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La Divina Commedia di Dante Alighieri, Inferno, canto V

English version below.

A little poetry, you filthy sinners!

The story is set in the Castle of Gradara, at the time ruled by the family Malatesta, Lords of the close Rimini.

It’s well known in Italy because of the tragic story of Paolo and Francesca, narrated by Dante in his famous poem “La Divina Commedia” (Inferno), that took place here.

The story goes that Dante and his mentor Virgil (famous Roman poet) meet two twin souls in the lascivious circle.

They are throwing away by an unceasing wind with the carnal sinners and, unlike the other damned souls, they are the ones that “flying” together. Called upon to tell their story, the fair Francesca da Polenta tells her story to Dante: she had been promised to the powerful Lord of Rimini and Gradara, Gianciotto Malatesta, an ugly, bad, ferocious man. Gianciotto’s younger brother, Paolo, was sent to take her to Rimini for the marriage. Unfortunately, Paolo was a very handsome man, and of course (this remember me an endless series of fairy tales, but it seems to be a quite real story) she fell in love with him. Anyway, the wedding took place (no way to be called off, in those times).

Dante asks Francesca (she only speaks, while Paolo goes on crying all the time), how they fell in love: she replies him that, while the two alone were reading about Lancelot and Guinevere and their kiss, that was the moment when they turned pale and kiss each other. Not long after, her husband caught them “together” and murdered the two of them. As they died in mortal sin, they were sentenced to hell’s lascivious circle, but they at least stay forever side by side. Undoubtedly (at least for me), the best Dante’s canto of all his work.

Così discesi dal cerchio primaio giù nel secondo, che men loco cinghia e tanto più dolor, che punge a guaio. 3

Stavvi Minòs orribilmente, e ringhia: essamina le colpe ne l’intrata; giudica e manda secondo ch’avvinghia. 6

Dico che quando l’anima mal nata li vien dinanzi, tutta si confessa; e quel conoscitor de le peccata 9

vede qual loco d’inferno è da essa; cignesi con la coda tante volte quantunque gradi vuol che giù sia messa. 12

Sempre dinanzi a lui ne stanno molte: vanno a vicenda ciascuna al giudizio, dicono e odono e poi son giù volte. 15

"O tu che vieni al doloroso ospizio", disse Minòs a me quando mi vide, lasciando l’atto di cotanto offizio, 18

"guarda com’entri e di cui tu ti fide; non t’inganni l’ampiezza de l’intrare!". E ’l buon maestro a lui: "Perché pur gride? 21

Non impedir lo suo fatale andare: vuolsi così colà dove si puote ciò che si vuole, e più non dimandare". 24

Or incomincian le dolenti note a farmisi sentire; or son venuto là dove molto pianto mi percuote. 27

Io venni in loco d’ogne luce muto, che mugghia come fa mar per tempesta, se da contrari venti è combattuto. 30

La bufera infernal, che mai non resta, mena li spirti con la sua rapina; voltando e percotendo li molesta. 33

Quando giungon davanti a la ruina, quivi le strida, il compianto, il lamento; bestemmian quivi la virtù divina. 36

Intesi ch’a così fatto tormento enno dannati i peccator carnali, che la ragion sommettono al talento. 39

E come li stornei ne portan l’ali nel freddo tempo, a schiera larga e piena, così quel fiato li spiriti mali 42

di qua, di là, di giù, di su li mena; nulla speranza li conforta mai, non che di posa, ma di minor pena. 45

E come i gru van cantando lor lai, faccendo in aere di sé lunga riga, così vid’io venir, traendo guai, 48

ombre portate da la detta briga; per ch’i’ dissi: "Maestro, chi son quelle genti che l’aura nera sì gastiga?". 51

"La prima di color di cui novelle tu vuo' saper", mi disse quelli allotta, "fu imperadrice di molte favelle. 54

A vizio di lussuria fu sì rotta, che libito fé licito in sua legge, per tòrre il biasmo in che era condotta. 57

Ell’è Semiramìs, di cui si legge che succedette a Nino e fu sua sposa: tenne la terra che ’l Soldan corregge. 60

L’altra è colei che s’ancise amorosa, e ruppe fede al cener di Sicheo; poi è Cleopatràs lussurïosa. 63

