La Divina Commedia Purgatorio Canto IV The song of Belacqua Time: Monday, March 27, 1301 (Sunday, April 10, 1300): from nine to noon Place: Antipurgatory: Ledge I People: Dante, Virgilio, Belacqua © 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 Quando per dilettanze o v r per d glie, 1 6 8 che alcuna virtù n stra compr nda, 3 6 7 3 l’anima b ne ad ssa si racc glie, 1 4 6 par ch’a nulla pot nza più int nda; 1 3 6 e qu sto è c ntra qu llo err r che cr de 2 4 6 8 6 ch’un’anima s vr’ altra in n i s’acc nda. 2 6 8 E però, quando s’ de c a o v de 3 4 6 8 che t gna f rte a sé l’anima v!lta, 2 4 6 7 9 vassene ’l t"mpo#e l’u$m non se n’avv%de; 1 4 6 7 ch’altra pot&nza'è qu(lla che l’asc)lta, 1 4 (6) e*altra+è qu,lla c’ha l’anima-int.ra: 2 4 7 12 qu/sta0è qua1i legata2e qu3lla4è sci5lta. 1 3 6 8 Di ciò67bb’ io8esperï9nza v:ra, 2 4 8 ud;ndo qu<llo spirto=e>ammirando; 2 4 6 15 ché b?n cinquanta gradi salito@Ara 2 4 6 9 lo sBle,CeDio non m’EraFaccGrto, quando 2 (4) 6 8 venimmoHIve quJll’ animeKad una 2 (3 5) 6 18 gridaroLa nMi: «QuiNè vOstro dimando». 2 4 5 7 MaggiPreQapRrta mSlte vTlteUimpruna 2 4 6 8 con una forcatVlla di sue spine (2) 6 (9) 21 l’uWm de la villa quando l’uvaXimbruna, 1 4 (6) 8 che non Yra la callaZ[nde salìne (3) 6 7 lo duca mio,\e]io^appr_sso, s`li, 2 4 6 8 24 came da nbi la schicra si partìne. 1 4 6 Vassidin Sanleofe discendesigin Nhli, 1 4 7 mintasi sujin Bikmlntovame ’n Cacume 1 4 6 27 con nssooi piè; ma qui convipn ch’qm vrli; 2 4 6 8
2 When by reason of delights, or of pains which any capacity of ours may experience, 3 the soul is wholly engaged by it, to any other faculty it seems no further to give heed: and this is counter to the error which believes 6 that one soul above another is kindled within us. And therefore, when a thing is heard or seen which may hold the soul intently turned to it, 9 the time goes by, and the man perceives it not: for one faculty is that which listens, and another is that which keeps the soul entire; 12 the latter is as it were bound, and the former is loose. Of this I had true experience, hearing that spirit and wondering: 15 for full fifty degrees had ascended the sun, and I was not aware of it, when we came where those souls with one accord 18 cried out to us: “Here is what you ask.” A larger opening often hedges up with a forkful of his thorns, 21 the man of the farm, when the grape is growing dark, than was the passage from which ascended my Leader and I behind him alone, 24 when the troop departed from us. One goes to Sanleo, and descends to Noli, one mounts up Bismantova to its summit, 27 with only feet; but here it behoves that one fly,
3 dico con l’ale sntlleue con le piume 1 4 6 del gran divio, di rwtroxa quyl condztto 2 4 6 8 30 che speranza mi dava{e fac|a lume. 3 6 9 N}i salavam per ~ntro ’l sasso rtto, (1) 4 6 8 e d’gne lato ne stringa lo strmo, (2) 4 8 33 e pidie man vol ail sul di stto. 2 4 6 8 Pi che ni fummoin su l’rlo supprmo 1 (3) 4 7 de l’alta ripa,a la scoprta piaggia, 2 4 8 36 «Mastro mio», diss’ io, «che via farmo?». 2 4 6 8 Ed llia me: «Nessun tuo passo caggia; 2 4 6 8 pur sual mnte ditroa meacquista, 1.2 4 6 8 39 fin che n’appaiaalcuna scrta saggia». 1 4 6 8 Lo smmor’ alto che vinc¡a la vista, 2 4 8 e la c¢sta sup£rba più¤assai 3 6 (8) 42 che da m¥¦§o quadrante¨a c©ntro lista. 