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 ~ language and poetry ~ - 7 -
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| page 1 introduction |
page 3 the captions of the set of frescoes |
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| Tractati della vita e delli visioni  |
Essays About the Life and the Visions  |
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In nome della sanctissima Trinita, Patre et Figlio, et Spirito Sancto, et della gloriosissima alta regina nostra procuratrice, et dello glorioso Iohanni Baptista, et delli apostoli sancto Pietro et sancto Pavolo, et dello nostro patre sancto Benedecto, colla gloriosa infiammata sancta Maria Magdalena, et de tucta la celeste curia, amen. Ad honore dello glorioso Singnore eterno Dio, et ad hedificatione et instructione de lanime. Io prete Ianni indigno patre spirituale della devota ancilla dello excelso Singnore Dio beata Francesca, manifestaragio alcuna cosa che ad mea notita e venuto della vita et delle gratie le quale esso summo Signore li avo facte. La quale beata Francesca fo figlia dello nobile citadino romano chiamato Pavolo Bussa, et della nobile donna romana chiamata madonna Iacovella delli Rofredeschi. La quale beata Francesca dalla soa piccolezza fo honestissima et schifa sopra lo humano muodo, in tanto che non solamente non conversava, ma anche non era veduta da homo, et tanto che non pateva che lo suo patre la toccassi. Et genno allo suo marito chiamato Rienso delli Pontiani nobile citadino romano, essenno de etate de dodici anni, subito fo visitata de gravissima infirmita, la quale li duro granne tempo. Unde essenno molestata dalli suoi parienti che se facessi curare alli malefici, non volse mai ad tale divina offesa consentire. Et sanata della dicta infirmitate, de po certo tempo, anche fo visitata de granne infirmita, la quale li duro per spatio de uno anno, in tanto che era tucta perduta che non se poteva aiutare per si stessa. Unde venendoli una femina exorto la beata che se lassassi curare ad una malefica, della quale cosa essa avendone granne abominatione, la cacciò con granne terrore, como zelante della verità. Et la sequente nocte li venne in visione lo glorioso sancto Alesso in forma de bello giovene, venendo lo die della soa festa, doi fiate li disse cotale parole: buoi tu essere sana? et essa beata respondendo che voleva quello che piaceva adio, subito fo sanata et liberata, et la matina rizzannose, chiamo la soa intima congnata Vannozza, et ammirata Vannozza perche sempre li aiutava perla grave infirmita disse: si tu Ceccolella? Et facenno insiemi con li homini della casa granne letitia, annaro ad visitare la ecclesia de sancto Alesso; della quale cosa fo granne ammiratione alle persone le quale sapevano la grave infirmita che aveva avuta vedendola bene sana. (...) |
In the name of the most holy Trinity, Father and Son, and Holy Ghost, and of the most glorious and high queen, our interceder, and of the glorious John Baptist, and of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, and of our holy father Saint Benedict, with the glorious blazing Mary Magdalen, and of the whole holy curia, amen. To the honour of the glorious Lord, eternal God, and for the edification and tuition of the souls. I, priest John, unworthy spiritual father of Beate Francesca, a devout servant of God, the supreme Lord, will divulge some facts I have become aware of concerning her life and the special virtues that the supreme Lord bestowed her with. Beate Francesca was the daughter of the noble roman citizen called Paolo Bussa, and of the noble roman dame called Mylady Iacovella of the Rofredeschi. Since her childhood, Beate Francesca was very honest and more shy than any other human being, at the point that not only she did not hold conversation, but she also never met any man, as so little she could suffer this that she did not tolerate that her own father touched her. And having been married to her husband called Renzo dei Ponziani, noble roman citizen, at the age of twelve, she was immediately stricken by a very severe illness, which lasted for a very long time. And as her relatives kept bothering her, trying to convince her to let herself be cured by means of magic practises, she never consented to such a sacrilegious offense. And once recovered from her illness, after some time she was stricken again by a severe disease, which lasted the time length of one year, and she was so run down that she could no longer take care of herself. And a woman came to her, exhorting her to let herself be cured by a sorceress, and since she absolutely abhorred this, she sent her away in horror, zealously seeking the truth. And the following night the glorious Saint Alexis came to her in a vision, on the day of his celebration, taking the shape of a handsome young man, saying the following words twice: "do you want to be healthy?". And the beate, having answered that her own will was nothing but God's will, was immediately healed and freed, and waking up in the morning, she called her intimate sister-in-law Vannozza, and Vannozza in astonishment, having always given her assistance during her illness, said: "Ceccolella, is this you?". And merrily celebrating together with the men of the house, they went to visit the church of Saint Alexis; this aroused a great admiration by the people who knew that she suffered from a severe illness, in seeing her completely recovered. (...) |
