s: While living were, and therefore are cleft thus.


s: A devil is behind here, who doth cleave us


s: Putting again each one of all this ream,


s: When we have gone around the doleful road;


s: By reason that our wounds are closed again


s: But who art thou, that musest on the crag,


s: That is adjudged upon thine accusations?"


s: "Nor death hath reached him yet, nor guilt doth bring him,"


s: Me, who am dead, behoves it to conduct him


s: Down here through Hell, from circle unto circle;


s: And this is true as that I speak to thee."


s: More than a hundred were there when they heard him,


s: Who in the moat stood still to look at me,


s: Through wonderment oblivious of their torture.


s: "Now say to Fra Dolcino, then, to arm him,


s: Thou, who perhaps wilt shortly see the sun,


s: So with provisions, that no stress of snow


s: Which otherwise to gain would not be easy."


s: Then to depart upon the ground he stretched it.


s: Another one, who had his throat pierced through,


s: And nose cut off close underneath the brows,


s: Staying to look in wonder with the others,


s: And said: "O thou, whom guilt doth not condemn,


s: And make it known to the best two of Fano,


s: To Messer Guido and Angiolello likewise,


s: Cast over from their vessel shall they be,


s: Neptune ne'er yet beheld so great a crime,


s: That traitor, who sees only with one eye,


s: And holds the land, which some one here with me


s: Would fain be fasting from the vision of,


s: Will make them come unto a parley with him;


s: They will not stand in need of vow or prayer."


s: If thou wouldst have me bear up news of thee,


s: Who is this person of the bitter vision."


s: Oped, crying: "This is he, and he speaks not.


s: This one, being banished, every doubt submerged


s: With tongue asunder in his windpipe slit,


s: And one, who both his hands dissevered had,


s: The stumps uplifting through the murky air,


s: So that the blood made horrible his face,


s: Cried out: "Thou shalt remember Mosca also,


s: Who said, alas! 'A thing done has an end!'


s: Which was an ill seed for the Tuscan people."


s: "And death unto thy race," thereto I added;


s: And saw a thing which I should be afraid,


s: Without some further proof, even to recount,


s: If it were not that conscience reassures me,


s: Beneath the hauberk of its feeling pure.


s: I truly saw, and still I seem to see it,


s: A trunk without a head walk in like manner


s: As walked the others of the mournful herd.


s: And by the hair it held the head dissevered,


s: Hung from the hand in fashion of a lantern,


s: And that upon us gazed and said: "O me!"


s: And they were two in one, and one in two;


s: How that can be, He knows who so ordains it.


s: When it was come close to the bridge's foot,


s: It lifted high its arm with all the head,


s: To bring more closely unto us its words,


s: Which were: "Behold now the sore penalty,


s: Thou, who dost breathing go the dead beholding;


s: Know that Bertram de Born am I, the same


s: Who gave to the Young King the evil comfort.


s: I made the father and the son rebellious;


s: And David did with his accursed goadings.


s: From its beginning, which is in this trunk.


s: Thus is observed in me the counterpoise."


s: That they were wishful to stand still and weep;


s: But said Virgilius: "What dost thou still gaze at?


s: Why is thy sight still riveted down there


s: Thou hast not done so at the other Bolge;


s: Consider, if to count them thou believest,


s: That two-and-twenty miles the valley winds,


s: And now the moon is underneath our feet;


s: Henceforth the time allotted us is brief,


s: And more is to be seen than what thou seest."


s: "If thou hadst," I made answer thereupon,


s: "Attended to the cause for which I looked,


s: Perhaps a longer stay thou wouldst have pardoned."


s: Meanwhile my Guide departed, and behind him


s: I held mine eyes with such attention fixed,


s: The sin which down below there costs so much."


s: Then said the Master: "Be no longer broken


s: Thy thought from this time forward upon him;


s: Attend elsewhere, and there let him remain;


s: Pointing at thee, and threatening with his finger


s: Fiercely, and heard him called Geri del Bello.


s: So wholly at that time wast thou impeded


s: Thou didst not look that way; so he departed."


s: Which is not yet avenged for him," I said,


s: Made him disdainful; whence he went away,


s: Thus did we speak as far as the first place


s: Upon the crag, which the next valley shows


s: Down to the bottom, if there were more light.


s: When we were now right over the last cloister


s: Could manifest themselves unto our sight,


s: Divers lamentings pierced me through and through,


s: Which with compassion had their arrows barbed,


s: Whereat mine ears I covered with my hands.


s: What pain would be, if from the hospitals


s: Of Valdichiana, 'twixt July and September,


s: All the diseases in one moat were gathered,


s: Such was it here, and such a stench came from it


s: As from putrescent limbs is wont to issue.


s: From the long crag, upon the left hand still,


s: And then more vivid was my power of sight


s: Down tow'rds the bottom, where the ministress


s: Punishes forgers, which she here records.


s: (When was the air so full of pestilence,


s: All fell, and afterwards the ancient people,


s: Were from the seed of ants restored again,)


s: Than was it to behold through that dark valley


s: The spirits languishing in divers heaps.


s: One of the other lay, and others crawling


s: Shifted themselves along the dismal road.


s: We step by step went onward without speech,


s: Who had not strength enough to lift their bodies.


s: I saw two sitting leaned against each other,


s: As leans in heating platter against platter,


s: From head to foot bespotted o'er with scabs;


s: By stable-boy for whom his master waits,


s: Of nails upon himself, for the great rage


s: And the nails downward with them dragged the scab,


s: In fashion as a knife the scales of bream,


s: Or any other fish that has them largest.


s: "O thou, that with thy fingers dost dismail thee,"


s: "And makest of them pincers now and then,


s: Who are herein; so may thy nails suffice thee


s: "Latians are we, whom thou so wasted seest,


s: Both of us here," one weeping made reply;


s: "But who art thou, that questionest about us?"


s: And said the Guide: "One am I who descends


s: Down with this living man from cliff to cliff,


s: And trembling each one turned himself to me,


s: With others who had heard him by rebound.


s: Wholly to me did the good Master gather,


s: Saying: "Say unto them whate'er thou wishest."


s: In the first world from out the minds of men,


s: Say to me who ye are, and of what people;


s: Let not your foul and loathsome punishment


s: Make you afraid to show yourselves to me."


s: But what I died for does not bring me here.


s: 'Tis true I said to him, speaking in jest,


s: That I could rise by flight into the air,


s: Would have me show to him the art; and only


s: Be burned by one who held him as his son.


s: For alchemy, which in the world I practised,


s: Minos, who cannot err, has me condemned."


s: Whereat the other leper, who had heard me,


s: Replied unto my speech: "Taking out Stricca,


s: Within that garden where such seed takes root;


s: And taking out the band, among whom squandered


s: Caccia d'Ascian his vineyards and vast woods,


s: And where his wit the Abbagliato proffered!


s: But, that thou know who thus doth second thee


s: Against the Sienese, make sharp thine eye


s: Tow'rds me, so that my face well answer thee,


s: And thou shalt see I am Capocchio's shade,


s: Thou must remember, if I well descry thee,


s: 'Twas at the time when Juno was enraged,


s: As she already more than once had shown,


s: That, seeing his own wife with children twain


s: He cried: "Spread out the nets, that I may take


s: The lioness and her whelps upon the passage;"


s: Seizing the first, who had the name Learchus,


s: And whirled him round, and dashed him on a rock;


s: And she, with the other burthen, drowned herself;--


s: And at the time when fortune downward hurled


s: The Trojan's arrogance, that all things dared,


s: So that the king was with his kingdom crushed,


s: Out of her senses like a dog she barked,


s: So much the anguish had her mind distorted;


s: But not of Thebes the furies nor the Trojan


s: In goading beasts, and much more human members,


s: That a boar does, when from the sty turned loose.


s: Seized with its teeth his neck, so that in dragging


s: It made his belly grate the solid bottom.


