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The Divine Comedy of Dante Alighieri. The Italian Text with a Translation in English Blank Verse and a Commentary by Courtney Langdon, vol. 1 (Inferno) (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1918).

Author: Dante Alighieri
Translator: Courtney Langdon

Part of: The Divine Comedy, in 3 vols. (Langdon trans.)

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INFERNO XXXIV

Circolo Nono. Tradimento. Cocito

Traditori de’ Benefattori. Lucifero

canto-ci034_line-1“Vexilla Regis prodeunt Inferni
canto-ci034_line-2verso di noi; però dinanzi mira,”
canto-ci034_line-3disse il Maestro mio, “se tu il discerni.”

canto-ci034_line-4Come, quando una grossa nebbia spira,34_ln4
canto-ci034_line-5o quando l’ emisperio nostro annotta,
canto-ci034_line-6par da lungi un molin che il vento gira;

canto-ci034_line-7veder mi parve un tal dificio allotta;34_ln7
canto-ci034_line-8poi per lo vento mi ristrinsi retro
canto-ci034_line-9al Duca mio; chè non gli era altra grotta.

canto-ci034_line-10Già era, e con paura il metto in metro,34_ln10
canto-ci034_line-11là dove l’ ombre eran tutte coperte
canto-ci034_line-12e trasparean come festuca in vetro;

canto-ci034_line-13altre sono a giacere; altre stanno erte,34_ln13
canto-ci034_line-14quella col capo, e quella con le piante;
canto-ci034_line-15altra, com’ arco, il volto a’ piedi inverte.

canto-ci034_line-16Quando noi fummo fatti tanto avante,34_ln16
canto-ci034_line-17ch’ al mio Maestro piacque di mostrarmi
canto-ci034_line-18la Creatura ch’ ebbe il bel sembiante,

canto-ci034_line-19dinanzi mi si tolse, e fe’ restarmi,34_ln19
canto-ci034_line-20“Ecco Dite,” dicendo, “ed ecco il loco,
canto-ci034_line-21ove convien che di fortezza t’ armi!”

canto-ci034_line-22Com’ io divenni allor gelato e fioco,34_ln22
canto-ci034_line-23nol dimandar, Lettor, ch’ io non lo scrivo,
canto-ci034_line-24però ch’ ogni parlar sarebbe poco.

canto-ci034_line-25Io non morii, e non rimasi vivo;34_ln25
canto-ci034_line-26pensa oramai per te, s’ hai fior d’ ingegno,
canto-ci034_line-27qual io divenni, d’ uno e d’ altro privo.

canto-ci034_line-28L’ Imperator del Doloroso Regno34_ln28
canto-ci034_line-29da mezzo il petto uscìa fuor della ghiaccia;
canto-ci034_line-30e più con un Gigante io mi convegno

canto-ci034_line-31che i Giganti non fan con le sue braccia;34_ln31
canto-ci034_line-32vedi oggimai quant’ esser dee quel tutto,
canto-ci034_line-33che a così fatta parte si confaccia.

canto-ci034_line-34S’ ei fu sì bel, com’ egli è ora brutto,34_ln34
canto-ci034_line-35e contra il suo Fattore alzò le ciglia,
canto-ci034_line-36ben dee da lui procedere ogni lutto.

canto-ci034_line-37Oh, quanto parve a me gran maraviglia,34_ln37
canto-ci034_line-38quando vidi tre facce alla sua testa!
canto-ci034_line-39l’ una dinanzi, e quella era vermiglia;

canto-ci034_line-40l’ altre eran due, che s’ aggiugièno a questa34_ln40
canto-ci034_line-41sopr’ esso il mezzo di ciascuna spalla,
canto-ci034_line-42e sè giungièno al loco della cresta;

canto-ci034_line-43e la destra parea tra bianca e gialla;34_ln43
canto-ci034_line-44la sinistra a vedere era tal, quali
canto-ci034_line-45vegnon di là onde il Nilo s’ avvalla.

canto-ci034_line-46Sotto ciascuna uscivan due grand’ ali,34_ln46
canto-ci034_line-47quanto si convenìa a tanto uccello;
canto-ci034_line-48vele di mar non vid’ io mai cotali.

