Buondì.
Thanks to everyone who wrote in about Dante, mostly saying that they thought the new material is a great idea, despite being difficult.
Today we have extracts from Canto III and, hey, I surprised myself by actually being able to figure out the original Italian!
Well, most of it, though only the extracts – not the whole thing… Still, maybe it’ll get easier with practice?
Ed ecco verso noi venir per nave
un vecchio, bianco per antico pelo,
gridando: “Guai a voi, anime prave!
Non isperate mai veder lo cielo:
i’ vegno per menarvi a l’altra riva…”
Dante and Virgil have arrived at the River Styx and are awaiting the ferry to cross over into hell.
The ferryman, Charon, shouts out to the dead souls waiting on the near bank (each clutching a coin to pay him):
“You guys are in it now,” or words to that effect
“You’ve seen the sky for the last time!”
Followed by an evil cackle!
Which segues into a severe smoker’s cough, causing Charon to cling on to his pole for a moment, the ferry pausing mid-river as he gasps for air.
“Wow,” says one of the dead to another, “Must be really smoky over there!”
Fun stuff, indeed.
Here are the links to the first three cantos:
Canto I | Canto II | Canto III
A question for you: shall we keep going with this?
I have to tell Francesca, the writer (and online teacher):
“Go!”
or…
“Don’t go!”
Insomma, I have a budget for this sort of thing, profits from selling ebooks and online lessons that I’ve promised to reinvest.
But there’s no point in wasting money if people aren’t interested. Or if it’s too hard.
Vote in the usual way, by commenting on this article or emailing me.
If we want Canto IV on Monday, I need to tell Francesca ASAP.
P.S.
Did you listen to Thursday’s bulletin of ‘easy’ Italian news?
If so, you’re way ahead of me. Bravi!
I was traveling yesterday, British Airways from Bologna to London Heathrow (and no queues at immigration!)
We’re now in Cornwall, in the UK, on ‘holiday’. You could tell, I expect.
But I should have time to catch up – besides EIN, I’ve got days’ worth of Swedish to listen to!
A lunedì allora.
Leyla Asli Oysul says
Che fortuna! Abbiamo una grande occasione di leggere la storia ed i testi di Dante brevemente con gli esempi scelti ed anche tradotti in inglese. Grazie mille a voi per quest’edizione . Inoltre è il prodotto della mia cara insegnante Francesca e sono orgogliosa di studiare con lei. Le spiegazioni all’inizio di ciascun canto mi trascinano direttamente nell’argomento e non vedo l’ora di leggere gli altri testi. Mi sono chiesta come sarà la periodicità e sono molto contenta di poterle leggere tre volte alla settimana.
Barbara Moss says
The Dante is great! Please continue with them.
Patricia Hill says
I really like the new Canto series. Knowing more about Italian culture and early literature is for me a part of learning Italian.
These extracts make it accessible and allow comparing the old language against modern Italian and then the English.
Please let Francesca continue the good work.
Dorothy King says
My Italian is elementary but even I am finding something to understand. I’m enjoying it, so would love it to continue!
Wilma says
Mi Piace molto i canti di Dante. Per favore continua!
Salute di un veramente caldo Olanda
Lucia says
I’m in favor of the Dante, but even when I read it in English, one Canto a week was all I could handle, so this is going too fast for me.
Jackie says
Sì, sì, sì. Continua con l’articoli da Dante per favore. Mi piace molto, anche Easy Italian News!
Grazie per entrambe.
Patricia A. Lenz says
Excellent! Thanks for the segue into approachable Dante in the original. This material is a bonus for my Italian studies. I am looking forward to your continuing the series; up to now, I have read a little Dante only English translations. Thanks!
Donna says
Please continue ti prego! When I was in university molti anni fa I vowed that one day I would read La Commedia Divina in the original one day. Now I am retired with plenty of free time to do that. I admit I’m a huge nerd but I can’t tell you how delighted I am that you are doing this. Along with the EIN feature your site is well worth a subscription fee.
Angela Sprotte says
Ilike it very much ,but suspect that there are not enough hours in the day to keep up with it
Barbara Urwin says
Yes, please continue. I read some of it many years ago on the online course ‘About Italian’ but started half way through and I would very much like to start at the beginning. Thank you for thinking of this brilliant idea.
I also appreciate your ‘News in Italian’ very much.
Mrs Zsuzsanna Snarey says
Sono molto entusiasta di poter leggere Dante con spiegazioni di Francesca. Spero di avere qualche lezione con lei quando tornera dalle vacanze
Alan Falcon says
As I mentioned earlier in the week, this type of cultural activity is great for students learning Italian. I think it is important to have a grasp of Italy’s culture. So please continue this series.
Kathy Ward says
Si, prego, più di Dante, Daniel e Francesca!
Dante is, well, daunting. But thanks to Francesca’s excellent work, I’m finding him also approachable and interesting. Thank you for doing this!
I also love the idea of this sort of thing – every culture has its own “secret handshakes” that are hard for outsiders to even recognize, let alone become acquainted with. Dante is one of Italy’s. Looking forward to whatever comes next!
Carole Scambray says
I like the format of explanation, original, and interpretation.
And each reading is short enough to handle . Keep it up.
Melissa says
Per favore continua! Although my spoken Italian is still pretty rudimentary, with my knowledge of Latin and Spanish these are really enjoyable. The reason I study languages is to read the great literature written in the original, and these are a great step along the way
Claire says
Grazie Daniel – a Francesca. Molto interessante, please continue!
William Carmichael-Davis says
Ciao, Daniel
Mi piace il Dante ma mi sento in colpevole perché non pago per questo.
Quindi capisco se lo finisci.
Dante è difficile ma mi piacciono le cose difficili.
Ciao Daniel
Rachel Belgrave says
Yes please ! Keep going it’s excellent we love it
Rachel
Catherine says
Mi piace molto ‘easy news’. Dante e molto difficile per me al momento. Grazie mille. C
Caroline Kalsheker says
Por favore continua. Credo che sia molto importante leggere un libro così importante sia culturalmente sia del prospettivo literature. I spiegazioni sono chiara e ben fatto. Grazie.
Renee Bosma says
I find it very interesting. So please continue.
Eivor Quentzer says
Jättebra idé, fortsätt absolut
Hälsningar Eivor Quentzer i
Stockholm
Rosemary Sheel says
Yes! Continue with Dante. I think it is good to have new topics to stimulate us to keep studying.