Precipitose rupi e grotte oscure,
spelonche opache e valli spaventose,
boschi deserti e selve tenebrose
e stagni d'atra pece ed acque impure,
notturni augelli e Arpie e mortai figure,
Leoni atroci e Tigri dispettose,
Draghi infiammati e serpi velenose
e sogni orrendi e strane creature.
Udisti al centro mai stridi più chiari?
Spirto sepolto son, fra stelle smorte,
che chiam'infausto il mondo e i cieli amari.
Dunque a tanto ulular tremi la sorte,
spezzins'i scogli e perdan l'onda i mari,
e'l ciel cada, arda Abisso e mora morte.
English translation
Precipitous cliffs and dark grottos,
gloomy caverns and dreadful valleys,
deserted woods and shadowy forests
and pools of black pitch and foul waters,
nocturnal birds and Harpies and deadly apparitions,
ferocious lions and cruel tigers,
fiery dragons and venomous serpents
and horrid dreams and strange creatures.
Have you ever heard clearer shrieks in the depths?
I am an entombed spirit, amongst wan stars,
who calls the world accurs'd and the heavens bitter.
Therefore, to such howling, may fate tremble,
let the reefs break and the seas forsake their waves,
and the sky fall, the Abyss burn, and may death die.
Italian text
English translation