PURGATORIO CANTO 32 |
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PURGATORIO CANTO 32 |
Tant' eran li occhi miei fissi e attenti |
32.1 |
I |
My eyes were so insistent, so intent |
a disbramarsi la decenne sete, |
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on finding satisfaction for their ten-year |
che li altri sensi m'eran tutti spenti. |
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thirst that every other sense was spent. |
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Ed essi quinci e quindi avien parete |
32.4 |
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And to each side, my eyes were walled in by |
di non caler così lo santo riso |
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indifference to all else (with its old net, |
a sé traéli con l'antica rete! ; |
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the holy smile so drew them to itself ), |
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quando per forza mi fu vòlto il viso |
32.7 |
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when I was forced to turn my eyes leftward |
ver' la sinistra mia da quelle dee,N
Three theological virtues
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by those three goddesses because I heard |
perch' io udi' da loro un "Troppo fiso!" |
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them warning me: “You stare too fixedly.” |
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e la disposizion ch'a veder èe |
32.10 |
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And the condition that afflicts the sight |
ne li occhi pur testé dal sol percossi, |
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when eyes have just been struck by the sun’s force |
sanza la vista alquanto esser mi fée. |
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left me without my vision for a time. |
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Ma poi ch'al poco il viso riformossi |
32.13 |
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But when my sight became accustomed to |
(e dico "al poco" per rispetto al molto |
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lesser sensations (that is, lesser than |
sensibile onde a forza mi rimossi), |
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the mighty force that made my eyes retreat), |
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vidi 'n sul braccio destro esser rivolto |
32.16 |
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I saw the glorious army: it had wheeled |
lo glorïoso essercito,N
Purgatorial procession
e tornarsi
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around and to the right; it had turned east; |
col sole e con le sette fiamme al volto. |
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it faced the seven flames and faced the sun. |
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Come sotto li scudi per salvarsi |
32.19 |
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Just as, protected by its shields, a squadron |
volgesi schiera, e sé gira col segno, |
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will wheel, to save itself, around its standard |
prima che possa tutta in sé mutarsi; |
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until all of its men have changed direction; |
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quella milizia del celeste regno |
32.22 |
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so here all troops of the celestial kingdom |
che procedeva, tutta trapassonne |
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within the vanguard passed in front of us |
pria che piegasse il carro il primo legno. |
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before the chariot swung around the pole-shaft. |
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Indi a le rote si tornar le donne, |
32.25 |
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Back to the wheels the ladies then returned; |
e 'l grifon mosse il benedetto carcoN
The Christian Church
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C |
and though the griffin moved the blessed burden, |
sì, che però nulla penna crollonne. |
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when he did that, none of his feathers stirred. |
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La bella donna che mi trasse al varco
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32.28 |
PE |
The lovely lady who’d helped me ford Lethe, |
e Stazio e io seguitavam la rota
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PE |
and I and Statius, following the wheel |
che fé l'orbita sua con minore arco. |
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that turned right, round the inner, smaller arc, |
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Sì passeggiando l'alta selva vòta, |
32.31 |
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were slowly passing through the tall woods—empty |
colpa di quella ch'al serpente crese,
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PE |
because of one who had believed the serpent; |
temprava i passi un'angelica nota. |
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our pace was measured by angelic song. |
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Forse in tre voli tanto spazio prese |
32.34 |
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The space we covered could be matched perhaps |
disfrenata saetta, quanto eramo |
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by three flights of an unleashed arrow’s shafts, |
rimossi, quando Bëatrice scese.
