Mario De Paz | + Follow Poet |
Terza Rima | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

Translation of Dante's Hell Canto Xv

Now we along one of hard rims are brought;
And a thin spray on the  brook is fixed, 
So shield to rims and water is begot.

As Flemings, Cadsand and Bruges bewixt,
Fearing the high waves pouncing against shore,
Build dikes to sea to have shield affixed; 

And like Paduans near the Brenta core,
To defend their castles and too their fields,
That Chiarentana  heat feels quite before:

Similar to those are just made the shields,
Even though neither so thick nor so tall,
As builder mind, whoever he is, yields.

We were just well outside the wood at all
Enough, so where it was  I could not  say,
Even though I  looked back to recall,

When we just met of spirits an array
Who were coming on the bank and each one
Was looking at us as by night the way

Is looked another when new moon begun;
And they were squeezing eyelashes to us
As an old tailor  in the needle bunt.

Spotted in such a way by a group  thus,
I was recognized by one, who me took
At the flap and shouted: “What a success!”.

And I, when  his limb  me grabbed as an hook,
In his baked burnt outward stuck then my eyes,
So that he could no more hide his burned look

To recognize him my mind to apprise;
And moving down to his face my hand,
Answered: “Are you then sir Brunetto wise?”

And he: “My dear son, you please demand
That Brunetto Latini stays a while
With you and comes back leaving the band”.

I told: “As much as I can, beg you I’ll;
And if you want that I with you may sit,
Will do, if for my mate it is worthwhile”  

“My dear son”, told, “If any of us a bit
Stops walking, then hundred years must lie
With just no defense then from fire hit.

So, must go on: I shall follow you by;
And after that I shall rejoin my troop
Which its eternal sins always must cry”.

Yet I did not dare down the street to stoop
To reach him; but I had my head bent down
As man walking and reverent must droop.

He then started: “Which fate and luck is shown
Bringing you here just your last before?
And who is that who brings you around?”

“There up, where is serene the lifetime core”,
I answered him, “Path in a valley I lost,
Before I passed the maturity door.

Yesterday morning I turned it when crossed;
This one came in, compelling me go back,
And brought me here in this place at last”.

And he to me: “If  now your star you track,
You cannot fail to reach the glorious port,
If in my life good wisdom did not lack;

And if I did not die in time so short,  
Seeing to you a so benignant sky,
I would have given to your deed support. 

But that malignant people too awry
Which from Fiesole anciently descended
And yet has much of stone and mount dry,

Will be, to your good will, enemy trended;
And there is reason, that the rotten fruit 
Must be avoided by sweet fig splendid.

Old fame in world indeed calls them brute;
They are greedy, envious and superb too;
And their habits at best you must refute.

Your future prepares great honors for you,
So that both parts will have much need
Of you; but is their beck on grass undue. 

The of Fiesole beasts then have to  feed
Just of themselves, and don’t touch the plant
If any grows yet in their muck indeed,

In which  then might live again the seed sant
Of those Romans who just there remained when
Malice nest was made that think worse I can’t”

“If my demands were all satisfied then”,
I answered him, “You would not still yet be
Now banned out of the nature of all men;

Because in my minds is etched, and grieves me,
The dear and good paternal image of you
When time by time during life I could see

You teaching me how reach eternal view;
And how much I like it, the time I live
To be recognized in my words gets true.

What you recount to write myself I strive,
And I hold it to gloss with other text
To woman who will know, if I arrive.

So much I want you be acquainted next,
Assuming that my conscience does not fail,
That to Fortune, as she likes, I am flexed.

It is not new this pledge to my hears’ sail:
So thus Fortune has now hers wheel to turn
The way she likes, and the boor his plow nail”.

My master then on his right cheek upturn
Looked at me back well fixing in my eyes;
Then told: “Who her listens has much to learn”. 

Nor much less I am speaking with that wise
Sir Brunetto, and I am asking him who are
His companions well known of larger size.

And he : “Know of someone is good by far;
Of others it is better to be still,
Being short the time to hold the sound for.

As a matter of facts all have great skill
Clerics and writers who have weighty fame,
All of them soiled to world the same sin fill.

Prisciane goes with that crowd of blame,
And Francis d’Accorso too; and see,
If I had strong will of such horrible shame,

I could who the drudge of  servants with lee
From Arno into Bacchiglione changed was
Where he left his nerves ill to high degree.

I would tell more but it cannot because
I don't follow you now, since I see there
New smoke that people from sand to grow does.

With guys  coming  company I don’t share.
My Tesoro to you I recommend,
In which I still live,  ask more I don’t dare”.

Then turned back, and looked as to have the trend
Of runners in Verona the drape green
In countryside,  among them to contend

Like a winner, not  loser to be seen.

Copyright © Mario De Paz | Year Posted 2014

Please Login to post a comment