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così per entro loro schiera bruna |
34 |
just as, within their dark-hued files,
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s'ammusa l'una con l'altra formica, |
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one ant will put its face up to the other's,
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forse a spïar lor via e lor fortuna. |
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perhaps to inquire of his path and fortune.
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Tosto che parton l'accoglienza amica, |
37 |
When they have ceased their friendly greeting,
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prima che 'l primo passo lì trascorra, |
38 |
before they take a new step to continue,
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sopragridar ciascuna s'affatica: |
39 |
each one makes an effort to outshout the rest. |
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la nova gente: "Soddoma e Gomorra"; |
40 |
The new ones cry: 'Sodom and Gomorrah!'
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e l'altra: "Ne la vacca entra Pasife, |
41 |
and the others: 'Pasiphaë crawls into the cow
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perché 'l torello a sua lussuria corra." |
42 |
so that the bull may hasten to her lust.'
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Poi, come grue ch'a le montagne Rife |
43 |
Then, as though cranes were flying, some toward
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volasser parte, e parte inver' l'arene, |
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cool Riphaean mountains and some toward desert sands,
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queste del gel, quelle del sole schife, |
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these shunning frost and those the sun,
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l'una gente sen va, l'altra sen vene; |
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the one crowd goes, the other nears, |
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e tornan, lagrimando, a' primi canti |
47 |
and all return, weeping, to their former song |
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e al gridar che più lor si convene; |
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and to the cry that most befits them. |