The divine comedy — Page 4
thyself torment not: so 't is will'd,
non ti tormentar: così è voluto
Where will and power are one: ask thou no more."
là dove il volere e il potere sono uno: non chiedere altro."
Straightway in silence fell the shaggy cheeks
Subito nel silenzio si acquietarono le ispide guance
Of him the boatman o'er the livid lake,
Di lui, il nocchiero sul livido lago,
Around whose eyes glar'd wheeling flames. Meanwhile
Attorno ai cui occhi fiammeggiavano fuochi rotanti. Nel frattempo
Those spirits, faint and naked, color chang'd,
Quelle anime, sfinite e nude, cambiarono colore,
And gnash'd their teeth, soon as the cruel words
E digrignarono i denti, non appena le crudeli parole
They heard. God and their parents they blasphem'd,
Udirono. Bestemmiarono Dio e i loro genitori,
The human kind, the place, the time, and seed
Il genere umano, il luogo, il tempo e il seme
That did engender them and give them birth.
Che li aveva generati e dato loro la vita.
Then all together sorely wailing drew
Poi tutti insieme, gemendo amaramente, si avvicinarono
To the curs'd strand, that every man must pass
Alla riva maledetta, che ogni uomo deve attraversare
Who fears not God. Charon, demoniac form,
Chi non teme Dio. Caronte, figura demoniaca,
With eyes of burning coal, collects them all,
Con occhi di carbone ardente, li raccoglie tutti,
Beck'ning, and each, that lingers, with his oar
Facendo cenno, e ciascuno che indugia, col suo remo
Strikes. As fall off the light autumnal leaves,
Colpisce. Come cadono le leggere foglie autunnali,
One still another following, till the bough
L'una seguendo l'altra, finché il ramo
Strews all its honours on the earth beneath;
Sparge tutti i suoi ornamenti sulla terra sottostante;
E'en in like manner Adam's evil brood
Allo stesso modo la malvagia stirpe di Adamo
Cast themselves one by one down from the shore,
Si gettò uno ad uno giù dalla riva,
Each at a beck, as falcon at his call.
Ciascuno a un cenno, come il falcone al suo richiamo.
Thus go they over through the umber'd wave,
Così attraversano le onde oscure,
And ever they on the opposing bank
E sempre sulla riva opposta
Be landed, on this side another throng
Approdano, da questo lato un'altra folla
Still gathers. "Son," thus spake the courteous guide,
Si raccoglie ancora. "Figlio," disse così la cortese guida,
"Those, who die subject to the wrath of God,
"Coloro che muoiono soggetti all'ira di Dio,
All here together come from every clime,
Vengono tutti qui insieme da ogni terra,
And to o'erpass the river are not loth:
E non sono riluttanti ad attraversare il fiume:
For so heaven's justice goads them on, that fear
Poiché così la giustizia del cielo li sprona, che la paura
Is turn'd into desire. Hence ne'er hath past
Si tramuta in desiderio. Perciò non è mai passata
Good spirit.
Un'anima buona.
Vocabulary
- non
- non — Negation word meaning 'not' in Italian.
- ti
- ti — Second person singular pronoun meaning 'you' or 'yourself'.
- tormentar
- tormentar — To torment or cause great suffering to someone.
- così
- coh-ZEE — Meaning 'so' or 'thus', indicating manner or degree.
- è
- eh — Third person singular of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
- voluto
- voh-LOO-toh — Past participle of 'volere', meaning 'wanted' or 'wished'.
- là
- lah — Adverb meaning 'there', indicating a distant location.
- dove
- DOH-veh — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'where'.
- il
- eel — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
- volere
- voh-LEH-reh — To want or wish; also used as a noun meaning 'will'.
- potere
- poh-TEH-reh — To be able to; modal verb expressing ability or possibility.
- sono
- SOH-noh — First person plural or singular of 'essere', meaning 'am' or 'are'.
- uno
- OO-noh — Indefinite article or number meaning 'a' or 'one'.
- chiedere
- KYEH-deh-reh — To ask or request something from someone.
- altro
- AHL-troh — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'other' or 'another'.
- Subito
- SOO-bee-toh — Adverb meaning 'immediately' or 'at once'.