canto-ci034_line-49Non avean penne, ma di vipistrello34_ln49
canto-ci034_line-50era lor modo; e quelle svolazzava,
canto-ci034_line-51sì che tre venti si movean da ello;

canto-ci034_line-52quindi Cocìto tutto s’ aggelava.34_ln52
canto-ci034_line-53Con sei occhi piangeva, e per tre menti
canto-ci034_line-54gocciava il pianto e sanguinosa bava.

canto-ci034_line-55Da ogni bocca dirompea co’ denti34_ln55
canto-ci034_line-56un peccatore, a guisa di maciulla,
canto-ci034_line-57sì che tre ne facea così dolenti.

canto-ci034_line-58A quel dinanzi il mordere era nulla34_ln58
canto-ci034_line-59verso il graffiar, chè talvolta la schiena
canto-ci034_line-60rimanea della pelle tutta brulla.

canto-ci034_line-61“Quell’ anima lassù che ha maggior pena,”34_ln61
canto-ci034_line-62disse il Maestro, “è Giuda Scariotto,
canto-ci034_line-63che il capo ha dentro, e fuor le gambe mena.

canto-ci034_line-64Degli altri due c’ hanno il capo di sotto,34_ln64
canto-ci034_line-65quei che pende dal nero ceffo è Bruto;
canto-ci034_line-66vedi come si torce, e non fa motto!

canto-ci034_line-67E l’ altro è Cassio, che par sì membruto.34_ln67
canto-ci034_line-68Ma la notte risurge; ed oramai
canto-ci034_line-69è da partir, chè tutto avem veduto.”

canto-ci034_line-70Com’ a lui piacque, il collo gli avvinghiai;34_ln70
canto-ci034_line-71ed ei prese di tempo e loco poste;
canto-ci034_line-72e, quando l’ ali furo aperte assai,

canto-ci034_line-73appigliò sè alle vellute coste;34_ln73
canto-ci034_line-74di vello in vello giù discese poscia
canto-ci034_line-75tra il folto pelo e le gelate croste.

canto-ci034_line-76Quando noi fummo là dove la coscia34_ln76
canto-ci034_line-77si volge appunto in sul grosso dell’ anche,
canto-ci034_line-78lo Duca con fatica e con angoscia

canto-ci034_line-79volse la testa ov’ egli avea le zanche,34_ln79
canto-ci034_line-80ed aggrappossi al pel com’ uom che sale,
canto-ci034_line-81sì che in Inferno io credea tornar anche.

canto-ci034_line-82“Attienti ben, chè per sì fatte scale,”34_ln82
canto-ci034_line-83disse il Maestro, ansando com’ uom lasso,
canto-ci034_line-84“conviensi dipartir da tanto male.”

canto-ci034_line-85Poi uscì fuor per lo foro d’ un sasso,34_ln85
canto-ci034_line-86e pose me in su l’ orlo a sedere;
canto-ci034_line-87appresso porse a me l’ accorto passo.

canto-ci034_line-88Io levai gli occhi, e credetti vedere34_ln88
canto-ci034_line-89Lucifero com’ io l’ avea lasciato;
canto-ci034_line-90e vidili le gambe in su tenere.

canto-ci034_line-91E s’ io divenni allora travagliato,34_ln91
canto-ci034_line-92la gente grossa il pensi, che non vede
canto-ci034_line-93qual è quel punto ch’ io avea passato.

canto-ci034_line-94“Lèvati su” disse il Maestro, “in piede!34_ln94
canto-ci034_line-95la via è lunga e il cammino è malvagio,
canto-ci034_line-96e già il sole a mezza terza riede.”

canto-ci034_line-97Non era caminata di palagio34_ln97
canto-ci034_line-98là ’v’ eravam, ma natural burella,
canto-ci034_line-99ch’ avea mal suolo e di lume disagio.

canto-ci034_line-100“Prima ch’ io dell’ abisso mi divella,34_ln100
canto-ci034_line-101Maestro mio,” diss’ io, quando fui dritto,
canto-ci034_line-102“a trarmi d’ erro un poco mi favella.

