The Divine Comedy Gradually Hardening Italian B2 Books

CANTOI

Inthemidwayofthisour

mortale

mortallife,Ifoundmeina

cupo

gloomywood,astrayGonefromthepathdirect:

ande’entotellItwerenoeasytask,howsavagewildThatforest,howrobustandroughits

crescita

growth,Whichtorememberonly,mydismay

Rinnova

Renews,inbitternessnotfarfromdeath.

Yettodiscourseofwhattheregoodbefell,AllelsewillI

racconterò

relatediscover’dthere.

HowfirstIenter’ditIscarcecansay,Suchsleepydullnessinthatinstantweigh’dMysensesdown,whenthetruepathIleft,Butwhenamountain’sfootIreach’d,whereclos’dThevalley,thathadpierc’dmyheartwithdread,Ilook’daloft,andsawhisshouldersbroadAlreadyvestedwiththatplanet’s

raggio

beam,Wholeadsallwandererssafethrougheveryway.

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

Andasaman,withdifficultshortbreath,Forespentwithtoiling,’scap’dfromseatoshore,Turnstotheperilouswidewaste,andstandsAtgaze;

e’ensomyspirit,thatyetfail’dStrugglingwith

terrore

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

stanco

wearyframeAftershortpauserecomforted,againIjourney’donoverthatlonelysteep,.

Thehinderfootstillfirmer.

ScarcetheascentBegan,when,lo!

pantera

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

thatofttimesWithpurposetoretracemystepsIturn’d.

Thehourwasmorning’sprime,andonhiswayAloftthesun

salì

ascendedwiththosestars,Thatwithhimrose,whenLove

divino

divinefirstmov’dThoseitsfairworks:

sothatwith

gioiosa

joyoushopeAllthingsconspir’dtofillme,thegayskinOfthatswiftanimal,thematindawnAndthesweetseason.

Soonthatjoywaschas’d,Andbynew

terrore

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

Withhisheadheldaloftandhunger-mad,Thate’entheairwasfear-struck.

Ashe-wolfWasathisheels,whoinherleannessseem’dFullofallwants,andmanyalandhathmadeDisconsolateerenow.

ShewithsuchfearO’erwhelmedme,atthesightofherappall’d,ThatoftheheightallhopeIlost.

Asone,Whowithhis

guadagno

gainelated,seesthetimeWhenallunwaresisgone,heinwardlyMournswithheart-griping

angoscia

anguish;

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

WhiletothelowerspacewithbackwardstepIfell,mykendiscern’dtheformoneofone,Whosevoiceseem’d

svenire

faintthroughlongdisuseofspeech.

WhenhiminthatgreatdesertIespied,“Havemercyonme!”

criedIout

ad alta voce

aloud,“Spirit!

orlivingman!

whate’erthoube!”

Heanswer’d:

“Nownotman,manonceIwas,AndbornofLombardparents,MantuanabothBycountry,whenthepowerofJuliusyetWasscarcelyfirm.

AtRomemylifewaspast

Sotto

BeneaththemildAugustus,inthetimeOffableddeitiesandfalse.

AbardWasI,andmadeAnchises’uprightsonThesubjectofmysong,whocamefromTroy,Whenthe

fiamme

flamesprey’donIlium’shaughtytowers.

Butthou,saywhereforetosuchperilspastReturn’stthou?

whereforenotthis

piacevole

pleasantmountAscendest,causeandsourceofalldelight?”

“AndartthouthenthatVirgil,thatwell-spring,FromwhichsuchcopiousfloodsofeloquenceHaveissued?”

Iwithfrontabash’dreplied.

“Gloryandlightofallthetunefultrain!

MayitavailmethatIlongwithzealHavesoughtthy

volume

volume,andwithloveimmenseHaveconn’dito’er.

Mymasterthouandguide!

ThouhefromwhomaloneIhavederiv’dThatstyle,whichforitsbeautyinto

fama

fameExaltsme.

Seethebeast,fromwhomI

fuggito

fled.

Osavemefromher,thou

illustre

illustrioussage!

“Foreveryveinand

polso

pulsethroughoutmyframeShehathmadetremble.”

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

deserto

wilderness.

Thisbeast,Atwhomthoucriest,herwaywillsuffernoneTopass,andnolesshindrancemakesthandeath:

Sobadandsoaccursedinherkind,Thatneversatedisherravenouswill,Stillafterfoodmorecravingthanbefore.