- nel
- nel — Contraction of 'in il', meaning 'in the'.
- silenzio
- see-LEN-tsyoh — Noun meaning 'silence', the absence of sound.
- si
- see — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself' or 'himself/herself'.
- acquietarono
- ah-kwye-TAH-roh-noh — They calmed down or became quiet and still.
- le
- leh — Feminine plural definite article or pronoun meaning 'the' or 'them'.
- ispide
- EES-pee-deh — Adjective meaning 'bristly', 'rough', or 'coarse'.
- guance
- GWAHN-cheh — Plural noun meaning 'cheeks', the sides of the face.
- lui
- loo-EE — Third person singular masculine pronoun meaning 'he' or 'him'.
- nocchiero
- nok-KYEH-roh — Noun meaning 'helmsman' or 'ferryman' steering a vessel.
- sul
- sool — Contraction of 'su il', meaning 'on the'.
- livido
- LEE-vee-doh — Adjective meaning 'livid', 'pale', or 'dark blue-grey'.
- lago
- LAH-goh — Noun meaning 'lake', a body of still water.
- Attorno
- at-TOR-noh — Preposition meaning 'around' or 'surrounding'.
- ai
- ah-ee — Contraction of 'a i', meaning 'to the' or 'at the'.
- cui
- kwee — Relative pronoun meaning 'whose', 'whom', or 'which'.
- occhi
- OK-kee — Plural noun meaning 'eyes'.
- fuochi
- FWOH-kee — Plural noun meaning 'fires' or 'flames'.
- rotanti
- roh-TAHN-tee — Adjective meaning 'rotating' or 'spinning'.
- Nel
- nel — Contraction of 'in il', meaning 'in the'.
- frattempo
- frat-TEM-poh — Noun meaning 'meantime'; used in 'nel frattempo' (meanwhile).
- Quelle
- KWEL-leh — Feminine plural demonstrative adjective meaning 'those'.
- anime
- AH-nee-meh — Plural noun meaning 'souls' or 'spirits'.
- sfinite
- sfee-NEE-teh — Adjective meaning 'exhausted', 'worn out', or 'spent'.
- nude
- NOO-deh — Adjective meaning 'naked' or 'bare'.
- cambiarono
- kam-BYAH-roh-noh — They changed or altered their state or appearance.
- colore
- koh-LOH-reh — Noun meaning 'color' or 'hue'.
- denti
- DEN-tee — Plural noun meaning 'teeth'.
- appena
- ap-PEH-nah — Adverb meaning 'just', 'barely', or 'as soon as'.
- crudeli
- kroo-DEH-lee — Adjective meaning 'cruel' or 'harsh'.
- parole
- pah-ROH-leh — Plural noun meaning 'words'.
- Udirono
- oo-DEE-roh-noh — They heard something; past tense of 'udire'.
- Dio
- DEE-oh — Noun meaning 'God'.
- genitori
- jeh-nee-TOH-ree — Plural noun meaning 'parents'.
- genere
- JEH-neh-reh — Noun meaning 'gender', 'kind', or 'genus'.
- umano
- oo-MAH-noh — Adjective meaning 'human'.
- luogo
- LWOH-goh — Noun meaning 'place' or 'location'.
- tempo
- TEM-poh — Noun meaning 'time' or 'weather'.
- seme
- SEH-meh — Noun meaning 'seed' or 'origin'.
- Che
- keh — Relative pronoun or conjunction meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
- li
- lee — Third person plural masculine pronoun meaning 'them'.
- aveva
- ah-VEH-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'avere', meaning 'had'.
- generati
- jeh-neh-RAH-tee — Past participle of 'generare', meaning 'generated' or 'begotten'.
- dato
- DAH-toh — Past participle of 'dare', meaning 'given'.
- vita
- VEE-tah — Noun meaning 'life'.
- Poi
- poy — Adverb meaning 'then' or 'afterwards'.
- tutti
- TOOT-tee — Adjective or pronoun meaning 'all' or 'everyone'.
- insieme
- een-SYEH-meh — Adverb meaning 'together' or 'all at once'.
- gemendo
- jeh-MEN-doh — Gerund of 'gemere', meaning 'moaning' or 'groaning'.
