The Divine Comedy Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

CANTOI

Inthemidwayofthisour

sterfelijke

mortallife,Ifoundmeina

somber

gloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:

ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how

robuust

robustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismay

Vernieuwt

Renews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.

Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.

HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwith

angst

dread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshoulders

brede

broadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’s

straal

beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.

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

Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwith

zwoegen

toiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAt

blik

gaze;

e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwith

terreur

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

vermoeide

wearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonely

steile

steep,.

Thehinderfootstillfirmer.

ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!

panter

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

thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.

Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLove

goddelijke

divinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:

sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthat

snelle

swiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.

Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew

vrees

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

Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.

Ashe-wolfWasathis

hielen

heels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.

ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,Thatofthe

hoogte

heightallhopeIlost.

Asone,Whowithhis

winst

gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardly

Rouwt

Mournswithheart-gripinganguish;

suchwasI,

Achtervolgd

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

WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.

WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”

criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!

orlivingman!

whate’erthoube!”

Heanswer’d:

“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWas

nauwelijks

scarcelyfirm.

AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.

AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whenthe

vlammen

flamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.

Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?

whereforenotthis

aangename

pleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”

“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”

Iwithfrontabash’d

antwoordde

replied.

“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!

MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.

Mymasterthouandguide!

ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto

roem

fameExaltsme.

Seethebeast,fromwhomI

gevlucht

fled.

Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!

“Forevery

ader

veinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”

He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavage

wildernis

wilderness.

Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:

Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.

Tomanyananimalinwedlock

vile

vileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.

HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,

Wijsheid

Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.

InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains

ontstaan

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

HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thenceby

afgunst

envyfirstletloose.

Iforthy

winst

profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadthee

vandaar

hencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;

andthosenextview,who

wonen

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

opstijgen

ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenI

vertrek

depart,Thoushaltbeleft:

forthat

Almachtige

AlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,a

opstandige

rebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.

Heinallpartshathsway;

thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland

troon

throne.

Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”

Itohiminfew:

“Bard!

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

CANTOII

Nowwastheday

vertrekken

departing,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;

andIalonePrepar’dmyselfthe

conflict

conflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.

OMuses!

Ohighgenius!

nowvouchsafeYour

hulp

aid!

Omind!

thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAnd

eminente

eminentendowmentscometoproof.

Ithusbegan:

“Bard!

thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if

deugd

virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishigh

onderneming

enterpriseThoutrustme.

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

Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,

Almachtige

Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’s

oordeel

judgmentwelldeserv’d:

SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyreal

hoogte

heightwaschosensire:

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

slaagt

succeeds.

Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapal

mantel

robe.

Inafter-timesThechosen

schip

vesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusback

zekerheid

assuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.

ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?

orwhoPermitsit?

notAeneasInorPaul.

MyselfIdeemnot

waardig

worthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.

I,ifonthis

reis

voyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.

Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”

Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst

bedoeling

intentRemov’d;

e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmy

onderneming

enterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.

“IfrightthywordsIscan,”

antwoordde

repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisby

verachtelijke

vilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblest

resolutie

resolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthe

schemering

twilightgloom.

Thatfromthis

verschrikking

terrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenforthee

Verdriet

Grieftouch’dmefirst.

Iwasamongthe

stam

tribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;

hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;

andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:

“Ocourteous

schaduw

shadeofMantua!

thouwhose

roem

fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!

Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.

NowmuchI

vrees

dreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhis

opluchting

relief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.

Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,

Helpen

Assisthim.

Sotomewill

troosten

comfortspring.

Iwhonowbidtheeonthis

boodschap

errandforthAmBeatrice;

fromaplaceIcome.

(Note:

Beatrice.

Iusethisword,asitis

uitgesproken

pronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)

Revisitedwithjoy.

Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.

WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy

lof

praisetohimIoftwilltell.”

Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:

“OLady!

bywhoseinfluencealone,

Mensheid

Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallest

bol

orb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thatto

gehoorzamen

obey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.

Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;

Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis

centrum

centreherebeneath.”

Shethen:

“Sincethousodeeplywouldst

vragen

inquire,Iwillinstructthee

kort

briefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.

ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.

Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!

Thatanysuff’ranceofyour

ellende

miseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthat

felle

fiercefireAssailsme.

InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who

treurt

mournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’sstern

oordeel

judgmenttoherwillinclines.”

ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:

“Nowdoththyfaithful

dienaar

servantneedthyaidAndI

beveel

commendhimtothee.”

AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall

wreedheid

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

“Thoutrue

lof

praiseofGod!

Beatrice!

whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude

bewondert

admires?

Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”

Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,

gevlucht

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

“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;

whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.

Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:

Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodly

berg

mountPrevented.

Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?

Why,whydostthouhangback?

whyinthy

borst

breastHarbourvilefear?

whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?

SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;

Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”

Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnight

Gebogen

Bentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;

Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoon

antwoordde

replied:

“Ofullofpityshe,who

ondernam

undertookMysuccour!

andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!

WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto

vernieuwen

renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.

Leadon:

oneonlywillisinusboth.

Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”

SospakeI;

CANTOIII

“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:

Throughmeyoupassinto

eeuwige

eternalpain:

Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.

Justicethe

oprichter

founderofmyfabricmov’d:

Torearmewasthetaskofpower

goddelijke

divine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.

Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalI

verdraag

endure.

“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”

Suchcharactersin

kleuren

colourdimImark’dOveraportal’slofty

boog

archinscrib’d:

WhereatIthus:

“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”

Heasoneprepar’d

antwoordde

replied:

“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;

Herebe

verachtelijke

vilefearextinguish’d.

WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo

ellende

miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”

Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,with

aangename

pleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.

HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.

Verschillende

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

Ithen,with

fout

erroryetencompass’d,cried:

“Omaster!

WhatisthisIhear?

WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”

Hethustome:

“ThismiserablefateSufferthe

ellendige

wretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutor

lof

praiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.

FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northe

diepte

depthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursed

stam

tribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”

Ithen:

“Master!

whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”

Hestraight

antwoordde

replied:

“ThatwillItellthee

kort

briefly.

TheseofdeathNohopemay

vermaken

entertain:

andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey

benijden

envy.

Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;

mercyandjusticescornthemboth.

Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”

AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,

zag

beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundso

snel

rapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:

andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.

WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewthe

schaduw

shadeofhim,whotobasefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.

ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthe

stam

tribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.

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

ThenlookingfartheronwardsI

zag

beheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:

WhereatIthus:

“Sir!

grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSo

enthousiast

eagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”

Hethustomeinfew:

“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”

Thenwitheyes

naar beneden

downwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.

Andlo!

naar

towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.

Crying,“Woetoyou

boze

wickedspirits!

hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.

IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Into

eeuwige

eternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandinice.

Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!

gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”

Butsoonashe

zag

beheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythis

doorgang

passage;

theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”

Thentohimthusspakemyguide:

“Charon!

thyselftormentnot:

so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:

askthounomore.”

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