La Lingua Italiana

“Ed ella i passi vostri in bene avanzi,”
ricominciò il cortese portinaio:
“Venite dunque a' nostri gradi innanzi.”

“And may she speed your footsteps in all good,”
Again began the courteous janitor;
“Come forward then unto these stairs of ours.”

— Purgatorio, Canto IX, lines 91–93

Era già l’ora che volge il disio
ai navicanti e ’ntenerisce il core
lo dì c’han detto ai dolci amici addio;
e che lo novo peregrin d’amore
punge, se ode squilla di lontano
che paia il giorno pianger che si more;

It was already the hour that turns back desire
in sailors, and softens their hearts,
the day on which they have said farewell to their sweet friends;
and which pierces the new pilgrim with love,
if he hears the distant bell
that seems to mourn the dying day.

— Purgatorio, Canto VIII, lines 1–6

"Molti han giustizia in cuore, e tardi scocca
per non venir sanza consiglio all'arco;
ma il popol tuo l'ha in sommo della bocca."

“Many have justice at heart, and the arrow is slow to be loosed,
for it does not come without consideration to the bow;
but thy people have it on the tip of the tongue.”

— Purgatorio, Canto VI, lines 130–132 (about Florence)

"ed in ciò m' ha el fatto a sè piú pio"

“and by this he has made me more compassionate with him”

— Inferno, Canto XXIX

"Io non so chi tu se' nè per che modo
venuto se' qua giù;"

“I know not who thou art nor by what means
thou hast come down here.”

— Inferno, Canto XXXIII, lines 10–11