The divine comedy — Page 3

English → It CANTO II Level 9/10

Now much I dread lest he past help have stray'd,

Ora temo assai che egli si sia smarrito oltre ogni soccorso,

And I be ris'n too late for his relief,

E che io mi sia alzata troppo tardi per il suo aiuto,

From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now,

Da ciò che in cielo ho udito di lui. Affrettati ora,

And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue,

E con la tua eloquente e persuasiva lingua,

And by all means for his deliverance meet,

E con ogni mezzo atto alla sua liberazione,

Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.

Assistilo. Così a me verrà conforto.

I who now bid thee on this errand forth

Io che ora ti mando in questa missione

Am Beatrice; from a place I come.

Sono Beatrice; vengo da un luogo.

(Note: Beatrice. I use this word, as it is

(Nota: Beatrice. Uso questa parola così come viene

pronounced in the Italian, as consisting of four

pronunciata in italiano, come composta di quattro

syllables, of which the third is a long one.) Revisited with joy. Love

sillabe, delle quali la terza è lunga.) Rivisitato con gioia. L'amore

brought me thence,

mi ha condotta di là,

Who prompts my speech. When in my Master's sight

Che ispira il mio parlare. Quando al cospetto del mio Signore

I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell."

mi troverò, le tue lodi spesso gli dirò."

She then was silent, and I thus began:

Ella tacque, e io così cominciai:

"O Lady! by whose influence alone,

"O Donna! per la cui influenza soltanto,

Mankind excels whatever is contain'd

L'umanità supera tutto ciò che è contenuto

Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,

In quel cielo che ha l'orbe più piccolo,

So thy command delights me, that to obey,

Tanto il tuo comando mi allieta, che obbedire,

If it were done already, would seem late.

Se già fosse compiuto, sembrerebbe tardi.

No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;

Non hai bisogno di esprimere oltre la tua volontà;

Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth

Eppure dimmi la ragione, perché non ti pesa

To leave that ample space, where to return

Lasciare quel vasto spazio, dove tornare

Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath."

Tanto agogni, per questo centro qui in basso."

She then: "Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,

Ella allora: "Poiché vuoi indagare così a fondo,

I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread

Ti istruirò brevemente, perché nessun timore

Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone

Ostacola il mio ingresso qui. Quelle cose soltanto

Are to be fear'd, whence evil may proceed,

Sono da temersi, da cui può derivare il male,

None else, for none are terrible beside.

Nessun'altra, poiché nessun'altra è temibile oltre a quelle.

I am so fram'd by God, thanks to his grace!

Sono così formata da Dio, grazie alla sua grazia!

Vocabulary

Ora: Now; at this moment in time
temo: I fear; I am afraid of something
assai: Very; quite; a considerable amount
che: That; which; who in relative clauses
egli: He; masculine third person singular pronoun
si: Oneself; reflexive pronoun; himself, herself
sia: May be; subjunctive form of essere
smarrito: Lost; gone astray; bewildered or confused
oltre: Beyond; further; on the other side
ogni: Every; each; all without exception
soccorso: Help; aid; rescue or assistance given
io: I; first person singular pronoun
mi: Me; to me; reflexive pronoun myself
alzata: Risen; feminine past participle of alzare
troppo: Too much; excessively; more than enough
tardi: Late; too late; at an advanced hour
per: For; in order to; by means of
il: The; masculine singular definite article
suo: His; her; its; possessive adjective
aiuto: Help; assistance; aid or support
Da: From; by; at the place of someone
ciò: That; this thing; that which
in: In; into; on; preposition of location
cielo: Heaven; sky; the celestial realm above
ho: I have; present tense first person
udito: Heard; past participle of udire
di: Of; from; belonging to something
lui: Him; masculine third person singular pronoun
Affrettati: Hurry; hasten; move quickly or urgently
con: With; in company of; by means
la: The; feminine singular definite article
tua: Your; feminine singular possessive adjective
eloquente: Eloquent; expressive; fluent and persuasive speech
persuasiva: Persuasive; convincing; compelling in argument
lingua: Tongue; language; means of communication
mezzo: Middle; means; halfway point or method
atto: Act; deed; action or performance
alla: To the; at the; preposition contraction
liberazione: Liberation; freedom; act of being freed
Così: Thus; in this way; so or therefore
me: Me; to me; direct object pronoun
verrà: Will come; future tense third person
conforto: Comfort; consolation; relief from distress
ti: You; to you; second person pronoun
mando: I send; present tense first person
questa: This; feminine singular demonstrative adjective
missione: Mission; task; purpose or assignment
Sono: I am; present tense first person
vengo: I come; present tense first person
luogo: Place; location; site or position
Nota: Note; remark; annotation or observation
Uso: Use; custom; usage or practice
parola: Word; term; unit of spoken language
così: As; thus; in the manner described
come: How; as; in what manner or way
viene: Comes; happens; occurs or takes place
pronunciata: Pronounced; spoken; uttered or articulated
italiano: Italian; of or relating to Italy
composta: Composed; made up of; consisting of
quattro: Four; number between three and five
sillabe: Syllables; units of pronunciation in words
delle: Of the; feminine plural preposition contraction
quali: Which; of which; relative pronoun
terza: Third; feminine form of number three
lunga: Long; extended; feminine singular adjective
gioia: Joy; happiness; great pleasure or delight
amore: Love; affection; deep emotional attachment
ha: Has; he/she has; third person singular
condotta: Led; conducted; guided or directed
là: There; in that place; at location
ispira: Inspires; motivates; fills with idea

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