Images out of Dante

Randy Klein

Images out of Dante

Randy Klein

la vista che m’apparve dun leone.Questi parea che contra me venissecon la test’alta e con rabbiiosa fame

Inferno Canto 1, 45-47

when the face of a lion appeared right in front of me, head high and with ravenous hunger

Ed una lupa, che di tutti bramesemiava carca nella sua magrezzae molte genti fe’ gia viver grame

Inferno Canto I, 49-51

And a wolf, emaciated,tormented by greedmany people have been ruined by her

I’ son Beatrice che ti faccio andare:vegno del loco over tornar disioamor mi mosse, che mi fa parlare.

Inferno Canto II, 70-72

I am Beatrice who urges you onI come from that place where I long to return, love moves me and makes me speak

I’ cominciai: “Poeta, volentieriperlerei a quei due che ‘nsieme vannoe paion si al vento esser leggieri

Inferno V, 73-75

I began, “Poet, I would love to speak to those two who go linked togetherand seem to float so lightly on the wind

Allor porsi la mano un poco avante,e colsi un ramicel da un gran prunoe ‘l tronco suo grido: “Perche me schiante?”

Inferno Canto XIII, 31-33

Then, reaching my hand forward, I broke off a branch from a large trunkand the trunk cried “ Why are you are you tearing me?”

La faccia sua era faccia d’uom giusto,tanto benigna avea di fuor la pesse,e d’un serpente tutto l’altro fusto

Inferno Canto XVII, 10-12

His face was of a kind man,glowing with kindnessthe rest of him was a serpent

Luogo e in inferno detto Malebolge,tutto di pietra di color ferrignocome la cerchia che dintorno il volge,

Inferno Canto XVIII. 1-3

This place in hell, called Malebolge,all of the stone was the colour of ironlike the cliff which circled above it

E Graffican, che li era piu di contrali arrunciglio le ‘mpegolate chiomee trassel su, che mi parve una lontra

Inferno Canto XXII, 34-36

and Graffican, in front of him,grabbed him by his hairand hoisted him out like a weasel

Poi s’appiccar, come di calda cerafossero stati e mischiar lor colorene l’un ne l’latro gia parea quel ch’era

Inferno Canto XXV, 61-63

Then both melting like hot waxbegan to mix their coloursand neither one nor the other was that which it had been

Lo maggior corno della fiamma anticacomicio a crollarsi mormorando,pur come quella cui vento affatica

Inferno Canto XXVI, 85-87

The largest peak of that ancient flamebegan to quiverlike a flame struggling against the wind

si che le bianche e le vermiglie guance,la dov’i’era, della bella Auroraper troppa etate divenivan rance

Purgatorio Canto II, 7-9

the white and vermillionthere, where I stood, was the beautiful dawnblushing from rose to orange

si che remo non vuol, ne altro veloche l’ali sue, tra liti si lontani.Vedi come l’ha dritte verso il cielo

Purgatorio Canto II 32-34

no other sails than his own wingsdid he need to take him afarLook, how towards the heavens they point

Li occhi miei chiotti andavan pur al cielo,pur la dove le stell son piu tarde,si come rota piu presso allo stelo

Purgatorio Canto VIII, 85-87

My eyes wandered to the heavensthere where the stars are slowestas in a wheel, closest to the hub