The Divine Comedy | Progressive French B1 Translation Books

The Divine Comedy | Progressive French B1 Translation Books

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CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomy
bois
wood
,astrayGonefromthepath
direct
direct
:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasy
tâche
task
,howsavagewildThat
forêt
forest
,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.
Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThe
vallée
valley
,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.
Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseato
rivage
shore
,Turnstotheperilous
large
wide
waste,andstandsAtgaze;
e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’d
Luttant
Struggling
withterror,turn’dto
voir
view
thestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.
MywearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthat
solitaire
lonely
steep,.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;
thatofttimesWith
but
purpose
toretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:
sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dto
remplir
fill
me,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweet
saison
season
.
Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,whenin
vue
view
Alioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthe
vue
sight
ofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfell
bête
beast
,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesuninsilencerests.
WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseof
parole
speech
.
Whenhiminthatgreat
désert
desert
Iespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcely
ferme
firm
.
AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThe
sujet
subject
ofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeand
source
source
ofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHave
cherché
sought
thyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouand
guide
guide
!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThat
style
style
,whichforitsbeautyintofameExaltsme.
Seethe
bête
beast
,fromwhomIfled.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
This
bête
beast
,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywill
souffrira
suffer
noneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshall
détruira
destroy
Herwithsharppain.
HewillnotlifesupportByearthnorits
base
base
metals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.
InhismightShall
sécurité
safety
toItalia’splainsarise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,
vierge
virgin
pure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.
HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.
Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthy
guiderai
guide
Willleadtheehencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;
andthosenext
vue
view
,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,
parmi
among
theblest,Intowhoseregionsifthouthen
désires
desire
T’ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:
forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.
Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthis
mal
ill
andworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatI
Saint
Saint
Peter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”
CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsad
pitié
pity
,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.
OMuses!
Ohigh
génie
genius
!
nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometo
preuve
proof
.
Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmy
guide
guide
,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptible
chair
flesh
,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoeto
mal
ill
,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:
SithheofRome,andofRome’sempire
large
wide
,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacred
chaise
chair
succeeds.
Hefromthis
voyage
journey
,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.
Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.
Thou,whoart
sage
wise
,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshis
but
purpose
,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatdun
côte
coast
,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.
“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likea
bête
beast
Atsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.
Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwas
parmi
among
thetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;
hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dher
discours
speech
address’d:
“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thouwhosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!
Afriend,notofmy
fortune
fortune
butmyself,Onthe
large
wide
desertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasive
langue
tongue
,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewillcomfort
printemps
spring
.
IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)
Revisitedwith
joie
joy
.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmy
discours
speech
.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothy
ordre
command
delightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.
Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethouso
profondément
deeply
wouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmy
entrée
entrance
here.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.
InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”
ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccour
prêté
lent
Tohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?
Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,him
lutte
struggling
holds?”
Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommy
béni
blessed
seat,trustingtheforceOfthy
pure
pure
eloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”
“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealto
servir
serve
thee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthe
bête
beast
,WhothynearwayacrossthegoodlymountPrevented.
Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvilefear?
whyhastnot
courage
courage
thereAndnobledaring?
Sincethreemaidsso
bénissent
blest
Thysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindly
courage
courage
ran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullof
pitié
pity
she,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidst
accompli
perform
Sosoonhertruebehest!
Withsuch
désir
desire
Thouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirst
but
purpose
fullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmy
guide
guide
,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassintoeternalpain:
Throughme
parmi
among
thepeoplelostforaye.
Justice
Justice
thefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthe
tâche
task
ofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.
“Allhopeabandonyewho
entrent
enter
here.”
SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevilefearextinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptat
entrant
entering
.
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothe
sable
sand
thatinthewhirlwindflies.
Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“This
misérable
miserable
fateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.
FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northedepthOfHell
reçoivent
receives
them,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”
Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Nor
souffre
suffers
;
mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whoto
base
base
fearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.
ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthose
mauvais
ill
spiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthronguponthe
rivage
shore
ofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomherewe
voyons
view
,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasoursteps
arriveront
arrive
BesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.
Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheother
rive
shore
across,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierce
chaleur
heat
andinice.
Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;
theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemy
guide
guide
:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”