3 6 8 Ioª«ra lasso, quando cominciai: 1 (2) (4) 6 «¬ d lce padre, v®lgiti,¯e rimira 2 4 6 45 c°m’ io rimango s±l, se non restai». 2 4 6 (8) «Figliu²l mio», disse,³«infin quivi ti tira», 2 3 4 6 7 additandomi´un balzo pµco¶in sùe 3 6 8 48 che da quel lato·il p¸ggio tutto gira. 2/3 4 6 8 Sì mi spronaron le par¹le sue, 1 4 8 ch’i’ mi sforzai carpandoºappr»sso lui, (1) 4 6 8 51 tanto che ’l cinghio s¼tto½i piè mi fue. 1 4 6 8 A sed¾r ci pon¿mmoÀiviÁambedui 3 6 7 vòltiÂa levanteÃÄnd’ eravam saliti, 1 4 8 54 che suÅleÆa riguardar giovareÇaltrui. 2 6 8
4 I mean with the swift wings and with the feathers of great desire, behind that guide 30 who gave me hope and made a light for me. We ascended through the cleft rock, and on each side the wall pressed close on us, 33 and the ground beneath required both feet and hands. When we were upon the upper edge of the high bank, on the open hillside: 36 “My Master,” said I, “what way shall we take?” And he to me: “Let no step of thine fall back, always win up behind me on the mountain, 39 till some sage guide appear for us.” The summit was so high that it surpassed the sight; and the mountain-side far steeper 42 than a line from the mid quadrant to the centre. I was weary, when I began: “O sweet Father, turn and regard 45 how I remain alone if thou stay not.” “My son,” said he, “far as here drag thyself on,” pointing out to me a ledge a little above, 48 which on that side circles all the hill. His words so spurred me, that I forced myself on, scrambling after him, 51 until the belt was beneath my feet. There we both sat down, turning toward the east, whence we had ascended, 54 for to look back is wont to encourage a man.
5 LiÈÉcchi prima drizzaiÊai bassi liti; 1 3 6 8 pËscia liÌalzaiÍal sÎle,ÏeÐammirava 1 (4) 6 57 che da sinistra n’eravam feriti. 4 8 BÑn s’avvideÒil poÓÔta ch’ïo stava 1 3 6 8 stÕpido tuttoÖal carro de la luce, 1 4 6 60 ×ve tra nØiÙeÚAquilÛneÜintrava. 1 4 8 Ýnd’ Þllißa me: «Se Càstoreáe Poluce 2 4 6 fâsseroãin compagnia di quällo spåcchio 1 6 (8) 63 che sùæe giù del suo lume conduce, 2 4 7 tu vedrçstièil éodïaco rubêcchio (1) 3 6 ancëraìa l’írse più strîtto rotare, 2 4 7 66 se non uscisse fuïr del cammin vðcchio. 4 6 9 Cñme ciò sia, se ’l vuòi potór pensare, 1 4 6 8 dôntro raccõlto,öimagina Sïòn 1 4 6 69 con qu÷sto mønteùin su la túrra stare 2 4 (6) 8 sì, ch’amendueûhannoüun sýloþorizzòn 1 4 5 7 e div rsi emisp ri; nde la strada 3 6 7 72 che mal non s ppe carreggiar Fetòn, 2 4 8 vedrai c me a costui convi n che vada 2 (3) 6 8 da l’un, quando a colui da l’altro fianco, 2 3 6 8 75 se lo ’ntell tto tuo b n chi ro bada». 4 6 8 «C rto, ma stro mio», diss’ io, «unquanco 1 4 6 8 non vid’ io chi ro sì c m’ io disc rno (1) (2/3) 4 6 (8) 78 là d ve mio ing gno par a manco, (1.2 (4)) 6 9 che ’l m o c rchio del m to sup rno, (2) 4 7 che si chiama Equat re!in alcun’ arte, (3) 6 (9) 81 e che s"mpre riman tra ’l s#le$e ’l v%rno, 3 6 8
