Elias Thorn VRT0
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Dante · Paradiso XXVI.124–138

124The language I spoke had died out completely

125before the people of Nimrod turned

126to the work that could never be completed:

127for no product of reason

128has ever endured forever, because human preferences change,

129following the heavens.

130It is natural for a human being to speak;

131but whether in this way or that, nature leaves

132you to do as you please.

133Before I descended into the anguish of hell,

134“I” was the earthly name of the highest good,

135from which comes the joy that surrounds me;

136later it was called “El”; and that is fitting,

137for the custom of mortals is like a leaf

138on a branch: one departs and another comes.

Italian original · lines 124–138

124 La lingua ch’io parlai fu tutta spenta 125 innanzi che a l’ovra inconsummabile 126 fosse la gente di Nembròt attenta: 127 ché nullo effetto mai razïonabile, 128 per lo piacere uman che rinovella 129 seguendo il cielo, sempre fu durabile. 130 Opera naturale è ch'uom favella; 131 ma così o così, natura lascia 132 poi fare a voi secondo che v'abbella. 133 Pria ch’i’ scendessi a l’infernale ambascia, 134 I s’appellava in terra il sommo bene 135 onde vien la letizia che mi fascia; 136 e El si chiamò poi: e ciò convene, 137 ché l’uso d’i mortali è come fronda 138 in ramo, che sen va e altra vene.

Reading notes

In this scene, Adam answers Dante’s question about his language. The poem distinguishes the human ability to speak from the changing words people use. Even the name of the highest good is subject to changing custom.

The poem distinguishes the capacity for speech from historically changing languages. Adam’s answer belongs to the world of the poem; it does not by itself establish the history of human language.

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