Necessity brings him here, not pleasure.
[Necessità ‘l ci ‘nduce, e non diletto.]
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet
The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 1 “Inferno,” Canto 12, l. 87 (12.87) [Virgil] (1309) [tr. Sinclair (1939)]
(Source)
Explaining why a living mortal is wandering around Hell. (Source (Italian)). Alternate translations:Necessity, not Choice, has brought him here.
[tr. Rogers (1782)]'Twas fate compell'd him, no profane delight.
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 13]Thereto induc’d
By strict necessity, not by delight.
[tr. Cary (1814)]Nor pleasure draws us, but necessity.
[tr. Dayman (1843)]Necessity brings him to it, and not sport.
[tr. Carlyle (1849)]Necessity the cause, and not delight.
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]Necessity compels him, not delight.
[tr. Johnston (1867)]Necessity, and not delight, impels us.
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]Necessity leads us on, and not enjoyment.
[tr. Butler (1885)]Necessity compels us, not delight.
[tr. Minchin (1885)]Necessity brings him hither and not delight.
[tr. Norton (1892)]Necessity, not pastime, bringeth him to it.
[tr. Sullivan (1893)]Necessity doth bring him here, not pastime.
[tr. Griffith (1908)]Necessity brings him to it, and not whim.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]Necessity brings him here, not sport nor jest.
[tr. Sayers (1949)]Fate brings him here, not curiosity.
[tr. Ciardi (1954)]Necessity brings him to it, and not sport.
[tr. Singleton (1970)]He travels by necessity, not pleasure.
[tr. Musa (1971)]Necessity has brought him here, not not pleasure.
[tr. Mandelbaum (1980)]It is because he must come, not for amusement.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]It is necessity,
And not pleasure, that puts him on this road.
[tr. Pinsky (1994), ll. 80-81]Necessity induces us, and not pleasure.
[tr. Durling (1996)]Necessity brings him here, and not desire.
[tr. Kline (2002)]Necessity, not pleasure, leads us on.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2006)]Necessity compels us, not delight.
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]He is brought
Here by necessity, not pleasure.
[tr. James (2013)]
