Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Antero de Quental

DIVINE COMEDY

Lifting their arms to the heavens on high
And addressing the invisible gods,
The men cry out, “Immovable gods,
Who gains from invincible fate? Why

Did you create us?! Time unfurls
Relentlessly, and all it breeds
Is pain, illusion, strife, foul deeds,
In a cruel and delirious whirl. . .

Wouldn’t it have been better for us
To remain in the peace of pre-matter,
In the eternal sleep of nothingness?

Why were we made, if pain is our greatest
End?” But the gods, with a voice yet sadder,
Say, “Why, O men, did you create us?”

Divina Comédia

Divina Comédia

Erguendo os braços para o céu distante
E apostrofando os deuses invisíveis,
Os homens clamam: – “Deuses impassíveis,
A quem serve o destino triunfante,

Por que é que nos criastes?! Incessante
Corre o tempo e só gera, inextinguíveis,
Dor, pecado, ilusão, lutas horríveis,
Num turbilhão cruel e delirante. . .

Pois não era melhor na paz clemente
Do nada e do que ainda não existe,
Ter ficado a dormir eternamente?

Por que é que para a dor nos evocastes?”
Mas os deuses, com voz inda mais triste,
Dizem: – “Homens! por que é que nos criastes?”
Close

DIVINE COMEDY

Lifting their arms to the heavens on high
And addressing the invisible gods,
The men cry out, “Immovable gods,
Who gains from invincible fate? Why

Did you create us?! Time unfurls
Relentlessly, and all it breeds
Is pain, illusion, strife, foul deeds,
In a cruel and delirious whirl. . .

Wouldn’t it have been better for us
To remain in the peace of pre-matter,
In the eternal sleep of nothingness?

Why were we made, if pain is our greatest
End?” But the gods, with a voice yet sadder,
Say, “Why, O men, did you create us?”

DIVINE COMEDY

Lifting their arms to the heavens on high
And addressing the invisible gods,
The men cry out, “Immovable gods,
Who gains from invincible fate? Why

Did you create us?! Time unfurls
Relentlessly, and all it breeds
Is pain, illusion, strife, foul deeds,
In a cruel and delirious whirl. . .

Wouldn’t it have been better for us
To remain in the peace of pre-matter,
In the eternal sleep of nothingness?

Why were we made, if pain is our greatest
End?” But the gods, with a voice yet sadder,
Say, “Why, O men, did you create us?”
Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Ludo Pieters Gastschrijver Fonds
Lira fonds
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