4 — Daniel

1I, Nabuchodonosor, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:Io Nabuchodonosor vivea in pace nella mia casa, e felice nella mia reggia:I Nabuchodonosor was quiet in my house, and florishing in my palace.Ego Nabuchodonosor quietus eram in domo mea, et florens in palatio meo: 2I saw a dream that affrighted me: and my thoughts in my bed, and the visions of my head, troubled me.Vidi un sogno, che mi spavento, e i miei pensieri, e le visioni, che mi passarono per la testa nel mio letto, mi diedero turbamento.I saw a dreame that made me sore afrayd: and my cogitations in my bed, and the visions of my head disturbed me.somnium vidi, quod perterruit me: et cogitationes meæ in strato meo, et visiones capitis mei conturbaverunt me. 3Then I set forth a decree, that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought in before me, and that they should shew me the interpretation of the dream.E fu fatto da me un decreto, che fosser condotti dinanzi a me tutti i sapienti di Babilonia, affinchè mi desser la spiegazione del mio sogno.And by me there was a decree setforth, that al the wisemen of Babylon should be brought into my sight, and that they should shew me the solution of the dreame.Et per me propositum est decretum ut introducerentur in conspectu meo cuncti sapientes Babylonis, et ut solutionem somnii indicarent mihi. 4Then came in the diviners, the wise men, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, and I told the dream before them: but they did not shew me the interpretation thereof.Allora furon introdotti gl'indovini, i magi, i Caldei, e gli aruspici, ed io esposi il mio sogno dinanzi ad essi; ed ei non me ne diedero la spiegazione:Then came in the southsayers, magicians, Chaldees, and diuiners, and I told the dreame in their sight: & the solution therof they shewed me not:Tunc ingrediebantur arioli, magi, Chaldæi, et aruspices, et somnium narravi in conspectu eorum: et solutionem ejus non indicaverunt mihi, 5Till their colleague, Daniel, came in before me, whose name is Baltassar, according to the name of my god, who hath in him the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him.Fino a tanto, che il collega Daniele (che si dice Baltassar dal nome del mio Dio, il quale ha in se lo spirito degli dei santi) venne al mio cospetto, e davanti a lui io esposi il mio sogno.til their collegue Daniel came into my fight, whose name is Baltassar, according to the name of my God, who hath the spirit of the holie goddes in himself: and I told the dreame before him.donec collega ingressus est in conspectu meo Daniel, cui nomen Baltassar secundum nomen dei mei, qui habet spiritum deorum sanctorum in semetipso: et somnium coram ipso locutus sum.

6Baltassar, prince of the diviners, because I know that thou hast in thee the spirit of the holy gods, and that no secret is impossible to thee, tell me the visions of my dreams that I have seen, and the interpretation of them.Baltassar, principe degl'indovini, perchè io so, che lo spirito degli dei santi abita in te, e nissun arcano è impenetrabile a te, sponimi le visioni, che io ho vedute ne' miei sogni, ed il loro significato:Baltassar prince of the southsayers, because I know that thou hast the spirit of the holie goddes in thee, and no secrete is impossible to thee: tel thou the visions of my dreames, which I haue sene, and the solution of them.Baltassar, princeps ariolorum, quoniam ego scio quod spiritum sanctorum deorum habeas in te, et omne sacramentum non est impossibile tibi: visiones somniorum meorum, quas vidi, et solutionem earum narra. 7This was the vision of my head in my bed: I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was exceeding great.Ecco la visione, che io ebbi in testa nel mio letto: Io vedeva repentinamente un albero di eccedente grandezza nel mezzo della terra,The vision of my head in my bed, I saw, and behold a tree in the middes of the earth, and the height therof exceding.Visio capitis mei in cubili meo: videbam, et ecce arbor in medio terræ, et altitudo ejus nimia. 