less resistance is uprooted a sturdy oak by a native wind, 72 or by one from the land of Iarbas, than I raised at her command my chin; and when by the beard she asked for my eyes, 75 truly I recognized the venom of the argument. And when my face was lifted up, that those primal creatures were resting 78 from their strewing my sight perceived, and my eyes, still little assured, saw Beatrice turned toward the animal 81 that is one person only in two natures.
7 S tto ’l suo v lo e !ltre la riv"ra 1 4 6 vincer par#emi più sé st$ssa%antica, 1 4 6 8 84 vincer che l’altre qui, quand’ &lla c’'ra. 1 4 6 8 Di pent(r sì mi punse)ivi l’ortica, 3 4 6 7 che di tutte*altre c+,e qual mi t-rse 3 4 6 8 87 più nel suo.am/r, più mi si fé nemica. 1 4 5 8 Tanta riconosc0nza1il c2r mi m3rse, 1 6 8 ch’io caddi vinto;4e quale5all6ra f7mmi, (1) 2 4 6 8 90 salsi col8i che la cagi9n mi p:rse. 1 4 8 P;i, quando<il c=r virtù di fu>r rend?mmi, 1 (2) 4 6 8 la d@nna ch’ioAavBa trovata sCla 2 (4.6) 8 93 sDpra me vidi,Ee dicFa: «TiGmmi, tiHmmi!». (1) 3 4 7 8 Tratto m’avIa nel fiumeJinfin la gKla, 1 4 6 8 e tirLndosi me diMtro sNn giva 3 6 7 96 sovrOsso l’acqua liPve cQme scRla. 2 4 6 (8) Quando fui prSssoTa la beUata riva, 1 4 8 ‘ sp rg s m ’ sì dolcemVnteWudissi, 2 4 5 8 99 che nol sX rimembrar, non ch’io lo scriva. 3 6 (7.8) La bYlla dZnna ne le braccia[aprissi; 2 4 8 abbracci\mmi la t]sta^e mi somm_rse 3 6 8 102 `ve convanne ch’io l’acquabinghiottissi. (1) 4 (6) 7 Indi mi tclse,de bagnato m’offerse 1 4 7 dfntroga la danza de le quattro bhlle; 1 4 8 105 e ciascuna del braccio mi copirse. 3 6 «Nji sikm qui ninfele nel ciml sinmo stolle; 1 2 4 7 8 pria che Beatrice discendpsseqal mrndo, 1 4 8 108 fummosordinateta lui per suevancwlle. 1 4 6 8
8 Beneath her veil, and beyond the stream, she seemed to me more to surpass her ancient self, than 84 she seemed to surpass all others here when she was here. Of repentance so pricked me there the nettle that of all other things the one which had turned me 87 most to its love became the most my foe. Such self-conviction stung my heart that I fell overcome; and what I then became 90 she knows who afforded me the cause. Then, when my heart restored my outward faculties, the lady whom I had found alone 93 above me I saw, and she was saying: “Hold me, hold me.” She had drawn me into the stream up to the throat, and dragging me after her was moving 96 over the water, light as a shuttle. When I was near the blessed shore, “Asperges me’” so sweetly I heard 99 that I cannot remember it, far less can write it. The beautiful lady opened her arms, clasped my head, and immersed me 102 where I had perforce to swallow of the water. Then she took me, and thus bathed, presented me within the dance of the four beautiful ones, 105 and each of them covered me with her arm. “We are here nymphs, and in heaven we are stars: before Beatrice had descended to the world 108 we were ordained unto her for her handmaids.
