Canto IX canto|nine Canto IX Canto IX Canto IX Canto IX

Quel color che vilta` di fuor mi pinse veggendo il duca mio tornare in volta, piu` tosto dentro il suo novo ristrinse. that|color|which|cowardice|of|outside|to me|it pushed|seeing|the|duke|my|to return|in|turn|more|sooner|inside|the|his|new|he tightened That color which made me faint from outside, seeing my guide return, tightened me more quickly within his new embrace.

Attento si fermo` com’uom ch’ascolta; chè l’occhio nol potea menare a lunga per l’aere nero e per la nebbia folta. attentive|himself|he stopped|as a man|who listens|because|the eye|it not|it could|to lead|to|long|through|the air|black|and|through|the|fog|thick He stopped attentively like a man who listens; for the eye could not lead him far through the black air and the thick fog. «Pur a noi converra` vincer la punga», comincio` el, «se non... Tal ne s’offerse. indeed|to|us|it will be necessary|to win|the|struggle|he began|he|if|not|such|to us|it offered itself "But we must conquer the struggle," he began, "if not... Such was offered to us. Oh quanto tarda a me ch’altri qui giunga!». oh|how|it takes|to|to me|that others|here|they arrive Oh how long it takes for others to arrive here! I' vidi ben si` com’ei ricoperse lo cominciar con l’altro che poi venne, che fur parole a le prime diverse; I|I saw|well|so|how he|he covered|the|beginning|with|the other|that|then|he came|that|they were|words|to|the|first|different I saw well how he covered the beginning with the one who then came, for the words were different at first; ma nondimen paura il suo dir dienne, perch’io traeva la parola tronca forse a peggior sentenzia che non tenne. but|nevertheless|fear|the|his|saying|it gave|because I|I drew|the|word|truncated|perhaps|to|worse|sentence|that|not|he held but nevertheless fear gave his words, for I perhaps cut off the sentence to a worse meaning than he held. «In questo fondo de la trista conca discende mai alcun del primo grado, che sol per pena ha la speranza cionca?». in|this|bottom|of|the|sad|basin|it descends|ever|any|of the|first|level|that|only|for|punishment|it has|the|hope|cut off "In this depth of the sad hollow, does anyone ever descend from the first level, who only has hope cut short by pain?".

Questa question fec’io; e quei «Di rado incontra», mi rispuose, «che di noi faccia il cammino alcun per qual io vado. this|question|I asked|and|those|of|rarely|he/she encounters|to me|he/she answered|that|of|us|he/she makes|the|path|any|for|which|I|I go This question I asked; and he replied, "Rarely does anyone take the path I go." Ver e` ch’altra fiata qua giu` fui, congiurato da quella Eriton cruda che richiamava l’ombre a' corpi sui. true|and|that another|time|here|down|I was|conspired|by|that|Erithon|cruel|that|it called back|the shadows|to the|bodies|their It is true that another time down here I was, conspired against by that cruel Erithon who called the shadows to their bodies. Di poco era di me la carne nuda, ch’ella mi fece intrar dentr’a quel muro, per trarne un spirto del cerchio di Giuda. of|little|it was|of|me|the|flesh|naked|that she|to me|she made|to enter|inside the|that|wall|to|to draw out|a|spirit|of the|circle|of|Judas My naked flesh was little, as she made me enter through that wall, to draw a spirit from the circle of Judas. Quell’e` 'l piu` basso loco e 'l piu` oscuro, e 'l piu` lontan dal ciel che tutto gira: ben so 'l cammin; pero` ti fa sicuro. that is|the|most|low|place|and|the|most|dark|and|the|most|distant|from the|sky|that|everything|it turns|well|I know|the|path|but|to you|it makes|safe That is the lowest place and the darkest, and the farthest from the sky that turns all: I know the way well; therefore it makes you secure. Questa palude che 'l gran puzzo spira cigne dintorno la citta` dolente, u' non potemo intrare omai sanz’ira». this|swamp|that|the|great|stench|it blows|they surround|around|the|city|sorrowful|where|not|we can|to enter|now|without fear This swamp that the great stench breathes surrounds the sorrowful city, where we can no longer enter without anger. E altro disse, ma non l’ho a mente; pero` che l’occhio m’avea tutto tratto ver' l’alta torre a la cima rovente, and|other|he said|but|not|I have|to|mind|however|that|the eye|it had me|all|drawn|towards|the high|tower|to|the|top|burning And he said more, but I do not remember it; for my eye had been completely drawn towards the high tower at the burning top, dove in un punto furon dritte ratto tre furie infernal di sangue tinte, che membra feminine avieno e atto, where|in|a|point|they were|straight|quickly|three|furies|infernal|of|blood|stained|that|limbs|feminine|they had|and|posture where at one point three infernal furies, stained with blood, stood straight, who had feminine limbs and demeanor,

