| PURGATORIO CANTO 30 |
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PURGATORIO CANTO 30 |
| Quando il settentrïon del primo cielo, |
30.1 |
I |
When the first heaven’s Seven-Stars had halted |
| che né occaso mai seppe né orto |
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(those stars that never rise or set, that are |
| né d'altra nebbia che di colpa velo, |
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not veiled except when sin beclouds our vision; |
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| e che faceva lì ciascuno accorto |
30.4 |
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those stars that, there, made everyone aware |
| di suo dover, come 'l più basso face |
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of what his duty was, just as the Bear |
| qual temon gira per venire a porto, |
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below brings helmsmen home to harbor), then |
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| fermo s'affisse: la gente verace,N
24 Books of the Old Testament
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30.7 |
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the truthful band that had come first between |
| venuta prima tra 'l grifone ed esso,
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the griffin and the Seven-Stars turned toward |
| al carro volse sé come a sua pace; |
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that chariot as toward their peace, and one |
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| e un di loro, quasi da ciel messo, |
30.10 |
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of them, as if sent down from Heaven, hymned |
| "Veni, sponsa, de Libano" cantando
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aloud, “Veni, sponsa, de Libano,” |
| gridò tre volte, e tutti li altri appresso. |
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three times, and all the others echoed him. |
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| Quali i beati al novissimo bandoN
The Last Judgment
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30.13 |
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Just as the blessed, at the Final Summons, |
| surgeran presti ognun di sua caverna, |
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will rise up—ready—each out of his grave, |
| la revestita voce alleluiando, |
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singing, with new-clothed voices, Alleluia, |
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| cotali in su la divina basterna |
30.16 |
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so, from the godly chariot, eternal |
| si levar cento, ad vocem tanti senis, |
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life’s messengers and ministers arose: |
| ministri e messagger di vita etterna. |
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one hundred stood ad vocem tanti senis. |
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| Tutti dicean: "Benedictus qui venis!" |
30.19 |
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All of them cried: “Benedictus qui venis,” |
| e fior gittando e di sopra e dintorno, |
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and, scattering flowers upward and around, |
| "Manibus, oh, date lilïa plenis!" |
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“Manibus, oh, date lilia plenis.” |
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| Io vidi già nel cominciar del giorno |
30.22 |
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I have at times seen all the eastern sky |
| la parte orïental tutta rosata, |
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becoming rose as day began and seen, |
| e l'altro ciel di bel sereno addorno; |
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adorned in lovely blue, the rest of heaven; |
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| e la faccia del sol nascere ombrata, |
30.25 |
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and seen the sun’s face rise so veiled that it |
| sì che per temperanza di vapori |
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was tempered by the mist and could permit |
| l'occhio la sostenea lunga fïata: |
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the eye to look at length upon it; so, |
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| così dentro una nuvola di fiori |
30.28 |
I |
within a cloud of flowers that were cast |
| che da le mani angeliche saliva |
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by the angelic hands and then rose up |
| e ricadeva in giù dentro e di fori, |
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and then fell back, outside and in the chariot, |
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| sovra candido vel cinta d'uliva |
30.31 |
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a woman showed herself to me; above |
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donna m'apparve, sotto verde manto
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a white veil, she was crowned with olive boughs; |
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vestita di color di fiamma viva.
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her cape was green; her dress beneath, flame-red. |
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| E lo spirito mio, che già cotanto |
30.34 |
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Within her presence, I had once been used |
| tempo era stato ch'a la sua presenza |
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to feeling—trembling—wonder, dissolution; |
| non era di stupor, tremando, affranto, |
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but that was long ago. Still, though my soul, |
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| sanza de li occhi aver più conoscenza, |
30.37 |
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now she was veiled, could not see her directly, |
| per occulta virtù che da lei mosse, |
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by way of hidden force that she could move, |
| d'antico amor sentì la gran potenza. |
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I felt the mighty power of old love. |
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| Tosto che ne la vista mi percosse |
30.40 |
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As soon as that deep force had struck my vision |
| l'alta virtù che già m'avea trafitto |
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(the power that, when I had not yet left |
| prima ch'io fuor di püerizia fosse, |
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my boyhood, had already transfixed me), |
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| volsimi a la sinistra col respitto |
30.43 |
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I turned around and to my left—just as |
| col quale il fantolin corre a la mamma |
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a little child, afraid or in distress, |
| quando ha paura o quando elli è afflitto, |
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will hurry to his mother—anxiously, |
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| per dicere a Virgilio: "Men che dramma
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30.46 |
PE |
to say to Virgil: “I am left with less |
| di sangue m'è rimaso che non tremi: |
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than one drop of my blood that does not tremble: |
| conosco i segni de l'antica fiamma." |
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I recognize the signs of the old flame.” |