8The tree was great and strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven: the sight thereof was even to the ends of all the earth.Un albero grande, e robusto, l'altezza del quale toccava il cielo, e faceasi vedere sino ai confini di tutta la terra.A great tree, and strong: and the height therof touching the heauen: the sight therof was euen to the endes of al the earth.Magna arbor, et fortis, et proceritas ejus contingens cælum: aspectus illius erat usque ad terminos universæ terræ. 9Its leaves were most beautiful, and its fruit exceeding much: and in it was food for all: under it dwelt cattle and beasts, and in the branches thereof the fowls of the air had their abode: and all flesh did eat of it.Le sue foglie eran bellissime, e senza numero i suoi frutti, ed eravi da mangiare per tutti: sotto di esso abitavano animali, e fiere, e sui rami di lui facean nido gli uccelli dell'aria: ed ogni animal vivente da esso avea il suo cibo.The leaues therof most fayre, and the fruit therof exceding much: and the foode of al thinges in it: vnder it dwelt cattel, and beasts, and in the boughes therof conuersed the foules of heauen: and of it al flesh did eate.Folia ejus pulcherrima, et fructus ejus nimius: et esca universorum in ea. Subter eam habitabant animalia et bestiæ, et in ramis ejus conversabantur volucres cæli: et ex ea vescebatur omnis caro.

10I saw in the vision of my head upon my bed, and behold a watcher, and a holy one came down from heaven.Questa visione la ebbi in testa nel mio letto: ed ecco il Vigilante, ed il Santo scese dal cielo;I saw in the vision of my head vpon my bed, & behold a watchman, and an holie one descended from heauen.Videbam in visione capitis mei super stratum meum, et ecce vigil, et sanctus, de cælo descendit. 11He cried aloud, and said thus: Cut down the tree, and chop off the branches thereof: shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruits: let the beasts fly away that are under it, and the birds from its branches.E gridò ad alta voce, e disse così: Troncate l'albero, e recidete i suoi rami, e gettate giù le foglie, e spergete i suoi frutti: fuggan le bestie, che vi stanno all'ombra, e gli uccelli da' rami di esso.He cried mightely, and thus he sayd: Cut ye downe the tree, & choppe of the boughes therof: shake of the leaues therof, and scatter the fruits therof: let the beasts flie that are vnder it, and the foules from the boughes therof.Clamavit fortiter, et sic ait: Succidite arborem, et præcidite ramos ejus: excutite folia ejus, et dispergite fructus ejus: fugiant bestiæ, quæ subter eam sunt, et volucres de ramis ejus. 12Nevertheless, leave the stump of its roots in the earth, and let it be tied with a band of iron and of brass, among the grass, that is without, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let its portion be with the wild beasts in the grass of the earth.Lasciate però nella terra una punta di sue radici: sia legato con catene di ferro, e di bronzo tralle erbe all'aperto, e sia bagnato dalla rugiada del cielo, e colle bestie abbia comune l'erba de' campi.But yet leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth, and let it be tyed with yron, and brasen band among the grasse, that is without, and let it be dipped with the dew of heauen, and with wild beasts his portion in the grasse of the earth.Verumtamen germen radicum ejus in terra sinite, et alligetur vinculo ferreo et æreo in herbis quæ foris sunt, et rore cæli tingatur, et cum feris pars ejus in herba terræ. 13Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given him: and let seven times pass over him.Cangisi a lui il cuore di uomo, e se gli dia un cuore di fiera; e sette tempi passino (così) per lui.Let his hart be changed from humane, & let the hart of a wild beast be geuen him: and let seuen times be changed ouer him.Cor ejus ab humano commutetur, et cor feræ detur ei: et septem tempora mutentur super eum.