Tomanyananimalinwedlock

vile

vileShefastens,andshallyettomanymore,Untilthatgreyhoundcome,whoshalldestroyHerwithsharppain.

HewillnotlifesupportByearthnoritsbasemetals,butbylove,

Saggezza

Wisdom,andvirtue,andhislandshallbeTheland’twixteitherFeltro.

InhismightShallsafetytoItalia’splains

sorgerà

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

HewithincessantchasethrougheverytownShallworry,untilhetohellatlength

Ripristinerà

Restoreher,thencebyenvyfirstletloose.

Iforthy

profitto

profitpond’ringnowdevise,Thatthoumaystfollowme,andIthyguideWillleadthee

da qui

hencethroughaneternalspace,Wherethoushaltheardespairingshrieks,andseeSpiritsofoldtormented,whoinvokeAseconddeath;

andthosenextview,who

dimorano

dwellContentinfire,forthattheyhopetocome,Whene’erthetimemaybe,amongtheblest,IntowhoseregionsifthouthendesireT’ascend,aspiritworthierthanIMustleadthee,inwhosecharge,whenIdepart,Thoushaltbeleft:

forthat

Onnipotente

AlmightyKing,Whoreignsabove,a

ribelle

rebeltohislaw,Adjudgesme,andthereforehathdecreed,Thattohiscitynonethroughmeshouldcome.

Heinallpartshathsway;

thererules,thereholdsHiscitadeland

trono

throne.

Ohappythose,Whomtherehechooses!”

Itohiminfew:

“Bard!

bythatGod,whomthoudidstnot

adoravi

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

CANTOII

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

andIalonePrepar’dmyselfthe

conflitto

conflicttosustain,Bothofsadpity,andthatperilousroad,Whichmyunerringmemoryshallretrace.

OMuses!

Ohighgenius!

nowvouchsafeYour

aiuto

aid!

Omind!

thatallIsawhastkeptSafeinawrittenrecord,herethyworthAndeminentendowmentscometoproof.

Ithusbegan:

“Bard!

thouwhoartmyguide,Considerwell,if

virtù

virtuebeinmeSufficient,eretothishigh

impresa

enterpriseThoutrustme.

ThouhasttoldthatSilvius’sire,Yetcloth’dincorruptibleflesh,amongTh’immortaltribeshadentrance,andwasthere

Sensibile

Sensiblepresent.

Yetifheaven’sgreatLord,

Onnipotente

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

giudizio

judgmentwelldeserv’d:

SithheofRome,andofRome’sempirewide,Inheaven’sempyrealheightwaschosensire:

Bothwhich,iftruthbespoken,wereordain’dAnd’stablish’dfortheholyplace,wheresitsWhotogreatPeter’ssacredchairsucceeds.

Hefromthisjourney,inthysongrenown’d,Learn’dthings,thattohisvictorygaveriseAndtothepapalrobe.

Inafter-timesThechosenvesselalsotravel’dthere,Tobringusbackassuranceinthatfaith,Whichistheentrancetosalvation’sway.

ButI,whyshouldIthere

presumere

presume?

orwhoPermitsit?

notAeneasInorPaul.

MyselfIdeemnotworthy,andnoneelseWilldeemme.

I,ifonthis

viaggio

voyagethenIventure,fearitwillinfollyend.

Thou,whoartwise,bettermymeaningknow’st,ThanIcanspeak.”

Asone,whounresolvesWhathehathlateresolv’d,andwithnewthoughtsChangeshispurpose,fromhisfirst

intento

intentRemov’d;

e’ensuchwasIonthatduncoast,Wastinginthoughtmy

impresa

enterprise,atfirstSoeagerlyembrac’d.

“IfrightthywordsIscan,”repliedthatshademagnanimous,“Thysoulisby

vile

vilefearassail’d,whichoftSoovercastsaman,thatherecoilsFromnoblest

risoluzione

resolution,likeabeastAtsomefalsesemblanceinthetwilightgloom.

Thatfromthis

terrore

terrorthoumaystfreethyself,IwillinstructtheewhyIcame,andwhatIheardinthatsame

istante

instant,whenfortheeGrieftouch’dmefirst.