6 I first turned my eyes to the low shores, then I raised them to the sun, and wondered 57 that we were struck by it on the left. The Poet well perceived that I was all bewildered at the chariot of the light, 60 where it was entering between us and Aquilo. Wherefore he to me: “If Castor and Pollux were in company with that mirror 63 which sheds its light up and down, thou wouldst see the zodiac revolving ruddy still closer to the Bears, 66 if it went not out of its old road. How this can be, if thou wishest to be able to conceive, with collected thought imagine Zion 69 and this mountain to stand upon the earth so that both have one sole horizon and different hemispheres; then the road 72 which Phaëthon, to his harm, knew not how to drive, thou wilt see, how must needs pass this mountain on the one side, and that on the other, 75 if thy intelligence right clearly heed.” “Surely, my Master,” said I, “I never saw so clearly as I now discern, 78 there where my wit seemed deficient, that the mid-circle of the supernal motion, which is called Equator in a certain art, 81 and which always remains between the sun and the winter,
7 per la ragi&n che di’, quinci si parte (1) 4 6 7 v'rso settentrï(n, quanto li)Ebr*i 1 6 7 84 ved+van lui v,rso la calda parte. (2) 4 (5) 8 Ma se-a te piace, volonti.r sapr/i (1) 2.3 4 8 quanto0av1mo2ad andar; ché ’l p3ggio sale 1 (3) 6 8 87 più che salir non p4sson li56cchi mi7i». 1 4 6 (8) Ed 8lli9a me: «Qu:sta montagna;è tale, 2 4 5 8 che s<mpre=al cominciar di s>tto?è grave; 2 6 8 90 e quant’ @m più va sù,Ae mBn fa male. 2 3 (4) 6 8 Però, quand’ Clla ti parrà soDave 2 4 8 tanto, che sùEandar ti fFa leggGro 1 (4) 6 8 93 cHm’ a secInda giùJandar per nave, 4 6 8 allKr saraiLal fin d’Msto sentiNro; 2 (4) 6 (7) quivi di ripoOar l’affannoPaspQtta. 1 6 8 96 Più non rispRndo,Se quTsto sU per vVro». (1) 4 6 (8) E cWm’ XlliYZbbe sua par[la d\tta, 3 4 8 una v]ce di pr^sso sonò: «F_rse 3 6 9 99 che di sed`reain prbacavrai distrdtta!». 4 6 8 Al suen di lfi ciascun di ngi si thrse, (2) 4 6 8 e vedimmoja mancinakun gran petrlne, 3 6 8 102 del qual némio nénoi prima s’accprse. 2 4 6 7 Là ci traqrmmo;setiviuvran perswne (1) 4 6.7 che si stavanoxa l’ymbra diztro{al sasso 3 6 8 105 c|me l’u}m per negghi~nzaa star si pne. 1 3 6 8 Eun di lr, che mi sembiava lasso, 2 4 8 sedvae abbracciava le gincchia, 2 6 108 tenndo ’l vio giù trasse basso. 2 4 6 8
8 for the reason that thou tellest, is distant, as far from here toward the north, as the Hebrews 84 saw it toward the warm region. But, if it please thee, willingly would I know how far we have to go, for the hill rises 87 higher than my eyes are able.” And he to me: “This mountain is such, that ever at the beginning below it is hard, 90 and the more one goes up, behold! the less it troubles him; therefore when it shall seem to thee pleasant so, that the going up will be easy to thee 93 as going down the current in a vessel, then wilt thou be at the end of this path; there mayst thou expect repose from toil: 96 more I answer not, and this I know for true.” And as he ended his words, a voice near by sounded: “Perchance 99 before then thou wilt be constrained to sit.” At the sound of it each of us turned, and we saw at the left a great stone, 102 of which neither he nor I had taken note before. Thither we drew; and there were persons who were reposing in the shadow behind the rock, 105 as one through indolence sets himself to repose. And one of them, who seemed to me weary, was seated, and was clasping his knees, 108 holding his face down low between them.
