Raphèl maí amèche zabí almi

Raphèl maí amèche zabí almi is a verse written by Dante Alighieri in Canto XXXI, line 67, in his epic poem Divine Comedy. The verse is shouted out by Nimrod, who is a giant in the epic poem, but not one in Biblical texts. He is portrayed as one due to the similarities between him and the Giant's revolt, punished and banished to the Giants' Well.[1] Some internet sources regard the verse as a mixture of Hebrew and Arabic.[2] The strophe with the verse and the following five, in original Italian and English reads:

"Raphèl maì amècche zabì almi,"
cominciò a gridar la fiera bocca,
cui non si convenia più dolci salmi.

E 'l duca mio ver' lui: "Anima sciocca,
tienti col corno, e con quel ti disfoga
quand' ira o altra passïon ti tocca!

Cércati al collo, e troverai la soga
che 'l tien legato, o anima confusa,
e vedi lui che 'l gran petto ti doga."

Poi disse a me: "Elli stessi s'accusa;
questi è Nembrotto per lo cui mal coto
pur un linguaggio nel mondo non s'usa.

Lasciànlo stare e non parliamo a vòto;
ché così è a lui ciascun linguaggio
come 'l suo ad altrui, ch'a nullo è noto."[3]

"Raphèl maì amècche zabì almi,"
the savage mouth, for which no sweeter
psalms were fit, began to shout.

And, in response, my leader: 'You muddled soul,
stick to your horn! Vent yourself with that
when rage or other passion takes you.

"Search at your neck, you creature of confusion,
and you will find the rope that holds the horn
aslant your mammoth chest.'

Then he to me: 'He is his own accuser.
This is Nimrod, because of whose vile plan
the world no longer speaks a single tongue.

"Let us leave him and not waste our speech,
for every language is to him as his
to others, and his is understood by none."[3]

Note the similarity to Papé Satàn, papé Satàn aleppe. Both verses are exclamations of anger ("when rage or other passion takes you.") and both are shouted out by demons.

References

  1. ^ (in Swedish) Den gudomliga komedin (Divine Comedy), comments by Ingvar Björkesson. Levande Litteratur. www.nok.se. p. 425. ISBN 9789127114685. 
  2. ^ http://www.englishdante.com/Chapters/conto31.htm
  3. ^ a b http://etcweb.princeton.edu/dante/pdp/
Works in Latin
Works in Italian
Divina Commedia
Characters of
Divina Commedia
Insights
In popular culture
  • Book:Dante Alighieri
  • Category:The Divine Comedy
  • Portal:Literature