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Ed elli a me: "La grave condizione |
115 |
And he answered: 'The grave nature
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di lor tormento a terra li rannicchia, |
116 |
of their torment contorts their bodies to a crouch,
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sì che ' miei occhi pria n'ebber tencione. |
117 |
so that at first my eyes were undecided.
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Ma guarda fiso là, e disviticchia |
118 |
'But look closer, disentangle
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col viso quel che vien sotto a quei sassi: |
119 |
the figures bent beneath them from the stones.
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già scorger puoi come ciascun si picchia." |
120 |
Then you can see how each one beats his breast.'
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O superbi cristian, miseri lassi, |
121 |
O vainglorious Christians, miserable wretches!
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che, de la vista de la mente infermi, |
122 |
Sick in the visions engendered in your minds,
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fidanza avete ne' retrosi passi, |
123 |
you put your trust in backward steps.
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non v'accorgete voi che noi siam vermi |
124 |
Do you not see that we are born as worms,
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nati a formar l'angelica farfalla, |
125 |
though able to transform into angelic butterflies
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che vola a la giustizia sanza schermi? |
126 |
that unimpeded soar to justice?
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Di che l'animo vostro in alto galla, |
127 |
What makes your mind rear up so high?
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poi siete quasi antomata in difetto, |
128 |
You are, as it were, defective creatures,
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sì come vermo in cui formazion falla? |
129 |
like the unformed worm, shaped from the mud.
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Come per sostentar solaio o tetto, |
130 |
To hold up roof or ceiling, as a corbel does,
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per mensola talvolta una figura |
131 |
we sometimes see a crouching figure,
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si vede giugner le ginocchia al petto, |
132 |
its knees pushed up against its chest,
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la qual fa del non ver vera rancura |
133 |
and that unreal depiction may arouse
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nascere 'n chi la vede; così fatti |
134 |
in him who sees it real distress,
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vid' io color, quando puosi ben cura. |
135 |
such were these shapes when I could make them out.
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