Iwasamongthe

tribù

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

hereyeswerebrighterthanthestarOfday;

andshewith

dolce

gentlevoiceandsoftAngelicallytun’dherspeechaddress’d:

“Ocourteous

ombra

shadeofMantua!

thouwhose

fama

fameYetlives,andshalllivelongasnaturelasts!

Afriend,notofmyfortunebutmyself,OnthewidedesertinhisroadhasmetHindrancesogreat,thathethroughfearhasturn’d.

NowmuchI

temo

dreadlesthepasthelphavestray’d,AndIberis’ntoolateforhis

sollievo

relief,FromwhatinheavenofhimIheard.

Speednow,Andbythyeloquentpersuasivetongue,Andbyallmeansforhisdeliverancemeet,Assisthim.

Sotomewill

conforto

comfortspring.

IwhonowbidtheeonthiserrandforthAmBeatrice;

fromaplaceIcome.

(Note:

Beatrice.

Iusethisword,asitis

pronuncia

pronouncedintheItalian,asconsistingoffoursyllables,ofwhichthethirdisalongone.)

Revisitedwithjoy.

Lovebroughtmethence,Whopromptsmyspeech.

WheninmyMaster’ssightIstand,thy

lode

praisetohimIoftwilltell.”

Shethenwassilent,andIthusbegan:

“OLady!

bywhose

influenza

influencealone,Mankindexcelswhateveriscontain’dWithinthatheavenwhichhaththesmallest

sfera

orb,Sothycommanddelightsme,thatto

obbedire

obey,Ifitweredonealready,wouldseemlate.

Noneedhastthoufarthertospeakthywill;

Yettellthereason,whythouartnotlothToleavethatamplespace,wheretoreturnThouburnest,forthis

centro

centreherebeneath.”

Shethen:

“Sincethousodeeplywouldstinquire,Iwill

istruirò

instructtheebriefly,whynodreadHindersmyentrancehere.

ThosethingsaloneAretobefear’d,whenceevilmay

procedere

proceed,Noneelse,fornoneareterriblebeside.

Iamsofram’dbyGod,thankstohisgrace!

Thatanysuff’ranceofyour

miseria

miseryTouchesmenot,norflameofthat

feroce

fiercefireAssailsme.

InhighheavenablesseddameBesides,whomournswithsucheffectual

dolore

griefThathindrance,whichIsendtheetoremove,ThatGod’s

severo

sternjudgmenttoherwillinclines.”

ToLuciacalling,hershethusbespake:

“Nowdoththy

fedele

faithfulservantneedthyaidAndI

raccomando

commendhimtothee.”

AtherwordSpedLucia,ofall

crudeltà

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

“Thoutrue

lode

praiseofGod!

Beatrice!

whyisnotthysuccourlentTohim,whosomuchlov’dthee,astoleaveForthysakeallthemultitude

ammira

admires?

Dostthounothearhow

pietoso

pitifulhiswail,Normarkthedeath,whichinthetorrentflood,Swolnmightierthanasea,himstrugglingholds?”

Ne’eramongmendidanywithsuchspeedHastetotheir

profitto

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

“Whenshehadended,herbrightbeamingeyesTearfulsheturn’daside;

whereatIfeltRedoubledzealtoservethee.

Asshewill’d,ThusamIcome:

Isav’dtheefromthebeast,Whothynearwayacrossthegoodly

monte

mountPrevented.

Whatisthiscomeso’ertheethen?

Why,whydostthouhangback?

whyinthy

petto

breastHarbourvilefear?

whyhastnotcouragethereAnd

nobile

nobledaring?

SincethreemaidssoblestThysafetyplan,e’eninthecourtofheaven;

Andsomuchcertaingoodmywordsforebode.”

Asflorets,bythefrostyairofnightBentdownandclos’d,whendayhasblanch’dtheirleaves,Riseallunfoldedontheirspirystems;

Sowasmy

svenuto

faintingvigournewrestor’d,Andtomyheartsuchkindlycourageran,ThatIasoneundauntedsoonreplied:

“Ofullofpityshe,who

intrapreso

undertookMysuccour!

andthoukindwhodidstperformSosoonhertruebehest!

WithsuchdesireThouhastdispos’dmeto

rinnovare

renewmyvoyage,Thatmyfirstpurposefullyisresum’d.

Leadon:

oneonlywillisinusboth.

Thouartmyguide,mymasterthou,andlord.”