s: And the Aretine, who trembling had remained,


s: Said to me: "That mad sprite is Gianni Schicchi,


s: And raving goes thus harrying other people."


s: "O," said I to him, "so may not the other


s: Set teeth on thee, let it not weary thee


s: To tell us who it is, ere it dart hence."


s: And he to me: "That is the ancient ghost


s: Beyond all rightful love her father's lover.


s: She came to sin with him after this manner,


s: That he might gain the lady of the herd,


s: On whom I held mine eye, I turned it back


s: Just at the point at which a man is forked.


s: The heavy dropsy, that so disproportions


s: The limbs with humours, which it ill concocts,


s: That the face corresponds not to the belly,


s: As does the hectic, who because of thirst


s: One tow'rds the chin, the other upward turns.


s: And why I know not, in the world of woe,"


s: He said to us, "behold, and be attentive


s: I had while living much of what I wished,


s: The rivulets, that from the verdant hills


s: Making their channels to be cold and moist,


s: Than the disease which strips my face of flesh.


s: Draweth occasion from the place in which


s: I sinned, to put the more my sighs in flight.


s: The currency imprinted with the Baptist,


s: But if I here could see the tristful soul


s: Of Guido, or Alessandro, or their brother,


s: For Branda's fount I would not give the sight.


s: Shades that are going round about speak truth;


s: But what avails it me, whose limbs are tied?


s: A hundred years I could advance one inch,


s: Seeking him out among this squalid folk,


s: And be not less than half a mile across.


s: They did induce me into coining florins,


s: And I to him: "Who are the two poor wretches


s: That smoke like unto a wet hand in winter,


s: Lying there close upon thy right-hand confines?"


s: "I found them here," replied he, "when I rained


s: Into this chasm, and since they have not turned,


s: One the false woman is who accused Joseph,


s: The other the false Sinon, Greek of Troy;


s: From acute fever they send forth such reek."


s: And one of them, who felt himself annoyed


s: At being, peradventure, named so darkly,


s: Smote with the fist upon his hardened paunch.


s: With arm that did not seem to be less hard,


s: Saying to him: "Although be taken from me


s: All motion, for my limbs that heavy are,


s: I have an arm unfettered for such need."


s: Whereat he answer made: "When thou didst go


s: Unto the fire, thou hadst it not so ready:


s: But hadst it so and more when thou wast coining."


s: The dropsical: "Thou sayest true in that;


s: But thou wast not so true a witness there,


s: Where thou wast questioned of the truth at Troy."


s: "If I spake false, thou falsifiedst the coin,"


s: Said Sinon; "and for one fault I am here,


s: And thou for more than any other demon."


s: He made reply who had the swollen belly,


s: "And rueful be it thee the whole world knows it."


s: "Rueful to thee the thirst be wherewith cracks


s: Thy tongue," the Greek said, "and the putrid water


s: That hedges so thy paunch before thine eyes."


s: Then the false-coiner: "So is gaping wide


s: Thy mouth for speaking evil, as 'tis wont;


s: Because if I have thirst, and humour stuff me


s: Thou hast the burning and the head that aches,


s: Thou wouldst not want words many to invite thee."


s: In listening to them was I wholly fixed,


s: When said the Master to me: "Now just look,


s: For little wants it that I quarrel with thee."


s: I turned me round towards him with such shame


s: And as he is who dreams of his own harm,


s: So that he craves what is, as if it were not;


s: Such I became, not having power to speak,


s: For to excuse myself I wished, and still


s: Excused myself, and did not think I did it.


s: "Less shame doth wash away a greater fault,"


s: The Master said, "than this of thine has been;


s: Therefore thyself disburden of all sadness,


s: And make account that I am aye beside thee,


s: If e'er it come to pass that fortune bring thee


s: Where there are people in a like dispute;


s: For a base wish it is to wish to hear it."


s: One and the selfsame tongue first wounded me,


s: So that it tinged the one cheek and the other,


s: Thus do I hear that once Achilles' spear,


s: His and his father's, used to be the cause


s: First of a sad and then a gracious boon.


s: We turned our backs upon the wretched valley,


s: Upon the bank that girds it round about,


s: There it was less than night, and less than day,


s: So that my sight went little in advance;


s: But I could hear the blare of a loud horn,


s: So loud it would have made each thunder faint,


s: Short while my head turned thitherward I held


s: Whereat I: "Master, say, what town is this?"


s: And he to me: "Because thou peerest forth


s: Athwart the darkness at too great a distance,


s: It happens that thou errest in thy fancy.


s: Well shalt thou see, if thou arrivest there,


s: How much the sense deceives itself by distance;


s: Therefore a little faster spur thee on."


s: And said: "Before we farther have advanced,


s: Less strange, know that these are not towers, but giants,


s: And they are in the well, around the bank,


s: From navel downward, one and all of them."


s: Little by little doth the sight refigure


s: Whate'er the mist that crowds the air conceals,


s: So, piercing through the dense and darksome air,


s: More and more near approaching tow'rd the verge,


s: Montereggione crowns itself with towers,


s: E'en thus the margin which surrounds the well


s: E'en now from out the heavens when he thunders.


s: Shoulders, and breast, and great part of the belly,


s: And down along his sides both of the arms.


s: Certainly Nature, when she left the making


s: And if of elephants and whales she doth not


s: More just and more discreet will hold her for it;


s: No rampart can the people make against it.


s: His face appeared to me as long and large


s: As is at Rome the pine-cone of Saint Peter's,


s: Down from the middle, showed so much of him


s: Three Frieslanders in vain had vaunted them;


s: Down from the place where man his mantle buckles.


s: To which were not befitting sweeter psalms.


s: Keep to thy horn, and vent thyself with that,


s: When wrath or other passion touches thee.


s: Search round thy neck, and thou wilt find the belt


s: Which keeps it fastened, O bewildered soul,


s: And see it, where it bars thy mighty breast."


s: Then said to me: "He doth himself accuse;


s: This one is Nimrod, by whose evil thought


s: One language in the world is not still used.


s: Here let us leave him and not speak in vain;


s: As his to others, which to none is known."


s: Turned to the left, and a crossbow-shot oft


s: We found another far more fierce and large.


s: Behind the right arm, and in front the other,


s: With chains, that held him so begirt about


s: From the neck down, that on the part uncovered


s: It wound itself as far as the fifth gyre.


s: "This proud one wished to make experiment


s: Of his own power against the Supreme Jove,"


s: My Leader said, "whence he has such a guerdon.


s: Ephialtes is his name; he showed great prowess.


s: What time the giants terrified the gods;


s: The arms he wielded never more he moves."


s: And I to him: "If possible, I should wish


s: These eyes of mine might have experience."


s: Whence he replied: "Thou shalt behold Antaeus


s: Close by here, who can speak and is unbound,


s: Who at the bottom of all crime shall place us.


s: Much farther yon is he whom thou wouldst see,


s: And he is bound, and fashioned like to this one,


s: Save that he seems in aspect more ferocious."


s: There never was an earthquake of such might


s: That it could shake a tower so violently,


s: Then was I more afraid of death than ever,


s: For nothing more was needful than the fear,


s: And to Antaeus came, who, full five ells


s: Without the head, forth issued from the cavern.


s: When Hannibal turned back with all his hosts,


s: Once brought'st a thousand lions for thy prey,


s: And who, hadst thou been at the mighty war


s: Among thy brothers, some it seems still think


s: The sons of Earth the victory would have gained:


s: Place us below, nor be disdainful of it,


s: There where the cold doth lock Cocytus up.


s: This one can give of that which here is longed for;


s: Therefore stoop down, and do not curl thy lip.


s: Still in the world can he restore thy fame;


s: Because he lives, and still expects long life,


s: If to itself Grace call him not untimely."


s: So said the Master; and in haste the other


s: His hands extended and took up my Guide,--


s: Hands whose great pressure Hercules once felt.


s: Virgilius, when he felt himself embraced,


s: Said unto me: "Draw nigh, that I may take thee;"


s: Beneath the leaning side, when goes a cloud


s: Watching to see him stoop, and then it was


s: I could have wished to go some other way.


