The Divine Comedy | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

The Divine Comedy | Gradually Hardening Dutch B2 Translation Books

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CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisour
sterfelijke
mortal
life,Ifoundmeina
somber
gloomy
wood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,how
robuust
robust
androughitsgrowth,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
broad
Alreadyvestedwiththatplanet’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.
My
vermoeide
weary
frameAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonely
steile
steep,
.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
a
panter
panther
,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;
thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLove
goddelijke
divine
firstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:
sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthat
snelle
swift
animal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.
Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew
vrees
dread
succeeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathis
hielen
heels
,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,Thatofthe
hoogte
height
allhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhis
winst
gain
elated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardly
Rouwt
Mourns
withheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,
Achtervolgd
Haunted
bythatfellbeast,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
scarcely
firm.
AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whenthe
vlammen
flames
prey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthis
aangename
pleasant
mountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’d
antwoordde
replied
.
“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto
roem
fame
Exaltsme.
Seethebeast,fromwhomI
gevlucht
fled
.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“Forevery
ader
vein
andpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavage
wildernis
wilderness
.
Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
Tomanyananimalinwedlock
vile
vile
Shefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.
HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,
Wijsheid
Wisdom
,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.
InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains
ontstaan
arise
,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.
HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thenceby
afgunst
envy
firstletloose.
Iforthy
winst
profit
pond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadthee
vandaar
hence
throughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;
andthosenextview,who
wonen
dwell
Contentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’
opstijgen
ascend
,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenI
vertrek
depart
,Thoushaltbeleft:
forthat
Almachtige
Almighty
King,Whoreignsabove,a
opstandige
rebel
tohislaw,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
conflict
tosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.
OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYour
hulp
aid
!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAnd
eminente
eminent
endowmentscometoproof.
Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if
deugd
virtue
beinmeSufficient,eretothishigh
onderneming
enterprise
Thoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,
Almachtige
Almighty
foetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’s
oordeel
judgment
welldeserv’d:
SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyreal
hoogte
height
waschosensire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchair
slaagt
succeeds
.
Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapal
mantel
robe
.
Inafter-timesThechosen
schip
vessel
alsotravel’dthere,Tobringusback
zekerheid
assurance
inthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnot
waardig
worthy
,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthis
reis
voyage
thenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.
Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst
bedoeling
intent
Remov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmy
onderneming
enterprise
,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.
“IfrightthywordsIscan,”
antwoordde
replied
thatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisby
verachtelijke
vile
fearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblest
resolutie
resolution
,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthe
schemering
twilight
gloom.
Thatfromthis
verschrikking
terror
thoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenforthee
Verdriet
Grief
touch’dmefirst.
Iwasamongthe
stam
tribe
,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;
hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:
“Ocourteous
schaduw
shade
ofMantua!
thouwhose
roem
fame
Yetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!
Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchI
vrees
dread
lesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhis
opluchting
relief
,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,
Helpen
Assist
him.
Sotomewill
troosten
comfort
spring.
Iwhonowbidtheeonthis
boodschap
errand
forthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitis
uitgesproken
pronounced
intheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)
Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy
lof
praise
tohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,
Mensheid
Mankind
excelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallest
bol
orb
,Sothycommanddelightsme,thatto
gehoorzamen
obey
,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.
Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis
centrum
centre
herebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldst
vragen
inquire
,Iwillinstructthee
kort
briefly
,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyour
ellende
misery
Touchesmenot,norflameofthat
felle
fierce
fireAssailsme.
InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,who
treurt
mourns
withsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’sstern
oordeel
judgment
toherwillinclines.”
ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“Nowdoththyfaithful
dienaar
servant
needthyaidAndI
beveel
commend
himtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall
wreedheid
cruelty
thefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“Thoutrue
lof
praise
ofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude
bewondert
admires
?
Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”
Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,
gevlucht
flee
fromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”
“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodly
berg
mount
Prevented.
Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthy
borst
breast
Harbourvilefear?
whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnight
Gebogen
Bent
downandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoon
antwoordde
replied
:
“Ofullofpityshe,who
ondernam
undertook
Mysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto
vernieuwen
renew
myvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassinto
eeuwige
eternal
pain:
Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethe
oprichter
founder
ofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthetaskofpower
goddelijke
divine
,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalI
verdraag
endure
.
“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
Suchcharactersin
kleuren
colour
dimImark’dOveraportal’slofty
boog
arch
inscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’d
antwoordde
replied
:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebe
verachtelijke
vile
fearextinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo
ellende
misery
doom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,with
aangename
pleasant
looks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.
Verschillende
Various
tongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.
Ithen,with
fout
error
yetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthe
ellendige
wretched
soulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutor
lof
praise
orblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.
FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northe
diepte
depth
OfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursed
stam
tribe
Shouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”
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
beheld
aflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundso
snel
rapidly
,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewthe
schaduw
shade
ofhim,whotobasefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.
ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthe
stam
tribe
OfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsI
zag
beheld
Athrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSo
enthousiast
eager
topasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyes
naar beneden
downward
castandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.
Andlo!
naar
toward
usinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyou
boze
wicked
spirits!
hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Into
eeuwige
eternal
darkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandinice.
Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
Butsoonashe
zag
beheld
Ileftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythis
doorgang
passage
;
theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”