L ' I N F E R N O

VIRGIL CLOSES THE CANTO.
VIRGIL:
INF C25 136-138 / DANTE INF C25 136-138 / KLINE
L'anima ch'era fiera divenuta, The soul that had become a beast, sped,
suffolando si fugge per la valle, hissing, along the valley, leaving the other,
e l'altro dietro a lui parlando sputa. speaking and spluttering, behind him.
INF C25 139-141 / DANTE
Poscia li volse le novelle spalle, Then the second turned his new-won shoulders
e disse a l'altro: «I' vo' che Buoso corra, towards him, and called to the other: “Buoso
com' ho fatt' io, carpon per questo calle». shall crawl, as I did, along this road.”
INF C25 142-151 / KLINE
So I saw the seventh chasm’s bodies mutate and transmutate: and let the novelty of it be the excuse, if my pen has
gone astray. Though my sight was somewhat confused, and my mind dismayed, they could not flee so secretly, but
that I clearly saw Puccio Sciancato: and it was he, alone, of the three companions, who had first arrived, who was
not changed. One of the others, Francesco, was he who caused you, the people of Gaville, to weep.
CANTO 26
DARKNESS BEGINS TO FALL ON DANTE AND VIRGIL, STILL ON THE WALL. FLAMES MAY FLICKER FAINTLY
BEHIND IT.
DANTE: & DANTE:
INF C26 1-3 / DANTE INF C26 1-3 / KLINE
Godi, Fiorenza, poi che se' sì grande Rejoice, Florence, that, since you are so mighty,
che per mare e per terra batti l'ali, you beat your wings over land and sea,
e per lo 'nferno tuo nome si spande! and your name spreads through Hell itself.
177
INF C26 4-6 / DANTE
Tra li ladron trovai cinque cotali So, among Among the thieves, I found five of your
tuoi cittadini onde mi ven vergogna, citizens: at which I am ashamed, and you do not
e tu in grande orranza non ne sali. rise to great honour by it either.
INF C26 7-9 / DANTE
Ma se presso al mattin del ver si sogna, But if the truth is dreamed, as morning comes,
tu sentirai, di qua da picciol tempo, you will soon feel what Cardinal Nicholas of Prato,
di quel che Prato, non ch'altri, t'agogna. and others, wish on you.
PRATO: CARDINAL NICHOLAS OF PRATO, SENT TO FLORENCE BY POPE BENEDICT XI IN EARLY 1304 TO ATTEMPT A
RECONCILIATION BETWEEN THE WARRING FACTIONS. HE FAILED & LAID THE CITY UNDER AN INTERDICT, EXCOMMUNICATING
SEVERAL CITIZENS. SEVERAL LOCAL DISASTERS AT THE TIME, SUCH AS A FIRE (CAUSED BY A FACTIONAL FIGHT), DESTROYING
MANY HOUSES & A BRIDGE COLLAPSE DURING A MAY DAY FESTIVAL (THE WOODEN PONTE CARRAIA), WERE ATTRIBUTED TO
DIVINE DISAPPROVAL.
INF C26 10-12 / DANTE
E se già fosse, non saria per tempo. And, if it were come already, it would not be
Così foss' ei, da che pur esser dee! too soon: would it were so, now, as indeed it must
ché più mi graverà, com' più m'attempo. come, since it will trouble me more, the older I am.
INF C26 13-24 / KLINE
We left there, and my guide remounted by the stairs that the stones had made for us to descend, and drew me up:
and, following our solitary way, among the crags and splinters of the cliff, the foot made no progress without the
hand. I was saddened then, and sadden now, again, when I direct my mind to what I saw, and rein in my intellect,
more than I am used, so that it does not run where virtue would not guide it, and so that, if a good star, or some truer
power, has granted me the talent, I may not abuse the gift.
DANTE AND VIRGIL WALK ALONG THE WALL AND OFF THE STAGE.