s: But lightly in the abyss, which swallows up


s: Nor thus bowed downward made he there delay,


s: If I had rhymes both rough and stridulous,


s: Down upon which thrust all the other rocks,


s: I would press out the juice of my conception


s: More fully; but because I have them not,


s: Not without fear I bring myself to speak;


s: To sketch the bottom of all the universe,


s: Nor for a tongue that cries Mamma and Babbo.


s: But may those Ladies help this verse of mine,


s: That from the fact the word be not diverse.


s: Who're in the place to speak of which is hard,


s: 'Twere better ye had here been sheep or goats!


s: When we were down within the darksome well,


s: Beneath the giant's feet, but lower far,


s: And I was scanning still the lofty wall,


s: I heard it said to me: "Look how thou steppest!


s: Take heed thou do not trample with thy feet


s: The heads of the tired, miserable brothers!"


s: Whereat I turned me round, and saw before me


s: And underfoot a lake, that from the frost


s: The semblance had of glass, and not of water.


s: So thick a veil ne'er made upon its current


s: Nor there beneath the frigid sky the Don,


s: As there was here; so that if Tambernich


s: E'en at the edge 'twould not have given a creak.


s: And as to croak the frog doth place himself


s: With muzzle out of water,--when is dreaming


s: Of gleaning oftentimes the peasant-girl,--


s: Livid, as far down as where shame appears,


s: Were the disconsolate shades within the ice,


s: Setting their teeth unto the note of storks.


s: Each one his countenance held downward bent;


s: From mouth the cold, from eyes the doleful heart


s: When round about me somewhat I had looked,


s: I downward turned me, and saw two so close,


s: The hair upon their heads together mingled.


s: "Ye who so strain your breasts together, tell me,"


s: I said, "who are you;" and they bent their necks,


s: And when to me their faces they had lifted,


s: Their eyes, which first were only moist within,


s: Gushed o'er the eyelids, and the frost congealed


s: The tears between, and locked them up again.


s: Clamp never bound together wood with wood


s: So strongly; whereat they, like two he-goats,


s: Butted together, so much wrath o'ercame them.


s: Lost both his ears, still with his visage downward,


s: Said: "Why dost thou so mirror thyself in us?


s: If thou desire to know who these two are,


s: Belonged to them and to their father Albert.


s: Thou shalt search through, and shalt not find a shade


s: Not he in whom were broken breast and shadow


s: At one and the same blow by Arthur's hand;


s: So with his head I see no farther forward,


s: Well knowest thou who he was, if thou art Tuscan.


s: And that thou put me not to further speech,


s: Purple with cold; whence o'er me comes a shudder,


s: And evermore will come, at frozen ponds.


s: And while we were advancing tow'rds the middle,


s: Where everything of weight unites together,


s: And I was shivering in the eternal shade,


s: Whether 'twere will, or destiny, or chance,


s: I know not; but in walking 'mong the heads


s: I struck my foot hard in the face of one.


s: Weeping he growled: "Why dost thou trample me?


s: Unless thou comest to increase the vengeance


s: of Montaperti, why dost thou molest me?"


s: And I: "My Master, now wait here for me,


s: That I through him may issue from a doubt;


s: Then thou mayst hurry me, as thou shalt wish."


s: The Leader stopped; and to that one I said


s: "Who art thou, that thus reprehendest others?"


s: "Now who art thou, that goest through Antenora


s: Smiting," replied he, "other people's cheeks,


s: So that, if thou wert living, 'twere too much?"


s: "Living I am, and dear to thee it may be,"


s: Was my response, "if thou demandest fame,


s: That 'mid the other notes thy name I place."


s: Take thyself hence, and give me no more trouble;


s: For ill thou knowest to flatter in this hollow."


s: Then by the scalp behind I seized upon him,


s: And said: "It must needs be thou name thyself,


s: Whence he to me: "Though thou strip off my hair,


s: I will not tell thee who I am, nor show thee,


s: If on my head a thousand times thou fall."


s: And more than one shock of it had pulled out,


s: He barking, with his eyes held firmly down,


s: When cried another: "What doth ail thee, Bocca?


s: Is't not enough to clatter with thy jaws,


s: But thou must bark? what devil touches thee?"


s: "Now," said I, "I care not to have thee speak,


s: "Begone," replied he, "and tell what thou wilt,


s: Of him who had just now his tongue so prompt;


s: He weepeth here the silver of the French;


s: 'I saw,' thus canst thou phrase it, 'him of Duera


s: There where the sinners stand out in the cold.'


s: If thou shouldst questioned be who else was there,


s: Of whom the gorget Florence slit asunder;


s: So that one head a hood was to the other;


s: And even as bread through hunger is devoured,


s: The uppermost on the other set his teeth,


s: There where the brain is to the nape united.


s: Than that one did the skull and the other things.


s: "O thou, who showest by such bestial sign


s: Thy hatred against him whom thou art eating,


s: Tell me the wherefore," said I, "with this compact,


s: That if thou rightfully of him complain,


s: In knowing who ye are, and his transgression,


s: If that wherewith I speak be not dried up."


s: His mouth uplifted from his grim repast,


s: Of the same head that he behind had wasted.


s: The desperate grief, which wrings my heart already


s: But if my words be seed that may bear fruit


s: Speaking and weeping shalt thou see together.


s: I know not who thou art, nor by what mode


s: Thou hast come down here; but a Florentine


s: Thou seemest to me truly, when I hear thee.


s: And this one was Ruggieri the Archbishop;


s: Now I will tell thee why I am such a neighbour.


s: That, by effect of his malicious thoughts,


s: But ne'ertheless what thou canst not have heard,


s: Hear shalt thou, and shalt know if he has wronged me.


s: Which bears because of me the title of Famine,


s: And in which others still must be locked up,


s: Had shown me through its opening many moons


s: Which of the future rent for me the veil.


s: This one appeared to me as lord and master,


s: Hunting the wolf and whelps upon the mountain


s: With sleuth-hounds gaunt, and eager, and well trained,


s: He had sent out before him to the front.


s: After brief course seemed unto me forespent


s: The father and the sons, and with sharp tushes


s: It seemed to me I saw their flanks ripped open.


s: Moaning amid their sleep I heard my sons


s: Who with me were, and asking after bread.


s: Cruel indeed art thou, if yet thou grieve not,


s: And weep'st thou not, what art thou wont to weep at?


s: They were awake now, and the hour drew nigh


s: At which our food used to be brought to us,


s: And through his dream was each one apprehensive;


s: Of the horrible tower; whereat without a word


s: I wept not, I within so turned to stone;


s: They wept; and darling little Anselm mine


s: Said: 'Thou dost gaze so, father, what doth ail thee?'


s: Still not a tear I shed, nor answer made


s: All of that day, nor yet the night thereafter,


s: And said they: 'Father, much less pain 'twill give us


s: If thou do eat of us; thyself didst clothe us


s: With this poor flesh, and do thou strip it off.'


s: I calmed me then, not to make them more sad.


s: That day we all were silent, and the next.


s: Ah! obdurate earth, wherefore didst thou not open?


s: When we had come unto the fourth day, Gaddo


s: Threw himself down outstretched before my feet,


s: Saying, 'My father, why dost thou not help me?'


s: And there he died; and, as thou seest me,


s: I saw the three fall, one by one, between


s: The fifth day and the sixth; whence I betook me,


s: And three days called them after they were dead;


s: Then hunger did what sorrow could not do."


s: When he had said this, with his eyes distorted,


s: The wretched skull resumed he with his teeth,


s: Which, as a dog's, upon the bone were strong.


s: Of the fair land there where the 'Si' doth sound,


s: Since slow to punish thee thy neighbours are,


s: And make a hedge across the mouth of Arno


s: Thou shouldst not on such cross have put his sons.


s: Guiltless of any crime, thou modern Thebes!


s: And the other two my song doth name above!


