| PURGATORIO CANTO 10 |
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PURGATORIO CANTO 10 |
| Poi fummo dentro al soglio de la porta |
10.1 |
I |
When I had crossed the threshold of the gate |
| che 'l mal amor de l'anime disusa, |
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that—since the soul’s aberrant love would make |
| perché fa parer dritta la via torta, |
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the crooked way seem straight—is seldom used, |
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| sonando la senti' esser richiusa; |
10.4 |
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I heard the gate resound and, hearing, knew |
| e s'io avesse li occhi vòlti ad essa, |
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that it had shut; and if I’d turned toward it, |
| qual fora stata al fallo degna scusa? |
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how could my fault have found a fit excuse? |
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| Noi salavam per una pietra fessa, |
10.7 |
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Our upward pathway ran between cracked rocks; |
| che si moveva e d'una e d'altra parte, |
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they seemed to sway in one, then the other part, |
| sì come l'onda che fugge e s'appressa. |
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just like a wave that flees, then doubles back. |
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| "Qui si conviene usare un poco d'arte," |
10.10 |
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“Here we shall need some ingenuity,” |
| cominciò 'l duca mio, "in accostarsi |
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my guide warned me, “as both of us draw near |
| or quinci, or quindi al lato che si parte." |
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this side or that side where the rock wall veers.” |
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| E questo fece i nostri passi scarsi, |
10.13 |
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This made our steps so slow and hesitant |
| tanto che pria lo scemo de la luna |
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that the declining moon had reached its bed |
| rigiunse al letto suo per ricorcarsi, |
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to sink back into rest, before we had |
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| che noi fossimo fuor di quella cruna; |
10.16 |
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made our way through that needle’s eye; but when |
| ma quando fummo liberi e aperti |
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we were released from it, in open space |
| sù dove il monte in dietro si rauna, |
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above, a place at which the slope retreats, |
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| ïo stancato e amendue incerti |
10.19 |
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I was exhausted; with the two of us |
| di nostra via, restammo in su un piano |
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uncertain of our way, we halted on |
| solingo più che strade per diserti. |
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a plateau lonelier than desert paths. |
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| Da la sua sponda, ove confina il vano, |
10.22 |
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The distance from its edge, which rims the void, |
| al piè de l'alta ripa che pur sale, |
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in to the base of the steep slope, which climbs |
| misurrebbe in tre volte un corpo umano; |
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and climbs, would measure three times one man’s body; |
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| e quanto l'occhio mio potea trar d'ale, |
10.25 |
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and for as far as my sight took its flight, |
| or dal sinistro e or dal destro fianco, |
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now to the left, now to the right-hand side, |
| questa cornice mi parea cotale. |
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that terrace seemed to me equally wide. |
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| Là sù non eran mossi i piè nostri anco, |
10.28 |
I |
There we had yet to let our feet advance |
| quand' io conobbi quella ripa intorno |
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when I discovered that the bordering bank— |
| che dritto di salita aveva manco, |
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less sheer than banks of other terraces— |
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| esser di marmo candido e addorno |
10.31 |
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was of white marble and adorned with carvings |
| d'intagli sì, che non pur Policleto,
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PE |
so accurate—not only Polycletus |
| ma la natura lì avrebbe scorno. |
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but even Nature, there, would feel defeated. |
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L'angel che venne in terra col decreto
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10.34 |
C |
The angel who reached earth with the decree |
| de la molt' anni lagrimata pace,
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of that peace which, for many years, had been |
| ch'aperse il ciel del suo lungo divieto,
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invoked with tears, the peace that opened Heaven |
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dinanzi a noi pareva sì verace
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10.37 |
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after long interdict, appeared before us, |
| quivi intagliato in un atto soave, |
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his gracious action carved with such precision— |
| che non sembiava imagine che tace. |
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he did not seem to be a silent image. |
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| Giurato si saria ch'el dicesse "Ave!"; |
10.40 |
I |
One would have sworn that he was saying, “Ave”; |
| perché iv' era imaginata quella |
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PE |
for in that scene there was the effigy |
| ch'ad aprir l'alto amor volse la chiave;
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of one who turned the key that had unlocked |
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| e avea in atto impressa esta favella |
10.43 |
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the highest love; and in her stance there were |
| "Ecce ancilla Deï," propriamente
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PE |
impressed these words, “Ecce ancilla Dei,” |
| come figura in cera si suggella. |
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precisely like a figure stamped in wax. |
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| "Non tener pur ad un loco la mente," |
10.46 |
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“Your mind must not attend to just one part,” |
| disse 'l dolce maestro, che m'avea |
