L ' I N F E R N O

DANTE ATTEMPTS TO CLIMB THE WALL BUT CANNOT. VIRGIL TAKES DANTE’S BOOK FROM HIM , PLACES
IT ON THE GROUND AND PUTS HIS OWN BOOK ON IT. HE CLIMBS EASILY AND GETS HIS BOOK FROM
DANTE. VIRGIL WALKS ALONG THE WALL, SEES SOMETHING ON THE FAR SIDE AND LOOKS IN THE BOOK
FOR SOMETHING HE CAN’T QUITE REMEMBER FROM MORE THAN 1300 YEARS BEFORE. HE MAY WALK
OUT OF SIGHT.
DANTE PICKS UP HIS BOOK, BRUSHES IT OFF AND PUTS IT ON HIS BACK. HE STRUGGLES MANFULLY TO
CLIMB AND FAILS. HE PUTS HIS BOOK ON THE GROUND AGAIN AND JUST MAKES IT. PANTING ON TOP OF
THE WALL, HE REACHES DOWN. HIS HAND, OF COURSE, IS FAR SHORT OF THE BOOK.
BEATRICE MANIFESTS HERSELF UNDER A HEAVENLY SPOTLIGHT..◙ ..UNDER DANTE.
♫BEATRICE MOTIF? * * * * * * * * * *
SHE PLACES DANTE’S BOOK IN HIS HAND. HE SPEAKS WITH AUTOMATIC POLITENESS, GIVING A MEANING
SOMETHING LIKE “SO KIND”.
DANTE:
LA VITA NOVA 26 SONETTO / DANTE LA VITA NOVA 26 SONNET / MUSA
Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare Such sweet decorum and such gentle grace
HE LOOKS AT THE FACE BEHIND BEATRICE’S HAND AND SPEAKS WITH FERVOUR.
DANTE:
LA VITA NOVA 26 SONETTO / DANTE LA VITA NOVA 26 SONNET / MUSA
Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare Such sweet decorum and such gentle grace
BEATRICE VANISHES WITH HER SPOTLIGHT..◙ .. VIRGIL COMES BACK ALONG THE WALL AND FINDS
DANTE STILL PRONE.
VIRGIL:
INF C24 46-48 / DANTE INF C24 46-48 / KLINE
«Omai convien che tu così ti spoltre», The Master said: Now, you must free yourself
disse 'l maestro; «ché, seggendo in piuma, from sloth: men do not achieve fame, sitting
in fama non si vien, né sotto coltre; on down, or under coverlets; fame,
INF C24 49-51 / DANTE
sanza la qual chi sua vita consuma, without which whoever consumes his life
cotal vestigio in terra di sé lascia, leaves only such trace of himself, on earth,
qual fummo in aere e in acqua la schiuma. as smoke does in the air., or foam on water:
166
INF C24 52-54 / DANTE
E però leva sù; vinci l'ambascia so rise Rise, and overcome weariness with spirit,
con l'animo che vince ogne battaglia, that wins every battle,
se col suo grave corpo non s'accascia. if it does not lie down with the gross body.
INF C24 55-57 / DANTE
Più lunga scala convien che si saglia; A longer ladder must be climbed:
non basta da costoro esser partito. to have left these behind is not enough
Se tu mi 'ntendi, or fa sì che ti vaglia». if you understand me, act now so it may profit you.
DANTE STANDS UP.