s: We passed still farther onward, where the ice


s: Not downward turned, but all of them reversed.


s: Weeping itself there does not let them weep,


s: And grief that finds a barrier in the eyes


s: Turns itself inward to increase the anguish;


s: Because the earliest tears a cluster form,


s: Fill all the cup beneath the eyebrow full.


s: And notwithstanding that, as in a callus,


s: Still it appeared to me I felt some wind;


s: Whence I: "My Master, who sets this in motion?


s: Is not below here every vapour quenched?"


s: Whence he to me: "Full soon shalt thou be where


s: Thine eye shall answer make to thee of this,


s: Seeing the cause which raineth down the blast."


s: And one of the wretches of the frozen crust


s: Lift from mine eyes the rigid veils, that I


s: May vent the sorrow which impregns my heart


s: Whence I to him: "If thou wouldst have me help thee


s: Say who thou wast; and if I free thee not,


s: "O," said I to him, "now art thou, too, dead?"


s: Up in the world, no knowledge I possess.


s: That oftentimes the soul descendeth here


s: And, that thou mayest more willingly remove


s: From off my countenance these glassy tears,


s: Is taken from him, who thereafter rules it,


s: Until his time has wholly been revolved.


s: And still perchance above appears the body


s: Of yonder shade, that winters here behind me.


s: This thou shouldst know, if thou hast just come down;


s: It is Ser Branca d' Oria, and many years


s: Have passed away since he was thus locked up."


s: "I think," said I to him, "thou dost deceive me;


s: And eats, and drinks, and sleeps, and puts on clothes."


s: "In moat above," said he, "of Malebranche,


s: There where is boiling the tenacious pitch,


s: Who made together with him the betrayal.


s: But hitherward stretch out thy hand forthwith,


s: Open mine eyes;"--and open them I did not,


s: Wherefore are ye not scattered from the world?


s: I found of you one such, who for his deeds


s: Towards us; therefore look in front of thee,"


s: My Master said, "if thou discernest him."


s: As, when there breathes a heavy fog, or when


s: Appears far off a mill the wind is turning,


s: Methought that such a building then I saw;


s: My Guide, because there was no other shelter.


s: Now was I, and with fear in verse I put it,


s: There where the shades were wholly covered up,


s: And glimmered through like unto straws in glass.


s: Some prone are lying, others stand erect,


s: This with the head, and that one with the soles;


s: Another, bow-like, face to feet inverts.


s: When in advance so far we had proceeded,


s: The creature who once had the beauteous semblance,


s: He from before me moved and made me stop,


s: Saying: "Behold Dis, and behold the place


s: Where thou with fortitude must arm thyself."


s: Because all language would be insufficient.


s: I did not die, and I alive remained not;


s: Think for thyself now, hast thou aught of wit,


s: From his mid-breast forth issued from the ice;


s: Than do the giants with those arms of his;


s: Consider now how great must be that whole,


s: Were he as fair once, as he now is foul,


s: And lifted up his brow against his Maker,


s: Well may proceed from him all tribulation.


s: The one in front, and that vermilion was;


s: Two were the others, that were joined with this


s: Above the middle part of either shoulder,


s: And they were joined together at the crest;


s: And the right-hand one seemed 'twixt white and yellow;


s: Who come from where the Nile falls valley-ward.


s: Underneath each came forth two mighty wings,


s: Their fashion was; and he was waving them,


s: So that three winds proceeded forth therefrom.


s: With six eyes did he weep, and down three chins


s: Trickled the tear-drops and the bloody drivel.


s: At every mouth he with his teeth was crunching


s: So that he three of them tormented thus.


s: To him in front the biting was as naught


s: Unto the clawing, for sometimes the spine


s: Utterly stripped of all the skin remained.


s: "That soul up there which has the greatest pain,"


s: With head inside, he plies his legs without.


s: Of the two others, who head downward are,


s: The one who hangs from the black jowl is Brutus;


s: See how he writhes himself, and speaks no word.


s: And the other, who so stalwart seems, is Cassius.


s: That we depart, for we have seen the whole."


s: As seemed him good, I clasped him round the neck,


s: And he the vantage seized of time and place,


s: And when the wings were opened wide apart,


s: He laid fast hold upon the shaggy sides;


s: From fell to fell descended downward then


s: Between the thick hair and the frozen crust.


s: When we were come to where the thigh revolves


s: The Guide, with labour and with hard-drawn breath,


s: Turned round his head where he had had his legs,


s: And grappled to the hair, as one who mounts,


s: So that to Hell I thought we were returning.


s: "Keep fast thy hold, for by such stairs as these,"


s: The Master said, panting as one fatigued,


s: "Must we perforce depart from so much evil."


s: Then through the opening of a rock he issued,


s: Then tow'rds me he outstretched his wary step.


s: I lifted up mine eyes and thought to see


s: What the point is beyond which I had passed.


s: "Rise up," the Master said, "upon thy feet;


s: The way is long, and difficult the road,


s: And now the sun to middle-tierce returns."


s: There where we were, but dungeon natural,


s: "To draw me from an error speak a little;


s: Where is the ice? and how is this one fixed


s: Thus upside down? and how in such short time


s: From eve to morn has the sun made his transit?"


s: Thou art beyond the centre, where I grasped


s: The hair of the fell worm, who mines the world.


s: That side thou wast, so long as I descended;


s: When round I turned me, thou didst pass the point


s: To which things heavy draw from every side,


s: Dry-land, and 'neath whose cope was put to death


s: The Man who without sin was born and lived.


s: Thou hast thy feet upon the little sphere


s: Which makes the other face of the Judecca.


s: Here it is morn when it is evening there;


s: And he who with his hair a stairway made us


s: Upon this side he fell down out of heaven;


s: And all the land, that whilom here emerged,


s: And came to our hemisphere; and peradventure


s: To flee from him, what on this side appears


s: Left the place vacant here, and back recoiled."


s: Which not by sight is known, but by the sound


s: Of a small rivulet, that there descendeth


s: Through chasm within the stone, which it has gnawed


s: With course that winds about and slightly falls.


s: Now entered, to return to the bright world;


s: We mounted up, he first and I the second,


s: Some of the beauteous things that Heaven doth bear;


s: Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars.


s: translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


s: (e-text courtesy ILT's Digital Dante Project)


s: To run o'er better waters hoists its sail


s: That leaves behind itself a sea so cruel;


s: Wherein the human spirit doth purge itself,


s: And to ascend to heaven becometh worthy.


s: The blow so great, that they despaired of pardon.


s: That was upgathered in the cloudless aspect


s: Of the pure air, as far as the first circle,


s: Soon as I issued forth from the dead air,


s: Which had with sadness filled mine eyes and breast.


s: The beauteous planet, that to love incites,


s: Veiling the Fishes that were in her escort.


s: To the right hand I turned, and fixed my mind


s: Ne'er seen before save by the primal people.


s: Rejoicing in their flamelets seemed the heaven.


s: Because thou art deprived of seeing these!


s: When from regarding them I had withdrawn,


s: There where the Wain had disappeared already,


s: Worthy of so much reverence in his look,


s: A long beard and with white hair intermingled


s: He wore, in semblance like unto the tresses,


s: Of which a double list fell on his breast.


s: Did so adorn his countenance with light,


s: That him I saw as were the sun before him.


s: "Who are you? ye who, counter the blind river,


s: Have fled away from the eternal prison?"


s: "Who guided you? or who has been your lamp


s: In issuing forth out of the night profound,


s: That ever black makes the infernal valley?


s: The laws of the abyss, are they thus broken?


s: Or is there changed in heaven some council new,


s: That being damned ye come unto my crags?"


s: Then did my Leader lay his grasp upon me,


s: And with his words, and with his hands and signs,


s: Reverent he made in me my knees and brow;


s: Then answered him: "I came not of myself;


s: A Lady from Heaven descended, at whose prayers


s: But since it is thy will more be unfolded


s: Mine cannot be that this should be denied thee.