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(...) Era la beata ancilla de Christo de tanta temperantia che tanto de estate quanto de verno non mangnava se non una fiata lo die, advenga che de state perlo tempo angustioso la sera pigliava alcuno fructo o vero lactuca, per dicto de mi suo indigno patre spirituale, non mangnava mai de pesce ne fiesco ne salato; carne fiesca ne mangnava pochissima et raro. Essa beata non beveva mai vino, ma solo acqua pura. Non mangnava pulli. Non ova ne sana ne inferma. Non zuccaro. Non mele, ne cose con esso facte. Non sceroppi ne medicine. Ma solo lo suo mangnare era de herbe, legumi cocta solo con acqua sensa olio, mangnava de fructi secundo lo suo tempo, et lupini, et simile cose de poca substantia, advenga che tale cose le mangnassi con amarezza perlo gusto perduto. (...) Quanto alle penitentie, era lo suo pretioso cuorpo tucto macerato con asprissime discipline tucte ad sangue, et cierchi de ferro, aspri et doppi cilicci, anche spesse fiate se scolava aduosso le facole accese de cera, della quale cosa ne stava assai piagata. Unde io prete Ianni suo indigno patre spirituale vedendo tanta consumata la ancilla pretiosa de Christo et mancata corporalemente, foi muosso per compassione, et dissi alla beata che tale penitentie non facessi piu, et levali li instrumenti con li quali faceva le discipline, et lo cierchio de lo ferro. (...) |
(...) The beate servant of Christ was so moderate that in summer, as well as in winter, she did not have food but once a day, although in summertime, due to the distressing climate, in the evening she ate a little fruit, or salad, as I, her unworthy spiritual father, had told her to do; she never ate fish, neither fresh nor salted; she ate very little fresh meat, and very seldom. The beate never drank wine, but only pure water. She did not eat chicken. Nor eggs, neither when she was well, nor when ill. Nor sugar. Nor apples, nor any food made with them. Nor syrups, nor medicines. Her only food consisted in herbs, legumes cooked with water alone, without any oil; she ate fruit according to the season, and lupins, and similar things that gave her very little nourishment, yet eating them without relish, as she had lost her appetite. (...) As for penance, her precious body was completely battered from extremely harsh self-punishments that always drew blood, and iron belts, rough and double cilices, and several times she also poured upon herself burning drops of wax, which caused her serious sores. Whereupon I, priest John, her unworthy spiritual father, in seeing the precious servant of Christ so run down, and in such physical exhaustion, moved by compassion told the beate not to practice any longer similar penance, and took off from her the implements which she used to inflict herself punishments, and the iron belt. (...) |
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(...) Ma per non essere prolixo volendo venire alle piu alte materie, la mirabile ancilla de Christo Francesca, aveva uno figliuolo chiamato Vangelista assai gratioso, lo quale fece allo suo patre et ad piu persone spirito de prophectie, le quali fuoro trovate in vero. Unde lo suo patre portanno con esso uno cortiello bello, lo dicto Vangelista piglio lo dicto cortiello ponendo la ponta nello schino allo suo patre dicendoli: in questo muodo serra facto ad thi. Et poi che lo re Lanzelavo abe Roma, allo dicto patre de Vangelista fuoro dati molti colpi de spade, et in nulla parte abe la granne ferita mortale, salve che in quello luoco dicto et mostrato da Vangelista. Anche uno religioso delli menticanti, lo dicto Vangelista veden[do]lo annare perla elemosina li disse: tu non girai in questo modo vestito, ma vorrai portare granni vestiti. Unde cosi advenne, che fo fatto vescovo, et fece orrebile morte. Anche lo dicto Vangelista faceva cose de ammiratione le quale lasso perla brevita, per che li suoi modi non erano de guarsonecto, ma sofficienti ad chi avessi perfecta eta, sempre dicendo como voleva annare alla eterna gloria et stare con li angeli. Et essendo infermo de peste se confesso dallo dicto frate Antonio, et disse Vangelista alla soa dilecta matre ancilla de Christo como sancto Nofrio et sancto Antonio li quali erano suoi devoti, erano venuti per esso; et stanno poco de spatio, rendevo lo spirito allo Singnore, avenno anni nove. (...) |
(...) But not to be prolix, and wishing to discuss more important matters, the admirable servant of Christ Francesca had a son named Evangelista, very pretty, who prophesied both to his father and to several persons things that really happened. As his father carried with himself a nice knife, Evangelista grabbed the aforesaid knife, placing its point on his father's back, telling him: "the same thing will be done to you". And when king Wenceslas took Rome, the father of Evangelista received several blows with swords, and in no part of his body he was mortally wounded, except where Evangelista had told him and showed him. Also a priest who begged, having been seen asking for offerings, was told by the aforesaid Evangelista: "you will not go around dressed in this way, but you'll wear rich clothes". And it happened that he was appointed bishop, and died of a horrible death. Also Evangelista did admirable things, which I do not describe for the sake of conciseness, as his behaviour was not that of a child, but consistent with that of a grown up person, and he always said that he wished to pursue eternal glory, and stay with the angels. And having fallen ill with the plague, he confessed himself to the aforesaid Father Antonio [ = Francesca's first spiritual father, before she knew Father Mattiotti], and Evangelista told his beloved mother, servant of Christ, that Saint Onofrio and Saint Anthony, whom he was devout to, had come for him; and within a short time he passed away, aged nine. (...) |