14This is the decree by the sentence of the watchers, and the word and demand of the holy ones: till the living know, that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men: and he will give it to whomsoever it shall please him, and he will appoint the basest man over it.Per sentenza dei vigilanti è stabilito così, e giusta le parole, e la petizione de' santi, fino a tanto che i viventi conoscano, che l'Altissimo ha dominio sopra il regno degli uomini, e darallo a chi gli parrà; e sopra di esso porrà l'uomo più abbietto.In the sentence of the watchman is the decree, and the word of saintes, and the petition, til the liuing know, that the hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men; and to whom soeuer it shal please him, he wil geue it, & the basest man he wil appoint ouer it.In sententia vigilum decretum est, et sermo sanctorum, et petitio: donec cognoscant viventes quoniam dominatur Excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, dabit illud, et humillimum hominem constituet super eum. 15I, king Nabuchodonosor, saw this dream: thou, therefore, O Baltassar, tell me quickly the interpretation: for all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to declare the meaning of it to me: but thou art able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.Questo vidi in sogno io re Nabuchodonosor. Tu adunque, o Baltassar, dimmi tosto la sua interpretazione; perocché i sapienti tutti del mio regno non posson dirmene la spiegazione: ma tu il puoi, perchè lo spinto degli dei santi è in te.This dreame saw I Nabuchodonosor the king: thou therfore ô Baltassar tel the interpretation quickly: because al the wisemen of my kingdom can not declare the solution vnto me: but thou canst, because the spirit of holie goddes is in thee.Hoc somnium vidi ego Nabuchodonosor rex: tu ergo Baltassar interpretationem narra festinus, quia omnes sapientes regni mei non queunt solutionem edicere mihi: tu autem potes, quia spiritus deorum sanctorum in te est. 16Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began silently to think within himself for about one hour: and his thought troubled him. But the king answering, said: Baltassar, let not the dream and the interpretation thereof trouble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thy enemies.Allora Daniele, che diceasi Baltassar, stette sopra di se pensoso, e in silenzio quasi per un'ora, e i suoi pensieri lo conturbavano. Ma il re riprese, e disse: Baltassarre, non faccia pena a te il sogno, e la sua significazione. Rispose Baltassarre, e disse: Signor mio, questo sogno cada sopra quegli, che a te voglion male, e la sua interpretazione sopra de' tuoi nemici.Then Daniel, whose name was Baltassar, began secretely to thinke within himself as it were for one houre: & his cogitations trubled him. But the king answering said: Baltassar, let not the dreame and the interpretation therof truble thee. Baltassar answered, and said: My Lord, the dreame be to them, that hate thee, and the interpretation therof be thine enemies.Tunc Daniel, cujus nomen Baltassar, cœpit intra semetipsum tacitus cogitare quasi una hora: et cogitationes ejus conturbabant eum. Respondens autem rex, ait: Baltassar, somnium et interpretatio ejus non conturbent te. Respondit Baltassar, et dixit: Domine mi, somnium his, qui te oderunt, et interpretatio ejus hostibus tuis sit. 17The tree which thou sawest, which was high and strong, whose height reached to the skies, and the sight thereof into all the earth:L'albero, che tu hai veduto sublime, e robusto, l'altezza del quale tocca il cielo, e il quale è visibile per tutta la terra,The tree which thou sawest high and strong, whose height reacheth to the heauen, and the sight therof into al the earth:Arborem, quam vidisti sublimem atque robustam, cujus altitudo pertingit ad cælum, et aspectus illius in omnem terram;

18And the branches thereof were most beautiful, and its fruit exceeding much, and in it was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and the birds of the air had their abode in its branches.I rami di cui sono bellissimi, e senza numero i frutti, e da cui tutti hanno loro cibo, e sotto di esso abitano le bestie del campo, e su' rami suoi fan nido gli uccelli dell'aria,and the bough therof most fayre, and the fruit therof exceding much, and the foode of things in it, vnder it the beasts of the filde inhabiting, & in the boughes therof the foules of heauen abyding:et rami ejus pulcherrimi, et fructus ejus nimius, et esca omnium in ea, subter eam habitantes bestiæ agri, et in ramis ejus commorantes aves cæli: 19It is thou, O king, who art grown great, and become mighty: for thy greatness hath grown, and hath reached to heaven, and thy power unto the ends of the earth.Tu se' (l'albero,) o re, che se' divenuto grande, e robusto, e la tua grandezza è cresciuta, e si è alzata fino al cielo, e la tua possanza fino alle estremità di tutta la terra.It is thou king, which art magnified, & become mightie: & thy greatnes hath growen, and is come euen to heauen, and thy power vnto the endes of the earth.tu es rex, qui magnificatus es, et invaluisti: et magnitudo tua crevit, et pervenit usque ad cælum, et potestas tua in terminos universæ terræ. 