e con idre verdissime eran cinte; serpentelli e ceraste avien per crine, onde le fiere tempie erano avvinte. and|with|hydras|very green|they were|surrounded|little serpents|and|horned|they had|for|hair|where|the|fierce|temples|they were|entwined and were surrounded by very green hydras; little serpents and cerastes were in their hair, from which the fierce temples were entwined.

E quei, che ben conobbe le meschine de la regina de l’etterno pianto, «Guarda», mi disse, «le feroci Erine. and|those|who|well|he knew|the|wretched|of|the|queen|of|the eternal|lament|look|to me|he said|the|fierce|Erinyes And those, who well knew the wretched ones of the queen of eternal lament, "Look," he said to me, "the fierce Erinyes. Quest’e` Megera dal sinistro canto; quella che piange dal destro e` Aletto; Tesifon e` nel mezzo»; e tacque a tanto. this is|Megaera|from the|left|side|that|which|she weeps|from the|right|and|Alecto|Tisiphone|and|in the|middle|and|he was silent|to|such a degree This one is Megaera from the left side; the one who weeps from the right is Alecto; Tisiphone is in the middle"; and he fell silent at such a point. Con l’unghie si fendea ciascuna il petto; battiensi a palme, e gridavan si` alto, ch’i' mi strinsi al poeta per sospetto. with|the nails|themselves|they were splitting|each|the|chest|they were striking|to|palms|and|they were shouting|so|loud|that I|myself|I tightened|to the|poet|for|suspicion Each one was tearing at her chest with her nails; they struck their palms and cried out so loudly that I clung to the poet out of suspicion. «Vegna Medusa: si` 'l farem di smalto», dicevan tutte riguardando in giuso; «mal non vengiammo in Teseo l’assalto». let Medusa come|Medusa|so|the|we will do|of|enamel|they were saying|all|looking|down|downwards|badly|not|we come|to|Theseus|the assault "Let Medusa come: thus we will make of enamel," they all said, looking down; "we do not come to assault Theseus in vain." «Volgiti 'n dietro e tien lo viso chiuso; chè se 'l Gorgon si mostra e tu 'l vedessi, nulla sarebbe di tornar mai suso». turn yourself|in|behind|and|hold|the|face|closed|because|if|the|Gorgon|himself|he shows|and|you|the|you see|nothing|it would be|to|to return|ever|up "Turn around and keep your face hidden; for if the Gorgon shows itself and you see it, there would be no hope of returning up." Cosi` disse 'l maestro; ed elli stessi mi volse, e non si tenne a le mie mani, che con le sue ancor non mi chiudessi. thus|he said|the|master|and|he|himself|to me|he turned|and|not|himself|he held|to|the|my|hands|that|with|the|his|still|not|to me|I would close Thus said the master; and he himself turned me, and did not hold on to my hands, so that I would not close myself with his. O voi ch’avete li 'ntelletti sani, mirate la dottrina che s’asconde sotto 'l velame de li versi strani. O|you|that you have|the|intellects|healthy|look|the|doctrine|that|it hides|under|the|veil|of|the|verses|strange O you who have sound intellects, consider the doctrine that is hidden beneath the veil of strange verses. E gia` venia su per le torbide onde un fracasso d’un suon, pien di spavento, per cui tremavano amendue le sponde, and|already|it was coming|up|through|the|murky|waves|a|crash|of a|sound|full|of|fear|for|which|they trembled|both|the|shores And already there was coming up through the murky waves a crash of sound, full of terror, for which both banks trembled, non altrimenti fatto che d’un vento impetuoso per li avversi ardori, che fier la selva e sanz’alcun rattento not|otherwise|done|that|of a|wind|impetuous|for|the|adverse|heats|that|fierce|the|forest|and|without any|restraint not otherwise done than by a fierce wind for the opposing heats, which fiercely shakes the forest and without any restraint li rami schianta, abbatte e porta fori; dinanzi polveroso va superbo, e fa fuggir le fiere e li pastori. the|branches|it breaks|it knocks down|and|it carries|outside|in front|dusty|it goes|proud|and|it makes|to flee|the|wild beasts|and|the|shepherds breaks the branches, knocks them down and carries them away; ahead it goes dusty and proud, and makes the wild beasts and the shepherds flee.

