O endless wrath of God: how utterly thou shouldst become a terror to all men who read the frightful truths revealed to me!
[O vendetta di Dio, quanto tu dei esser temuta da ciascun che legge ciò che fu manifesto a li occhi mei!]
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) Italian poet The Divine Comedy [Divina Commedia], Book 1 “Inferno,” Canto 14, l. 16ff (14.16-18) (1309) [tr. Ciardi (1954), l. 13ff]
(Source)
On entering the Seventh Circle, third ring, and seeing flames drifting down from the sky, landing on the damned trapped there (blasphemers, sodomites, usurers).
O Vengeance dire of God, how much you should By ev'ry one be dreaded, when he reads What to my eyes was manifestly shewn!
[tr. Rogers (1782)]
Vengeance of Heav'n! I saw thy hand severe (Your doom! ye Atheists and Blasphemers, hear!) O'er many a naked soul the scourge display!
[tr. Boyd (1802), st. 4]
Vengeance of Heav’n! Oh! how shouldst thou be fear’d
By all, who read what here my eyes beheld!
[tr. Cary (1814)]
O vengeance of the Eternal! how ought they Who read the tale, thy workings mark with awe, In that my troubled eyes did here survey!
[tr. Dayman (1843)]
O vengeance of God! how shouldst thou be feared by every one who reads what was revealed to my eyes!
[tr. Carlyle (1849)]
Avenging power of God! how should each fear, Who reads of this, arresting with surprise, The sight which manfestly met mine eyes!
[tr. Bannerman (1850)]
Oh, God's great vengeance! with what heavy dread Thou should'st be fear'd by ev'ry one who reads What to mine eyes so manifest was made!
[tr. Johnston (1867), l. 16ff]
Vengeance of God, O how much oughtest thou By each one to be dreaded, who doth read That which was manifest unto mine eyes!
[tr. Longfellow (1867)]
O vengeance of God, how oughtest thou to be feared by each one who reads that which was manifested to my eyes!
[tr. Butler (1885)]
O vengeance of great God! with what a fear Thou shouldst be held by all who read in awe That which before my eyes was visibly clear!
[tr. Minchin (1885)]
O vengeance of God, how much thou oughtest to be feared by every one who readeth that which was manifest unto mine eyes!
[tr. Norton (1892)]
O Vengeance of God, how mightily shouldst thou be feared by all who read that which was given mine eyes to look upon!
[tr. Sullivan (1893)]
Vengeance of God! In what great fear and trembling Should'st thou be held by each who reads the story Of that which to my eyes was manifested.
[tr. Griffith (1908)]
O vengeance of God, how must thou be feared by everyone who reads what was plain before my eyes!
[tr. Sinclair (1939)]
O chastisement of God, how oughtest thou To be of each one feared who reads with awe What to my eyes was manifested now.
[tr. Binyon (1943)]
Fearful indeed art thou, vengeance of God! He that now reads what mine own eyes with awe Plainly beheld, well may he dread thy rod!
[tr. Sayers (1949)]
O vengeance of God, how much should you be feared by all who read what was revealed to my eyes!
[tr. Singleton (1970)]
O just revenge of God! how awesomely you should be feared by everyone who reads these truths that were revealed to my own eyes!
[tr. Musa (1971)]
O vengeance of the Lord, how you should be dreaded by everyone who now can read whatever was made manifest to me!
[tr. Mandelbaum (1980)]
O vengeance of God, how much you ought To be feared by everyone who reads What was there manifested to my eyes.
[tr. Sisson (1981)]
O vengeance of God, how much
Should you be feared by all of those who read
What my eyes saw!
[tr. Pinsky (1994)]
O vengeance of God, how much must you be feared by everyone who reads what was made manifest to my eyes!
[tr. Durling (1996)]
O God’s vengeance, how what was shown to my sight should be feared, by all who read!
[tr. Kline (2002)]
Great God! Your vengeance must be rightly feared by all who read the verses I compose to say what there was straight before my eyes.
[tr. Kirkpatrick (2006)]
O vengeance of God, how much should you be feared by all who read what now I saw revealed before my eyes!
[tr. Hollander/Hollander (2007)]
But O God's awful vengeance! Reading this, You all should tremble with fear for what my eyes Were shown, dark and terrible, a burning brilliance!
[tr. Raffel (2010)]
Holy Vengeance, how you must
Be feared by all who read what now I saw!
[tr. James (2013)]
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