SospakeI;

CANTOIII

“Throughmeyoupassintothecityof

dolore

woe:

Throughmeyoupassinto

eterno

eternalpain:

Throughmeamongthepeoplelostforaye.

Justicethe

fondatore

founderofmyfabricmov’d:

Torearmewasthetaskofpower

divino

divine,Supremestwisdom,andprimevallove.

Beforemethingscreatewerenone,savethingsEternal,andeternalI

sopporto

endure.

“Allhopeabandonyewhoenterhere.”

Suchcharactersin

colore

colourdimImark’dOveraportal’slofty

arco

archinscrib’d:

WhereatIthus:

“Master,thesewords

importano

importHardmeaning.”

Heasoneprepar’dreplied:

“Herethoumustalldistrustbehindtheeleave;

Herebe

vile

vilefearextinguish’d.

WearecomeWhereIhavetoldtheeweshallseethesoulsTo

miseria

miserydoom’d,whointellectualgoodHavelost.”

Andwhenhishandhehadstretch’dforthTomine,withpleasantlooks,whenceIwascheer’d,Intothatsecretplaceheledmeon.

HeresighswithlamentationsandloudmoansResoundedthroughtheairpierc’dbynostar,Thate’enIweptatentering.

Varioustongues,Horriblelanguages,outcriesof

guai

woe,Accentsofanger,voicesdeepandhoarse,Withhandstogethersmotethatswell’dthesounds,Madeupatumult,thatforeverwhirlsRoundthroughthatairwithsoliddarknessstain’d,Liketothesandthatinthewhirlwindflies.

Ithen,with

errore

erroryetencompass’d,cried:

“Omaster!

WhatisthisIhear?

WhatraceArethese,whoseemsoovercomewithwoe?”

Hethustome:

“ThismiserablefateSufferthewretchedsoulsofthose,wholiv’dWithoutor

lode

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

FromhisboundsHeavendrovethemforth,Nottoimpairhislustre,northe

profondità

depthOfHellreceivesthem,lestth’accursed

tribù

tribeShouldglorythencewithexultationvain.”

Ithen:

“Master!

whatdothaggrievethemthus,Thattheylamentsoloud?”

Hestraightreplied:

“ThatwillItellthee

brevemente

briefly.

TheseofdeathNohopemay

intrattenere

entertain:

andtheirblindlifeSomeanlypasses,thatallotherlotsThey

invidiano

envy.

Fameofthemtheworldhathnone,Norsuffers;

mercyandjustice

disprezzano

scornthemboth.

Speaknotofthem,butlook,andpassthemby.”

AndI,whostraightwaylook’d,behelda

bandiera

flag,Whichwhirlingranaroundsorapidly,Thatitnopauseobtain’d:

andfollowingcameSuchalongtrainofspirits,Ishouldne’erHavethought,thatdeathsomanyhaddespoil’d.

WhensomeoftheseIrecogniz’d,IsawAndknewtheshadeofhim,whotobasefearYielding,abjur’dhishighestate.

ForthwithIunderstoodforcertainthisthe

tribù

tribeOfthoseillspiritsbothtoGoddispleasingAndtohisfoes.

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

Thenlooking

più

fartheronwardsIbeheldAthrongupontheshoreofagreat

ruscello

stream:

WhereatIthus:

“Sir!

grantmenowtoknowWhomhereweview,andwhenceimpell’dtheyseemSoeagertopasso’er,asIdiscernThroughtheblearlight?”

Hethustomeinfew:

“Thisshaltthouknow,soonasourstepsarriveBesidethewoeful

marea

tideofAcheron.”

Thenwitheyes

verso il basso

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

Andlo!

verso

towardusinabarkComesonanoldmanhoarywhitewitheld,.

Crying,“Woetoyouwickedspirits!

hopenotEvertoseetheskyagain.

IcomeTotakeyoutotheothershoreacross,Intoeternaldarkness,thereto

dimorerai

dwellInfierceheatandinice.

Andthou,whothereStandest,livespirit!

gettheehence,andleaveThesewhoaredead.”

ButsoonashebeheldIleftthemnot,“Byotherway,”saidhe,“Byotherhavenshaltthoucometoshore,Notbythispassage;

theeanimblerboatMustcarry.”

Thentohimthusspakemyguide:

“Charon!

thyselftormentnot:

so’tiswill’d,Wherewillandpowerareone:

askthounomore.”

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