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Canto Xxiv Dante's Hell Translation Part1

In the early part of the novel year 
When in Aquarium sun anneals hair
And nights already at noon disappear,

When the hoarfrost makes  ground a cover wear
Creating image of her sister white,
But it then short lasts to its temper there,

The little peasant missing forage quite,
Gets early up, and looks out, and sees land
All shining white; so that he with strong spite,

Reenters at home, and then complains as spanned,
As a poor man not knowing what to do;
Then goes out, and again has hope at hand,

Seeing the world around changed and so new
In a short time, and takes his shepherd’s crook
And pushes little lambs to herd out through. 

The same dismay from master then me took
When I saw him to ruffle in his face,
And too so fast the problem reached our look;

Because, as we arrived at the bridge place,
The duke then turned to me with the same pose
Sweet as I saw before at the mount base.

Opened his arms, after thought to propose
The correct action looking well before
The ravine to go, and hands to impose.

And as the one who acts and too looks for,
A way which always he seems to foresee,
So, lifting me up to top more and more

Of a big rock, another he could see
Telling: “Above that you have then to cling;
But try if it a stable rest can be”.

On that path you could not wear a hood thing,
Since we barely, he light and me driven,
Ourselves stone by stone climbing up could bring.

And if were not that on that rock riven
More than on the other was short the coast,
Can’t tell of him, my defeat was given.   

But since Malebolge  to the door most
Is just all inclined of the deepest well,
The site of each valley is fully grossed

Between a coast which rose and then down fell;
We reached at end of rush the valley top
Where the last stone drops a way hard to tell.

The strength was from my lung having a flop
When I was up, so I could not go more
Nay I sat down on the first stone to stop. 

“Now you should avoid to idle, and soar”,
My master told; “since, on feathers sitting,
No fame you can reach, nor in blanket core;

Without that one who his life is quitting
Leaves then on earth own vestiges such as,
Smoke in air and scum water admitting

Thus get up; act so on fear the win has
Your disposition winning any fight,
If to its burdensome body “no” says.

Much longer stairs ought to now be climbed straight;
It is not enough that you those have left.
If you me understand, now behave right”.

I then stood, showing that I was deft
Much more than my senses really were,
And told: “Go ahead, my force has strong heft”.

Along up the rock we took the way there,
Which was rocky, narrow and arduous too,
And also steeper than the one before.

I spoke while going faintness to undo;
So  a voice came out from the other ditch,
Proffering improper words to hear new.

Don’t know what he told, before the back which
Was over the arch crossing up here;
But who spoke looked as angry to a hitch.

I was turned toward down, but eyes well clear
Could not go then beyond to bottom dark
So I told: “Master, you make me reach mere

The next circle to drop the wall of arc;
Since, as I hear from there without a mean,
So down I look, and nothing to remark”.

Copyright © Mario De Paz | Year Posted 2014

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