Outline to Dante Alighieri

La Commedia Dante Alighieri

INFERNO

CANTO IX


Inferno: Canto IX		6th Circle Heretics
Quel color che viltà di fuor mi pinse	That faintheartedness that was painted upon my face
veggendo il duca mio tornare in volta,	seeing my leader return,
più tosto dentro il suo novo ristrinse.	just reinforced his own resolve.

Attento si fermò com’uom ch’ascolta;	He stopped attently as a man who strains to hear;
ché l’occhio nol potea menare a lunga	he couldn't manage to see off in a distance
per l’aere nero e per la nebbia folta.	because of the black air and dense fog.

«Pur a noi converrà vincer la punga»,	"For us it will be better to win the fight,"
cominciò el, «se non... Tal ne s’offerse.	he began, "otherwise…At least such was offered us.
Oh quanto tarda a me ch’altri qui giunga!».	O what a wait it's been for me when will the others join us"!

I’ vidi ben sì com’ei ricoperse	I saw how well he had covered up
lo cominciar con l’altro che poi venne,	when I began with the other, then he came,
che fur parole a le prime diverse;	and his words were different than before;

ma nondimen paura il suo dir dienne,	but nevertheless his speech frightened me,
perch’io traeva la parola tronca	because I found that he cut short his speech
forse a peggior sentenzia che non tenne.	perhaps I was reading more into it.

«In questo fondo de la trista conca	"Into this deep sad conch
discende mai alcun del primo grado,	has anyone from the first circle descended here,
che sol per pena ha la speranza cionca?».	since their only penalty is the loss of hope"?

Questa question fec’io; e quei «Di rado	I asked this question and he replied: "Rarely
incontra», mi rispuose, «che di noi	does one encounter one of us who
faccia il cammino alcun per qual io vado.	has made the journey that I now am upon.

Ver è ch’altra fiata qua giù fui,	To tell the truth I was here another time,
congiurato da quella Eritón cruda	conjured by that witch Erichtho	mythical witch
che richiamava l’ombre a’ corpi sui.	the one who calls the souls to return to their bodies.

Di poco era di me la carne nuda,	It was only a short time for me without flesh and body,
ch’ella mi fece intrar dentr’a quel muro,	that she made me enter within those walls,
per trarne un spirto del cerchio di Giuda.	to get a spirit from the circle of Judas.	(in the 9th Circle)

Quell’è ‘l più basso loco e ‘l più oscuro,	Which is even lower and darker than here,
e ‘l più lontan dal ciel che tutto gira:	and the most distant from heaven which encircles all:
ben so ‘l cammin; però ti fa sicuro.	so I know the way very well; however I just want to reassure you.

Questa palude che ‘l gran puzzo spira	This marsh which issues the mighty stink
cigne dintorno la città dolente,	completely encircles the painful city
u’ non potemo intrare omai sanz’ira».	where we can't enter without a fight."

E altro disse, ma non l’ho a mente;	And he said more, but I can't remember;
però che l’occhio m’avea tutto tratto	however, my eyes were totally concentrated
ver’ l’alta torre a la cima rovente,	toward the high tower the top of which blazed,

dove in un punto furon dritte ratto	where in one spot suddenly upright were
tre furie infernal di sangue tinte,	three infernal furies tinted with blood,
che membra feminine avieno e atto,	with the mannerism and appearance of women,

e con idre verdissime eran cinte;	and were girded with dark-dark green hydras;
serpentelli e ceraste avien per crine,	for hair they had serpents and vipers,
onde le fiere tempie erano avvinte.	wrapped around their fiery heads.

E quei, che ben conobbe le meschine	And he, who knew them well, the servants
de la regina de l’etterno pianto,	of the queen of eternal tears, said:
Guarda, mi disse, «le feroci Erine.	"Look at those ferocious Erynnis.

Quest’è Megera dal sinistro canto;	The one on the left is Megaera;
quella che piange dal destro è Aletto;	the one crying on the right is Alecto;
Tesifón nel mezzo»; e tacque a tanto.	Tesiphone is in between"; and he was then silent.

Con l’unghie si fendea ciascuna il petto;	With their nails they each clawed their chests;
battiensi a palme, e gridavan sì alto,	beating with their palms, and yelling so loudly,
ch’i’ mi strinsi al poeta per sospetto.	that I grabbed at the poet out of fear.

«Vegna Medusa: sì ‘l farem di smalto»,	"Let Medusa come: we'll turn him into stone,"
dicevan tutte riguardando in giuso;	they said together looking downward;
mal non vengiammo in Teseo l’assalto».	we avenged the assault of Theseus so poorly."

«Volgiti ‘n dietro e tien lo viso chiuso;	"Turn around and don't look;
ché se ‘l Gorgón si mostra e tu ‘l vedessi,	for if the Gorgon shows herself and you see her,
nulla sarebbe di tornar mai suso».	you'd never be able to return."

Così disse ‘l maestro; ed elli stessi	So said the teacher; and he himself
mi volse, e non si tenne a le mie mani,	turned me, and not even using my own hands,
che con le sue ancor non mi chiudessi.	covered my eyes with his own.

O voi ch’avete li ‘ntelletti sani,	O all you of sound intellect,
mirate la dottrina che s’asconde	look closely at the doctrine that hides
sotto l velame de li versi strani.	under a veil of strange verses.

