L ' I N F E R N O

201
INF C31 28-30 / DANTE
Poi caramente mi prese per mano Then he took me, lovingly, by the hand, and said:
e disse: «Pria che noi siam più avanti, Before we go further, so that the reality
acciò che 'l fatto men ti paia strano, might seem less strange to you,
INF C31 31-33 / DANTE
sappi che non son torri, ma giganti, know that they are Giants, not towers,
e son nel pozzo intorno da la ripa and are in the pit, from the navel downwards,
da l'umbilico in giuso tutti quanti». all of them, around its bank.
♫INFERNAL * * * * * * * * * *
INF C31 33
THEY STEP TOWARDS THE BLACKNESS. DANTE PEERS AND SPEAKS. VIRGIL INTERPRETS
OR TELLS WHAT HE SEES HIMSELF.
INF C31 34-39 / KLINE
As the eye, when a mist is disappearing, gradually recreates what was hidden by the vapour thickening the air, so,
while approaching closer and closer to the brink, piercing through that gross, dark atmosphere, error left me, and my
fear increased.
DANTE: & VIRGIL:
INF C31 40-42 / DANTE INF C31 40-42 / KLINE
però che, come su la cerchia tonda As Montereggione crowns its round wall
Montereggion di torri si corona, with towers, so the terrible giants,
così la proda che 'l pozzo circonda whom Jupiter still threatens
INF C31 43-45 / DANTE
torreggiavan di mezza la persona from the heavens, when he thunders,
li orribili giganti, cui minaccia turreted with half their bodies
Giove del cielo ancora quando tuona. the bank that circles the well.
THE BLACKNESS DISSIPATES AND EUTERPE, THE SECOND-SMALLEST MUSE, IS REVEALED.
DANTE:
INF C31 46-48 / DANTE INF C31 46-48 / KLINE
E io scorgeva già d'alcun la faccia, And I already saw the face of one, the shoulders,
le spalle e 'l petto e del ventre gran parte, chest, the greater part of the belly,
e per le coste giù ambo le braccia. and the arms down both sides.
INF C31 49-51 / DANTE
Natura certo, quando lasciò l'arte When nature abandoned the art of making
di sì fatti animali, assai fé bene creatures like these, she certainly did well
per tòrre tali essecutori a Marte. by removing such killers from warfare,
INF C31 52-54 / DANTE
E s'ella d'elefanti e di balene and if she does not repent of making
non si pente, chi guarda sottilmente, elephants and whales, whoever looks at the issue
più giusta e più discreta la ne tene; subtly, considers her more prudent and more
right in that,
INF C31 55-57 / DANTE
ché dove l'argomento de la mente since where the instrument of mind
s'aggiugne al mal volere e a la possa, is joined to ill will and power,
nessun riparo vi può far la gente. men have no defence against it.