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PE |
when Beatrice descended from the chariot. |
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Io senti' mormorare a tutti "Adamo";
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32.37 |
PE |
“Adam,” I heard all of them murmuring, |
poi cerchiaro una pianta dispogliata |
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and then they drew around a tree whose every |
di foglie e d'altra fronda in ciascun ramo. |
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branch had been stripped of flowers and of leaves. |
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La coma sua, che tanto si dilata |
32.40 |
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As it grows higher, so its branches spread |
più quanto più è sù, fora da l'Indi |
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wider; it reached a height that even in |
ne' boschi lor per altezza ammirata. |
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their forests would amaze the Indians. |
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"Beato se', grifon, che non discindi
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32.43 |
C |
“Blessed are you, whose beak does not, o griffin, |
col becco d'esto legno dolce al gusto, |
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pluck the sweet-tasting fruit that is forbidden |
poscia che mal si torce il ventre quindi." |
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and then afflicts the belly that has eaten!” |
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Così dintorno a l'albero robusto |
32.46 |
I |
So, round the robust tree, the others shouted; |
gridaron li altri; e l'animal binato:
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C |
and the two-natured animal: “Thus is |
"Sì si conserva il seme d'ogne giusto." |
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the seed of every righteous man preserved.” |
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E vòlto al temo ch'elli avea tirato, |
32.49 |
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And turning to the pole-shaft he had pulled, |
trasselo al piè de la vedova frasca, |
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he drew it to the foot of the stripped tree |
e quel di lei a lei lasciò legato. |
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and, with a branch of that tree, tied the two. |
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Come le nostre piante, quando casca |
32.52 |
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Just like our plants that, when the great light falls |
giù la gran luce mischiata con quella |
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on earth, mixed with the light that shines behind |
che raggia dietro a la celeste lasca, |
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the stars of the celestial Fishes, swell |
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turgide fansi, e poi si rinovella |
32.55 |
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with buds—each plant renews its coloring |
di suo color ciascuna, pria che 'l sole |
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before the sun has yoked its steeds beneath |
giunga li suoi corsier sotto altra stella; |
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another constellation: so the tree, |
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men che di rose e più che di vïole |
32.58 |
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whose boughs—before—had been so solitary, |
colore aprendo, s'innovò la pianta, |
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was now renewed, showing a tint that was |
che prima avea le ramora sì sole. |
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less than the rose, more than the violet. |
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Io non lo 'ntesi, né qui non si canta |
32.61 |
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I did not understand the hymn that they |
l'inno che quella gente allor cantaro, |
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then sang—it is not sung here on this earth— |
né la nota soffersi tutta quanta. |
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nor, drowsy, did I listen to the end. |
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S'io potessi ritrar come assonnaro |
32.64 |
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Could I describe just how the ruthless eyes |
li occhi spietati udendo di Siringa, |
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CPE |
(eyes whose long wakefulness cost them so dear), |
li occhi a cui pur vegghiar costò sì caro;
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hearing the tale of Syrinx, fell asleep, |
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come pintor che con essempro pinga, |
32.67 |
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then like a painter painting from a model, |
disegnerei com' io m'addormentai; |
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I’d draw the way in which I fell asleep; |
ma qual vuol sia che l'assonnar ben finga. |
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but I refrain—let one more skillful paint. |
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Però trascorro a quando mi svegliai, |
32.70 |
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I move, therefore, straight to my waking time; |
e dico ch'un splendor mi squarciò 'l velo |
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I say that radiance rent the veil of sleep, |
del sonno, e un chiamar: "Surgi: che fai?" |
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as did a voice: “Rise up: what are you doing?” |
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Quali a veder de' fioretti del melo |
32.73 |
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Even as Peter, John, and James, when brought |
che del suo pome li angeli fa ghiotti |
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to see the blossoms of the apple tree— |
e perpetüe nozze fa nel cielo, |
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whose fruit abets the angels’ hungering, |
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Pietro e Giovanni e Iacopo condotti
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32.76 |
PE |
providing endless wedding-feasts in Heaven— |
e vinti, ritornaro a la parola |
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were overwhelmed by what they saw, but then, |
da la qual furon maggior sonni rotti, |
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hearing the word that shattered deeper sleeps, |
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e videro scemata loro scuola |
32.79 |
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arose and saw their fellowship was smaller— |
così di Moïsè come d'Elia,
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PE |
since Moses and Elijah now had left— |
e al maestro suo cangiata stola; |
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and saw a difference in their Teacher’s dress; |
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tal torna' io, e vidi quella pia |
32.82 |
PE |
so I awoke and saw, standing above me, |
sovra me starsi che conducitrice
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she who before—compassionate—had guided |
fu de' miei passi lungo 'l fiume pria.
