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Io fui uom d'arme, e poi fui cordigliero, |
67 |
'A warrior was I, and then a corded friar, |
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credendomi, sì cinto, fare ammenda; |
68 |
thinking, cinctured so, to make amends. |
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e certo il creder mio venìa intero, |
69 |
And surely would my hopes have come to pass |
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se non fosse il gran prete, a cui mal prenda!, |
70 |
'but for the Great Priest -- the devil take him! -- |
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che mi rimise ne le prime colpe; |
71 |
who drew me back to my old ways. |
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e come e quare, voglio che m'intenda. |
72 |
And I would like to tell you how and why. |
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Mentre ch'io forma fui d'ossa e di polpe |
73 |
'While I still kept the form in flesh and bones |
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che la madre mi diè, l'opere mie |
74 |
my mother gave me, my deeds were not |
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non furon leonine, ma di volpe. |
75 |
a lion's but the actions of a fox. |
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Li accorgimenti e le coperte vie |
76 |
'Cunning stratagems and covert schemes, |
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io seppi tutte, e sì menai lor arte, |
77 |
I knew them all, and was so skilled in them |
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ch'al fine de la terra il suono uscie. |
78 |
my fame rang out to the far confines of the earth. |
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Quando mi vidi giunto in quella parte |
79 |
'When I saw I had reached that stage of life |
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di mia etade ove ciascun dovrebbe |
80 |
when all men ought to think |
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calar le vele e raccoglier le sarte, |
81 |
of lowering sail and coiling up the ropes, |