20And whereas the king saw a watcher, and a holy one come down from heaven, and say: Cut down the tree, and destroy it, but leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, and let it be bound with iron and brass, among the grass without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heaven, and let his feeding be with the wild beasts, till seven times pass over him.Quanto a quello poi, che il re ha veduto il vigilante, ed il santo scendere dal cielo, e dire: Troncate l'albero, e fatelo in pezzi: ma lasciate però in terra una punta di sue radici: ed ei sia legato con ferro, e bronzo, e stia all'aperto sull'erba, e sia asperso dalla rugiada del cielo, e colle fiere abbia comune il pascolo, fino a tanto che sette tempi passino per lui così,But in that the king saw a watchman, and an holie one descend fron heauen, and say: Cut ye downe the tree, and dissipate it, but leaue the spring of the rootes therof in the earth, and let it be bound with yron and brasse among the grasse without, and let it be sprinkled with the dew of heauen, and let his foder be with the wild beasts, til seauen times be changed ouer him.Quod autem vidit rex vigilem, et sanctum descendere de cælo, et dicere: Succidite arborem, et dissipate illam, attamen germen radicum ejus in terra dimittite, et vinciatur ferro et ære in herbis foris, et rore cæli conspergatur, et cum feris sit pabulum ejus, donec septem tempora mutentur super eum: 21This is the interpretation of the sentence of the most High, which is come upon my lord, the king.Questa è l'interpretazione della sentenza dell'Altissimo pronunziata contro il re mio signore:This is the interpretation of the sentence of the Highest, which is come vpon my Lord the king.hæc est interpretatio sententiæ Altissimi, quæ pervenit super dominum meum regem,

22They shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling shall be with cattle, and with wild beasts, and thou shalt eat grass, as an ox, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven: and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth over the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.Ti cacceranno dalla compagnia degli uomini, e colle bestie, e colle nere avrai comune l'albergo, e qual bue mangerai del fieno, e dalla rugiada del cielo sarai asperso: e sette tempi passeranno così per te, fino a tanto che tu conosca, come l'Altissimo ha dominio sopra il regno degli uomini, e lo dà a chi gli pare.They shal cast thee out from men, and with beasts and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be, and grasse thou shalt eate as an oze, & with the dew of heauen thou shalt be wett: seuen times also shal be chaunged ouer thee, til thou know that the High one ruleth ouer the kingdoms of men, and geueth it to whomsoeuer he wil.Ejicient te ab hominibus, et cum bestiis ferisque erit habitatio tua, et fœnum ut bos comedes, et rore cæli infunderis: septem quoque tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus super regnum hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud. 23But whereas he commanded, that the stump of the roots thereof, that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shall remain to thee, after thou shalt have known that power is from heaven.Quanto poi all'ordine dato di lasciare una punta delle radici dell'albero, il tuo regno resterà a te, dopo che avrai conosciuto, che una potestà è in cielo.But wheras he commanded, that the spring of the rootes therof, that is, of the tree, should be left: thy kingdom shal remayne to thee after thou shalt haue knowen that powre is heauenly.Quod autem præcepit ut relinqueretur germen radicum ejus, id est arboris: regnum tuum tibi manebit postquam cognoveris potestatem esse cælestem. 24Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to thee, and redeem thou thy sins with alms, and thy iniquities with works of mercy to the poor: perhaps he will forgive thy offences.Per la qual cosa, o re, sia accetto a te il mio consiglio, e riscatta colle limosine i tuoi peccati, e le tue iniquità col far misericordia co' poveri: forse che egli perdonerà i tuoi peccati.Wherfore ô king let me counsel thee, and redeme thou thy sinnes with almes, & thine iniquities with the mercies of the poore: perhaps he wil forgeue thyne offences.Quam ob rem, rex, consilium meum placeat tibi, et peccata tua eleemosynis redime, et iniquitates tuas misericordiis pauperum: forsitan ignoscet delictis tuis. 25All these things came upon king Nabuchodonosor.Tutte queste cose avvennero a Nabuchodonosor re.Al these thinges came vpon Nabuchodonosor the: king.Omnia hæc venerunt super Nabuchodonosor regem.