Elena vedi, per cui tanto reo tempo si volse, e vedi ’l grande Achille, che con amore al fine combatteo. 66

Vedi Parìs, Tristano"; e più di mille ombre mostrommi e nominommi a dito, ch’amor di nostra vita dipartille. 69

Poscia ch’io ebbi ’l mio dottore udito nomar le donne antiche e ’ cavalieri, pietà mi giunse, e fui quasi smarrito. 72

I’ cominciai: "Poeta, volontieri parlerei a quei due che ’nsieme vanno, e paion sì al vento esser leggeri". 75

Ed elli a me: "Vedrai quando saranno più presso a noi; e tu allor li priega per quello amor che i mena, ed ei verranno". 78

Sì tosto come il vento a noi li piega, mossi la voce: "O anime affannate, venite a noi parlar, s’altri nol niega!". 81

Quali colombe dal disio chiamate con l’ali alzate e ferme al dolce nido vegnon per l’aere, dal voler portate; 84

cotali uscir de la schiera ov’è Dido, a noi venendo per l’aere maligno, sì forte fu l’affettüoso grido. 87

"O animal grazïoso e benigno che visitando vai per l’aere perso noi che tignemmo il mondo di sanguigno, 90

se fosse amico il re de l’universo, noi pregheremmo lui de la tua pace, poi c’ hai pietà del nostro mal perverso. 93

Di quel che udire e che parlar vi piace, noi udiremo e parleremo a voi, mentre che ’l vento, come fa, si tace. 96

Siede la terra dove nata fui su la marina dove ’l Po discende per aver pace co’ seguaci sui. 99

Amor, ch'al cor gentil ratto s'apprende, prese costui de la bella persona che mi fu tolta; e 'l modo ancor m'offende. 102

Amor, ch’a nullo amato amar perdona, mi prese del costui piacer sì forte, che, come vedi, ancor non m’abbandona. 105

Amor condusse noi ad una morte. Caina attende chi a vita ci spense". Queste parole da lor ci fuor porte. 108

Quand’io intesi quell’anime offense, china’ il viso, e tanto il tenni basso, fin che ’l poeta mi disse: "Che pense?". 111

Quando rispuosi, cominciai: "Oh lasso, quanti dolci pensier, quanto disio menò costoro al doloroso passo!". 114

Poi mi rivolsi a loro e parla’ io, e cominciai: "Francesca, i tuoi martìri a lagrimar mi fanno tristo e pio. 117

Ma dimmi: al tempo d’i dolci sospiri, a che e come concedette amore che conosceste i dubbiosi disiri?". 120

Ed ella a me: "Nessun maggior dolore che ricordarsi del tempo felice ne la miseria; e ciò sa 'l tuo dottore. 123

Ma s’a conoscer la prima radice del nostro amor tu hai cotanto affetto, dirò come colui che piange e dice. 126

Noi leggiavamo un giorno per diletto di Lancialotto come amor lo strinse; soli eravamo e sanza alcun sospetto. 129

Per più fïate li occhi ci sospinse quella lettura, e scolorocci il viso; ma solo un punto fu quel che ci vinse. 132

Quando leggemmo il disïato riso esser basciato da cotanto amante, questi, che mai da me non fia diviso, 135

la bocca mi basciò tutto tremante. Galeotto fu ’l libro e chi lo scrisse: quel giorno più non vi leggemmo avante". 138

Mentre che l'uno spirto questo disse, l'altro piangëa; sì che di pietade io venni men così com'io morisse. 141

E caddi come corpo morto cade.

