Divina Commedia - Paradiso, Canto XI
Intra Tupino e l'acqua che discende
Del colle eletto del beato Ubaldo,
fertile costa s'altro monte pende,
onde Perugina sente freddo e caldo
da Porta Sole e diretro le piange
per grave giogo Nocera con Gualdo
di questa costa, là dov'ella frange
più sua rattezza, nacque al mondo un Sole
come fa questo talvolta il Gange.
Ma perché io non proceda troppo chiuso,
Francesco e Povertà per questi amanti
Prendi oramai nel mio parlar diffuso.
La lor concordia ed i lor lieti sembianti
Amore e maraviglia e dolci sguardi
Facano esser cagione di pensier santi:
tanto che'l venerabile Bernardo
si scalzò prima, e dietro a tanta pace
corse e, correndo, gli parve di esser tardo.
Né gli gravò viltà di cor le ciglia
Per esser figlio di Pietro Bernardone,
né per parer dispetto a maraviglia;
ma regalmente sua dura intenzione
ad Innocenzio aperse, e da lui ebbe
primo sigillo a sua religione.
Poi che la gente poverella crebbe
Dietro a costui, la cui mirabil vita
Meglio in gloria del ciel si canterebbe.
E poi che, per la sete del martiro,
nella presenza del Soldan superba
predicò Cristo e gli altri che'l seguiro.
………………………………………
Nel crudo sasso intra Tevere ed Arno
Da Cristo prese l'ultimo sigillo.
Quando a Colui ch'a tanto ben sortillo
Piacque di trarlo suso alla mercede
Ch'el meritò nel farsi pusillo
Ai frati suoi, com'a giusta rede,
raccomandò la donna sua più cara,
e comandò che l'amassero a fede;
e dal suo grembo l'anima preclara
mover si volle, tornando al suo regno,
ed al suo corpo non volle altra bara.
Divine Comedy - Paradise, Canto XI
Between Tupino and the descending water
Of the chosen hill of the blessed Ubaldo,
a fertile slope hangs from another mountain,
where Perugia feels both cold and hot
from Porta Sole and behind it mourns
under the heavy yoke of Nocera with Gualdo.
On this slope, where it breaks its steepness the most,
a Sun was born into the world
as the Ganges does sometimes.
But so that I do not proceed too closed off,
Francis and Poverty for these lovers
Take now in my extended speech.
Their harmony and their joyful appearances
Love and wonder and sweet glances
Make them the cause of holy thoughts:
so much so that the venerable Bernard
first took off his shoes, and behind such peace
he ran and, running, he felt he was slow.
Neither the lashes of his eyelids weighed heavily on his courage
for being the son of Pietro Bernardone,
nor to appear disrespectful to wonder;
but royally he opened his hard intention
to Innocent, and from him he received
the first seal of his religion.
Then, when the poor people grew
behind him, whose marvelous life
would be sung better in the glory of heaven.
And then, driven by the thirst for martyrdom,
in the presence of the proud Soldan
he preached Christ and the others who followed him.
……………………………………
In the harsh rock between Tiber and Arno
He took the final seal from Christ.
When to Him who so well ordained
it pleased to draw him up to the reward
that he deserved in humbling himself
to his brothers, as a just reward,
he commended his dearest lady,
and commanded that they love her faithfully;
and from her womb the illustrious soul
wanted to move, returning to his kingdom,
and did not want any other shroud for his body.