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the gentle master said—he had me on |
| da quella parte onde 'l cuore ha la gente. |
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the side of him where people have their heart. |
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| Per ch'i' mi mossi col viso, e vedea |
10.49 |
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At this, I turned my face and saw beyond |
| di retro da Maria, da quella costa |
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PE |
the form of Mary—on the side where stood |
| onde m'era colui che mi movea,
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the one who guided me—another story |
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| un'altra storia ne la roccia imposta; |
10.52 |
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engraved upon the rock; therefore I moved |
| per ch'io varcai Virgilio, e fe'mi presso,
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PE |
past Virgil and drew close to it, so that |
| acciò che fosse a li occhi miei disposta. |
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the scene before my eyes was more distinct. |
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| Era intagliato lì nel marmo stesso |
10.55 |
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There, carved in that same marble, were the cart |
| lo carro e ' buoi, traendo l'arca santa, |
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and oxen as they drew the sacred ark, |
| per che si teme officio non commesso. |
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which makes men now fear tasks not in their charge. |
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| Dinanzi parea gente; e tutta quanta, |
10.58 |
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People were shown in front; and all that group, |
| partita in sette cori, a' due mie' sensi |
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divided into seven choirs, made |
| faceva dir l'un "No," l'altro "Sì, canta." |
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two of my senses speak—one sense said, “No,” |
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| Similemente al fummo de li 'ncensi |
10.61 |
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the other said, “Yes, they do sing”; just so, |
| che v'era imaginato, li occhi e 'l naso |
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about the incense smoke shown there, my nose |
| e al sì e al no discordi fensi. |
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and eyes contended, too, with yes and no. |
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| Lì precedeva al benedetto vaso, |
10.64 |
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And there the humble psalmist went before |
| trescando alzato, l'umile salmista, |
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PE |
the sacred vessel, dancing, lifting up |
| e più e men che re era in quel caso.
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his robe—he was both less and more than king. |
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| Di contra, effigïata ad una vista |
10.67 |
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Facing that scene, and shown as at the window |
| d'un gran palazzo, Micòl ammirava |
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PE |
of a great palace, Michal watched as would |
| sì come donna dispettosa e trista.
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a woman full of scorn and suffering. |
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| I' mossi i piè del loco dov' io stava, |
10.70 |
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To look more closely at another carving, |
| per avvisar da presso un'altra istoria, |
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which I saw gleaming white beyond Michal, |
| che di dietro a Micòl mi biancheggiava.
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PE |
my feet moved past the point where I had stood. |
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| Quiv' era storïata l'alta gloria |
10.73 |
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And there the noble action of a Roman |
| del roman principato, il cui valore
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PE |
prince was presented—he whose worth had urged |
| mosse Gregorio a la sua gran vittoria;
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PE |
on Gregory to his great victory— |
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| i' dico di Traiano imperadore;
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10.76 |
IPE |
I mean the Emperor Trajan; and a poor |
| e una vedovella li era al freno,
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PE |
widow was near his bridle, and she stood |
| di lagrime atteggiata e di dolore. |
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even as one in tears and sadness would. |
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| Intorno a lui parea calcato e pieno |
10.79 |
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Around him, horsemen seemed to press and crowd; |
| di cavalieri, e l'aguglie ne l'oro |
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above their heads, on golden banners, eagles |
| sovr' essi in vista al vento si movieno. |
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were represented, moving in the wind. |
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| La miserella intra tutti costoro
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10.82 |
PE |
Among that crowd, the miserable woman |
| pareva dir: "Segnor, fammi vendetta |
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seemed to be saying: “Lord, avenge me for |
| di mio figliuol ch'è morto, ond' io m'accoro"; |
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the slaying of my son—my heart is broken.” |
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| ed elli a lei rispondere: "Or aspetta |
10.85 |
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And he was answering: “Wait now until |
| tanto ch'i' torni"; e quella: "Segnor mio," |
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I have returned.” And she, as one in whom |
| come persona in cui dolor s'affretta,
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PE |
grief presses urgently: “And, lord, if you |
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| "se tu non torni?"; ed ei: "Chi fia dov' io, |
10.88 |
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do not return?” And he: “The one who’ll be |
| la ti farà"; ed ella: "L'altrui bene |
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in my place will perform it for you.” She: |
| a te che fia, se 'l tuo metti in oblio?"; |
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“What good can others’ goodness do for you |
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| ond' elli: "Or ti conforta; ch'ei convene |
10.91 |
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if you neglect your own?” He: “Be consoled; |
| ch'i' solva il mio dovere anzi ch'i' mova: |
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my duty shall be done before I go: |
| giustizia vuole e pietà mi ritene." |
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so justice asks, so mercy makes me stay.” |