s: This one has never his last evening seen,


s: That very little time was there to turn.


s: Than this to which I have myself betaken.


s: I've shown him all the people of perdition,


s: Who purge themselves beneath thy guardianship.


s: How I have brought him would be long to tell thee.


s: Virtue descendeth from on high that aids me


s: To lead him to behold thee and to hear thee.


s: Now may it please thee to vouchsafe his coming;


s: Thou know'st it; since, for her, to thee not bitter


s: Was death in Utica, where thou didst leave


s: The vesture, that will shine so, the great day.


s: By us the eternal edicts are not broken;


s: Since this one lives, and Minos binds not me;


s: But of that circle I, where are the chaste


s: Eyes of thy Marcia, who in looks still prays thee,


s: O holy breast, to hold her as thine own;


s: For her love, then, incline thyself to us.


s: Permit us through thy sevenfold realm to go;


s: I will take back this grace from thee to her,


s: If to be mentioned there below thou deignest."


s: While I was on the other side," then said he,


s: "That every grace she wished of me I granted;


s: Now that she dwells beyond the evil river,


s: Which, when I issued forth from there, was made.


s: But if a Lady of Heaven do move and rule thee,


s: As thou dost say, no flattery is needful;


s: Let it suffice thee that for her thou ask me.


s: Go, then, and see thou gird this one about


s: With a smooth rush, and that thou wash his face,


s: So that thou cleanse away all stain therefrom,


s: For 'twere not fitting that the eye o'ercast


s: Below there, yonder, where the billow beats it,


s: No other plant that putteth forth the leaf,


s: Or that doth indurate, can there have life,


s: Because it yieldeth not unto the shocks.


s: The sun, which now is rising, will direct you


s: With this he vanished; and I raised me up


s: Unto my Guide, and turned mine eyes to him.


s: And he began: "Son, follow thou my steps;


s: Let us turn back, for on this side declines


s: And till he finds it seems to go in vain.


s: As soon as we were come to where the dew


s: Fights with the sun, and, being in a part


s: Both of his hands upon the grass outspread


s: There did he make in me uncovered wholly


s: That hue which Hell had covered up in me.


s: There he begirt me as the other pleased;


s: The humble plant, such it sprang up again


s: Was issuing forth from Ganges with the Scales


s: That fall from out her hand when she exceedeth;


s: So that the white and the vermilion cheeks


s: By too great age were changing into orange.


s: Like people who are thinking of their road,


s: And lo! as when, upon the approach of morning,


s: Through the gross vapours Mars grows fiery red


s: Appeared to me--may I again behold it!--


s: A light along the sea so swiftly coming,


s: Its motion by no flight of wing is equalled;


s: From which when I a little had withdrawn


s: Mine eyes, that I might question my Conductor,


s: Again I saw it brighter grown and larger.


s: I knew not what of white, and underneath it


s: Little by little there came forth another.


s: While the first whiteness into wings unfolded;


s: But when he clearly recognised the pilot,


s: He cried: "Make haste, make haste to bow the knee!


s: Behold the Angel of God! fold thou thy hands!


s: Henceforward shalt thou see such officers!


s: So that nor oar he wants, nor other sail


s: Than his own wings, between so distant shores.


s: See how he holds them pointed up to heaven,


s: Fanning the air with the eternal pinions,


s: That do not moult themselves like mortal hair!"


s: Then as still nearer and more near us came


s: The Bird Divine, more radiant he appeared,


s: So that near by the eye could not endure him,


s: But down I cast it; and he came to shore


s: With a small vessel, very swift and light,


s: So that the water swallowed naught thereof.


s: Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot;


s: And more than a hundred spirits sat within.


s: With whatso in that psalm is after written.


s: Then made he sign of holy rood upon them,


s: Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore,


s: The throng which still remained there unfamiliar


s: Seemed with the place, all round about them gazing,


s: On every side was darting forth the day.


s: The sun, who had with his resplendent shafts


s: From the mid-heaven chased forth the Capricorn,


s: When the new people lifted up their faces


s: Show us the way to go unto the mountain."


s: Perchance that we have knowledge of this place,


s: But we are strangers even as yourselves.


s: Just now we came, a little while before you,


s: Another way, which was so rough and steep,


s: That mounting will henceforth seem sport to us."


s: The souls who had, from seeing me draw breath,


s: The people throng to listen to the news,


s: And no one shows himself afraid of crowding,


s: Those fortunate spirits, all of them, as if


s: One from among them saw I coming forward,


s: As to embrace me, with such great affection,


s: Three times behind it did I clasp my hands,


s: As oft returned with them to my own breast!


s: Whereat the shadow smiled and backward drew;


s: And I, pursuing it, pressed farther forward.


s: Gently it said that I should stay my steps;


s: That it would stop awhile to speak with me.


s: It made reply to me: "Even as I loved thee


s: Therefore I stop; but wherefore goest thou?"


s: There where I am, I make this journey," said I;


s: "But how from thee has so much time be taken?"


s: And he to me: "No outrage has been done me,


s: If he who takes both when and whom he pleases


s: Has many times denied to me this passage,


s: For of a righteous will his own is made.


s: He, sooth to say, for three months past has taken


s: Whence I, who now had turned unto that shore


s: Where salt the waters of the Tiber grow,


s: Unto that outlet now his wing is pointed,


s: Those who tow'rds Acheron do not descend."


s: And I: "If some new law take not from thee


s: Which used to quiet in me all my longings,


s: Thee may it please to comfort therewithal


s: Somewhat this soul of mine, that with its body


s: Hitherward coming is so much distressed."


s: "Love, that within my mind discourses with me,"


s: My Master, and myself, and all that people


s: Which with him were, appeared as satisfied


s: As if naught else might touch the mind of any.


s: We all of us were moveless and attentive


s: Unto his notes; and lo! the grave old man,


s: Exclaiming: "What is this, ye laggard spirits?


s: What negligence, what standing still is this?


s: Run to the mountain to strip off the slough,


s: Even as when, collecting grain or tares,


s: The doves, together at their pasture met,


s: Quiet, nor showing their accustomed pride,


s: If aught appear of which they are afraid,


s: Because they are assailed by greater care;


s: The song relinquish, and go tow'rds the hill,


s: As one who goes, and knows not whitherward;


s: Nor was our own departure less in haste.


s: Had scattered them asunder o'er the plain,


s: Turned to the mountain whither reason spurs us,


s: I pressed me close unto my faithful comrade,


s: And how without him had I kept my course?


s: Who would have led me up along the mountain?


s: He seemed to me within himself remorseful;


s: O noble conscience, and without a stain,


s: How sharp a sting is trivial fault to thee!


s: My mind, that hitherto had been restrained,


s: Let loose its faculties as if delighted,


s: That highest tow'rds the heaven uplifts itself.


s: The sun, that in our rear was flaming red,


s: Was broken in front of me into the figure


s: Which had in me the stoppage of its rays;


s: Unto one side I turned me, with the fear


s: Only in front of me the ground obscured.


s: "Why dost thou still mistrust?" my Comforter


s: "Dost thou not think me with thee, and that I guide thee?


s: 'Tis evening there already where is buried


s: 'Tis from Brundusium ta'en, and Naples has it.


s: Marvel not at it more than at the heavens,


s: To suffer torments, both of cold and heat,


s: Bodies like this that Power provides, which wills


s: That how it works be not unveiled to us.


s: Which the one Substance in three Persons follows!


s: Mortals, remain contented at the 'Quia;'


s: No need there were for Mary to give birth;


s: And ye have seen desiring without fruit,


s: Those whose desire would have been quieted,


s: Which evermore is given them for a grief.


s: And many others;"--and here bowed his head,


s: And more he said not, and remained disturbed.


s: We came meanwhile unto the mountain's foot;


s: That nimble legs would there have been in vain.


s: 'Twixt Lerici and Turbia, the most desert,


s: "Who knoweth now upon which hand the hill


s: Slopes down," my Master said, his footsteps staying,


s: "So that who goeth without wings may mount?"


