The Divine Comedy | Gradually Hardening Italian B1 Books

The Divine Comedy | Gradually Hardening Italian B1 Books

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CANTOI
Inthemidwayofthisourmortallife,Ifoundmeinagloomywood,astrayGonefromthe
sentiero
path
direct:
ande’entotellItwerenoeasy
compito
task
,howsavagewildThat
foresta
forest
,howrobustandroughitsgrowth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismayRenews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.
Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillIrelatediscover’dthere.
HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThe
valle
valley
,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’sbeam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.
Thenwasalittlerespitetothefear,Thatinmyheart’srecessesdeephadlain,Allofthatnight,sopitifullypass’d:
Andasaman,withdifficultshort
fiato
breath
,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseato
riva
shore
,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;
e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’d
Lottare
Struggling
withterror,turn’dto
vedere
view
thestraits,Thatnonehathpass’dandliv’d.
MywearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.
Thehinderfootstillfirmer.
ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!
apanther,nimble,light,Andcover’dwithaspeckledskin,appear’d,Nor,whenitsawme,vanish’d,ratherstroveTocheckmyonwardgoing;
thatofttimesWith
scopo
purpose
toretracemystepsIturn’d.
Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesunascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLovedivinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:
sothatwithjoyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweet
stagione
season
.
Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynewdreadsucceeded,whenin
vista
view
Alioncame,’gainstme,asitappear’d,.
Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.
Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.
ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthe
vista
sight
ofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.
Asone,Whowithhisgainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-gripinganguish;
suchwasI,Hauntedbythatfell
bestia
beast
,neveratpeace,Whocomingo’eragainstme,bydegreesImpell’dmewherethesunin
silenzio
silence
rests.
WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’dfaintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.
Whenhiminthatgreat
deserto
desert
Iespied,“Havemercyonme!”
criedIoutaloud,“Spirit!
orlivingman!
whate’erthoube!”
Heanswer’d:
“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.
AtRomemylifewaspastBeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.
AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThe
soggetto
subject
ofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whentheflamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.
Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?
whereforenotthispleasantmountAscendest,causeand
fonte
source
ofalldelight?”
“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”
Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.
“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!
MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHave
cercato
sought
thyvolume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.
Mymasterthouand
guida
guide
!
ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThat
stile
style
,whichforitsbeautyintofameExaltsme.
Seethe
bestia
beast
,fromwhomIfled.
Osavemefromher,thouillustrioussage!
“ForeveryveinandpulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”
He,soonashesawThatIwasweeping,answer’d,“ThoumustneedsAnotherwaypursue,ifthouwouldst’scapeFromoutthatsavagewilderness.
This
bestia
beast
,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywill
soffrirà
suffer
noneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:
Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.
TomanyananimalinwedlockvileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshall
distruggerà
destroy
Herwithsharppain.
HewillnotlifesupportByearthnorits
base
base
metals,butbylove,Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.
InhismightShall
sicurezza
safety
toItalia’splainsarise,Forwhosefairrealm,Camilla,
vergine
virgin
pure,Nisus,Euryalus,andTurnusfell.
Hewithincessant
inseguimento
chase
througheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlengthRestoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.
Iforthyprofitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthy
guida
guide
Willleadtheehencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;
andthosenext
vista
view
,whodwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,
tra
among
theblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:
forthatAlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,arebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,and
perciò
therefore
hathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.
Heinallpartshathsway;
thererules,thereholdsHiscitadelandthrone.
Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”
Itohiminfew:
“Bard!
bythatGod,whomthoudidstnotadore,Idobeseechthee(thatthis
male
ill
andworseImayescape)toleadme,wherethousaidst,ThatISaintPeter’s
porta
gate
mayview,andthoseWhoasthoutell’st,areinsuchdismalplight.”
CANTOII
Nowwasthedaydeparting,andtheair,Imbrown’dwithshadows,fromtheirtoilsreleas’dAllanimalsonearth;
andIalonePrepar’dmyselftheconflicttosustain,Bothofsad
pietà
pity
,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.
OMuses!
Ohigh
genio
genius
!
nowvouchsafeYouraid!
Omind!
thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.
Ithusbegan:
“Bard!
thouwhoartmy
guida
guide
,Considerwell,ifvirtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishighenterpriseThoutrustme.
ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptible
carne
flesh
,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthereSensiblepresent.
Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,Almightyfoeto
male
ill
,suchfavourshew’d,Incontemplationofthehigh
effetto
effect
,Bothwhatandwhofromhimshouldissueforth,Itseemsinreason’sjudgmentwelldeserv’d:
SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:
Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacred
sedia
chair
succeeds.
Hefromthis
viaggio
journey
,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohis
vittoria
victory
gaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.
Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.
ButI,whyshouldItherepresume?
orwhoPermitsit?
notAeneasInorPaul.
MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.
I,ifonthisvoyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.
Thou,whoart
saggio
wise
,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”
Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshis
scopo
purpose
,fromhisfirstintentRemov’d;
e’ensuchwasIonthatdun
costa
coast
,Wastinginthoughtmyenterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.
“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisbyvilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblestresolution,likea
bestia
beast
Atsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.
Thatfromthisterrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsameinstant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.