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(...) Et essendo quasi uno anno de po la morte dello dicto Vangelista, stanno la mirabile ancilla de Christo nella soa camera bene nel sentimento naturale, in hora della aurora, per divina volonta li venne lo dicto Vangelista in quella etate et forma che aveva quando morivo; et advenga che vivendo fossi stato assai spetioso, tamen allora lo vide con molta piu bellezza et con mirabile chiarita. Collo quale stava unaltra creatura, secundo la soa etate, indicibilmente piu bello et relucente che esso Vangelista. Unde la divina ancilla vedendo bene colli suoi occhi corporali lo dicto Vangelista con laltra cratura dicta, quanta ne avessi letitia lo ymagina tu lectore; et Vangelista saluto la soa mirabile matre gratiosamente con bella reverentia. Et la beata adomandandolo como stava, li respuse como stava nello secundo choro delli angeli cio e delli archangeli, dicendo como stava nello conspecto dello Singnore, in tale muodo, mustranno la faccia al cielo, anche dicennoli como era tanta la soa bellezze che non me potieri vedere in tanta chiarita, ma allo Signore e piaciuto che io sia cosi venuto et che me vegi solo con tale bellezza a cio che me puozzi vedere, ma in altro muodo noi simo lucienti, et vedemo quella faccia resplandente dello Signore assiduamente con tanto gaudio e letitia che non se porria ymaginare; et sempre laudemo et rengratiemo lo eterno Signore, et questo e lo nostro officio. Et la diletta ancilla de Christo volendo abracciare et tochare lo suo pretioso figlio, non palpava o vero tochava niente. Et la devota ancilla de Christo li disse: figlio mio non te recuordi de mi quando stai nanzi allo Signore? et delle pene che pazzo in questo mundo? et Vangelista li respuose: sacci che tanta e la gloria che noi avemo de vedere lo Signore, che non potemo avere et ne avemo nulla pena de voi; anche li disse: et simo senpre uniti, et non volemo et ne desideremo altro, se non lo divino beneplacito. Et sacci che li chori li quali staco de sopra ad noi, uno revella ad laltro lo divino secreto. Et dicote como io so venuto per Annese; et piglia pace, perche non posso piu stare, perche non piace allo Signore che io demori piu; contentate dello piacere del Signore; et la beata nollo vide più. Nota che quando venne era l'aurora, et quando se partivo era quasi lo nascere o vero apparimento dello sole; et infra essi doi fuero assai piu parole. Unde depo poco tenpo la dicta gratiosa Annese ando allo divino sposo Yeshu Cristo, essendo de anni cinque. Et la sopra dicta creatura la quale venni insiemi con Vangelista remase colla pretiosa ancilla de Christo Francesca; et stava mentre che la beata visse assiduamente de die et de nocte con essa. Et questo era uno glorioso angilo dello coro delli archangeli, lo quale sempre stava in forma et etate sopra dicta cio e despetiosissima creatura, et la soa pretiosa faccia sempre stava celesta, li suoi nobili occhi sempre guardavano allo cielo. Sempre le soe braccia teneva piecate allo pecto in croce, erano li suoi capelli gricci como per exemplo de finissimo oro. Aveva lo vestimento como tunicella da sodiacono luongo infine alle gabolle, et infine alle lombelle, et alto coperta la barba. Et sempre stava et annava con la beata in omne parte de die et de nocte, et quando la pretiosa ancilla de Christo giva in alcuna parte, esso glorioso angilo mutava li suoi belli piedi nudi, annanno con essa; et advenga che quando annava et giva con la beata gissi perlo infango, tamen quelli pretiosi piedi niente se imbractavano. Era tanto lo suo splendore et tanto relucente che la angelica ancilla de Christo non poteva patere de vederlo per spatio, perche li suoi occhi corporali non potevano vedere tanta relucentia con si granne splendore. (...) |
(...) Having elapsed almost one year since the death of the aforesaid Evangelista, while the admirable servant of Christ was in her room, well awake, at dawn, by holy will Vangelista came to her, with the same age and physical look he had when he had died; and despite he was already rather pretty when alive, when she then saw him he was much more beautiful, and appeared to her much more neatly. Together with him was another creature, immensely more beautiful and bright than Evangelista, according to his age. So you reader can imagine how great was the happiness of the holy servant in seeing well with her mortal eyes the aforesaid Evangelista together with the other creature; and Evangelista greeted her admirable mother gracefully, with great respect. And as the beate asked him about his condition, he replied that he was in the sechond choir of angels, that is the archangels, telling her how he was in the presence of God, looking with his face towards the sky; he also told her that his own beauty was so great that she would have not been able to look at him, because of the great brightness; but it was the Lord's will for him to visit her, and to let himself be seen only in such a way that she could gaze at him; but as an angel, he was bright; and told her that they constantly were in sight of God's blazing face, with such happiness and joy that nobody could imagine; and that they always praised and th anked God, as this was their duty. And the dear servant of Christ, willing to embrace and touch her precious son, could not feel nor touch anything. And the pious servant of Christ told him: my son, when you are in the presence of God, don't you ever remember me? Nor the trouble I endure in this world? And Evangelista replied to her: you ought to know that the glory we receive in seeing the Lord is so great, that we could not feel any worry for you, nor we do; and he also said: we are always together, and we do not want nor wish anything else but the holy will. And you ought to know that the choirs above us, reveal one another the holy secret. And I also tell you that I have come for Agnes; and be in peace, as I can no longer remain, because the Lord does not want me to stay any longer; be happy of the Lord's will; and the beate lost sight of him. Note that when he came to her it was dawn, and when he departed the sun was almost rising; and the words spoken between them were many more than these. Shortly afterwards, the aforesaid gratious Agnes left this world to reach her holy bride Jesus Christ, aged five. And the aforesaid creature who had come together with Evangelista remained with the precious servant of Christ Francesca; and he stayed with her as long as she lived, continuously, day and night. This was a glorious angel from the choir of archangels, who always maintained the same aforesaid look and age, that is of a very handsom creature, and on his precious face he always wore a holy expression, his noble eyes were always turned towards heaven. He always kept his arms folded on his chest, in the shape of a cross; his hair was curly, as thin threads of gold. He wore a [double] tunicle as a subdeacon, as long as his heels, and as long as his loins, and covered the higher part of his neck. And he always stayed and moved along with the beate everywhere, day and night, and when the precious servant of Christ went somewhere, the glorious angel turned his noble bare feet, going with her; and despite in going around with the beate he walked in the mud, his precious feet never got dirty. He was so bright and so blazing that the heavenly servant of Christ could not stand looking at him for long, because her physical eyes could not sustain the sight of such a bright glow. (...) |