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PL |
my steps along the riverbank. Completely |
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E tutto in dubbio dissi: "Ov' è Beatrice?"
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32.85 |
PE |
bewildered, I asked: “Where is Beatrice?” |
Ond' ella: "Vedi lei sotto la fronda |
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And she: “Beneath the boughs that were renewed, |
nova sedere in su la sua radice. |
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she’s seated on the root of that tree; see |
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Vedi la compagnia che la circonda: |
32.88 |
I |
the company surrounding her; the rest |
li altri dopo 'l grifon sen vanno suso
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C |
have left; behind the griffin they have climbed |
con più dolce canzone e più profonda." |
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on high with song that is more sweet, more deep.” |
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E se più fu lo suo parlar diffuso, |
32.91 |
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I do not know if she said more than that, |
non so, però che già ne li occhi m'era |
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because, by now, I had in sight one who |
quella ch'ad altro intender m'avea chiuso.
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PE |
excluded all things other from my view. |
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Sola sedeasi in su la terra vera,
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32.94 |
PE |
She sat alone upon the simple ground, |
come guardia lasciata lì del plaustro
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left there as guardian of the chariot |
che legar vidi a la biforme fera.
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C |
I’d seen the two-form animal tie fast. |
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In cerchio le facevan di sé claustro |
32.97 |
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The seven nymphs encircled her as garland, |
le sette ninfe,N
The three theological and four cardinal virtues
con quei lumi in mano
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and in their hands they held the lamps that can |
che son sicuri d'Aquilone e d'Austro. |
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not be extinguished by the north or south winds. |
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"Qui sarai tu poco tempo silvano; |
32.100 |
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“Here you shall be—awhile—a visitor; |
e sarai meco sanza fine cive |
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but you shall be with me—and without end— |
di quella Roma onde Cristo è romano.
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PEPL |
Rome’s citizen, the Rome in which Christ is |
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Però, in pro del mondo che mal vive, |
32.103 |
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Roman; and thus, to profit that world which |
al carro tieni or li occhi, e quel che vedi, |
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lives badly, watch the chariot steadfastly |
ritornato di là, fa che tu scrive." |
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and, when you have returned beyond, transcribe |
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Così Beatrice; e io, che tutto ai piedi
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32.106 |
PE |
what you have seen.” Thus, Beatrice; and I, |
d'i suoi comandamenti era divoto, |
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devoutly, at the feet of her commandments, |
la mente e li occhi ov' ella volle diedi. |
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set mind and eyes where she had wished me to. |
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Non scese mai con sì veloce moto |
32.109 |
I |
Never has lightning fallen with such swift |
foco di spessa nube, quando piove |
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motion from a thick cloud, when it descends |
da quel confine che più va remoto, |
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from the most distant limit in the heavens, |
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com' io vidi calar l'uccel di Giove |
32.112 |
D |
as did the bird of Jove that I saw swoop |
per l'alber giù, rompendo de la scorza, |
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down through the tree, tearing the bark as well |
non che d'i fiori e de le foglie nove; |
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as the new leaves and the new flowering. |
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e ferì 'l carro di tutta sua forza;N
The Church
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32.115 |
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It struck the chariot with all its force; |
ond' el piegò come nave in fortuna, |
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the chariot twisted, like a ship that’s crossed |
vinta da l'onda, or da poggia, or da orza. |
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by seas that now storm starboard and now port. |
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Poscia vidi avventarsi ne la cuna |
32.118 |
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I then saw, as it leaped into the body |
del trïunfal veiculo una volpe |
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of that triumphal chariot, a fox |
che d'ogne pasto buon parea digiuna; |
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that seemed to lack all honest nourishment: |
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ma, riprendendo lei di laide colpe, |
32.121 |
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but, as she railed against its squalid sins, |
la donna mia la volse in tanta futa |
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my lady forced that fox to flight as quick |