Iwas
tra
among
thetribe,Whorestsuspended,whenadame,soblestAndlovely,Ibesoughtherto
comandare
command
,Call’dme;
hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;
andshewithgentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dher
discorso
speech
address’d:
“OcourteousshadeofMantua!
thouwhosefameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!
Afriend,notofmy
fortuna
fortune
butmyself,Onthewide
deserto
desert
inhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.
NowmuchIdreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhisrelief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.
Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasive
lingua
tongue
,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.
Sotomewillcomfort
primavera
spring
.
IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;
fromaplaceIcome.
(Note:
Beatrice.
Iusethisword,asitispronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)
Revisitedwith
gioia
joy
.
Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmy
discorso
speech
.
WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thypraisetohimIoftwilltell.”
Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:
“OLady!
bywhoseinfluencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallestorb,Sothy
comando
command
delightsme,thattoobey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.
Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;
Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthiscentreherebeneath.”
Shethen:
“Sincethouso
profondamente
deeply
wouldstinquire,Iwillinstructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmy
ingresso
entrance
here.
ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmayproceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterrible
accanto
beside
.
Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohis
grazia
grace
!
Thatanysuff’ranceofyourmiseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthatfiercefireAssailsme.
InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectualgriefThathindrance,whichIsendtheeto
rimuovere
remove
,ThatGod’ssternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”
ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:
“NowdoththyfaithfulservantneedthyaidAndIcommendhimtothee.”
AtherwordSpedLucia,ofallcrueltythefoe,Andcomingtotheplace,whereIabodeSeatedwithRachel,herofancientdays,Shethusaddress’dme:
“ThoutruepraiseofGod!
Beatrice!
whyisnotthysuccour
prestato
lent
Tohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitudeadmires?
Dostthounothearhowpitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,him
lotta
struggling
holds?”
Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuch
velocità
speed
Hastetotheirprofit,fleefromtheirannoy,Aswhenthesewordswerespoken,Icamehere,Downfrommy
benedetto
blessed
seat,trustingtheforceOfthypureeloquence,whichthee,andallWhowellhavemark’dit,intohonourbrings.”
“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’d
da parte
aside
;
whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.
Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:
Isav’dtheefromthe
bestia
beast
,WhothynearwayacrossthegoodlymountPrevented.
Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?
Why,whydostthouhangback?
whyinthybreastHarbourvilefear?
whyhastnot
coraggio
courage
thereAndnobledaring?
Sincethreemaidsso
benedetto
blest
Thysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;
Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”
Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;
Sowasmyfaintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindly
coraggio
courage
ran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:
“Ofullof
pietà
pity
she,whoundertookMysuccour!
andthoukindwhodidst
eseguito
perform
Sosoonhertruebehest!
Withsuch
desiderio
desire
Thouhastdispos’dmetorenewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirst
scopo
purpose
fullyisresum’d.
Leadon:
oneonlywillisinusboth.
Thouartmy
guida
guide
,mymasterthou,andlord.”
SospakeI;
CANTOIII
“Throughmeyoupassintothecityofwoe:
Throughmeyoupassintoeternalpain:
Throughme
tra
among
thepeoplelostforaye.
Giustizia
Justice
thefounderofmyfabricmov’d:
Torearmewasthe
compito
task
ofpowerdivine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.
Beforemethings
create
create
werenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalIendure.
“Allhopeabandonyewho
entrate
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
entrando
entering
.
Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesofwoe,Accentsof
rabbia
anger
,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsolid
oscurità
darkness
stain’d,Liketothe
sabbia
sand
thatinthewhirlwindflies.
Ithen,witherroryetencompass’d,cried:
“Omaster!
WhatisthisIhear?
WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”
Hethustome:
“Thismiserable
destino
fate
Sufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutorpraiseorblame,withthatillbandOfangelsmix’d,whonorrebelliousprov’dNoryetweretruetoGod,butforthemselvesWereonly.
FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northedepthOfHell
riceve
receives
them,lestth’accursedtribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”
Ithen:
“Master!
whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”
Hestraightreplied:
“ThatwillItelltheebriefly.
TheseofdeathNohopemayentertain:
andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsTheyenvy.
Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Nor
soffre
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’dhishigh
tenuta
estate
.
ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthetribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.
Thesewretches,whone’erlived,Wentoninnakedness,andsorelystungBywaspsandhornets,whichbedew’dtheircheeksWithblood,thatmix’dwithtearsdropp’dtotheirfeet,Andbydisgustfulwormswasgather’dthere.
ThenlookingfartheronwardsIbeheldAthronguponthe
riva
shore
ofagreatstream:
WhereatIthus:
“Sir!
grantmenowtoknowWhomherewe
vediamo
view
,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”
Hethustomeinfew:
“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasoursteps
arriveranno
arrive
BesidethewoefultideofAcheron.”
Thenwitheyesdownwardcastandfill’dwithshame,Fearingmywordsoffensivetohisear,Tillwehadreach’dtheriver,IfromspeechAbstain’d.
Andlo!
towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.
Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!
hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.
IcomeTotakeyoutotheother
riva
shore
across,Intoeternaldarkness,theretodwellInfierceheatandinice.
Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!
gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”
ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometo
riva
shore
,Notbythispassage;
theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”
Thentohimthusspakemy
guida
guide
:
“Charon!
thyselftormentnot:
so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:
askthounomore.”