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Tractato delle bactaglie |
Essay About the Battles |
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Una nocte stando la mirabile ancilla de Christo nella soa cammera collo suo marito infermo, volendo pigliare certe cose necessarie, trovo nella sala della casa lo maligno spirito assai terribile, et colle crudele grampe piglio la beata et posolla nella logia volendola gictare nello pozzo. Et essa beata bene confidata in Dio, et sempre chiamando Christu mio como usava quando era in simile oppressioni, se trovo posta nella dicta logia non sapendo in que muodo. Unde laudando lo Signore et volendo tornare alla cammera, trovo luscio inserrato, et mirata in que muodo era intrata o vero portata, intese che lo maligno spirito la aveva messa perla fenestra posta nella dicta logia la quale stava chiusa ma non inserrata. Et tornando essa beata alla soa cammera, trovo lo suo marito assai affannato, molto lamentandose che tanto aveva chiamato et che per tanto spatio de tiempo era stata ad tornare, et essa beata non volendo tale secreta materia manifestare, se scuso humilemente dicendo pero la verita, non manifestando la faccenda. Et perche lo maligno spirito piglio con granne iracundia la beata, in quelli parti che la piglio, essa aveva assai pena con doglia. Fo tale bactaglia nelli anni Milli cccc trenta. Del mese di madio. Gloria. |
One night, as the admirable servant of Christ was in her room with her sick husband, wishing to go and fetch some things that she needed, she found in the hall of the house the most terrible evil spirit, and with his cruel claws he clutched the beate and let her down on the balcony, willing to throw her into the well. And the beate, strongly relying on God, and invoking Christ as she always did when she found herself in similar perils, found herself standing on the balcony, without being aware of how she had reached it. So praising the Lord, and wishing to go back to the room, she found the door locked, and realizing how she had gone there, i.e. that she had been taken there, she understood that the evil spirit had done so, through the window located by the aforesaid balcony, which was shut but not locked. And going back to her room, the beate found her husband in great distress, strongly complaining that he had repeatedly called, and she had returned after a long time. And not wishing to reveal the secret fact, the beate humbly apologized, saying the truth yet without revealing what had happened. And since the evil spirit had clutched the beate in a great rage, those parts where she had been clutched gave her a painful suffering. This battle took place in year Fourteen-hundred and thirty. In the month of May. Glory. |
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Passando la divina ancilla perla via de corte iudei nansi allo palazzo de sancta Cecilia, vide octo maligni spiriti in una casa posta de rimpecto allo dicto palazzo. Et ammirata essa beata de cio, et desiderando de sapere la cascione per que li dicti demoni stessino nella dicta casa, udivo una voce la quale veniva dalli dicti maligni spiriti che disse: Noi stamo per dare molestia ad questi religiosi li quali staco nello palazzo perche stanno ad laudare Dio. Et quelli religiosi, erano li monaci de sancto Pavolo, li quali stavano nello dicto palazzo perla guerra che lo prencipe faceva ad papa Eugenio. Et de po certi di passanno essa beata per la dicta via vide anche nella dicta casa, li dicti maligni spiriti, li quali facevano granne letitia. Unde ammirata de cio essa beata adomandando una delle vicine, se fossi in tale luoco nulla cosa de male. Et dicendoli la dicta femina, como ve stavano doi meretrice alle quale andavano molti inhonesti iovani, et sapendo anche essa beata da altre persone como era la verita, non potendo patere tanta offesa de Dio mando ad dicere alla patrona della casa, nella quale se facevano li peccati, che non volessi tanta abominatione consentire nella soa casa. Unde ad instantia della beata fuero cacciate le misere meretrice della dicta habitatione. Et fo la dicta materia nelli anni domini M.cccc trenta uno dello mese de iuglio. Gloria. |
As the holy servant was passing by Jews Court Street, facing the building of St.Cecily, she saw eight evil spirits in a house located in front of the aforesaid building. And since the beate was amazed of this, and wishing to know the reason why the aforesaid demons were in the house, she heard a voice that came from the same evil spirits and said: We are here to give trouble to these men of religion who are in the building, because they are here to praise God. And those men of religion were St.Paul's friars, who dwelt in the aforesaid building due to the war that the prince had moved against pope Eugen. And a few days later, as the beate was passing by the aforesaid street, she also saw the evil spirits gaily rejoycing. So amazed about this, the beate asked one of the neighbours whether anything wrong was going on nearby. And since the woman told her that two prostitutes were there, whom many depraved young men went to, and knowing also by other people who had told her that this was the truth, not being able to stand such an offence to God, she sent word to the landlady of the house where the sins were committed not to consent such indecency in her own dwelling. Therefore, following the beate's request the miserable prostitutes were sent away from the house. And this fact happened in year Fourteen-hundred and thirty-one in the month of July. Glory. |