canto-ci034_line-103Ov’ è la ghiaccia? E questi com’ è fitto34_ln103
canto-ci034_line-104sì sottosopra? E come in sì poc’ ora
canto-ci034_line-105da sera a mane ha fatto il sol tragitto?”

canto-ci034_line-106Ed egli a me: “Tu imagini ancora34_ln106
canto-ci034_line-107d’ esser di là dal centro, ov’ io mi presi
canto-ci034_line-108al pel del Vermo reo, che il mondo fóra.

canto-ci034_line-109Di là fosti cotanto, quant’ io scesi;34_ln109
canto-ci034_line-110quando mi volsi, tu passasti il punto
canto-ci034_line-111al qual si traggon d’ ogni parte i pesi;

canto-ci034_line-112e se’ or sotto l’ emisperio giunto,34_ln112
canto-ci034_line-113ch’ è contrapposto a quel che la gran secca
canto-ci034_line-114coperchia, e sotto il cui colmo consunto

canto-ci034_line-115fu l’ Uom che nacque e visse senza pecca;34_ln115
canto-ci034_line-116tu hai li piedi in su picciola spera,
canto-ci034_line-117che l’ altra faccia fa della Giudecca.

canto-ci034_line-118Qui è da man, quando di là è sera;34_ln118
canto-ci034_line-119e questi, che ne fe’ scala col pelo,
canto-ci034_line-120fitto è ancora sì, come prim’ era.

canto-ci034_line-121Da questa parte cadde giù dal Cielo;34_ln121
canto-ci034_line-122e la terra, che pria di qua si sporse,
canto-ci034_line-123per paura di lui fe’ del mar velo,

canto-ci034_line-124e venne all’ emisperio nostro; e forse34_ln124
canto-ci034_line-125per fuggir lui lasciò qui il luogo vòto
canto-ci034_line-126quella che appar di qua, e su ricorse.”

canto-ci034_line-127Loco è laggiù da Belzebù rimoto34_ln127
canto-ci034_line-128tanto, quanto la tomba si distende,
canto-ci034_line-129che non per vista, ma per suono è noto

canto-ci034_line-130d’ un ruscelletto, che quivi discende34_ln130
canto-ci034_line-131per la buca d’ un sasso, ch’ egli ha roso,
canto-ci034_line-132col corso ch’ egli avvolge, e poco pende.

canto-ci034_line-133Lo Duca ed io per quel cammino ascoso34_ln133
canto-ci034_line-134entrammo a ritornar nel chiaro mondo;
canto-ci034_line-135e, senza cura aver d’ alcun riposo,

canto-ci034_line-136salimmo su, ei primo ed io secondo,34_ln136
canto-ci034_line-137tanto ch’ io vidi delle cose belle
canto-ci034_line-138che porta il ciel, per un pertugio tondo;

canto-ci034_line-139e quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle.34_ln139

INFERNO I

Introduction to the Divine Comedy

The Wood and the Mountain

When half way through the journey of our life
I found that I was in a gloomy wood,
because the path which led aright was lost.
And ah, how hard it is to say just what
this wild and rough and stubborn woodland was,
the very thought of which renews my fear!
So bitter ’t is, that death is little worse;
but of the good to treat which there I found,
I ’ll speak of what I else discovered there.

I cannot well say how I entered it,
so full of slumber was I at the moment
when I forsook the pathway of the truth;
but after I had reached a mountain’s foot,
where that vale ended which had pierced my heart
with fear, I looked on high,
and saw its shoulders
mantled already with that planet’s rays
which leadeth one aright o’er every path.

Then quieted a little was the fear,
which in the lake-depths of my heart had lasted
throughout the night I passed so piteously.

And even as he who, from the deep emerged
with sorely troubled breath upon the shore,
turns round, and gazes at the dangerous water;
even so my mind, which still was fleeing on,
turned back to look again upon the pass
which ne’er permitted any one to live.