- amaramente
- ah-mah-rah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'bitterly'.
- avvicinarono
- av-vee-chee-NAH-roh-noh — They approached or drew near to something.
- Alla
- AL-lah — Contraction of 'a la', meaning 'to the' (feminine).
- riva
- REE-vah — Noun meaning 'bank', 'shore', or 'riverbank'.
- maledetta
- mah-leh-DET-tah — Adjective meaning 'cursed' or 'damned'.
- che
- keh — Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', 'who'.
- ogni
- OH-nyee — Adjective meaning 'every' or 'each'.
- uomo
- WWOH-moh — Noun meaning 'man' or 'human being'.
- deve
- DEH-veh — Third person singular of 'dovere', meaning 'must' or 'has to'.
- attraversare
- at-treh-ver-SAH-reh — To cross or traverse a space or boundary.
- Chi
- kee — Relative pronoun meaning 'who' or 'whoever'.
- teme
- TEH-meh — Third person singular of 'temere', meaning 'fears'.
- figura
- fee-GOO-rah — Noun meaning 'figure', 'shape', or 'character'.
- demoniaca
- deh-moh-NYAH-kah — Adjective meaning 'demonic' or 'of the demon'.
- carbone
- kar-BOH-neh — Noun meaning 'coal' or 'charcoal'.
- ardente
- ar-DEN-teh — Adjective meaning 'burning', 'blazing', or 'ardent'.
- raccoglie
- rak-KOH-lyeh — He/she gathers or collects; third person singular of 'raccogliere'.
- Facendo
- fah-CHEN-doh — Gerund of 'fare', meaning 'doing' or 'making'.
- cenno
- CHEN-noh — Noun meaning 'signal', 'nod', or 'gesture'.
- ciascuno
- chah-SKOO-noh — Pronoun meaning 'each one' or 'everyone individually'.
- indugia
- een-DOO-jah — He/she lingers or delays; third person singular of 'indugiare'.
- col
- kol — Contraction of 'con il', meaning 'with the'.
- suo
- SWOH — Possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
- remo
- REH-moh — Noun meaning 'oar', used for rowing a boat.
- Colpisce
- kol-PEE-sheh — He/she strikes or hits; third person singular of 'colpire'.
- Come
- KOH-meh — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'like', 'as', or 'how'.
- cadono
- KAH-doh-noh — They fall; third person plural present of 'cadere'.
- leggere
- LED-jeh-reh — To read; or as adjective 'leggere', meaning 'light' (weight).
- foglie
- FOH-lyeh — Plural noun meaning 'leaves' of a tree or plant.
- autunnali
- ow-toon-NAH-lee — Adjective meaning 'autumnal' or 'of autumn'.
- L'una
- LOO-nah — Contraction of 'la una', meaning 'the one' (feminine).
- seguendo
- seh-GWEN-doh — Gerund of 'seguire', meaning 'following'.
- l'altra
- LAL-trah — Contraction of 'la altra', meaning 'the other one'.
- finché
- feen-KEH — Conjunction meaning 'until' or 'as long as'.
- ramo
- RAH-moh — Noun meaning 'branch' of a tree.
- Sparge
- SPAR-jeh — He/she scatters or spreads; third person singular of 'spargere'.
- suoi
- SWOH-ee — Plural possessive adjective meaning 'his', 'her', or 'its'.
- ornamenti
- or-nah-MEN-tee — Plural noun meaning 'ornaments' or 'decorations'.
- sulla
- SOOL-lah — Contraction of 'su la', meaning 'on the' (feminine).
- terra
- TER-rah — Noun meaning 'earth', 'land', or 'ground'.
- sottostante
- sot-toh-STAN-teh — Adjective meaning 'underlying' or 'below'.
- Allo
- AL-loh — Contraction of 'a lo', meaning 'at the' or 'to the'.
- stesso
- STES-soh — Adjective meaning 'same'.
- modo
- MOH-doh — Noun meaning 'way', 'manner', or 'mode'.
- malvagia
- mal-VAH-jah — Adjective meaning 'wicked', 'evil', or 'malicious'.
- stirpe
- STEER-peh — Noun meaning 'lineage', 'stock', or 'race'.