s: And while he held his eyes upon the ground


s: On the left hand appeared to me a throng


s: Of souls, that moved their feet in our direction,


s: And did not seem to move, they came so slowly.


s: "Lift up thine eyes," I to the Master said;


s: "Behold, on this side, who will give us counsel,


s: If thou of thine own self can have it not."


s: Then he looked at me, and with frank expression


s: Replied: "Let us go there, for they come slowly,


s: And thou be steadfast in thy hope, sweet son."


s: Still was that people as far off from us,


s: As a good thrower with his hand would reach,


s: When they all crowded unto the hard masses


s: Of the high bank, and motionless stood and close,


s: As he stands still to look who goes in doubt.


s: "O happy dead!  O spirits elect already!"


s: Virgilius made beginning, "by that peace


s: Tell us upon what side the mountain slopes,


s: For to lose time irks him most who most knows."


s: As sheep come issuing forth from out the fold


s: By ones and twos and threes, and the others stand


s: Timidly, holding down their eyes and nostrils,


s: And what the foremost does the others do,


s: Huddling themselves against her, if she stop,


s: Simple and quiet and the wherefore know not;


s: I saw the leader of that fortunate flock,


s: As soon as those in the advance saw broken


s: The light upon the ground at my right side,


s: So that from me the shadow reached the rock,


s: They stopped, and backward drew themselves somewhat;


s: And all the others, who came after them,


s: Not knowing why nor wherefore, did the same.


s: Whereby the sunshine on the ground is cleft.


s: That not without a power which comes from Heaven


s: Doth he endeavour to surmount this wall."


s: The Master thus; and said those worthy people:


s: "Return ye then, and enter in before us,"


s: Making a signal with the back o' the hand


s: And one of them began: "Whoe'er thou art,


s: Thus going turn thine eyes, consider well


s: If e'er thou saw me in the other world."


s: I turned me tow'rds him, and looked at him closely;


s: Blond was he, beautiful, and of noble aspect,


s: But one of his eyebrows had a blow divided.


s: E'er having seen him, "Now behold!" he said,


s: And showed me high upon his breast a wound.


s: Then said he with a smile: "I am Manfredi,


s: Therefore, when thou returnest, I beseech thee


s: And the truth tell her, if aught else be told.


s: By these two mortal stabs, I gave myself


s: Weeping to Him, who willingly doth pardon.


s: But Infinite Goodness hath such ample arms,


s: The bones of my dead body still would be


s: At the bridge-head, near unto Benevento,


s: Now the rain bathes and moveth them the wind,


s: Beyond the realm, almost beside the Verde,


s: Where he transported them with tapers quenched.


s: Of Holy Church, though penitent at last,


s: Thirty times told the time that he has been


s: Shorter by means of righteous prayers become.


s: See now if thou hast power to make me happy,


s: How thou hast seen me, and this ban beside,


s: For those on earth can much advance us here."


s: Wholly to that the soul collects itself,


s: It seemeth that no other power it heeds;


s: And this against that error is which thinks


s: And hence, whenever aught is heard or seen


s: Which keeps the soul intently bent upon it,


s: Because one faculty is that which listens,


s: And other that which the soul keeps entire;


s: This is as if in bonds, and that is free.


s: In hearing and in gazing at that spirit;


s: The sun, and I had not perceived it, when


s: We came to where those souls with one accord


s: Cried out unto us: "Here is what you ask."


s: The villager, what time the grape imbrowns,


s: Than was the passage-way through which ascended


s: With feet alone; but here one needs must fly;


s: With the swift pinions and the plumes I say


s: Who gave me hope, and made a light for me.


s: We mounted upward through the rifted rock,


s: And on each side the border pressed upon us,


s: And feet and hands the ground beneath required.


s: Of the high bank, out on the open slope,


s: "My Master," said I, "what way shall we take?"


s: And he to me: "No step of thine descend;


s: Still up the mount behind me win thy way,


s: Till some sage escort shall appear to us."


s: The summit was so high it vanquished sight,


s: Than line from middle quadrant to the centre.


s: "O my sweet Father! turn thee and behold


s: "O son," he said, "up yonder drag thyself,"


s: Pointing me to a terrace somewhat higher,


s: Which on that side encircles all the hill.


s: These words of his so spurred me on, that I


s: Strained every nerve, behind him scrambling up,


s: Turned to the East, from which we had ascended,


s: To the low shores mine eyes I first directed,


s: Then to the sun uplifted them, and wondered


s: That on the left hand we were smitten by it.


s: The Poet well perceived that I was wholly


s: Where 'twixt us and the Aquilon it entered.


s: Whereon he said to me: "If Castor and Pollux


s: That up and down conducteth with its light,


s: Thou wouldst behold the zodiac's jagged wheel


s: Revolving still more near unto the Bears,


s: Unless it swerved aside from its old track.


s: How that may be wouldst thou have power to think,


s: Together with this mount on earth to stand,


s: So that they both one sole horizon have,


s: And hemispheres diverse; whereby the road


s: This on one side, when that upon the other,


s: If thine intelligence right clearly heed."


s: There where my wit appeared incompetent,


s: Which in some art is the Equator called,


s: And aye remains between the Sun and Winter,


s: For reason which thou sayest, departeth hence


s: Tow'rds the Septentrion, what time the Hebrews


s: Beheld it tow'rds the region of the heat.


s: But, if it pleaseth thee, I fain would learn


s: How far we have to go; for the hill rises


s: Higher than eyes of mine have power to rise."


s: And he to me: "This mount is such, that ever


s: At the beginning down below 'tis tiresome,


s: And aye the more one climbs, the less it hurts.


s: Therefore, when it shall seem so pleasant to thee,


s: Then at this pathway's ending thou wilt be;


s: There to repose thy panting breath expect;


s: No more I answer; and this I know for true."


s: And as he finished uttering these words,


s: A voice close by us sounded: "Peradventure


s: Thou wilt have need of sitting down ere that."


s: At sound thereof each one of us turned round,


s: And saw upon the left hand a great rock,


s: Which neither I nor he before had noticed.


s: Thither we drew; and there were persons there


s: Who in the shadow stood behind the rock,


s: As one through indolence is wont to stand.


s: And one of them, who seemed to me fatigued,


s: Was sitting down, and both his knees embraced,


s: Holding his face low down between them bowed.


s: "O my sweet Lord," I said, "do turn thine eye


s: Then even Sloth herself his sister were."


s: Then he turned round to us, and he gave heed,


s: Just lifting up his eyes above his thigh,


s: And said: "Now go thou up, for thou art valiant."


s: Then knew I who he was; and the distress,


s: That still a little did my breathing quicken,


s: I came to him he hardly raised his head,


s: Saying: "Hast thou seen clearly how the sun


s: O'er thy left shoulder drives his chariot?"


s: His sluggish attitude and his curt words


s: For thee henceforth; but tell me, wherefore seated


s: In this place art thou?  Waitest thou an escort?


s: Or has thy usual habit seized upon thee?"


s: And he: "O brother, what's the use of climbing?


s: The Angel of God, who sitteth at the gate.


s: First heaven must needs so long revolve me round


s: Since the good sighs I to the end postponed,


s: Unless, e'er that, some prayer may bring me aid


s: Which rises from a heart that lives in grace;


s: What profit others that in heaven are heard not?"


s: Meanwhile the Poet was before me mounting,


s: And saying: "Come now; see the sun has touched


s: I had already from those shades departed,


s: And followed in the footsteps of my Guide,


s: When from behind, pointing his finger at me,


s: One shouted: "See, it seems as if shone not


s: And like one living seems he to conduct him."


s: Mine eyes I turned at utterance of these words,


s: But me, but me, and the light which was broken!


s: The Master said, "that thou thy pace dost slacken?


s: What matters it to thee what here is whispered?


