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in lui di ragionarmi ancora alquanto. |
27 |
to share some further thoughts with me. |
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El cominciò: "In questa quinta soglia |
28 |
And he began: 'On this fifth tier of the branches |
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de l'albero che vive de la cima |
29 |
of the tree that draws its sustenance from above |
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e frutta sempre e mai non perde foglia, |
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and always is in fruit and never sheds its leaves |
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spiriti son beati, che giù, prima |
31 |
'are blessèd spirits who below, on earth, |
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che venissero al ciel, fuor di gran voce, |
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before they rose to Heaven, were of such renown |
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sì ch'ogne musa ne sarebbe opima. |
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that any poet's page would be enriched by them. |
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Però mira ne' corni de la croce: |
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'Look, therefore, at the two arms of the cross, |
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quello ch'io nomerò, lì farà l'atto |
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and each one whom I name will, flashing, dart |
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che fa in nube il suo foco veloce." |
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as does swift fire from within a cloud.' |
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Io vidi per la croce un lume tratto |
37 |
I saw a streak of light drawn through the cross |
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dal nomar Iosuè, com' el si feo; |
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at Joshua's name as soon as it was spoken, |
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né mi fu noto il dir prima che 'l fatto. |
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nor could I tell the naming and the deed apart. |
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E al nome de l'alto Macabeo |
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And, at the name of valorous Maccabaeus, |
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vidi moversi un altro roteando, |
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I saw shoot by another whirling light -- |
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e letizia era ferza del paleo. |
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and it was joy that whipped that spinning top. |
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Così per Carlo Magno e per Orlando |
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My watchful gaze was fastened |
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due ne seguì lo mio attento sguardo, |
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on Charlemagne and Roland there, as well, |
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com' occhio segue suo falcon volando. |
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just as the eye pursues the falcon in its flight. |
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Poscia trasse Guiglielmo e Rinoardo |
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William, Renouard, and then Duke Godfrey |
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e 'l duca Gottifredi la mia vista |
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next drew my eyes along that cross, |
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per quella croce, e Ruberto Guiscardo. |
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and Robert Guiscard also did so. |
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Indi, tra l'altre luci mota e mista, |
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Then, leaving me to mingle with the other lights, |
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mostrommi l'alma che m'avea parlato |
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the soul who'd spoken last with me displayed |
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qual era tra i cantor del cielo artista. |
51 |
his artistry among the singers of that heaven. |
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Io mi rivolsi dal mio destro lato |
52 |
I turned to my right to learn |