9 « dlce segnr mio», diss’ io,«adcchia (2) 6 8 colui che mstra sé più neglignte 2 4 6 (7) 111 che se pigrizia fsse sua sercchia». 4 6 Allr si vlsea nie pue mnte, 2 4 6 8 movndo ’l vio pur su per la cscia 2 4 6.7 114 e disse:« r va tu sù, che s¡’ val¢nte!». 2 3 (5) 6 (8) Con£bbi¤all¥r chi¦§ra,¨e qu©llaªang«scia 2 4 6 8 che m’avacciava¬un p co®anc¯r la l°na, 4 6 8 117 non m’impedì l’andare±a lui;²e p³scia 1 4 (6) 8 ch’a lui fu’ giunto,´alzò la tµsta¶a p·na, 2 4 6 8 dic¸ndo:¹«Hai bºn veduto c»me ’l s¼le 2 (3) 4 6 8 120 da l’½mero sinistro¾il carro m¿na?». 2 6 8 LiÀÁtti suÂi pigriÃe le cÄrte parÅle 1 (3) 4 7 mÆsser le labbra mieÇun pÈcoÉa riÊo; 1 4 6 8 123 pËi cominciai: «Belacqua,Ìa me non dÍle (1) 4 6 (8) di teÎomai; ma dimmi: perchéÏassiÐo 2 4 6 9 quirÑtto sÒ’?ÓattÔndi tuÕiscÖrta, 2 4 6 8 126 o pur lo m×doØuÙato t’ha’ ripriÚo?». 2 4 6 8 Ed Ûlli:Ü«Ý frate,Þandar in sù che pßrta? 2 4 (6) 8 ché non mi lasceràbbeáireâa’ martìri (2) 6 7 129 l’ãngel di Dio che siädeåin su la pærta. 1 4 6 Prima conviçn che tantoèil ciél m’aggiri 1 4 6 8 di fuêr daëìssa, quanto fíceîin vita, 2 4 6 8 132 perch’io ’ndugiaiïal fineði buñn sospiri, 2 4 6 8 seòorazóôneõin prima non m’aöita 4 6 che surga sù di cu÷r cheøin grazia viva; 2 4 6 8 135 l’altra che val, che ’n ciùl non èúudita?». 1 4 6
10 “O sweet my Lord,” said I, “look at him, who shows himself more indolent 111 than if sloth were his sister.” Then that one turned to us and gave heed, moving his look only up along his thigh, 114 and said: “Now go thou up, for thou art valiant.” I recognized then who he was, and that effort which was still quickening my breath a little, 117 did not hinder my going to him, and after I had reached him, he scarcely raised his head, saying: “Hast thou clearly seen how the sun 120 drives his chariot over thy left shoulder?” His lazy acts and his short words moved my lips a little to a smile; 123 then I began: “Belacqua, I grieve not for thee henceforth, but tell me why thou art seated here? dost thou await a guide, 126 or has only thy wonted mood recaptured thee?” And he: “Brother, what avails the going up? For not would let me go to the torments 129 the bird of God that sits at the gate. It behoves that heaven first circle around me outside the gate, as long as it did in life, 132 because I delayed my good sighs until the end; unless, before then, the prayer assist me which rises from a heart that lives in grace: 135 what avails the other, which is not heard in heaven?”
11 E giàûil poüýtaþinnanzi mi saliva, 2 4 6 e dic a: «Vi nne omai; v di ch’è t cco 3 4 6 7 138 meridï n dal s le, e a la riva 4 6 cu pre la n tte già col piè Morr cco». 1 4 6 8
12 And already the Poet was mounting up before me, and was saying: “Come on now: thou seest that touched is 138 the meridian by the sun, and on the shore the night now covers Morocco with her foot.”
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