Gli occhi mi sciolse e disse: «Or drizza il nerbo del viso su per quella schiuma antica per indi ove quel fummo e` piu` acerbo». the|eyes|to me|he/she loosened|and|he/she said|now|direct|the|sinew|of the|face|up|through|that|foam|ancient|through|then|where|that|smoke|and|more|bitter He loosened my eyes and said: "Now direct the nerve of your face up through that ancient foam from where that smoke is more bitter."

Come le rane innanzi a la nimica biscia per l’acqua si dileguan tutte, fin ch’a la terra ciascuna s’abbica, as|the|frogs|in front|to|the|enemy|snake|through|the water|they|they dissolve|all|until|that to|the|earth|each|they settle As the frogs before the enemy snake dissolve all in the water, until each one sticks to the ground, vid’io piu` di mille anime distrutte fuggir cosi` dinanzi ad un ch’al passo passava Stige con le piante asciutte. I saw|more|than|thousand|souls|destroyed|to flee|thus|in front|to|a|that the|step|it was passing|Styx|with|the|plants|dry I saw more than a thousand destroyed souls fleeing like this before one who was passing through the Stygian marsh with dry plants. Dal volto rimovea quell’aere grasso, menando la sinistra innanzi spesso; e sol di quell’angoscia parea lasso. from the|face|he was removing|that air|thick|leading|the|left|forward|often|and|only|of|that anguish|it seemed|weary He was clearing the thick air from his face, often leading with his left hand; and only from that anguish did he seem weary. Ben m’accorsi ch’elli era da ciel messo, e volsimi al maestro; e quei fè segno ch’i' stessi queto ed inchinassi ad esso. well|I realized|that he|he was|from|heaven|sent|and|he turned to me|to the|master|and|he|he made|sign|that I|I was|quiet|and|I bowed|to|him I realized well that he was sent from heaven, and I turned to my master; and he signaled for me to remain quiet and bow to him. Ahi quanto mi parea pien di disdegno! ah|how|to me|it seemed|full|of|disdain Ah, how full of disdain he seemed to me! Venne a la porta, e con una verghetta l’aperse, che non v’ebbe alcun ritegno. he came|to the||door|and|with|a|small stick|he opened it|that|not|there was|any|restraint He came to the door, and with a little rod he opened it, which had no restraint. «O cacciati del ciel, gente dispetta», comincio` elli in su l’orribil soglia, «ond’esta oltracotanza in voi s’alletta? O|cast out|from the|heaven|people|spiteful|he began|he|in|on|the horrible|threshold|whence this|arrogance|in|you|it allures itself "O cast out of heaven, spiteful people," he began on the horrible threshold, "whence does this arrogance in you arise? Perchè recalcitrate a quella voglia a cui non puote il fin mai esser mozzo, e che piu` volte v’ha cresciuta doglia? why|you kick back|to|that|desire|to which|which|not|it can|the|end|ever|to be|cut off|and|that|more|times|it has to you|grown|pain Why do you resist that desire to which the end can never be cut off, and which has caused you pain many times?" Che giova ne le fata dar di cozzo? what|it is useful|in the|the|fates|to give|of|clash What good does it do to clash against fate? Cerbero vostro, se ben vi ricorda, ne porta ancor pelato il mento e 'l gozzo». Cerberus|your|if|well|you|he remembers|of it|he carries|still|shaved|the|chin|and|the|throat Your Cerberus, if you remember well, still bears a shaved chin and throat. Poi si rivolse per la strada lorda, e non fè motto a noi, ma fè sembiante d’omo cui altra cura stringa e morda then|himself|he turned|through|the|road|dirty|and|not|he made|movement|to|us|but|he made|appearance|of a man|whom|other|care|it tightens|and|it bites Then he turned down the