The Divine Comedy | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

The Divine Comedy | Progressively Translated Dutch A2 Books

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CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavage
wild
wild
Thatforest,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.
Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’s
voet
foot
Ireach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Who
leidt
leads
allwandererssafethrougheveryway.
Thenwasalittlerespitetothe
angst
fear
,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficult
korte
short
breath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfrom
zee
sea
toshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;
e’ensomy
geest
spirit
,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwithterror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,That
niemand
none
hathpass’dandliv’d.
MywearyframeAfter
korte
short
pauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
Scarcetheascent
Begon
Began
,when,lo!
apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckled
huid
skin
,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,
eerder
rather
stroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;
thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthe
zon
sun
ascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:
sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegay
huid
skin
Ofthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.
Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanya
land
land
hathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
Shewithsuch
angst
fear
O’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neverat
vrede
peace
,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethe
zon
sun
insilencerests.
Whiletothelowerspacewithbackward
stap
step
Ifell,mykendiscern’dthe
vorm
form
oneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.
WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,And
geboren
born
ofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.
AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmy
lied
song
,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetuneful
trein
train
!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforits
schoonheid
beauty
intofameExaltsme.
Seethebeast,fromwhomIfled.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTo
passeren
pass
,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
Tomanyan
dier
animal
inwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharp
pijn
pain
.
HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhis
land
land
shallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.
InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splainsarise,For
wiens
whose
fairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.
HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.
Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWill
leiden
lead
theehencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;
andthosenextview,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,Into
wiens
whose
regionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,a
geest
spirit
worthierthanIMust
leiden
lead
thee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:
forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreigns
boven
above
,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscity
niemand
none
throughmeshouldcome.
Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”
CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilous
weg
road
,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.
OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithus
begon
began
:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensible
aanwezig
present
.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,It
lijkt
seems
inreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:
SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwas
gekozen
chosen
sire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.
Hefromthisjourney,inthy
lied
song
renown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.
Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthat
geloof
faith
,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasI
noch
nor
Paul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,and
niemand
none
elseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,
vrees
fear
itwillinfollyend.
Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.
“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thy
ziel
soul
isbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.
Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwasamongthetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;
hereyeswerebrighterthanthe
ster
star
Ofday;
andshewithgentle
stem
voice
andsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:
“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thou
wiens
whose
fameYetlives,andshalllivelongas
natuur
nature
lasts!
Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,Onthewidedesertinhis
weg
road
hasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethrough
angst
fear
hasturn’d.
NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,Fromwhatin
hemel
heaven
ofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewillcomfortspring.
IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthe
derde
third
isalongone.)
Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthus
begon
began
:
“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthat
hemel
heaven
whichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,would
lijken
seem
late.
Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whence
kwaad
evil
mayproceed,Noneelse,for
geen
none
areterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,
noch
nor
flameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.
Inhigh
hemel
heaven
ablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”
ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?
Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,
Noch
Nor
markthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthana
zee
sea
,himstrugglingholds?”
Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessed
stoel
seat
,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”
“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearway
over
across
thegoodlymountPrevented.
Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvile
angst
fear
?
whyhastnotcouragethereAndnoble
durf
daring
?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthe
hof
court
ofheaven;
Andsomuch
zeker
certain
goodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullofpityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassintoeternal
pijn
pain
:
Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthetaskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewere
niets
none
,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.
“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevile
angst
fear
extinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothat
geheime
secret
placeheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbyno
ster
star
,Thate’enIweptatentering.
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voices
diep
deep
andhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirls
Rond
Round
throughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.
Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
What
ras
race
Arethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseor
verwijt
blame
,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,who
noch
nor
rebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.
Fromhisbounds
Hemel
Heaven
drovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,
noch
nor
thedepthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”
Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhath
geen
none
,Norsuffers;
mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobase
vrees
fear
Yielding,abjur’dhishighestate.
ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheir
voeten
feet
,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dthey
lijken
seem
Soeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwith
schaamte
shame
,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dthe
rivier
river
,IfromspeechAbstain’d.
Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Huilend
Crying
,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseethe
hemel
sky
again.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandin
ijs
ice
.
Andthou,whothereStandest,live
geest
spirit
!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;
theeanimbler
boot
boat
Mustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”