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Stando la humile ancilla de Christo nella soa cammera nel suo devoto piccolo lecto de nocte in sancta contemplatione per invidia li vennero doi maligni spiriti in forma de homini etiopi, et con grande rabia et iracundia la bactiero durissimamente con certi nervi de animali, et advenga che piu assai fiate essa beata fossi stata bactuta dalli demonii colli dicti nervi advenga che nonne faccia mentione per non essere prolixo tamen questa tale fiata la bactiero assai piu crudelemente. Et essa beata quanto piu diceva Yhesu mio como soleva, tanto piu essi demonii duramente la bactevano et dicevano: Or chiama questo tuo Yhesu, improperandola et delegiandola molte fiate, sempre pero migliorando li colpi arabiatamente, et essa beata animosamente con mirabile constantia confidata nel Signore, continuamente diceva Yhesu mio. Et puoi che fu assai bactuta, li dicti demonii la volevano strangolare et con tanta crudelita la oppressavano che quasi la pretiosa mancava secundo lo corpo, advenga che stessi assai constante collo suo nobile spirito. Unde stando in tanta angustia et oppressione, lo dicto glorioso angilo lo quale essa beata continuamente vedea, meno poco lo capo, allo quale acto li dicti demonii se fugiero. Stecte la humile ancilla de Christo in tale affanno per granne spatio de tempo, et remase assai afflicta nel suo corpo delli dicti flagellationi. Et questo fo nelli anni. d. M. cccc trenta uno mese de iuglio. Dissero anche li dicti maligni spiriti alla humile divina ancilla, como essi ordinavano de fare nella citta de Roma molto male per la guerra che lo prencipe faceva ad papa Eugenio, et che assai anime annavano allo inferno et annaraco, perche noi lo avemo ordinato et ordinemo, se lo tuo Dio non ciello guasta. Allora essa beata li disse: O miseri quanto site da poco et vili, che non potete fare nulla cosa, se ad esso Dio non piace. Gloria. |
As the humble servant of Christ was in her room, in her small devout bed, at night-time, in holy contemplation, two evil spirits came to her in envy, taking the shape of Ethiopian [ = black] men, and with great rage and fury, they beat her in a most terrible way with scourges made of animal hide, and although the beate had been beaten by demons with such scourges many other times, despite I do not mention this, not to be prolix, nevertheless this time they beat her with much more cruelty. And the more the beate invoked "my Jesus" as she used to do, the more those demons beat her harshly, and said: "Now call this Jesus of yours", slandering her and making fun of her several times, yet increasing the strength of their blows in anger, while the beate, with admirable faith in the Lord, ardently kept saying "my Jesus". And after they had beat her, the aforesaid demons wanted to strangle her, and they distressed her in such a cruel way that the beate almost lost her mortal life, despite with her noble spirit she stood firm. As she was in such pain and suffering, the glorious angel whom the beate had continuosly sight of, slightly shook his head, to which gesture the demons ran away. The humble servant of Christ stayed in such distress for a long time, and her body remained in great pain due to the scourging. And this happened in the year of the Lord Fourteen-hundred and thirty-one, month of July. The aforesaid evil spirits also told the humble holy servant how they ordered great evil to be done in the city of Rome, in the war that the prince was moving against pope Eugen, and that many souls had gone to Hell, and others will do so, because they had ordered this, and will do so, unless her God spoilt their plans. To this, the beate told them: "Oh you wretched, how miserable and vile you are, you cannot do anything that God is not pleased with". Glory. |
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Stando la humile ancilla de Christo de nocte nella soa cammera nel suo humile lecto in sancta contemplatione, per invidia li venne lo maligno spirito in forma de homo, et per granne despecto arreco una cipolla et molto acciachandola, li meno la dicta cipolla per la pretiosa faccia piu fiate ad essa beata, et anche nelli mise nella bocha perche essa beata molto aborriva tale cosa per la infectione del suo stomaco. Et lo maligno spirito avendo assai molestata la pretiosa se partivo, et essa lavandose la faccia per la dicta puzza, tornando et ponendose in oratione per certo spatio de tempo, li venne lo maligno spirito in forma de angilo con ficta luce, et poi venne unaltro demonio in simile forma; et parlandose insiemi dicevano: lalto dao ad Francesca molte gratie, et avoli reposta grande consolatione, o quanto e quello bene lo quale li e repuosto, et simile parole. Et cognoscendo essa humile in verita, la loro malignita, li disse: Vero e che lo Signore Dio me a dato et da tanto bene per la soa bonita, se io serragio humile, ma voi tristi superbi che non site humili, ve avete perduto tanto bene. O miseri che dicete solamente lalto, o dolienti dicate, lalto Signore Dio, signore dello universo mundo, et dello cielo, et per vostro despecto signore ad tucti voi. Et sbigliandose lo suo marito perche stava nella dicta cammera separato da essa beata perlo parlare et constrare che essa faceva, credendose che parlassi in suonno , la chiamo, et li demonii allora se disparsero. Questo fo nelli anni domini. M. cccc trenta uno del mese de Septembre. Gloria sia adio. |