E già venia su per le torbide onde	Suddenly there arose from the turbid waves
un fracasso d’un suon, pien di spavento,	a fracas of sound, full of fear,
per cui tremavano amendue le sponde,	for which both shores trembled,

non altrimenti fatto che d’un vento	produced by none other than an impetuous wind
impetuoso per li avversi ardori,	from the adverse forces,
che fier la selva e sanz’alcun rattento	which attacks the forest without any restraint

li rami schianta, abbatte e porta fori;	scatters branches, beats, and carries away;
dinanzi polveroso va superbo,	in front a driving sand storm,
e fa fuggir le fiere e li pastori.	and it make the wild beasts and shepherds flee.

i occhi mi sciolse e disse: «Or drizza il nerbo	He uncovered my eyes and said: "Now fix
del viso su per quella schiuma antica	your eyes on that ancient foam
per indi ove quel fummo è più acerbo».	over there where the smoke is most rank."

Come le rane innanzi a la nimica	Just as frogs before their serpent enemy
biscia per l’acqua si dileguan tutte,	all scatter through the water,
fin cha la terra ciascuna s’abbica,	until each settles itself on the bottom,

vid’io più di mille anime distrutte	I saw more that a thousand destroyed spirits
fuggir così dinanzi ad un ch’al passo	flee before one who walked upon
passava Stige con le piante asciutte.	the Styx without getting his feet wet.	Styx=the swampy river encircling
		city of Dis
Dal volto rimovea quell’aere grasso,	His presence parted the heavy air,
menando la sinistra innanzi spesso;	often waving up in front his left hand;
e sol di quell’angoscia parea lasso.	and only because of that anguish did he appear tired.

Ben m’accorsi ch’elli era da ciel messo,	I was certain that he was sent from heaven,
e volsimi al maestro; e quei fé segno	and I turned toward the master; and he made a sign
ch’i’ stessi queto ed inchinassi ad esso.	that I myself remain silent and bowed before him.

Ahi quanto mi parea pien di disdegno!	O, how he appeared full of disdain!
Venne a la porta, e con una verghetta	He came to the gate, and with a scepter
l’aperse, che non v’ebbe alcun ritegno.	opened it, without any resistance.

«O cacciati del ciel, gente dispetta»,	"O outcasts of heaven, despicable people",
cominciò elli in su l’orribil soglia,	he began while at the horrible threshold,
ond’esta oltracotanza in voi s’alletta?	"where do you get such nerve?

Perché recalcitrate a quella voglia	Why are you so recalcitrant against that will
a cui non puote il fin mai esser mozzo,	which in the end you're unable to ever move,
e che più volte v’ha cresciuta doglia?	and that many times has grown painfully against you?

Che giova ne le fata dar di cozzo?	What benefit will you get by blocking fate?
Cerbero vostro, se ben vi ricorda,	Your Cerberus, as you well remember,	Cerberus=chained around the neck &
ne porta ancor pelato il mento e ‘l gozzo».	still wears the scars on his chin and throat."	dragged away by
		Hercules(myth, legend)
Poi si rivolse per la strada lorda,	Then he turned toward the filthy street,	The Styx
e non fé motto a noi, ma fé sembiante	and made no movement at us, but pretended to be
d’omo cui altra cura stringa e morda	a man with other constraining and bitting cares

che quella di colui che li è davante;	just as those who were before him;
e noi movemmo i piedi inver’ la terra,	and we moved off on foot toward the city,	Dis
sicuri appresso le parole sante.	assured now by his sacred words.

Dentro li ‘ntrammo sanz’alcuna guerra;	We entered without a fight;	6th Circle
e io, ch’avea di riguardar disio	and I, who wished to look at
la condizion che tal fortezza serra,	the condition of such an enclosed fortress,

com’io fui dentro, l’occhio intorno invio;	as soon as I was inside, my eyes looked all around;
e veggio ad ogne man grande campagna	and saw on every side great fields
piena di duolo e di tormento rio.	full of pain and evil torment.

Sì come ad Arli, ove Rodano stagna,	Just as at Arles, where the Rhone stagnates,
sì com’a Pola, presso del Carnaro	as at Pola, near Quarnero where
ch’Italia chiude e suoi termini bagna,	Italy closes off and its beaches end,

fanno i sepulcri tutt’il loco varo,	they make a variety sepulchres throughout,
così facevan quivi d’ogne parte,	so they built them here all over,
salvo che ‘l modo v’era più amaro;	except that the style was very bitter;

ché tra gli avelli fiamme erano sparte,	inside every tomb flames were scattered,
per le quali eran sì del tutto accesi,	for which they were full of flames,
che ferro più non chiede verun’arte.	so that even a smith couldn't ask for hotter flaming iron.

Tutti li lor coperchi eran sospesi,	All of the lids were propped open,
e fuor n’uscivan sì duri lamenti,	and out of them came sounds of such harsh laments,
che ben parean di miseri e d’offesi.	that they surely seemed of the miserable and the tormented.

E io: «Maestro, quai son quelle genti	I said: "Master, who are these people
che, seppellite dentro da quell’arche,	that are buried within those arches,
si fan sentir coi sospiri dolenti?».	that can be heard making such painful sighs"?

Ed elli a me: «Qui son li eresiarche	He replied: "Here are the heretics
con lor seguaci, d’ogne setta, e molto	with their followers, of every sect, and many
più che non credi son le tombe carche.	more non believers are entombed here.

Simile qui con simile è sepolto,	Like with like are here interred,
e i monimenti son più e men caldi».	and the monuments are of varying degrees of heat".
E poi ch’a la man destra si fu vòlto,	And then he turned to his right,

passammo tra i martiri e li alti spaldi.	we passed among the martyred and the high walls.

Next Canto

Translated by:
Anthony LaPorta
anthonylaporta@msn.com

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