quanto sofferser l'ossa sanza polpe. |
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as, stripped of flesh, its bones permitted it. |
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Poscia per indi ond' era pria venuta, |
32.124 |
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Then I could see the eagle plunge—again |
l'aguglia vidi scender giù ne l'arca |
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down through the tree—into the chariot |
del carro e lasciar lei di sé pennuta; |
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and leave it feathered with its plumage; and, |
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e qual esce di cuor che si rammarca, |
32.127 |
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just like a voice from an embittered heart, |
tal voce uscì del cielo e cotal disse: |
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a voice issued from Heaven, saying this: |
"O navicella mia, com' mal se' carca!" |
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“O my small bark, your freight is wickedness!” |
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Poi parve a me che la terra s'aprisse |
32.130 |
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Then did the ground between the two wheels seem |
tr'ambo le ruote, e vidi uscirne un drago |
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to me to open; from the earth, a dragon |
che per lo carro sù la coda fisse; |
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emerged; it drove its tail up through the chariot; |
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e come vespa che ritragge l'ago, |
32.133 |
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and like a wasp when it retracts its sting, |
a sé traendo la coda maligna, |
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drawing its venomed tail back to itself, |
trasse del fondo, e gissen vago vago. |
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it dragged part of the bottom off, and went |
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Quel che rimase, come da gramigna |
32.136 |
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its way, undulating. And what was left |
vivace terra, da la piuma, offerta |
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was covered with the eagle’s plumes—perhaps |
forse con intenzion sana e benigna, |
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offered with sound and kind intent—much as |
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si ricoperse, e funne ricoperta |
32.139 |
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grass covers fertile ground; and the pole-shaft |
e l'una e l'altra rota e 'l temo, in tanto |
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and both wheels were re-covered in less time |
che più tiene un sospir la bocca aperta. |
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than mouth must be kept open when one sighs. |
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Trasformato così 'l dificio santo |
32.142 |
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Transfigured so, the saintly instrument |
mise fuor teste per le parti sue, |
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grew heads, which sprouted from its parts; three grew |
tre sovra 'l temo e una in ciascun canto. |
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upon the pole-shaft, and one at each corner. |
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Le prime eran cornute come bue, |
32.145 |
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The three were horned like oxen, but the four |
ma le quattro un sol corno avean per fronte: |
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had just a single horn upon their foreheads: |
simile mostro visto ancor non fue. |
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such monsters never have been seen before. |
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Sicura, quasi rocca in alto monte, |
32.148 |
I |
Just like a fortress set on a steep slope, |
seder sovresso una puttana scioltaN
A corrupt Church
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securely seated there, ungirt, a whore, |
m'apparve con le ciglia intorno pronte; |
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whose eyes were quick to rove, appeared to me; |
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e come perché non li fosse tolta, |
32.151 |
I |
and I saw at her side, erect, a giant |
vidi di costa a lei dritto un gigante; |
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who seemed to serve as her custodian: |
e basciavansi insieme alcuna volta. |
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and they—again, again—embraced each other. |
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Ma perché l'occhio cupido e vagante |
32.154 |
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But when she turned her wandering, wanton eyes |
a me rivolse, quel feroce drudo |
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to me, then that ferocious amador |
la flagellò dal capo infin le piante; |
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beat her from head to foot; then, swollen with |
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poi, di sospetto pieno e d'ira crudo, |
32.157 |
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suspicion, fierce with anger, he untied |
disciolse il mostro, e trassel per la selva, |
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the chariot-made-monster, dragging it |
tanto che sol di lei mi fece scudo |
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into the wood, so that I could not see |
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a la puttana e a la nova belva. |
32.160 |
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either the whore or the strange chariot-beast. |
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