L ' I N F E R N O

198
HE HITS ADAMO IN THE STOMACH AGAIN. THE TWO CONTINUE TO PUNCTUATE THEIR
QUARREL WITH CONTRASTING BLOWS, WHICH BECOME RHYTHM FOR DANTE’S MENTAL
COMPOSITION OF THE TANTO GENTILE... SONNET. HE STARES INTO SPACE, HIS BACK TO THE
AUDIENCE, AND MARKS THE METRICAL FEET WITH A HAND.
ADAMO OF BRESCIA (VOICE):
INF C30 112-114 / DANTE INF C30 112-114 / KLINE
E l'idropico: Tu di' ver di questo: And he of the dropsy: You speak truth in that,
ma tu non fosti sì ver testimonio but you were not so truthful a witness, there,
là 've del ver fosti a Troia richesto. when you were questioned about the truth at Troy.
SINON (VOICE):
INF C30 115-117 / DANTE INF C30 115-117 / KLINE
S'io dissi falso, e tu falsasti il conio, If I spoke falsely, you falsified the coin,
disse Sinon; e son qui per un fallo, Sinon said, and I am here for the one crime,
e tu per più ch'alcun altro demonio! but you for more than any other devil.
ADAMO OF BRESCIA (VOICE):
INF C30 118-120 / DANTE INF C30 118-120 / KLINE
Ricorditi, spergiuro, del cavallo, He who had the swollen belly answered:
rispuose quel ch'avëa infiata l'epa; Think of the Wooden Horse, you liar, and let it be
e sieti reo che tutto il mondo sallo! a torment to you that all the world knows of it.
SINON (VOICE):
INF C30 121-123 / DANTE INF C30 121-123 / KLINE
E te sia rea la sete onde ti crepa, The Greek replied: Let the thirst that cracks the
disse 'l Greco, la lingua, e l'acqua marcia tongue be your torture, and the foul water make
che 'l ventre innanzi a li occhi sì t'assiepa! your stomach a barrier in front of your eyes.
ADAMO OF BRESCIA (VOICE):
INF C30 124-126 / DANTE INF C30 124-126 / KLINE
Allora il monetier: Così si squarcia Then the coiner: Your mouth gapes wide as usual,
la bocca tua per tuo mal come suole; to speak ill. If I have a thirst, and moisture
ché, s'i' ho sete e omor mi rinfarcia, swells me, you have the burning,
INF C30 127-129 / DANTE
tu hai l'arsura e 'l capo che ti duole, and a head that hurts you: and you would
e per leccar lo specchio di Narcisso, not need many words of invitation,
non vorresti a 'nvitar molte parole. to lap at the mirror of Narcissus.
VIRGIL RETURNS AND FACES DANTE.
VIRGIL:
INF C30 130-132 / DANTE INF C30 130-132 / KLINE
Ad ascoltarli er' io del tutto fisso, I was standing, all intent on hearing them,
quando 'l maestro mi disse: Or pur mira, when the Master said to me: Now, keep gazing
che per poco che teco non mi risso! much longer, and I will quarrel with you!
INF C30 133-135 / KLINE
When I heard him speak to me in anger, I turned towards him, with such a feeling of shame that it comes over me
again, as I only think of it.
DANTE STARTS. HE SPEAKS TO VIRGIL (UNHEARD BY THE AUDIENCE) THEN TURNS TO THE
AUDIENCE, PERHAPS MAKING A NOTE IN HIS BOOK. HE SPEAKS AS ONE ASHAMED.