26At the end of twelve months he was walking in the palace of Babylon.Dodici mesi dappoi passeggiava egli pel palazzo di Babilonia.After the end of twelue moneths he walked in the palace of Babylon.Post finem mensium duodecim, in aula Babylonis deambulabat. 27And the king answered, and said: Is not this the great Babylon, which I have built, to be the seat of the kingdom, by the strength of my power, and in the glory of my excellence?E il re prese a dire: Non è ella questa la gran Babilonia, che io ho edificata per sede del regno colla robusta fortezza mia, e collo splendore della mia gloria?And the king answered, & sayd: Is not this Babylon the great citie, which I haue built to be the house of the kingdom, in the strength of my powre, and in the glorie of my beautie?Responditque rex, et ait: Nonne hæc est Babylon magna, quam ego ædificavi in domum regni, in robore fortitudinis meæ, et in gloria decoris mei ? 28And while the word was yet in the king’s mouth, a voice came down from heaven: To thee, O king Nabuchodonosor, it is said: Thy kingdom shall pass from thee.E il re non avea finito di dir questo, quando venne repentina voce dal cielo: A te si dice, o re Nabuchodonosor: Il tuo regno non sarà più tuo;And when the word was yet in the kings mouth, a voice came downe from heauen: To thee it is sayd Nabuchodonosor: Thy kingdom shal passe from thee,Cumque sermo adhuc esset in ore regis, vox de cælo ruit: Tibi dicitur, Nabuchodonosor rex: Regnum tuum transibit a te, 29And they shall cast thee out from among men, and thy dwelling shall be with cattle and wild beasts: thou shalt eat grass like an ox, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.E ti discacceranno dalla compagnia degli uomini, e abiterai tralle bestie, e tralle fiere, e qual bue mangerai del fieno, e sette tempi passeranno così per te, fino a tanto, che tu conosca, che l'Altissimo ha dominio sopra il regno degli uomini, e lo dà a chi gli pare.and from men they shal cast thee out, and with beastes and wilde beasts shal thy habitation be: grasse as an oxe shalt thou eate, and seuen times shal be changed ouer thee til thou know that the Hiegh one ruleth in the kingdom of men, & to whom soeuer he wil, he geueth it.et ab hominibus ejicient te, et cum bestiis et feris erit habitatio tua: fœnum quasi bos comedes, et septem tempora mutabuntur super te, donec scias quod dominetur Excelsus in regno hominum, et cuicumque voluerit, det illud.