As the humble servant of Christ was in her room at night-time, in her humble bed, in holy contemplation, the evil spirit came to her in envy, taking the shape of a man, and to give her great trouble he carried with him an onion, and crushing it well, he rubbed the onion several times on the beate's precious face, and also put some into her mouth, because the beate greatly hated this, due to the sickness of her stomach. And after having so much bothered the beate, the evil spirit went away. And as she washed her face because of the stench, turning back to her prayers for a while, the evil spirit came to her, in the shape of an angel, with a fake halo, and then another demon came to her in similar shape; and speaking to each other, they said: "the almighty bestowed Francesca with many virtues, and gave her great consolation; oh how much goodness has been given to her", and similar words. And since the humble beate really was aware of their evil nature, she told them: "It is true that our Lord gave me great goodness, and still does so, out of his own goodness, if I behave humbly, but you in wicked pride, who are not humble, you lost so much goodness. You miserable, who say only 'almighty', you sorrowful, you should say 'our Lord God almighty, lord of the universe, and of heaven' and, to your regret, lord upon all of you". And due to her talking and discussing, her husband woke up, because he was in the same room, at a certain distance from the beate, and since he thought that she was speaking in her sleep, he called her, and the demons disappeared. This happened in the year of the Lord Fourteen-hundred and thirty-one in the month of September. Glory be to God. |
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Tractato dello Inferno |
Essay About Hell |
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In nome della sanctissima trinita, amen. Volendo io indigno patre spirituale de essa divina ancilla sapere le divine gratie ad essa donate dallo superno sposo, imponendoli per vertu de sancta obedientia che essa me manifestassi delle dicte gratie, como vera obediente me disse. Como essendo agravata de infirmita corporale, per soa recreatione anno nella devota cella posta nello alto della casa del suo marito, quasi nella hora vespertina. Et con accesa devotione orando, per divina volonta fo rapita in extasi, et fo menata in visione ad vedere lo inferno. Unde trovandose alla intrata dello inferno, vide grandissimo abysso, et terrebilissimo, che quando essa beata lo recitava pensando in tale visione, ne sentiva in si grande affanno con pena. Ma como vera obediente pigliando animosita disse fondata in sancto timore filiale. Che de questa visione et de tucte altre cose che diceva, se conformava et quietava in quello che la sancta matre ecclesia catholica crede, perla quale et colla quale essa voleva vincere et morire. Vide essa beata nella intrata dello inferno certe lectere le quale dicevano: Questo e lo luoco dello inferno sensa speransa et sensa intervallo, dove non e mai refrigerio. Et vedendo et sentendo et udendo infinita terrebilita, con grande terrore fo sbagoctita. Allora se sentivo una compangnia allo suo dextro lato, non pero che la vedessi, la quale molto la conforsava et inanimava che stessi forte et non dubitassi. Et la dicta intrata era assai grande, ma nel mezzo era assai magiure, et era tanta la tenebra et oscurita che non se porria ymaginare per homo mortale. Aveva lo dicto inferno tre parti, uno de sopra, laltro in mezzo con magiure pene, et laltro de socto nel quale erano infinite magiure pene. Et lo spatio che era inter uno luoco et laltro era grandissimo pieno de grandissima et infinita tenebra con infiniti tormenti. Vide anche uno draccone grandissimo, lo quale stava nello dicto inferno, et teneva tutti et tre li dicti luochi. Lo capo stava nello luoco de sopra, lo cuorpo nel luoco de mieso, et la coda nel luoco de socto. Stava lo capo dello dicto draccone in mezzo della intrata dello inferno, ma poco de socto alla dicta intrata, et teneva la boccha aperta colla lengua de fore, della quale gessiva grannissimo fuoco, non pero che lucessi, ma era nerissimo, et rendeva grandissimo et crudele calore. Gessiva anche della soa boccha si granne fetore, che non se porria ymaginare per mente humana, et per li suoi occhi et rechie et naso ne gessiva fuoco nero con granne calura et fetore. Anche essa beata udiva ululare, strillare, gridare, piangere et blasfemare, tanto dolorosamente, et tanti voci amari con infiniti lamenti, che quando essa lo diceva per lo granne affanno che ne aveva, in si tucta se afligeva. Et essa divina ancilla vedendo in visione lo orrebile fuoco, et sentendo in si della calura et della puzza dicta, et udendo tanti tormentosi et dolorosi voci, non potenno patere tanto affanno, se sentiva molto venire meno. Allora la sopra dieta compangia, la quale essa beata se sentiva, conforso essa angelica ancilla de Christo, dicendoli che non temessi et che stessi ferma et constante. La quale dicta compangia era langilo Raphaele. Nota lectore como anche essa beata non aveva o vero non vedeva lo glorioso arcangelo dicto de sopra nel principio in forma humana. Vide anche Sathanasso terribilissimo, lo quale stava in uno luoco quasi honorato, cioe che stava assiso como fossi uno trabe, nello luoco de mieso, et lo suo capo giongeva allo luoco de sopra, et li piedi teneva nello luoco de socto dello inferno, teneva anche li piedi spasi, et le mano spase, non pero in croce, ma una poco de sopra laltra. [page 145 is missing] Vide anch'essa divina ancilla altre anime le quale erano menate dalli demonii molto terrebilemente, et como giongevano alla intrata dello inferno, li demonii sopra dicti deputati nolle gictavano nella boccha dello dracgone come e sopra dicto, ma la derupavano nello inferno collo capo socto, advenga che anche tucte altre misere anime fossino gictate collo capo de socto, ma queste dicte cadevano nansi allo prencipe dicto incathenato, et subito erano dallo fuoco cruciate lo quale gessiva de esso prencipe como e sopra dicto, et prestamente da esso iudicate, le menavano con grannissimo tormento crudelemente cruciandole. Et tale anime erano quelle le quale non avevano facti li magiuri peccati, et erano messe nel luoco de sopra dello inferno, nello quale luoco erano molti demonii in forma de scorsoni, buocti et de bructi et orrebili venenosi serpienti; et erano cruciate dallo fuoco lo quale gessiva dallo dicto prencipe legato, et anche avevano lo incendio dallo fuoco generale che stava nello dicto luoco de sopra; avevano anche grandissima oscurita et da moltissimi demonii erano tormentate con assai altre pene infinite et grannissimi tormenti. Et queste erano lanime delli iudei li quali non avevano facti li gravi peccati, et anche lanime dei cristiani li quali non fecero li magiuri peccati, et che fuoro negligenti ad confessarese, non curando nella sancta confessione, et cosi morierono. |