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Colui che mai non vide cosa nova
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10.94 |
D |
This was the speech made visible by One |
| produsse esto visibile parlare,
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within whose sight no thing is new—but we, |
| novello a noi perché qui non si trova. |
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who lack its likeness here, find novelty. |
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| Mentr' io mi dilettava di guardare |
10.97 |
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While I took much delight in witnessing |
| l'imagini di tante umilitadi, |
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these effigies of true humility— |
| e per lo fabbro loro a veder care, |
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dear, too, to see because He was their Maker— |
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| "Ecco di qua, ma fanno i passi radi," |
10.100 |
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the poet murmured: “See the multitude |
| mormorava il poeta, "molte genti: |
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advancing, though with slow steps, on this side: |
| questi ne 'nvïeranno a li alti gradi." |
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they will direct us to the higher stairs.” |
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| Li occhi miei, ch'a mirare eran contenti |
10.103 |
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My eyes, which had been satisfied in seeking |
| per veder novitadi ond' e' son vaghi, |
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new sights—a thing for which they long—did not |
| volgendosi ver' lui non furon lenti. |
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delay in turning toward him. But I would |
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| Non vo' però, lettor, che tu ti smaghi |
10.106 |
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not have you, reader, be deflected from |
| di buon proponimento per udire |
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your good resolve by hearing from me now |
| come Dio vuol che 'l debito si paghi.
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D |
how God would have us pay the debt we owe. |
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| Non attender la forma del martìre: |
10.109 |
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Don’t dwell upon the form of punishment: |
| pensa la succession; pensa ch'al peggio |
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consider what comes after that; at worst |
| oltre la gran sentenza non può ire. |
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it cannot last beyond the final Judgment. |
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| Io cominciai: "Maestro, quel ch'io veggio |
10.112 |
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“Master,” I said, “what I see moving toward us |
| muovere a noi, non mi sembian persone, |
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does not appear to me like people, but |
| e non so che, sì nel veder vaneggio." |
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I can’t tell what is there—my sight’s bewildered.” |
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| Ed elli a me: "La grave condizione |
10.115 |
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And he to me: “Whatever makes them suffer |
| di lor tormento a terra li rannicchia, |
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their heavy torment bends them to the ground; |
| sì che ' miei occhi pria n'ebber tencione. |
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at first I was unsure of what they were. |
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| Ma guarda fiso là, e disviticchia |
10.118 |
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But look intently there, and let your eyes |
| col viso quel che vien sotto a quei sassi: |
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unravel what’s beneath those stones: you can |
| già scorger puoi come ciascun si picchia." |
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already see what penalty strikes each.” |
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| O superbi cristian, miseri lassi, |
10.121 |
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O Christians, arrogant, exhausted, wretched, |
| che, de la vista de la mente infermi, |
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whose intellects are sick and cannot see, |
| fidanza avete ne' retrosi passi, |
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who place your confidence in backward steps, |
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| non v'accorgete voi che noi siam vermi |
10.124 |
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do you not know that we are worms and born |
| nati a formar l'angelica farfalla, |
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to form the angelic butterfly that soars, |
| che vola a la giustizia sanza schermi? |
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without defenses, to confront His judgment? |
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| Di che l'animo vostro in alto galla, |
10.127 |
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Why does your mind presume to flight when you |
| poi siete quasi antomata in difetto, |
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are still like the imperfect grub, the worm |
| sì come vermo in cui formazion falla? |
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before it has attained its final form? |
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| Come per sostentar solaio o tetto, |
10.130 |
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Just as one sees at times—as corbel for |
| per mensola talvolta una figura |
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support of ceiling or of roof—a figure |
| si vede giugner le ginocchia al petto, |
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with knees drawn up into its chest (and this |
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| la qual fa del non ver vera rancura |
10.133 |
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oppressiveness, unreal, gives rise to real |
| nascere 'n chi la vede; così fatti |
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distress in him who watches it): such was |
| vid' io color, quando puosi ben cura. |
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the state of those I saw when I looked hard. |
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| Vero è che più e meno eran contratti |
10.136 |
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They were indeed bent down—some less, some more— |
| secondo ch'avien più e meno a dosso; |
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according to the weights their backs now bore; |
| e qual più pazïenza avea ne li atti, |
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and even he whose aspect showed most patience, |
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| piangendo parea dicer: "Più non posso." |
10.139 |
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in tears, appeared to say: “I can no more.” |
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