When I had somewhat eased my weary body,
o’er the lone slope I so resumed my way,
that e’er the lower was my steady foot.
Then lo, not far from where the ascent began,
a Leopard which, exceeding light and swift,
was covered over with a spotted hide,
and from my presence did not move away;
nay, rather, she so hindered my advance,
that more than once I turned me to go back.

Some time had now from early morn elapsed,
and with those very stars the sun was rising
that in his escort were, when Love Divine
in the beginning moved those beauteous things;
I therefore had as cause for hoping well
of that wild beast with gaily mottled skin,
the hour of daytime and the year’s sweet season;
but not so, that I should not fear the sight,
which next appeared before me, of a Lion,
— against me this one seemed to be advancing
with head erect and with such raging hunger,
that even the air seemed terrified thereby —

and of a she-Wolf, which with every lust
seemed in her leanness laden, and had caused
many ere now to lead unhappy lives.
The latter so oppressed me with the fear
that issued from her aspect, that I lost
the hope I had of winning to the top.

And such as he is, who is glad to gain,
and who, when times arrive that make him lose,
weeps and is saddened in his every thought;
such did that peaceless animal make me,
which, ’gainst me coming, pushed me, step by step,
back to the place where silent is the sun.

While toward the lowland I was falling fast,
the sight of one was offered to mine eyes,
who seemed, through long continued silence, weak.
When him in that vast wilderness I saw,
“Have pity on me,” I cried out to him,
“whate’er thou be, or shade, or very man!”

“Not man,” he answered, “I was once a man;
and both my parents were of Lombardy,
and Mantuans with respect to fatherland.
’Neath Julius was I born, though somewhat late,
and under good Augustus’ rule I lived
in Rome, in days of false and lying gods.
I was a poet, and of that just man,
Anchises’ son, I sang, who came from Troy
after proud Ilion had been consumed.

But thou, to such sore trouble why return?
Why climbst thou not the Mountain of Delight,
which is of every joy the source and cause?”

“Art thou that Virgil, then, that fountain-head
which poureth forth so broad a stream of speech?”
I answered him with shame upon my brow.
“O light and glory of the other poets,
let the long study, and the ardent love
which made me con thy book, avail me now.
Thou art my teacher and authority;
thou only art the one from whom I took
the lovely manner which hath done me honor.
Behold the beast on whose account I turned;
from her protect me, O thou famous Sage,
for she makes both my veins and pulses tremble!”

“A different course from this must thou pursue,”
he answered, when he saw me shedding tears,
“if from this wilderness thou wouldst escape;
for this wild beast, on whose account thou criest,
alloweth none to pass along her way,
but hinders him so greatly, that she kills;
and is by nature so malign and guilty,
that never doth she sate her greedy lust,
but after food is hungrier than before.
Many are the animals with which she mates,
and still more will there be, until the Hound
shall come, and bring her to a painful death.

He shall not feed on either land or wealth,
but wisdom, love and power shall be his food,
and ’tween two Feltros shall his birth take place.
Of that low Italy he ’ll be the savior,
for which the maid Camilla died of wounds,
with Turnus, Nisus and Eurỳalus.
And he shall drive her out of every town,
till he have put her back again in Hell,
from which the earliest envy sent her forth.

I therefore think and judge it best for thee
to follow me; and I shall be thy guide,
and lead thee hence through an eternal place,
where thou shalt hear the shrieks of hopelessness
of those tormented spirits of old times,
each one of whom bewails the second death;
then those shalt thou behold who, though in fire,
contented are, because they hope to come,
whene’er it be, unto the blessèd folk;
to whom, thereafter, if thou wouldst ascend,
there ’ll be for that a worthier soul than I.
With her at my departure I shall leave thee,
because the Emperor who rules up there,
since I was not obedient to His law,
wills none shall come into His town through me.
He rules as emperor everywhere, and there
as king; there is His town and lofty throne.
O happy he whom He thereto elects!”

And I to him: “O Poet, I beseech thee,
even by the God it was not thine to know,
so may I from this ill and worse escape,
conduct me thither where thou saidst just now,
that I may see Saint Peter’s Gate, and those
whom thou describest as so whelmed with woe.”

He then moved on, and I behind him kept.