The Divine Comedy Progressive Translation Books for Danish B2 Learners

CANTOI

Inthemidwayofthisour

dødelige

mortallife,Ifoundmeina

dyster

gloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:

ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how

robust

robustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,in

bitterhed

bitternessnotfarfromdeath.

Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.

HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Such

søvnig

sleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwith

frygt

dread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshoulders

brede

broadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’s

stråle

beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.

Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:

Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwith

slid

toiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;

e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwith

rædsel

terror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.

MywearyframeAftershort

pause

pauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.

Thehinderfootstillfirmer.

ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!

panter

panther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;

thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.

Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLove

guddommelige

divinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:

sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.

Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew

frygt

dreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.

Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.

Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.

ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.

Asone,Whowithhis

gevinst

gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardly

Sørger

Mournswithheart-gripinganguish;

suchwasI,

Hjemsøgt

Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilencerests.

WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’d

besvime

faintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.

WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”

criedIout

højt

aloud,“Spirit!

orlivingman!

whate’erthoube!”

Heanswer’d:

“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWas

næppe

scarcelyfirm.

AtRomemylifewaspast

Under

BeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.

AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.

Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?

whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”

“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”

Iwithfrontabash’d

svarede

replied.

“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!

MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthy

bind

volume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.

Mymasterthouandguide!

ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto

berømmelse

fameExaltsme.

Seethebeast,fromwhomI

flygtede

fled.

Osavemefromher,thou

berømte

illustrioussage!

“Foreveryveinand

puls

pulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”

He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.

Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:

Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.

TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.

HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,

Visdom

Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.

InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains

opstå

arise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.

HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlength

Genoprette

Restoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.

Iforthy

fortjeneste

profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadtheehencethroughan

evig

eternalspace,Wherethoushalthear

fortvivlede

despairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;

andthosenextview,who

bor

dwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’

stige

ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:

forthat

Almægtige

AlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.

Heinallpartshathsway;

thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland

trone

throne.

Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”

Itohiminfew:

“Bard!

bythatGod,whomthoudidstnot

tilbeder

adore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”

CANTOII

Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheir

slid

toilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;

andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflictto

opretholde

sustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.

OMuses!

Ohighgenius!

nowvouchsafeYour

hjælp

aid!

Omind!

thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAnd

fremtrædende

eminentendowmentscometoproof.

Ithusbegan:

“Bard!

thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if

dyd

virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishigh

virksomhed

enterpriseThoutrustme.

ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.

Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,

Almægtige

Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissue

frem

forth,Itseemsinreason’s

dom

judgmentwelldeserv’d:

SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyreal

højde

heightwaschosensire:

Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchair

efterfølger

succeeds.

Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.

Inafter-timesThechosen

skib

vesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusback

sikkerhed

assuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.

ButI,whyshouldIthere

antage

presume?

orwhoPermitsit?

notAeneasInorPaul.

MyselfIdeemnot

værd

worthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.

I,ifonthis

rejse

voyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.

Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”

Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst

hensigt

intentRemov’d;

e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSo

ivrigt

eagerlyembrac’d.

“IfrightthywordsIscan,”

svarede

repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblest

beslutning

resolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.

Thatfromthis

rædsel

terrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsame

øjeblik

instant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.

Iwasamongthetribe,Whorest

suspenderet

suspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;

hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;

andshewith

blid

gentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:

“Ocourteous

skygge

shadeofMantua!

thouwhose

berømmelse

fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!

Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.

NowmuchI

frygter

dreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.

Speednow,Andbythyeloquent

overbevisende

persuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,

Hjælpe

Assisthim.

Sotomewill

trøst

comfortspring.

Iwhonow

byder

bidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;

fromaplaceIcome.

(Note:

Beatrice.

Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)

Revisitedwithjoy.

Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.

WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy

lovprisning

praisetohimIoftwilltell.”

Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:

“OLady!

bywhose

indflydelse

influencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallest

kugle

orb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thatto

adlyde

obey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.

Noneedhastthou

længere

farthertospeakthywill;

Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis

centrum

centreherebeneath.”

Shethen:

“Sincethousodeeplywouldst

spørge

inquire,Iwillinstructthee

kort

briefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.

ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.

Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!

Thatanysuff’ranceofyour

elendighed

miseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthat

voldsomme

fiercefireAssailsme.

InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who

sørger

mournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’sstern

dom

judgmenttoherwillinclines.”

ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:

“Nowdoththy

trofaste

faithfulservantneedthyaidAndI

anbefaler

commendhimtothee.”

AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall

grusomhed

crueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:

“Thoutrue

lovprisning

praiseofGod!

Beatrice!

whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude

beundrer

admires?

Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrent

oversvømmelse

flood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”

Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,

flygtet

fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”

“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;

whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.

Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:

Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodlymount

Forhindrede

Prevented.

Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?

Why,whydostthouhangback?

whyinthy

bryst

breastHarbourvilefear?

whyhastnotcouragethereAnd

ædel

nobledaring?

SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;

Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”

Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnight

Bøjet

Bentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;

Sowasmy

besvime

faintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuch

venligt

kindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoon

svarede

replied:

“Ofullofpityshe,who

påtog

undertookMysuccour!

andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!

WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto

forny

renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.

Leadon:

oneonlywillisinusboth.

Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”

SospakeI;

CANTOIII

“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:

Throughmeyoupassinto

evig

eternalpain:

Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.

Justicethefounderofmy

stof

fabricmov’d:

Torearmewasthetaskofpower

guddommelige

divine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.

Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethings

Evige

Eternal,andeternalIendure.

“Allhope

forlader

abandonyewhoenterhere.”

Suchcharactersin

farve

colourdimImark’dOveraportal’slofty

bue

archinscrib’d:

WhereatIthus:

“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”

Heasoneprepar’d

svarede

replied:

“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;

Herebevilefearextinguish’d.

WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo

elendighed

miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”

Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.

Here

sukker

sighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.

Forskellige

Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.

Ithen,with

fejl

erroryetencompass’d,cried:

“Omaster!

WhatisthisIhear?

WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”

Hethustome:

“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutor

ros

praiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonor

oprørske

rebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.

FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northedepthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursed

stamme

tribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”

Ithen:

“Master!

whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”

Hestraight

svarede

replied:

“ThatwillItellthee

kort

briefly.

TheseofdeathNohopemay

underholde

entertain:

andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey

misunder

envy.

Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;

mercyandjusticescornthemboth.

Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”

AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,behelda

flag

flag,Whichwhirlingranaroundso

hurtigt

rapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:

andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.

WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobasefear

Gav

Yielding,abjur’dhishighestate.

ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.

Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.

Thenlooking

længere

fartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:

WhereatIthus:

“Sir!

grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSo

ivrige efter

eagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”

Hethustomeinfew:

“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”

Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywords

krænkende

offensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.

Andlo!

mod

towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.

Crying,“Woetoyou

onde

wickedspirits!

hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.

IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,thereto

dwellInfierceheatandinice.

Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!

gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”

ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythis

passage

passage;

theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”

Thentohimthusspakemyguide:

“Charon!

thyselftormentnot:

so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:

askthounomore.”

Select Store

Scan with Camera