Divine Comedy Translation Canto Xiii Hell Part 1
Nexus had not yet reached the other side
When we started to enter in a wood
On which no any sign of pathway lied.
No green fronds,, but grey dusky color stood;
No smooth branches, but all with twisted knots;
Not fruits but only poison sticks stay could.
Don’t have so rough weeds and nor so a lots
Those wild beasts which strongly hate indeed
Between Cecina and Corneto grown plots.
Here the hideous Arpies their nests seed,
Who Troians of Strofadis expelled out
Along with ad of bad that future shall lead.
Have broad wings, human faces with no doubt,
Have clawed feet, and thickly fledged the large womb;
Strange moaning emit on the trees throughout.
And good master ”Ere your path reassume,
Be aware that this is the second round”,
Started to tell, “And you will there have room
Entering the horrible coarse sand ground.
So carefully look; and then you will see
Things which to my sermon are just unsound”.
I heard from everywhere weeping to be
And I could not see a person who did;
So for this to stop astray compelled me.
I think he thought I thought those sounds amid
That voices had emitted, in that wood,
By people who their own view tried to rid.
For this my master told: “If cut you would
Just some little branch of one of these trees,
What you are thinking become maimed then should”
Then I pushed forward my hand toward these
And cut a small branch of a large briar;
And bole cried: “Why are branches amputees?”
And after it became of color blood dire,
Started to tell: “Why do you mangle me?
Are you without pity almost entire?
We were man and now are damned weeds to be:
Much more pitiful had to be your hand,
If souls of poisonous vipers were we”.
Like an ember green which partly burns and
Only one side has flame, the other wails
And then it squeaks for wind pushed to expand,
So out of the broken chip spill entails
Words and blood; so the splinter then I let
Fall, and stood as man in which fear prevails.
“If he before knew to harm the offset”
Answered my sage, “Oh injured soul indeed,
As he could see by my words too just set,
He wouldn’t have his hand chosen to lead;
But the incredible thing made me act
To push him to do a hard to me deed.
But tell him who you were, helping fact
That amending your fame can renew
In the world up, where it can be backed”.
And trunk: “Your sweet words lure so much me trough,
That I cannot be still; and may heavy be
If I am dragged a bit talking with you.
I am the one who held one and other key
Of heart of Frederick, and who turned them,
Opening and closing, a way so sweet and free,
That from his secrets almost all men had stem;
Faithful the glorious duty I held,
So that I lost the sleep and the pulse rhythm.
The dirty wore who never from the dwelled
Home of Cesar turned aside hers **** eyes,
Death for all and who the courts in vice felled,
Against me inflamed tempers in such guise:
And the inflamed in turn August inflamed,
That glad honors then became sad despise.
My mind, by disdainful meaning then flamed,
Thinking with death from disdain to escape,
Wrongful made me against me wrongly shamed.
On the nine roots of this tree and its cape
That never broke the faith I had I swear
For my lord, who was of fame worthy shape.
And if any of you to world shall fare,
Might support my memory, which down lies
Still from the stroke which gave envy unfair”
Copyright © Mario De Paz | Year Posted 2014
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