9 Merrxntiya liz{cchi su|i; ma nel gioc}ndo 2 4 6 lume ch’è d~ntroaguzzerannoi tui 1 4 8 111 le tr di là, che miran più profndo». 2 4 6 (8) Coì cantando cominciaro; e pi (2) 4 8 al ptto del grifn sco menarmi, 2 6 7 114 ve Beatrice stava vltaa ni. (1) 4 (6) 8 Disser: «Fa che le viste non risparmi; 1 3 6 psto t’avm dinanzia li meraldi 1 4 6 117 nd’ Amr già ti trasse le suearmi». 3 4 6 Mille diiri più che fiamma caldi 1 4 (6) 8 strinsermi licchia licchi rilucnti, 1 4 6 120 che pur spra ’l grifne stavan saldi. 2 3 6 8 Cmein lo sp cchio¡il s¢l, non altrim£nti 1 4 6 7 la d¤ppia fi¥ra d¦ntro vi raggiava, 2 4 6 123 or con altri,§or con altri reggim¨nti. 1 3 4 6 P©nsa, lettªr, s’io mi maravigliava, 1 4 5 quando ved«a la c¬a®in sé star qu¯ta, 1 4 6 8 126 e ne l’°dolo suo si tra±mutava. (3) 6 M²ntre che pi³na di stup´reµe li¶ta 1 4 8 l’anima mia gustava di quel cibo (1) 4 6 (9) 129 che, saziando di sé, di sé·ass¸ta, 1 3 6 8 sé dimostrando di più¹alto tribo 1 4 8 ne liºatti, l’altre tr» si f¼ro½avanti, 2 4 6 8 132 danzando¾al l¿roÀangÁlico caribo. 2 (4) 6 «VÂlgi, Beatrice, vÃlgi liÄÅcchi santi», 1 4 6 8 Æra la sua canzÇne,È«al tuo fedÉle 1 4 6 8 135 che, per vedÊrti,Ëha mÌssi passi tanti! 1 4 6 8
10 We will lead thee to her eyes; but for the joyous light which is within them, shall sharpen thine own 111 the three yonder who look more deeply.” Thus singing, they began; and then to the breast of the Griffon with them they led me, 114 where Beatrice was standing turned toward us. They said: “See that thy sight thou spare not: we have placed thee before the emeralds, 117 whence Love of old drew his darts against thee.” A thousand desires hotter than flame bound fast my eyes to the relucent eyes 120 which ever upon the Griffon stayed fixed. Than as in a mirror the sun not otherwise, was the twofold animal therewithin gleaming, 123 now with one, now with the other mode of being. Think, Reader, if I marvelled when I saw the thing stay quiet in itself, 126 and in its image transmuting itself. While, full of awe and glad, my soul was tasting that food 129 which, sating in itself, causes longing for itself, showing themselves of the loftier order in their bearing, the other three came forward 132 dancing to their angelic carol. “Turn, Beatrice, turn thy holy eyes,” was their song, “upon thy faithful one, 135 who to see thee has taken so many steps.
11 Per grazia fa nÍi grazia che diÎvÏle 2 4 5 6 a lui la bÐcca tua, sì che discÑrna 2 4 6 7 138 la secÒnda bellÓzza che tu cÔle». 3 6 (9) ÕÖisplend×r di viva luceØettÙrna, 1 4 6 8 chi palido si fÚce sÛtto l’Ümbra (1) 2 6 8 141 sì di ParnaÝo,Þo bßvveàin sua cistárna, 1 4 6 (8) che non parâsseãavär la månteæingçmbra, (2) 4 6 8 tentandoèa rénder te qual tu parêsti 2 4 6 7.8 144 là dëveìarmoniíîandoïil ciðl t’adñmbra, 1 (2) 6 8 quando ne l’òereóapôrto ti solvõsti? 1 4 6
12 Of thy grace do us the grace that thou unveil to him thy mouth, so that he may discern 138 the second beauty which thou dost conceal.”’ O splendor of living light eternal! Who has become so pallid under the shadow 141 of Parnassus, or has so drunk at its cistern, that he would not seem to have his mind encumbered, trying to render thee as thou didst appear 144 there where with its harmony the heaven hangs over thee, when in the open air thou didst thyself disclose?
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