Dante's Hell Translation Canto Xxxii Part1
If my rhymes rugged and clucking might be
As it would better fit to wretched hole
Above which are pointing all rocks to see,
I would express my concept as a whole
More clearly; but since I do not have them,
Not without awe I go to fill the role;
Since is not easy operate to stem
A picture deep of Universe entire,
Nor by an infant the simple speech rhythm.
But my verses be helped by women choir
Who aided Amphion when Thebes was shut,
So that the truth of facts my words acquire.
Oh at all evil created mob jut
Who stay in place of which to speak is hard,
You should stay here as animals uncut!
As we were in the well black as was charred
Beneath feet of the giant lower much,
And I watched yet the tall wall as to guard,
I heard so: “Watch how you move in this hutch:
Go on so, that you do not stomp with feet
The heads of brothers poor and wretched such”.
Thus I turned my head, and I saw complete
Under me a lake which being all frost
Looked as of glass, not of water would treat.
Never such a large depth of ice crust glossed
Danube in Austria in winter made,
Nor the Don under sky by cold wind crossed,
As it was there; if Tambernich there laid
Fell above, or Pietrapana too,
Could not even on rim be cracked or frayed.
And as the frog stands its croak to accrue
With muzzle out water, when the dream is
Of peasant girl to glean much more than due,
Livid, down to there where body shame does
Were the mournful soul shades within the ice
Emitting note of stork with their teeth whiz.
Each one held down the face looking at vise;
From mouth the cold frost, and from eyes heart sad
Among them witness gives as cutting slice.
When seen around enough and much I had,
I watched at feet, and I saw two so tight,
That hairs of their heads were all mixed to add.
“Tell me, you whose breasts put so much close might
I told, “Who are you?”. And those their necks bent;
And when had faces addressed to me right,
Their eyes, which well before moist inside meant,
Trickled on their lips, and frost made so hard
Their tears midst them tightening to augment.
Wood with other wood was never just barred
Strongly as that; thus like two hard horned goats
Together clashed, by rage so strongly marred.
And one who had lost both ears, in my notes,
Due to the cold frost, even with face down,
Told: “Why so much on us your look out totes?
If you want know who are those two so frown,
The valley where falls Bisenzio’s flow
Of their father Albert was and their noun.
Came from one body: in Caina you go
And can look for, but no soul you find
Worthiest to be nestled in frost owe:
Not those whose breast and shadow undermined
Were in one shot only from Arthur’s hand;
Nor Focaccia; nor this with me entwined
With head so that I cannot see and stand,
Sassol Mascheroni was his life name;
If you are tuscan, you can understand.
To avoid you put me in other frame,
Know that Camiscion de’ Pazzi I was
Waiting for Carlin to take off my shame”.
Copyright © Mario De Paz | Year Posted 2015
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