30The same hour the word was fulfilled upon Nabuchodonosor, and he was driven away from among men, and did eat grass, like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven: till his hairs grew like the feathers of eagles, and his nails like birds’ claws.Nello stesso punto si adempiè sopra Nabuchodonosor questa parola, fu cacciato dalla compagnia degli uomini, e mangiò fieno qual bue, e il suo corpo fu bagnato dalla rugiada del cielo, talmente che crebbero a lui i capelli come penne di un'aquila, e le unghie come gli ugnelli de' volatili.The self same houre was the word accomplished vpon Nabuchodonosor, and he was cast away from among men, & as an oxe did he eate grasse, and with the dew of heauen his bodie was imbrued: til his heares grew into the similitude of eagles, & his nailes as it were of birds.Eadem hora sermo completus est super Nabuchodonosor, et ex hominibus abjectus est, et fœnum ut bos comedit, et rore cæli corpus ejus infectum est, donec capilli ejus in similitudinem aquilarum crescerent, et ungues ejus quasi avium. 31Now at the end of the days, I, Nabuchodonosor, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the most High, and I praised and glorified him that liveth for ever: for his power is an everlasting power, and his kingdom is to all generations.Ma finiti que' giorni, io Nabuchodonosor alzai al cielo gli occhi miei, e mi fu renduta la mia mente, e benedissi l'Altissimo, e lodai, e glorificai colui, che vive in sempiterno; perocché la possanza di lui è eterna, e il regno di lui per tutte le generazioni;Ther fore after the end of the dayes, I Nabuchodonosor lifted vp mine eyes to heauen, and my sense was restored to me: and I blessed the Highest, and praysed him that liueth for euer, and glorified him: because his powre is an euerlasting powre, and his kingdom in generation and generation.Igitur post finem dierum, ego Nabuchodonosor oculos meos ad cælum levavi, et sensus meus redditus est mihi: et Altissimo benedixi, et viventem in sempiternum laudavi et glorificavi: quia potestas ejus potestas sempiterna, et regnum ejus in generationem et generationem. 32And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing before him: for he doth according to his will, as well with the powers of heaven, as among the inhabitants of the earth: and there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why hast thou done it?E tutti gli abitatori della terra sono stimati davanti a lui un niente; perocché secondo il voler suo egli dispone tanto delle virtù del cielo, come degli abitatori della terra, e non è chi alla mano di lui resista, e dica a lui: Per qual motivo hai tu fatto questo?And al the inhabitants of the earth with him are reputed for nothing: for he doth according to his wil, as wel in the powers of heauen, as in the inhabitants of the earth: & there is none that can resist his hand, and say to him: Why didst thou it?Et omnes habitatores terræ apud eum in nihilum reputati sunt: juxta voluntatem enim suam facit tam in virtutibus cæli quam in habitatoribus terræ: et non est qui resistat manui ejus, et dicat ei: Quare fecisti ? 33At the same time my sense returned to me, and I came to the honour and glory of my kingdom: and my shape returned to me: and my nobles, and my magistrates, sought for me, and I was restored to my kingdom: and greater majesty was added to me.In quello stesso punto ritornò in me la mia mente, e rientrai nell'onore, e nella magnificenza del mio regno, e tornò a me la mia prima figura, e i miei magnati, e i magistrati cercaron di me, e fui rimesso nel mio regno, e la mia grandezza si accrebbe.In the very same time did my sense returne to me, & I came to the honour, and beautie of my kingdom: and my figure returned to me: and my nobles, & my magistrates sought for me, and I was restored in my kingdom: and more ample magnificence was added to me.In ipso tempore sensus meus reversus est ad me, et ad honorem regni mei, decoremque perveni: et figura mea reversa est ad me, et optimates mei et magistratus mei requisierunt me, et in regno meo restitutus sum: et magnificentia amplior addita est mihi.

34Therefore I, Nabuchodonosor, do now praise, and magnify, and glorify the King of heaven: because all his works are true, and his ways judgments, and them that walk in pride he is able to abase.Or adunque io Nabuchodonosor lodo, e celebro, e glorifico il Re del cielo, perchè le opere di lui sono rette, e le sue vie sono giustizia, ed egli può umiliare i superbi.Now therfore I Nabuchodonosor praise, and magnifie, and glorifie the king of heauen: because al his workes are true, and his wayes iudgements, and them that walke in pride he can humble.Nunc igitur, ego Nabuchodonosor laudo, et magnifico, et glorifico regem cæli: quia omnia opera ejus vera, et viæ ejus judicia, et gradientes in superbia potest humiliare.