- Si
- see — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself', 'himself', or 'herself'.
- gettò
- jet-TOH — Past tense of 'gettare'; he/she threw or hurled oneself.
- ad
- ad — Variant of preposition 'a', meaning 'to' or 'at'.
- giù
- joo — Adverb meaning 'down' or 'downward'.
- dalla
- DAL-lah — Contraction of 'da la', meaning 'from the' (feminine).
- Ciascuno
- chah-SKOO-noh — Pronoun meaning 'each one' or 'every single one'.
- un
- oon — Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
- falcone
- fal-KOH-neh — Noun meaning 'falcon', a swift bird of prey.
- al
- al — Contraction of 'a il', meaning 'to the' or 'at the'.
- richiamo
- ree-KYAH-moh — Noun meaning 'call', 'recall', or 'lure'.
- Così
- koh-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'in this way'.
- attraversano
- at-treh-VER-sah-noh — They cross; third person plural present of 'attraversare'.
- onde
- ON-deh — Plural noun meaning 'waves' of water.
- oscure
- os-KOO-reh — Adjective meaning 'dark', 'obscure', or 'gloomy'.
- sempre
- SEM-preh — Adverb meaning 'always' or 'ever'.
- opposta
- op-POS-tah — Adjective meaning 'opposite' or 'other side'.
- Approdano
- ap-PROH-dah-noh — They land or arrive at shore; third person plural of 'approdare'.
- da
- dah — Preposition meaning 'from', 'by', or 'since'.
- questo
- KWES-toh — Demonstrative adjective or pronoun meaning 'this'.
- lato
- LAH-toh — Noun meaning 'side' or 'flank'.
- un'altra
- oon-AL-trah — Indefinite pronoun meaning 'another' (feminine).
- folla
- FOL-lah — Noun meaning 'crowd' or 'throng of people'.
- ancora
- an-KOH-rah — Adverb meaning 'still', 'yet', or 'again'.
- Figlio
- FEE-lyoh — Noun meaning 'son' or 'child'.
- disse
- DIS-seh — Past tense of 'dire', meaning 'he/she said'.
- cortese
- kor-TEH-zeh — Adjective meaning 'courteous', 'polite', or 'kind'.
- guida
- GWEE-dah — Noun meaning 'guide' or someone leading the way.
- Coloro
- koh-LOH-roh — Pronoun meaning 'those' or 'those people'.
- muoiono
- MWOH-yoh-noh — They die; third person plural present of 'morire'.
- soggetti
- sod-JET-tee — Adjective meaning 'subject to' or 'subjected'.
- all'ira
- al-LEE-rah — Prepositional phrase meaning 'to wrath' or 'to anger'.
- Vengono
- VEN-goh-noh — They come; third person plural present of 'venire'.
- qui
- kwee — Adverb meaning 'here'.
- riluttanti
- ree-loot-TAN-tee — Adjective meaning 'reluctant' or 'unwilling'.
- fiume
- FYOO-meh — Noun meaning 'river'.
- Poiché
- poy-KEH — Conjunction meaning 'since' or 'because'.
- giustizia
- joos-TEE-tsyah — Noun meaning 'justice' or 'righteousness'.
- del
- del — Contraction of 'di il', meaning 'of the'.
- cielo
- CHEH-loh — Noun meaning 'sky' or 'heaven'.
- sprona
- SPROH-nah — He/she spurs or urges on; third person singular of 'spronare'.
- paura
- pah-OO-rah — Noun meaning 'fear' or 'fright'.
- tramuta
- He/she transforms or converts; from 'tramutare'.
- in
- een — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'at'.
- desiderio
- deh-see-DEH-ryoh — Noun meaning 'desire', 'wish', or 'longing'.
- Perciò
- per-CHOH — Conjunction meaning 'therefore' or 'for this reason'.
- mai
- my — Adverb meaning 'never' or 'ever'.
- passata
- pas-SAH-tah — Past participle of 'passare'; meaning 'passed' or 'crossed over'.
- Un'anima
- oon-AH-nee-mah — Noun phrase meaning 'a soul'.
- buona
- BWOH-nah — Adjective meaning 'good' (feminine form).
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