Canto Xxix Hell Translation

So many people and the various sores Intoxicated in such a way my eyes, That wanted open to crying their doors. But Virgil told : “What for you look this guise? Why now your sight is so carefully brought Down there on those sad broken shadow guys? You did not act this way before by naught; Think, if to stay here more you now believe, That twenty two miles the valley is thought. And yet the moon under our feet could leave; More time is given almost short to us, Something else there is to see and achieve” “If you had just”, I answered him then thus, “Known the reason why I was looking there, Perhaps I was allowed to stay and glance”. While he was moving, and I back to fare, The duke, giving then answer already, I added: “In that cavern just where I put my eyes so firm and so steady, I think a soul to me kinsman might cry The fault for which much pain is there ready”. Then master told: “You should not much apply Your following thought from now on to him. Else you should watch out, and leave him thereby; Because I saw him at foot of bridge rim Show and threaten with finger toward you, And heard Geri del Bello name with vim. At that time you were prevented in view Attentive to whom Altaforte kept, You did not watch at there, so he left through”. “O duke of mine, his violent death swept Which has not yet been avenged”, I told” For any who of shame consort was apt, Made him disdainful; to stay didn’t hold, Went off with no word, as my judging goes: For this he made me more pious behold”. So we conversed up where the view arose Above the rock where new valley is seen, If more light there were, to the bottom lows. When to the top stone rising we had been Of Malebolge, so that the damned there Could be then shown us in a full scene, I darted was by such kinds of despair, Which strongly shod with pity had their tip; So that with hands I shut then my hears pair. Same pain would be, if the hospital rip Of Valdichiana in summer time And Maremma and Sardinia bad strip Were all together joined in a tip lime, So it was there, and came out a stench such As the one coming from rotted meat grime. Down with the last bank we got in touch On the long rock, taking just to hand left; And then my eyes could now observe more much Down to the bottom, where the regent deft Of high Lord justice which never has foul Here smites the fakers of truth bereft. I do not think to see worse pain to howl Was in Egine all people ill to be, When air was then with everything afoul, That animals, to smallest worm to see, Fell wholly, and then peoples of the past, According poets who report and agree, Used to eat as food just ants’ seed amassed; That was to see in that obscure valley dark Languish the souls by many pains harassed. Someone over belly and some on back arc One on the other laid, and some fours all Painfully moved in that pathway stark. Pace by pace we went, no word to install, Looking at and hearing those guys so sick, Who could not stand up a way to appall. I saw two of them sitting brick to brick, As platter is put on platter to heat, From head to feet fully stained with sores thick; And I never saw a currycomb beat By a stable lad rushing for his lord, Nor any who reluctant has to treat, As each one was beating often the sword Of his nails on himself with a great rage For the itching, which has no relief chord; And nails so ripping the scab to assuage Akin to a knife that rips the bream scales Or of any other fish whose scales upstage. “You who rub yourself with fingers and nails”, Started then my duke aimed of them to one, “And you use them as a tong which assails, Tell me if any Latin is outdone Between those here, if nail is just enough Eternally for this work you make run”. “Latins we are, you see suffer rebuff Here both now”, one of them answered with cry; “But who are you, asking of us so tough?”. And duke then told: “I am one coming by With this living being by cliff to cliff, And hell to show him as my task I try”. Then body sharing they broke in a jiff; And quite trembling each one turned to me With others who heard it as rebound stiff. The good master then came close as with plea, Telling: “Tell them what now you want to know”; And I told, after he looked turned to be: “If your mind is not to vanish in a blow In previous world within all human minds, But it lives longer at many suns below, Let me know who you are and what mankind’s; Your just obscene and bothersome too pain To show don’t be afraid, me ready finds”. I was Arezzo’s, and Siena’s Albero, I explain, Responded one, “Made me to burn in fire; But I am not here for that faulty strain. Truly I told him, as joke to inspire: “I would be able to go in air and fly”; And that, who had beauty but sense of mire, Wanted I showed the art; and for that by Since I didn’t him Daedalus, made me Be burned by who had him as his son tie. But in the last circle of ten as fee Me for the alchemy in world I used Damned Minos, who never wrong can be”. And I told poet: “Was ever cruised Futile people as the Siena’s one? Surely not the French much more to be bruised!”. And other leper, who hearing had done, Answered to me: “But Stricca is except Who was able wise to spend with waste none, And Nicolaus of the rich fashion adept Of carnation discovered for the first In the garden where this wild seed has leaped; And consider the party in which burst Caccia d’Asciano’s vineyard and land, And Abbagliato his wit nursed. But so that you know who so gives you hand Against Sienises, sharpen your eye to me, Thus helping my face right words to expand: So I am Capocchio’s soul you shall see, Who metals falsified with alchemy shape; And you remember, if I well judge thee, How of the nature I was a good ape”.