Canto Xxiv Dante's Hell Translation Part 2
“For other answer”, told, “ I cannot lean
Than do it, because to honest question
Must follow action, with no word between”.
We dropped down the bridge with its progression
Where following it is reached the eighth bank,
Then I saw the circle of succession:
And saw inside it an horrible rank
Of snakes, of so much different shapes such
As I remember that my blood then sank.
Libya be not proud with its sand more much;
Since if Chelidri, Jaculae and Phareae are
With Cencres and Amphisbaena born and touch,
Neither so many plagues nor vicious were
In the whole Ethiopia never shown
Nor above Red Sea in all lands other.
Within this crowd of sinners to pain prone
Were running people frightened and naked too,
Without hope to find refuge or magic stone:
With snakes they had their hands back tied for true;
Those shoved in their loins the pointy tails
And heads too, and were wound a knot to do.
And hence to one guy who on our bank trails,
Pounced a snake and fast inflicted a bite
There where the neck the full body entails.
Neither O faster nor I be written might,
As kindled and burned, and of cinder all
He then ought to become emitting light;
And when he reached ground a way to appall,
The powder by itself forgathered then
And he revived in that same instant small.
This way by the wise men is told as when
That the Phoenix can die and then revive,
Close every five hundred years so again;
Neither herbs nor forage eats to survive,
But incense and cardamom spices tears
And nard and myrrh are last garments to arrive .
And like who falls, and no why him scares,
By demons’ forces which tug him to ground,
Or by other obstruction which man despairs,
When he gets up, and after looks around
Completely astray due to great distress
He suffered, and sighs too while looks on round:
So sinner was when standing could possess.
O God’s power, it's so severe indeed,
Which such a vindictive shot can address!
The duke then asked him to tell the name he’d;
Thus he answered: “From Tuscany I rained,
Recently quite, this fierce throat to feed.
A beastly life, not human I maintained,
Such as Vanni Fucci donkey I was
Beast, and Pistoia worthy lair attained”.
And I to duke: “Tell him not to stir buzz,
And ask him the fault which pushed him here;
I saw him as blood and worry man, because”.
And the sinner, who me heard, was then clear,
Straightened toward me his thought and his face,
And of sad shame was painted well sincere:
The told: “More I am sorry to deface
With my misery where you can see me,
Than when I was from life kept by disgrace.
I cannot deny what you ask to be;
Down here so deep low I thrown have been
Since I theft vestry fitments nice to see,
And falsely other was convicted in.
But since are not delighted of such view,
If ever you exit dark sites herein,
Open your ears to my announce, hear through.
Pistoia first of Blacks loses part;
Florence then people and modes must renew.
Keeps Mars from Val di Magra the war heart
Since of turbid clouds it is now wrapped quite;
And with violent and acid storm start
In Picenian Field will be the fight;
Such as in short time he will break the fog,
So any White will be injured outright.
And I told this for your sorrow and clog”.
Copyright © Mario De Paz | Year Posted 2014
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