Io non so ben ridir com’ i’ v’intrai,
How I came there I cannot really tell,
tant’ era pien di sonno a quel punto
I was so full of sleep
che la verace via abbandonai.
when I forsook the one true way.
Ma poi ch’i’ fui al piè d’un colle giunto,
But when I reached the foot of a hill,
là dove terminava quella valle
there where the valley ended
che m’avea di paura il cor compunto,
that had pierced my heart with fear,
guardai in alto e vidi le sue spalle
looking up, I saw its shoulders
vestite già de’ raggi del pianeta
arrayed in the first light of the planet
che mena dritto altrui per ogne calle.
that leads men straight, no matter what their road.
You’re right, of course, but the only other bit I’ve written on this one is Paolo and Francesca’s story…