In the name of the holy trinity amen. Wishing to become aware of the divine grace that the holy servant had been bestowed with by her supreme bride, and having I, her unworthy spiritual father, bade her out of holy obedience to reveal the aforesaid grace, she obediently told me that having been oppressed by physical illness, almost at dusk she had been moved to her cell, in the upper part of her husband's house, to take some recreation. And while she was praying with ardent devotion, by God's will she fell in extasis, and in her vision she was taken to see Hell. As she found herself by Hell's entrance, she saw a huge and most terrible abyss, and when the beate spoke of it, thinking of such vision, she felt in distress, and suffered. Nevertheless, being truly obedient, she took courage and told me out of her holy submission that this vision, and all the other things she said, conformed to and matched those in which the holy Catholic Church believes in, for which and with which she wanted to achieve victory and die. By Hell's entrance, the beate saw a writing that said: "This is the place of Hell, without any hope nor break, where no relief is ever felt". And as she saw, felt and heard so much dread, she stood amazed in great terror. She then perceived on her right side a companion, yet without being able to see who was there, who greatly gave her comfort and encouraged her to stand strong and not to fear. The aforesaid entrance was very large, but its central part was even larger, and the darkness and gloom were so deep that no mortal man could ever imagine. Hell had three parts, one above, another one centrally, with greater punishments, and another one below, with much harsher punishments. And the distance between one place and the other was very wide, in the deepest and endless darkness, with innumerable torments. She also saw an enormous dragon, that was in Hell, and occupied all three the aforesaid places. Its head was in the upper place, its body in the central one, and its tail in the place down below. The head of the dragon was in front of Hell's entrance, just slightly below, and kept its mouth open with its tongue out, from where a great fire blazed, yet no glow came from it, but was very dark, radiating a great and terrible heat. A great stench also spread from its mouth, that no human mind could ever imagine, and from its eyes and ears and nose a black fire came out, with great heat and stench. The beate also heard yells, shrieks, cries, swears, in a most painful way, and many sad voices that endlessly moaned, and as she mentioned them, she greatly suffered for the distress she felt. And as the holy servant saw in her vision the horrible fire, and feeling herself the aforesaid heat and stench, and hearing so many voices in anguish and pain, not being able to stand such distress, she was on the point of losing her senses. So the aforesaid companion, whom the beate perceived next to her, comforted the heavenly servant of Christ by telling her not to fear, and to stand firm and steady. Her companion was angel Raphael. Readers should notice that the aforesaid glorious archangel did not stand by her or, better, was not seen by her with a human form. She also saw the terrible Satan, who almost occupied a place of honour, i.e. he sat centrally, as if he was a pillar, and his head reached the upper place, and his feet were in Hell's lower place; he also kept his feet and his hands in a casual position, not crossed, but slightly overlapped. [page 145 is missing] The holy servant also saw other souls, brutally led by the demons, and as soon as they reached Hell's entrance, the aforesaid demons in charge did not shove them into the dragon's mouth, as previously said, but threw them into Hell head down, despite the other wretched souls too were driven head down, but these ones landed in front of the aforesaid prince [of evil] in chains, and were immediately tortured by the fire that sprung from the prince, as previously explained, and once they had been judged by him straight away, they were led away with great suffering, enduring cruel torments. These souls were those that did not commit major sins, and were kept in Hell's upper place, crowded with many demons in the shape of scorpions, rectiles and nasty and horrible poisonous snakes; and they were tormented by the fire that sprung from the chained prince, and also suffered the flames of the general fire that was in the aforesaid upper place; they also were in the deepest darkness, and many demons tortured them with many more endless punishments and great torments. These were the souls of the Jews who had not committed serious sins, and also the souls of Christians who had not committed major sins, and had been negletful in confessing themselves, disregarding the holy confession, and had died in this condition. |
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Blasfematori Vide anche essa beata ancilla de Christo le anime delli miseri blasfematori dello Signore Dio et de suoi sancti, le quale avevano molti tormenti, ma infra li altri cruciati, li demonii con certi incini ferrei infocati, cacciavano la lengua ad ciasche una delle dicte misere anime; et puoi la mectevano nelli carboni dello fuoco, et pigliavano li carboni infocati, mectennoli nella gola alla dolente anima. Et poi ciasche misera anima delle dite era messa in uno thino de oglio buglientissimo, et dello dicto oglio era messo nella gola alla misera anima. Et uno delli doi demonii improperava lanima dolente dicennoli: Perche tu misera blasfemasti? Allora la meschina anima iniquissimamente blasfemava lo Signore Dio molto piu arabiatamente. Stavano le dicte dolorose anime nello luoco desocto dello inferno, et avevano magiuri supplicii che non le anime delli cristiani rennegati, li quali per timore dello martirio renegavano la sancta fede catholica, li quali speraro de fare penitentia, et de tornare alla sancta fede, ma non tornaro pero; et queste tale anime stavano nello luoco de mieso dello inferno, ma lanime de quelli miseri che per iniqua malitia et ostinatione renegaro la sancta fede stavano nello luoco de socto. Avevano anche le sopra dicte anime delli blasfematori le generale pene sopra dicte. |