s: Stand like a steadfast tower, that never wags


s: Its top for all the blowing of the winds;


s: For evermore the man in whom is springing


s: Thought upon thought, removes from him the mark,


s: Because the force of one the other weakens."


s: What could I say in answer but "I come"?


s: I said it somewhat with that colour tinged


s: Which makes a man of pardon sometimes worthy.


s: Meanwhile along the mountain-side across


s: For passage of the sunshine through my body,


s: They changed their song into a long, hoarse "Oh!"


s: Ran forth to meet us, and demanded of us,


s: And carry back again to those who sent you,


s: If they stood still because they saw his shadow,


s: Him let them honour, it may profit them."


s: Vapours enkindled saw I ne'er so swiftly


s: At early nightfall cleave the air serene,


s: Nor, at the set of sun, the clouds of August,


s: But upward they returned in briefer time,


s: And, on arriving, with the others wheeled


s: Tow'rds us, like troops that run without a rein.


s: "This folk that presses unto us is great,


s: And cometh to implore thee," said the Poet;


s: "So still go onward, and in going listen."


s: With the same members wherewith thou wast born,"


s: Shouting they came, "a little stay thy steps,


s: So that o'er yonder thou bear news of him;


s: Ah, why dost thou go on?  Ah, why not stay?


s: Long since we all were slain by violence,


s: Then did a light from heaven admonish us,


s: So that, both penitent and pardoning, forth


s: Who with desire to see Him stirs our hearts."


s: And I: "Although I gaze into your faces,


s: No one I recognize; but if may please you


s: Aught I have power to do, ye well-born spirits,


s: Speak ye, and I will do it, by that peace


s: Which, following the feet of such a Guide,


s: From world to world makes itself sought by me."


s: Whence I, who speak alone before the others,


s: Pray thee, if ever thou dost see the land


s: That 'twixt Romagna lies and that of Charles,


s: Thou be so courteous to me of thy prayers


s: In Fano, that they pray for me devoutly,


s: That I may purge away my grave offences.


s: From thence was I; but the deep wounds, through which


s: There where I thought to be the most secure;


s: 'Twas he of Este had it done, who held me


s: In hatred far beyond what justice willed.


s: I still should be o'er yonder where men breathe.


s: Did so entangle me I fell, and saw there


s: A lake made from my veins upon the ground."


s: Fulfilled that draws thee to the lofty mountain,


s: Hence among these I go with downcast front."


s: And I to him: "What violence or what chance


s: That never has thy sepulture been known?"


s: There where the name thereof becometh void


s: Did I arrive, pierced through and through the throat,


s: Fleeing on foot, and bloodying the plain;


s: I fell, and tenantless my flesh remained.


s: Truth will I speak, repeat it to the living;


s: Shouted: 'O thou from heaven, why dost thou rob me?


s: Thou bearest away the eternal part of him,


s: For one poor little tear, that takes him from me;


s: But with the rest I'll deal in other fashion!'


s: Well knowest thou how in the air is gathered


s: Soon as it rises where the cold doth grasp it.


s: He joined that evil will, which aye seeks evil,


s: To intellect, and moved the mist and wind


s: By means of power, which his own nature gave;


s: Thereafter, when the day was spent, the valley


s: From Pratomagno to the great yoke covered


s: With fog, and made the heaven above intent,


s: So that the pregnant air to water changed;


s: Down fell the rain, and to the gullies came


s: And as it mingled with the mighty torrents,


s: It headlong rushed, that nothing held it back.


s: Thrust it, and loosened from my breast the cross


s: It rolled me on the banks and on the bottom,


s: Then with its booty covered and begirt me."


s: "Ah, when thou hast returned unto the world,


s: And rested thee from thy long journeying,"


s: After the second followed the third spirit,


s: He who has lost remains behind despondent,


s: The throws repeating, and in sadness learns;


s: One goes in front, and one behind doth pluck him,


s: And at his side one brings himself to mind;


s: He pauses not, and this and that one hears;


s: They crowd no more to whom his hand he stretches,


s: And from the throng he thus defends himself.


s: Even such was I in that dense multitude,


s: Turning to them this way and that my face,


s: And, promising, I freed myself therefrom.


s: There was the Aretine, who from the arms


s: And he who fleeing from pursuit was drowned.


s: There was imploring with his hands outstretched


s: Who made the good Marzucco seem so strong.


s: As it declared, and not for crime committed,


s: Pierre de la Brosse I say; and here provide


s: While still on earth the Lady of Brabant,


s: So that for this she be of no worse flock!


s: As soon as I was free from all those shades


s: Who only prayed that some one else may pray,


s: O light of mine, expressly in some text,


s: And ne'ertheless these people pray for this.


s: Might then their expectation bootless be?


s: Or is to me thy saying not quite clear?"


s: And not fallacious is the hope of these,


s: If with sane intellect 'tis well regarded;


s: For top of judgment doth not vail itself,


s: Because the fire of love fulfils at once


s: What he must satisfy who here installs him.


s: And there, where I affirmed that proposition,


s: Because the prayer from God was separate.


s: Who light 'twixt truth and intellect shall be.


s: Smiling and happy, on this mountain's top."


s: And I: "Good Leader, let us make more haste,


s: And see, e'en now the hill a shadow casts."


s: "We will go forward with this day" he answered,


s: But otherwise the fact is than thou thinkest.


s: Ere thou art up there, thou shalt see return


s: Him, who now hides himself behind the hill,


s: So that thou dost not interrupt his rays.


s: But yonder there behold! a soul that stationed


s: It will point out to us the quickest way."


s: How lofty and disdainful thou didst bear thee,


s: And grand and slow in moving of thine eyes!


s: Still near to it Virgilius drew, entreating


s: That it would point us out the best ascent;


s: It questioned us; and the sweet Guide began:


s: "Mantua,"--and the shade, all in itself recluse,


s: Rose tow'rds him from the place where first it was,


s: Of thine own land!" and one embraced the other.


s: A ship without a pilot in great tempest!


s: At the sweet sound of his own native land,


s: Thy living ones, and one doth gnaw the other


s: Of those whom one wall and one fosse shut in!


s: Search, wretched one, all round about the shores


s: Thy seaboard, and then look within thy bosom,


s: The bridle mend, if empty be the saddle?


s: Withouten this the shame would be the less.


s: Ah! people, thou that oughtest to be devout,


s: If well thou hearest what God teacheth thee,


s: Behold how fell this wild beast has become,


s: Since thou hast laid thy hand upon the bridle.


s: Her that has grown recalcitrant and savage,


s: And oughtest to bestride her saddle-bow,


s: May a just judgment from the stars down fall


s: That thy successor may have fear thereof;


s: Because thy father and thyself have suffered,


s: By greed of those transalpine lands distrained,


s: Come and behold Montecchi and Cappelletti,


s: Those sad already, and these doubt-depressed!


s: Come, cruel one! come and behold the oppression


s: And thou shalt see how safe is Santafiore!


s: Come and behold thy Rome, that is lamenting,


s: Widowed, alone, and day and night exclaims,


s: Come and behold how loving are the people;


s: Or preparation is 't, that, in the abyss


s: Of thine own counsel, for some good thou makest


s: Each peasant churl who plays the partisan!


s: My Florence! well mayst thou contented be


s: With this digression, which concerns thee not,


s: Thanks to thy people who such forethought take!


s: Many at heart have justice, but shoot slowly,


s: That unadvised they come not to the bow,


s: But on their very lips thy people have it!


s: Without being asked, and crieth: "I submit."


s: Now be thou joyful, for thou hast good reason;


s: Thou affluent, thou in peace, thou full of wisdom!


s: If I speak true, the event conceals it not.


s: The ancient laws, and were so civilized,


s: Compared with thee, who makest such fine-spun


s: Reaches not what thou in October spinnest.


s: How oft, within the time of thy remembrance,


s: Hast thou remodelled, and renewed thy members?


s: And if thou mind thee well, and see the light,


s: Thou shalt behold thyself like a sick woman,


s: But by her tossing wardeth off her pain.


