L ' I N F E R N O

INF C20 76-78 / DANTE
Tosto che l'acqua a correr mette co, As soon as the water has its head,
non più Benaco, ma Mencio si chiama it is no longer Garda, but Mincio,
fino a Governol, dove cade in Po. down to Governolo where it joins the Po.
INF C20 79-81 / DANTE
Non molto ha corso, ch'el trova una lama, It has not flowed far before it It finds the level,
ne la qual si distende e la 'mpaluda; on which it spreads and makes a marsh there,
e suol di state talor essere grama. and in summer tends to be unwholesome.
INF C20 82-84 / DANTE
Quindi passando la vergine cruda Manto, the wild virgin, passing that way,
vide terra, nel mezzo del pantano, saw untilled land,
sanza coltura e d'abitanti nuda. naked of inhabitants, among the fens.
DANTE notes:
INF C20 82-84 / DANTE INF C20 82-84 / KLINE
Quindi passando la vergine cruda Manto, the wild virgin, passing that way,
VIRGIL:
INF C20 85-87 / DANTE INF C20 85-87 / KLINE
Lì, per fuggire ogne consorzio umano, There, to avoid all human contact, she stayed,
ristette con suoi servi a far sue arti, with her followers, to practise practised her arts,
e visse, e vi lasciò suo corpo vano. and lived there, and left her empty body.
INF C20 88-90 / DANTE
Li uomini poi che 'ntorno erano sparti Then the people who were scattered round
s'accolsero a quel loco, ch'era forte gathered together in that place, which was
per lo pantan ch'avea da tutte parti. well defended by the marshes on every side.
INF C20 91-93 / DANTE
Fer la città sovra quell' ossa morte; They built the city over those dead bones,
e per colei che 'l loco prima elesse, and without other augury, called it Mantua,
Mantüa l'appellar sanz' altra sorte. after her who first chose the place.
INF C20 94-96 / DANTE
Già fuor le genti sue dentro più spesse, Once there were more inhabitants,
prima che la mattia da Casalodi before Casalodi, was foolishly
da Pinamonte inganno ricevesse. deceived by Pinamonte.
CASALODI: THE BRESCIAN COUNTS OF CASALODI HELD MANTUA IN 1272 BUT WERE UNPOPULAR & THREATENED WITH
EXPULSION. PINAMONTE DE BUONACCORSI, OBTAINED CONTROL, BY ADVISING ALBERTO DA CASALODI TO BANISH THE
POWERFUL NOBLES, AS A SOURCE OF TROUBLE. HE THEN TOOK OVER, MASSACRED ANY OPPONENTS, EXPELLED ALBERTO &
HELD MANTUA UNTIL 1291.
INF C20 97-99 / DANTE
Però t'assenno che, se tu mai odi So, I charge you, if you ever hear another story
originar la mia terra altrimenti, of the origin of my city,
la verità nulla menzogna frodi». do not let falsehoods destroy the truth.
DANTE FINALLY PRODUCES A VERSE.
DANTE:
INF C20 82-84 / DANTE INF C20 82-84 / KLINE
Quindi passando la vergine cruda Manto, the wild virgin, passing that way,
vide terra, nel mezzo del pantano, saw untilled land,
sanza coltura e d'abitanti nuda. naked of inhabitants, among the fens.
CLIO APPROACHES VIRGIL, AS IF TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT UNHISTORICAL HISTORY, SHRUGS AND
DEPARTS.
DANTE IS QUITE HIMSELF AGAIN. HE MAKES HIMSELF MORE COMFORTABLE.
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