Blasphemers The beate servant of Christ also saw the souls of the wretched blasphemers of the Lord and of his saints, which endured many torments, but among other sufferings, the demons pulled out the tongue of each of the aforesaid wretched souls with hot iron hooks; then they placed it on the burning coals, and they took the red hot coals placing them into the suffering soul's throat. Then each one of the aforesaid wretched souls was placed into a cauldron full of boiling oil, and some of the oil was poured into the wretched soul's throat. And one of the demons slandered the suffering soul, saying: "Oh miserable, why did you commit blasphemy?" To that, the poor soul swore blasphemously against the Lord with much greater fury. These suffering souls were in the lower part of Hell, and received greater torment than the souls of renegade Christians, who deserted the holy Catholic faith out of the fear of martyrdom, hoping to do penance and return to the holy faith again, yet never did so; these souls were in the central part of Hell, but the souls of the miserable who deserted the holy faith out of evil wickedness and obstinacy were in the lower place. The souls of blasphemers also received the general punishments previously mentioned. |
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Roffiani delle figlie Et stando essa beata sempre acterita della orrebile visione, et sempre conforsata dallo dicto Raphaele, vide lanime delli miseri patri et delle dolorose matre, che dierono le loro figliole ad lo peccato della luxuria. Et ciasche una delle dicte misere anime era messa per uno exemplo como una grannissima campana nella quale era una catasta infocata, et sopra essa era messa la misera anima. Stavano anche quactro demonii in forma de cani arabiati, li quali stracciavano et laniavano la misera anima crudelissimamente, et puoi uno de essi la gictava ad laltro. Et ad lanima la quale aveva commesso lo peccato con prava volonta luxuriosa, li dicti demonii li cacciavano lo core, et stracciandolo, uno lo gictava ad laltro; et insiemi lo tiravano, chi da una parte, et chi da laltra; et sopra esso core facevano tucti lo sterco. Ma se la misera anima aveva commesso lo peccato per denari, li dicti demonii li mectevano nella gola oro et argento liquefacto. Et in quelli luochi overo membri colli quali aveva avuto piacimento, li stavano li serpienti actacchati, advenga che li serpienti li stessino in tucto lo cuorpo, tamen era principalmente cruciata in quelli membri colli quali abe lo piacimento, dannoli li demonii tale improperio: O anime dolente che site facte abedute, state nello fuoco ardente, ad patere pene vituperose, avete guasto lo honore de Dio, ora ve tormentemo, ad patere pene infinite. Et blasfemando esse dolorose anime, et molto deragiando, li demonii le pigliavano scoppiandole una con laltra con granne terebilita. Et lanime delli patri et delle matri maledicevano lanime delle loro figlie, et lanime delle figlie maledicevano lanime delli patri et delle matri, che li facevano patere tante et tale pene; et sempre guerriavano insiemi. Et stavano nello luoco de socto, con tucte laltre pene generale dicte. |
Panders of their own daughters As the beate was still frightened by the horrible sight, always comforted by the aforesaid Raphael, she saw the souls of the miserable fathers and wretched mothers who gave their daughters to the sin of lust. And for each one of these miserable souls, a large bell-shaped container was there, with a burning pire inside, and the miserable soul was placed on top of the latter. There were also four demons, in the shape of angry dogs, which tore and shredded the miserable soul in a most cruel way, and then they threw it to each other. The souls who had committed the sin out of depraved lasciviousness, had their heart tore away by the demons, and while shredding it, they threw it to each other; and all together they tugged it, from one side to the other; and on the heart they defecated. But if the miserable soul had committed the sin for money, the aforesaid demons poured in his throat melted gold and silver. And they had snakes attached to those parts or limbs they had used for having pleasure, although snakes covered their whole body, but they were tortured most in those parts they had used for having pleasure, as the demons slandered them by saying: "Oh sorrowful souls, that have become aware, now you are on a burning fire, suffering shameful punishments, you dirtied God's honour; now we torment you, giving you endless suffering". And as the wretched souls swore, and gnashed violently, the demons lifted them, banging them one against the other in a most terrible way. And the souls of the fathers and mothers cursed the souls of their daughters, and the souls of the daughters cursed the souls of their fathers and mothers, who had been the cause of such great suffering; and they kept fighting one another. They were in the lower part, with all the aforesaid general punishments. |
A complete transcription of the Essays (in the original language only), with extensive grammar notes and a glossary, has been published by two different scholars:
- Giorgio Carpaneto, Il dialetto romanesco del Quattrocento ("the Roman dialect of the 1400s"), Nuova Editrice Spada, Rome - 1995, ISBN 88-8122-100-4
- Rossella Incarbone Giornetti, « Tractati della vita et delli visioni » di santa Francesca Romana, Aracne, Rome - 2006, ISBN 88-548-0687-0
| page 1 introduction |
page 3 the captions of the set of frescoes |
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 BERNERI |
 BELLI |
 PASCARELLA |
 TRILUSSA |
 ZANAZZO |
 FABRIZI |
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