THE DIVINE COMEDY: Inferno, Purgatorio & Paradiso (3 Classic Translations in One Edition). Dante Alighieri. Читать онлайн. Newlib. NEWLIB.NET

Автор: Dante Alighieri
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isbn: 9788027233335
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Journeying this way;" I said, "but how of thee

       Hath so much time been lost?" He answer'd straight:

       "No outrage hath been done to me, if he

       Who when and whom he chooses takes, me oft

       This passage hath denied, since of just will

       His will he makes. These three months past indeed,

       He, whose chose to enter, with free leave

       Hath taken; whence I wand'ring by the shore

       Where Tyber's wave grows salt, of him gain'd kind

       Admittance, at that river's mouth, tow'rd which

       His wings are pointed, for there always throng

       All such as not to Archeron descend."

       Then I: "If new laws have not quite destroy'd

       Memory and use of that sweet song of love,

       That while all my cares had power to 'swage;

       Please thee with it a little to console

       My spirit, that incumber'd with its frame,

       Travelling so far, of pain is overcome."

       "Love that discourses in my thoughts." He then

       Began in such soft accents, that within

       The sweetness thrills me yet. My gentle guide

       And all who came with him, so well were pleas'd,

       That seem'd naught else might in their thoughts have room.

       Fast fix'd in mute attention to his notes

       We stood, when lo! that old man venerable

       Exclaiming, "How is this, ye tardy spirits?

       What negligence detains you loit'ring here?

       Run to the mountain to cast off those scales,

       That from your eyes the sight of God conceal."

       As a wild flock of pigeons, to their food

       Collected, blade or tares, without their pride

       Accustom'd, and in still and quiet sort,

       If aught alarm them, suddenly desert

       Their meal, assail'd by more important care;

       So I that new-come troop beheld, the song

       Deserting, hasten to the mountain's side,

       As one who goes yet where he tends knows not.

       Nor with less hurried step did we depart.

       Them sudden flight had scatter'd over the plain,

       Turn'd tow'rds the mountain, whither reason's voice

       Drives us; I to my faithful company

       Adhering, left it not. For how of him

       Depriv'd, might I have sped, or who beside

       Would o'er the mountainous tract have led my steps

       He with the bitter pang of self-remorse

       Seem'd smitten. O clear conscience and upright

       How doth a little fling wound thee sore!

       Soon as his feet desisted (slack'ning pace),

       From haste, that mars all decency of act,

       My mind, that in itself before was wrapt,

       Its thoughts expanded, as with joy restor'd:

       And full against the steep ascent I set

       My face, where highest to heav'n its top o'erflows.

       The sun, that flar'd behind, with ruddy beam

       Before my form was broken; for in me

       His rays resistance met. I turn'd aside

       With fear of being left, when I beheld

       Only before myself the ground obscur'd.

       When thus my solace, turning him around,

       Bespake me kindly: "Why distrustest thou?

       Believ'st not I am with thee, thy sure guide?

       It now is evening there, where buried lies

       The body, in which I cast a shade, remov'd

       To Naples from Brundusium's wall. Nor thou

       Marvel, if before me no shadow fall,

       More than that in the sky element

       One ray obstructs not other. To endure

       Torments of heat and cold extreme, like frames

       That virtue hath dispos'd, which how it works

       Wills not to us should be reveal'd. Insane

       Who hopes, our reason may that space explore,

       Which holds three persons in one substance knit.

       Seek not the wherefore, race of human kind;

       Could ye have seen the whole, no need had been

       For Mary to bring forth. Moreover ye

       Have seen such men desiring fruitlessly;

       To whose desires repose would have been giv'n,

       That now but serve them for eternal grief.

       I speak of Plato, and the Stagyrite,

       And others many more." And then he bent

       Downwards his forehead, and in troubled mood

       Broke off his speech. Meanwhile we had arriv'd

       Far as the mountain's foot, and there the rock

       Found of so steep ascent, that nimblest steps

       To climb it had been vain. The most remote

       Most wild untrodden path, in all the tract

       'Twixt Lerice and Turbia were to this

       A ladder easy' and open of access.

       "Who knows on which hand now the steep declines?"

       My master said and paus'd, "so that he may

       Ascend, who journeys without aid of wine?"

       And while with looks directed to the ground

       The meaning of the pathway he explor'd,

       And I gaz'd upward round the stony height,

       Of spirits, that toward us mov'd their steps,

       Yet moving seem'd not, they so slow approach'd.

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       I thus my guide address'd: "Upraise thine eyes,

       Lo that way some, of whom thou may'st obtain

       Counsel, if of thyself thou find'st it not!"

       Straightway he look'd, and with free speech replied:

       "Let us tend thither: they but softly come.

       And thou be firm in hope, my son belov'd."

       Now was that people distant far in space

       A thousand paces behind ours, as much

       As at a throw the nervous arm could fling,

       When all drew backward on the messy crags

       Of the steep bank, and firmly stood unmov'd

       As one who walks in doubt might stand to look.