Stars (Canto XXXIV: I Lucifero, II Cosmo, III Finally Ascendant) Lyrics

I Lucifero

Behold Dite !
this is the place where you'd better
with fortitude must arm thyself
I then raised my eyes, the vision was there

They arrive to Dite, infernal city where there is the sixth ring
The emperor
of the kingdom dolorous
gigantic was in front of me
I did not die, and not I remained alive

Dante and Virgilio get close to Lucifero: a majestic figure stuck in ice
Without forces I got along
Toiling without words in silence,
my mind staggered in a storm of emotions,
nightmares petrified me

Dante’s reaction to the sight of Lucifero

"Vexilla Regis Prodeunt Inferni"

Literal latin quote
lord of hell is here
majestic rises from the ice
with regality
like a tower
three faces on his head

lord of hell is here
deceiver, fallen from the sky
pulsing core of pain
beaten by god
immortal evil/demon

Description of the sight of Lucifero


II Cosmo

Before leaving hell,
without any rest,
and walking right
into that hidden road
to return to the bright world

And Ere from the abyss
I tear myself away
I feel the urge to ask
my guide for answers …

Just before leaving hell, Dante feels the urge of asking Virgilio some questions
Thus I said my Lead:
"Where is the ice?
How is he kept
Stuck upside down?
And how the sun
made its day path in
such a short time? "

These are the three questions Dante’s asking his guide
Now we are beneath the hemispere
and we pass the point
to which things heavy
with great force draw from every side

Here it is morning when it's eve there
The beast is still
Fixed the way he was
Cast off and fallen from the skies

Virgilio answers Dante: he says they have passed the Earth’s centre and will exit on the other side, so night and day are inverted


III Finally Ascendant

Below There's a place
Which is Known not by the sight
But by The sound of a small river

Description of the scene around, the slowly ascent for leaving hell
Gushing from the stone eroded
and just slightly falls

Me and my Master Without care
Forever leave hell to rebehold the stars

Forever Leaving Hell

"E quindi uscimmo a riveder le stelle."

Literal quote
forever leave hell
rising to the heavens
eyes towards the blue
to return to the bright world
turn my back to pain
aiming to the everlasting love
fill my heart with light
like a sky full of stars
finally ascendant