The Divine Comedy | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

The Divine Comedy | Progressive Translation Books for Italian A2 Students

This progressive translation technique brings multiple benefits to language learners. It lets you choose the difficulty level that matches your abilities, making sure the material is challenging but not too difficult. By focusing on understanding words in context, this method boosts your comprehension skills. While direct translations are slightly hidden to promote guessing from context, you can always check unfamiliar words. This approach makes learning a new language both engaging and accessible, offering the right mix of difficulty and encouragement. Embark on a journey through translated classics and enjoy the process of learning through reading.

CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.
Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’s
piede
foot
Ireach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.
Thenwasalittlerespitetothe
paura
fear
,Thatinmyheart’srecesses
profondo
deep
hadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,with
difficile
difficult
shortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfrom
mare
sea
toshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;
e’ensomy
spirito
spirit
,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwithterror,turn’dtoviewthestraits,That
nessuno
none
hathpass’dandliv’d.
MywearyframeAfter
breve
short
pauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.
Thehinder
piede
foot
stillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckled
pelle
skin
,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,
piuttosto
rather
stroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;
thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthe
sole
sun
ascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:
sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegay
pelle
skin
Ofthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.
Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,wheninviewAlioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
Shewithsuch
paura
fear
O’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfellbeast,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethe
sole
sun
insilencerests.
Whiletothelower
spazio
space
withbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dthe
forma
form
oneofone,Whose
voce
voice
seem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.
WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,And
nato
born
ofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.
AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmy
canzone
song
,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetuneful
treno
train
!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouandguide!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforits
bellezza
beauty
intofameExaltsme.
Seethebeast,fromwhomIfled.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffer
nessuno
none
Topass,andno
meno
less
hindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharp
dolore
pain
.
Hewillnotlife
sosterrà
support
Byearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.
InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splainsarise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,virginpure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.
HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.
Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWill
condurrò
lead
theehencethroughaneternal
spazio
space
,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;
andthosenextview,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,a
spirito
spirit
worthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhose
carico
charge
,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:
forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscity
nessuno
none
throughmeshouldcome.
Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthisillandworseImay
sfuggire
escape)
toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’sgatemayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”
CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothof
triste
sad
pity,andthatperilous
strada
road
,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.
OMuses!
Ohighgenius!
nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawritten
registro
record
,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithus
cominciai
began
:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensible
presente
present
.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoetoill,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigheffect,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,It
sembra
seems
inreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:
SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwas
scelto
chosen
sire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dforthe
santo
holy
place,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.
Hefromthisjourney,inthy
canzone
song
renown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.
Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthat
fede
faith
,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasI
nor
Paul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,
temo
fear
itwillinfollyend.
Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,
Sprecando
Wasting
inthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.
“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thy
anima
soul
isbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.
Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwasamongthetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughthertocommand,Call’dme;
hereyeswerebrighterthanthe
stella
star
Ofday;
andshewithgentle
voce
voice
andsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:
“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thouwhosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongas
natura
nature
lasts!
Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,Onthewidedesertinhis
strada
road
hasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethrough
paura
fear
hasturn’d.
NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,Fromwhatin
cielo
heaven
ofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewillcomfortspring.
IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthe
terza
third
isalongone.)
Revisitedwithjoy.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthus
iniziato
began
:
“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthat
cielo
heaven
whichhaththesmallestorb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,would
sembrerebbe
seem
late.
Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatample
spazio
space
,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethousodeeplywouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whence
male
evil
mayproceed,Noneelse,for
nessuna
none
areterriblebeside.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,
nor
flameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.
Inhigh
cielo
heaven
ablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”
ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?
Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,
Nor
markthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthana
mare
sea
,himstrugglingholds?”
Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommyblessedseat,trustingthe
forza
force
Ofthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”
“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearway
attraversare
across
thegoodlymountPrevented.
Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvile
paura
fear
?
whyhastnotcouragethereAndnobledaring?
SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthe
corte
court
ofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullofpityshe,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!
WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyou
passate
pass
intothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyou
passerai
pass
intoeternalpain:
Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.
Justicethefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthetaskofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.
“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”
SuchcharactersincolourdimImark’dOveraportal’sloftyarchinscrib’d:
WhereatIthus:
“Master,thesewordsimportHardmeaning.”
Heasoneprepar’dreplied:
“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;
Herebevile
paura
fear
extinguish’d.
WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTomiserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”
Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothat
segreto
secret
placeheledmeon.
HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbyno
stella
star
,Thate’enIweptatentering.
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.
Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
What
razza
race
Arethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseor
colpa
blame
,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,who
nor
rebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.
Fromhisbounds
Cielo
Heaven
drovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,
nor
thedepthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”
Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanly
passa
passes
,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhath
nessuno
none
,Norsuffers;
mercyandjusticescornthemboth.
Speaknotofthem,butlook,and
passa
pass
themby.”
AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,beheldaflag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:
andfollowingcameSuchalong
treno
train
ofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.
WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobase
paura
fear
Yielding,abjur’dhishighestate.
ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dthey
sembrano
seem
Soeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwith
vergogna
shame
,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dthe
fiume
river
,IfromspeechAbstain’d.
Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseethe
cielo
sky
again.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandin
ghiaccio
ice
.
Andthou,whothereStandest,live
spirito
spirit
!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;
theeanimbler
barca
boat
Mustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemyguide:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”