filthy road, and did not speak to us, but made the appearance of a man who is gripped and bitten by another concern. che quella di colui che li e` davante; e noi movemmo i piedi inver' la terra, sicuri appresso le parole sante. that|||||||||||||||||||| And we moved our feet towards the ground, secure after the holy words. Dentro li 'ntrammo sanz’alcuna guerra; e io, ch’avea di riguardar disio la condizion che tal fortezza serra, |||||and||||||||||| We entered without any conflict; and I, who had the desire to regard the condition that such a fortress encloses, com’io fui dentro, l’occhio intorno invio; e veggio ad ogne man grande campagna piena di duolo e di tormento rio. as I|I was|inside|the eye|around|I send|and|I see|to|every|hand|large|countryside|full|of|sorrow|and|of|torment|cruel As I was inside, I sent my eye around; and I see on every side a great plain full of sorrow and cruel torment. Si` come ad Arli, ove Rodano stagna, si` com’a Pola, presso del Carnaro ch’Italia chiude e suoi termini bagna, yes|as|to|Arles|where|Rhône|it stagnates|yes|as to|Pula|near|of the|Kvarner|which Italy|it closes|and|its|borders|it bathes Just as at Arles, where the Rhône stagnates, just as in Pola, near the Quarnaro that closes Italy and bathes its borders, fanno i sepulcri tutt’il loco varo, cosi` facevan quivi d’ogne parte, salvo che 'l modo v’era piu` amaro; they make|the|tombs|all the|place|various|so|they were making|here|of every|part|except|that|the|way|there was|more|bitter the tombs made the whole place varied, so here they did on every side, except that the manner was more bitter; chè tra gli avelli fiamme erano sparte, per le quali eran si` del tutto accesi, che ferro piu` non chiede verun’arte. because|between|the|graves|flames|they were|scattered|through|the|which|they were|so|of the|whole|ignited|that|iron|more|not|it asks|any art for among the graves flames were scattered, through which they were so completely ignited, that iron no longer asks for any art. Tutti li lor coperchi eran sospesi, e fuor n’uscivan si` duri lamenti, che ben parean di miseri e d’offesi. all|the|their|lids|they were|suspended|and|outside|they were coming out|so|hard|laments|that|well|they seemed|of|miserable|and|of offended All their lids were suspended, and from them came such hard laments that they seemed to be from the miserable and offended. E io: «Maestro, quai son quelle genti che, seppellite dentro da quell’arche, si fan sentir coi sospiri dolenti?». and|I|Master|which|they are|those|people|that|buried|inside|by|those coffins|themselves|they make|to hear|with|sighs|painful And I said: "Master, who are those people who, buried inside those coffins, can be heard with their painful sighs?". Ed elli a me: «Qui son li eresiarche con lor seguaci, d’ogne setta, e molto piu` che non credi son le tombe carche. and|he|to|me|here|they are|the|heretics|with|their|followers|of every|sect|and|very|more|than|not|you believe|they are|the|tombs|heavy And he replied to me: "Here are the heretics with their followers, of every sect, and many more than you believe are the laden tombs. Simile qui con simile e` sepolto, e i monimenti son piu` e men caldi». similar|here|with|similar|it is|buried|and|the|monuments|they are|more|and|less|warm Here, like is buried with like, and the monuments are more and less warm." E poi ch’a la man destra si fu volto, and|then|that to the|the|hand|right|himself|he was|turned And then, having turned to the right hand, passammo tra i martiri e li alti spaldi. we passed|between|the|martyrs|and|the|high|walls we passed between the martyrs and the high walls.