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| Ma Virgilio n'avea lasciati scemi
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30.49 |
PE |
But Virgil had deprived us of himself, |
| di sé, Virgilio dolcissimo patre,
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Virgil, the gentlest father, Virgil, he |
| Virgilio a cui per mia salute die'mi;
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to whom I gave my self for my salvation; |
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| né quantunque perdeo l'antica matre,
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30.52 |
PE |
and even all our ancient mother lost |
| valse a le guance nette di rugiada |
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was not enough to keep my cheeks, though washed |
| che, lagrimando, non tornasser atre. |
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with dew, from darkening again with tears. |
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| "Dante, perché Virgilio se ne vada,
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30.55 |
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“Dante, though Virgil’s leaving you, do not |
| non pianger anco, non piangere ancora; |
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yet weep, do not weep yet; you’ll need your tears |
| ché pianger ti conven per altra spada." |
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for what another sword must yet inflict.” |
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| Quasi ammiraglio che in poppa e in prora |
30.58 |
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Just like an admiral who goes to stern |
| viene a veder la gente che ministra |
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and prow to see the officers who guide |
| per li altri legni, e a ben far l'incora; |
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the other ships, encouraging their tasks; |
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| in su la sponda del carro sinistra, |
30.61 |
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so, on the left side of the chariot |
| quando mi volsi al suon del nome mio, |
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(I’d turned around when I had heard my name— |
| che di necessità qui si registra, |
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which, of necessity, I transcribe here), |
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| vidi la donna che pria m'appario |
30.64 |
PE |
I saw the lady who had first appeared |
| velata sotto l'angelica festa,
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to me beneath the veils of the angelic |
| drizzar li occhi ver' me di qua dal rio. |
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flowers look at me across the stream. |
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| Tutto che 'l vel che le scendea di testa, |
30.67 |
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Although the veil she wore—down from her head, |
| cerchiato de le fronde di Minerva,
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which was encircled by Minerva’s leaves— |
| non la lasciasse parer manifesta, |
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did not allow her to be seen distinctly, |
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| regalmente ne l'atto ancor proterva |
30.70 |
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her stance still regal and disdainful, she |
| continüò come colui che dice |
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continued, just as one who speaks but keeps |
| e 'l più caldo parlar dietro reserva: |
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until the end the fiercest parts of speech: |
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| "Guardaci ben! Ben son, ben son Beatrice. |
30.73 |
PE |
“Look here! For I am Beatrice, I am! |
| Come degnasti d'accedere al monte? |
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How were you able to ascend the mountain? |
| non sapei tu che qui è l'uom felice?" |
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Did you not know that man is happy here?” |
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| Li occhi mi cadder giù nel chiaro fonte;
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30.76 |
PL |
My lowered eyes caught sight of the clear stream, |
| ma veggendomi in esso, i trassi a l'erba, |
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but when I saw myself reflected there, |
| tanta vergogna mi gravò la fronte. |
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such shame weighed on my brow, my eyes drew back |
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| Così la madre al figlio par superba, |
30.79 |
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and toward the grass; just as a mother seems |
| com' ella parve a me; perché d'amaro |
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harsh to her child, so did she seem to me— |
| sente il sapor de la pietade acerba. |
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how bitter is the savor of stern pity! |
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| Ella si tacque; e li angeli cantaro
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30.82 |
C |
Her words were done. The angels—suddenly— |
| di sùbito "In te, Domine, speravi";
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sang, “In te, Domine, speravi”; but |
| ma oltre "pedes meos" non passaro. |
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their singing did not go past “pedes meos.” |
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| Sì come neve tra le vive travi |
30.85 |
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Even as snow among the sap-filled trees |
| per lo dosso d'Italia si congela, |
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along the spine of Italy will freeze |
| soffiata e stretta da li venti schiavi, |
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when gripped by gusts of the Slavonian winds, |
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| poi, liquefatta, in sé stessa trapela, |
30.88 |
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then, as it melts, will trickle through itself— |
| pur che la terra che perde ombra spiri, |
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that is, if winds breathe north from shade-less lands— |
| sì che par foco fonder la candela; |
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just as, beneath the flame, the candle melts; |
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| così fui sanza lagrime e sospiri |
30.91 |
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so I, before I’d heard the song of those |
| anzi 'l cantar di quei che notan sempre |
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whose notes always accompany the notes |
| dietro a le note de li etterni giri; |
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of the eternal spheres, was without tears |
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| ma poi che 'ntesi ne le dolci tempre |
30.94 |
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and sighs; but when I heard the sympathy |
| lor compartire a me, par che se detto |
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for me within their gentle harmonies, |
| avesser: "Donna, perché sì lo stempre?" |
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as if they’d said: “Lady, why shame him so?”— |
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| lo gel che m'era intorno al cor ristretto, |
30.97 |