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, Inferno, Canto V, Translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Thus I descended out of the first circle Down to the second, that less space begirds, And so much greater dole, that goads to wailing. There standeth Minos horribly, and snarls; Examines the transgressions at the entrance; Judges, and sends according as he girds him. I say, that when the spirit evil-born Cometh before him, wholly it confesses; And this discriminator of transgressions Seeth what place in Hell is meet for it; Girds himself with his tail as many times As grades he wishes it should be thrust down. Always before him many of them stand; They go by turns each one unto the judgment; They speak, and hear, and then are downward hurled. "O thou, that to this dolorous hostelry Comest," said Minos to me, when he saw me, Leaving the practice of so great an office, "Look how thou enterest, and in whom thou trustest; Let not the portal's amplitude deceive thee." And unto him my Guide: "Why criest thou too? Do not impede his journey fate-ordained; It is so willed there where is power to do That which is willed; and ask no further question." And now begin the dolesome notes to grow Audible unto me; now am I come There where much lamentation strikes upon me. I came into a place mute of all light, Which bellows as the sea does in a tempest, If by opposing winds 't is combated. The infernal hurricane that never rests Hurtles the spirits onward in its rapine; Whirling them round, and smiting, it molests them. When they arrive before the precipice, There are the shrieks, the plaints, and the laments, There they blaspheme the puissance divine. I understood that unto such a torment The carnal malefactors were condemned, Who reason subjugate to appetite. And as the wings of starlings bear them on In the cold season in large band and full, So doth that blast the spirits maledict; It hither, thither, downward, upward, drives them; No hope doth comfort them for evermore, Not of repose, but even of lesser pain. And as the cranes go chanting forth their lays, Making in air a long line of themselves, So saw I coming, uttering lamentations, Shadows borne onward by the aforesaid stress. Whereupon said I: "Master, who are those People, whom the black air so castigates?" "The first of those, of whom intelligence Thou fain wouldst have," then said he unto me, "The empress was of many languages. To sensual vices she was so abandoned, That lustful she made licit in her law, To remove the blame to which she had been led. She is Semiramis, of whom we read That she succeeded Ninus, and was his spouse; She held the land which now the Sultan rules. The next is she who killed herself for love, And broke faith with the ashes of Sichaeus; Then Cleopatra the voluptuous." Helen I saw, for whom so many ruthless Seasons revolved; and saw the great Achilles, Who at the last hour combated with Love. Paris I saw, Tristan; and more than a thousand Shades did he name and point out with his finger, Whom Love had separated from our life. After that I had listened to my Teacher, Naming the dames of eld and cavaliers, Pity prevailed, and I was nigh bewildered. And I began: "O Poet, willingly Speak would I to those two, who go together, And seem upon the wind to be so light." And, he to me: "Thou'lt mark, when they shall be Nearer to us; and then do thou implore them By love which leadeth them, and they will come." Soon as the wind in our direction sways them, My voice uplift I: "O ye weary souls! Come speak to us, if no one interdicts it." As turtle-doves, called onward by desire, With open and steady wings to the sweet nest Fly through the air by their volition borne, So came they from the band where Dido is, Approaching us athwart the air malign, So strong was the affectionate appeal. "O living creature gracious and benignant, Who visiting goest through the purple air Us, who have stained the world incarnadine, If were the King of the Universe our friend, We would pray unto him to give thee peace, Since thou hast pity on our woe perverse. Of what it pleases thee to hear and speak, That will we hear, and we will speak to you, While silent is the wind, as it is now. Sitteth the city, wherein I was born, Upon the sea-shore where the Po descends To rest in peace with all his retinue. Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize, Seized this man for the person beautiful That was ta'en from me, and still the mode offends me. Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving, Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly, That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me; Love has conducted us unto one death; Caina waiteth him who quenched our life!" These words were borne along from them to us. As soon as I had heard those souls tormented, I bowed my face, and so long held it down Until the Poet said to me: "What thinkest?" When I made answer, I began: "Alas! How many pleasant thoughts, how much desire, Conducted these unto the dolorous pass!" Then unto them I turned me, and I spake, And I began: "Thine agonies, Francesca, Sad and compassionate to weeping make me. But tell me, at the time of those sweet sighs, By what and in what manner Love conceded, That you should know your dubious desires?" And she to me: "There is no greater sorrow Than to be mindful of the happy time In misery, and that thy Teacher knows. But, if to recognise the earliest root Of love in us thou hast so great desire, I will do even as he who weeps and speaks. One day we reading were for our delight Of Launcelot, how Love did him enthral. Alone we were and without any fear. Full many a time our eyes together drew That reading, and drove the colour from our faces; But one point only was it that o'ercame us. When as we read of the much-longed-for smile Being by such a noble lover kissed, This one, who ne'er from me shall be divided, Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating. Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it. That day no farther did we read therein." And all the while one spirit uttered this, The other one did weep so, that, for pity, I swooned away as if I had been dying, And fell, even as a dead body falls.

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