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then did the ice that had restrained my heart |
| spirito e acqua fessi, e con angoscia |
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become water and breath; and from my breast |
| de la bocca e de li occhi uscì del petto. |
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and through my lips and eyes they issued—anguished. |
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| Ella, pur ferma in su la detta coscia |
30.100 |
I |
Still standing motionless upon the left |
| del carro stando, a le sustanze pie |
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side of the chariot, she then addressed |
| volse le sue parole così poscia: |
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the angels who had been compassionate: |
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| "Voi vigilate ne l'etterno die, |
30.103 |
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“You are awake in never-ending day, |
| sì che notte né sonno a voi non fura |
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and neither night nor sleep can steal from you |
| passo che faccia il secol per sue vie; |
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one step the world would take along its way; |
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| onde la mia risposta è con più cura |
30.106 |
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therefore, I’m more concerned that my reply |
| che m'intenda colui che di là piagne, |
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be understood by him who weeps beyond, |
| perché sia colpa e duol d'una misura. |
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so that his sorrow’s measure match his sin. |
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| Non pur per ovra de le rote magne, |
30.109 |
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Not only through the work of the great spheres— |
| che drizzan ciascun seme ad alcun fine |
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which guide each seed to a determined end, |
| secondo che le stelle son compagne, |
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depending on what stars are its companions— |
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| ma per larghezza di grazie divine, |
30.112 |
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but through the bounty of the godly graces, |
| che sì alti vapori hanno a lor piova, |
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which shower down from clouds so high that we |
| che nostre viste là non van vicine, |
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cannot approach them with our vision, he, |
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| questi fu tal ne la sua vita nova |
30.115 |
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when young, was such—potentially—that any |
| virtüalmente, ch'ogne abito destro |
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propensity innate in him would have |
| fatto averebbe in lui mirabil prova. |
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prodigiously succeeded, had he acted. |
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| Ma tanto più maligno e più silvestro |
30.118 |
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But where the soil has finer vigor, there |
| si fa 'l terren col mal seme e non cólto, |
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precisely—when untilled or badly seeded— |
| quant' elli ha più di buon vigor terrestro. |
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will that terrain grow wilder and more noxious. |
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| Alcun tempo il sostenni col mio volto: |
30.121 |
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My countenance sustained him for a while; |
| mostrando li occhi giovanetti a lui, |
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showing my youthful eyes to him, I led |
| meco il menava in dritta parte vòlto. |
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him with me toward the way of righteousness. |
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| Sì tosto come in su la soglia fui |
30.124 |
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As soon as I, upon the threshold of |
| di mia seconda etade e mutai vita, |
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my second age, had changed my life, he took |
| questi si tolse a me, e diessi altrui. |
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himself away from me and followed after |
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| Quando di carne a spirto era salita, |
30.127 |
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another; when, from flesh to spirit, I |
| e bellezza e virtù cresciuta m'era, |
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had risen, and my goodness and my beauty |
| fu' io a lui men cara e men gradita; |
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had grown, I was less dear to him, less welcome: |
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| e volse i passi suoi per via non vera, |
30.130 |
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he turned his footsteps toward an untrue path; |
| imagini di ben seguendo false, |
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he followed counterfeits of goodness, which |
| che nulla promession rendono intera. |
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will never pay in full what they have promised. |
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| Né l'impetrare ispirazion mi valse, |
30.133 |
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Nor did the inspirations I received— |
| con le quali e in sogno e altrimenti |
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with which, in dream and otherwise, I called |
| lo rivocai: sì poco a lui ne calse! |
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him back—help me; he paid so little heed! |
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| Tanto giù cadde, che tutti argomenti |
30.136 |
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He fell so far there were no other means |
| a la salute sua eran già corti, |
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to lead him to salvation, except this: |
| fuor che mostrarli le perdute genti. |
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to let him see the people who were lost. |
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| Per questo visitai l'uscio d'i morti, |
30.139 |
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For this I visited the gateway of |
| e a colui che l'ha qua sù condotto,
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the dead; to him who guided him above |
| li preghi miei, piangendo, furon porti. |
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my prayers were offered even as I wept. |
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| Alto fato di Dio sarebbe rotto,
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30.142 |
D |
The deep design of God would have been broken |
| se Letè si passasse e tal vivanda
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if Lethe had been crossed and he had drunk |
| fosse gustata sanza alcuno scotto |
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such waters but had not discharged the debt |
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| di pentimento che lagrime spanda." |
30.145 |
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of penitence that’s paid when tears are shed.” |
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