s: Had three and four times been reiterated,


s: Sordello backward drew and said, "Who are you?"


s: Did I lose heaven, than for not having faith;"


s: Something whereat he marvels, who believes


s: And yet does not, saying, "It is! it is not!"


s: So he appeared; and then bowed down his brow,


s: And, where inferiors embrace, embraced him.


s: "O glory of the Latians, thou," he said,


s: "Through whom our language showed what it could do


s: O pride eternal of the place I came from,


s: What merit or what grace to me reveals thee?


s: If I to hear thy words be worthy, tell me


s: If thou dost come from Hell, and from what cloister."


s: "Through all the circles of the doleful realm,"


s: Heaven's power impelled me, and with that I come.


s: The sight of that high sun which thou desirest,


s: And which too late by me was recognized.


s: A place there is below not sad with torments,


s: But darkness only, where the lamentations


s: Have not the sound of wailing, but are sighs.


s: Snatched by the teeth of Death, or ever they


s: There dwell I among those who the three saintly


s: Virtues did not put on, and without vice


s: The others knew and followed all of them.


s: But if thou know and can, some indication


s: Where Purgatory has its right beginning."


s: He answered: "No fixed place has been assigned us;


s: So far as I can go, as guide I join thee.


s: Therefore 'tis well to think of some fair sojourn.


s: Souls are there on the right hand here withdrawn;


s: If thou permit me I will lead thee to them,


s: And thou shalt know them not without delight."


s: "How is this?" was the answer; "should one wish


s: By others? or mayhap would not have power?"


s: And on the ground the good Sordello drew


s: His finger, saying, "See, this line alone


s: Thou couldst not pass after the sun is gone;


s: Not that aught else would hindrance give, however,


s: To going up, save the nocturnal darkness;


s: This with the want of power the will perplexes.


s: And, wandering, walk the hill-side round about,


s: While the horizon holds the day imprisoned."


s: "Do thou conduct us thither, where thou sayest


s: Little had we withdrawn us from that place,


s: When I perceived the mount was hollowed out


s: In fashion as the valleys here are hollowed.


s: "Thitherward," said that shade, "will we repair,


s: Where of itself the hill-side makes a lap,


s: And there for the new day will we await."


s: 'Twixt hill and plain there was a winding path


s: Which led us to the margin of that dell,


s: Where dies the border more than half away.


s: Gold and fine silver, and scarlet and pearl-white,


s: By herbage and by flowers within that hollow


s: Planted, each one in colour would be vanquished,


s: As by its greater vanquished is the less.


s: Nor in that place had nature painted only,


s: But of the sweetness of a thousand odours


s: Made there a mingled fragrance and unknown.


s: "Salve Regina," on the green and flowers


s: There seated, singing, spirits I beheld,


s: Which were not visible outside the valley.


s: "Before the scanty sun now seeks his nest,"


s: Began the Mantuan who had led us thither,


s: "Among them do not wish me to conduct you.


s: Better from off this ledge the acts and faces


s: Than in the plain below received among them.


s: He who sits highest, and the semblance bears


s: Of having what he should have done neglected,


s: And to the others' song moves not his lips,


s: Rudolph the Emperor was, who had the power


s: To heal the wounds that Italy have slain,


s: So that through others slowly she revives.


s: The other, who in look doth comfort him,


s: Governed the region where the water springs,


s: The Moldau bears the Elbe, and Elbe the sea.


s: His name was Ottocar; and in swaddling-clothes


s: And the small-nosed, who close in council seems


s: Look there, how he is beating at his breast!


s: Father and father-in-law of France's Pest


s: Are they, and know his vicious life and lewd,


s: And hence proceeds the grief that so doth pierce them.


s: He who appears so stalwart, and chimes in,


s: Singing, with that one of the manly nose,


s: The stripling who in rear of him is sitting,


s: Well had the valour passed from vase to vase,


s: Which cannot of the other heirs be said.


s: Frederick and Jacomo possess the realms,


s: Not oftentimes upriseth through the branches


s: Who gives it, so that we may ask of Him.


s: Eke to the large-nosed reach my words, no less


s: Than to the other, Pier, who with him sings;


s: Whence Provence and Apulia grieve already


s: He who the lowest on the ground among them


s: Sits looking upward, is the Marquis William,


s: 'Twas now the hour that turneth back desire


s: In those who sail the sea, and melts the heart,


s: The day they've said to their sweet friends farewell,


s: And the new pilgrim penetrates with love,


s: My hearing, and to watch one of the souls


s: Uprisen, that begged attention with its hand.


s: It joined and lifted upward both its palms,


s: As if it said to God, "Naught else I care for."


s: Forth from its mouth, and with such dulcet notes,


s: It made me issue forth from my own mind.


s: And then the others, sweetly and devoutly,


s: Accompanied it through all the hymn entire,


s: Having their eyes on the supernal wheels.


s: Here, Reader, fix thine eyes well on the truth,


s: And from on high come forth and down descend,


s: I saw two Angels with two flaming swords,


s: Green as the little leaflets just now born


s: Their garments were, which, by their verdant pinions


s: Beaten and blown abroad, they trailed behind.


s: One just above us came to take his station,


s: So that the people were contained between them.


s: Clearly in them discerned I the blond head;


s: But in their faces was the eye bewildered,


s: "From Mary's bosom both of them have come,"


s: Sordello said, "as guardians of the valley


s: Against the serpent, that will come anon."


s: Turned round about, and closely drew myself,


s: Utterly frozen, to the faithful shoulders.


s: And once again Sordello: "Now descend we


s: 'Mid the grand shades, and we will speak to them;


s: Right pleasant will it be for them to see you."


s: Only three steps I think that I descended,


s: And was below, and saw one who was looking


s: Only at me, as if he fain would know me.


s: But not so that between his eyes and mine


s: It did not show what it before locked up.


s: Tow'rds me he moved, and I tow'rds him did move;


s: When I beheld thee not among the damned!


s: No greeting fair was left unsaid between us;


s: Then asked he: "How long is it since thou camest


s: O'er the far waters to the mountain's foot?"


s: "Oh!" said I to him, "through the dismal places


s: I came this morn; and am in the first life,


s: He and Sordello both shrank back from me,


s: Like people who are suddenly bewildered.


s: To one who sat there, crying, "Up, Currado!


s: Come and behold what God in grace has willed!"


s: Then, turned to me: "By that especial grace


s: His own first wherefore, that it has no ford,


s: When thou shalt be beyond the waters wide,


s: I do not think her mother loves me more,


s: Since she has laid aside her wimple white,


s: Which she, unhappy, needs must wish again.


s: How long in woman lasts the fire of love,


s: If eye or touch do not relight it often.


s: So fair a hatchment will not make for her


s: A-field, as would have made Gallura's Cock."


s: In this wise spake he, with the stamp impressed


s: My greedy eyes still wandered up to heaven,


s: Still to that point where slowest are the stars,


s: Even as a wheel the nearest to its axle.


s: And my Conductor: "Son, what dost thou gaze at


s: Up there?"  And I to him: "At those three torches


s: With which this hither pole is all on fire."


s: And he to me: "The four resplendent stars


s: Thou sawest this morning are down yonder low,


s: And these have mounted up to where those were."


s: Drew him, and said, "Lo there our Adversary!"


s: And pointed with his finger to look thither.


s: Upon the side on which the little valley


s: No barrier hath, a serpent was; perchance


s: The same which gave to Eve the bitter food.


s: 'Twixt grass and flowers came on the evil streak,


s: Turning at times its head about, and licking


s: Its back like to a beast that smoothes itself.


s: But well I saw that they were both in motion.


s: Hearing the air cleft by their verdant wings,


s: The serpent fled, and round the Angels wheeled,


s: The shade that to the Judge had near approached


s: When he had called, throughout that whole assault


s: "So may the light that leadeth thee on high


s: Find in thine own free-will as much of wax


s: Thou knowest, tell it me, who once was great there.


s: I'm not the elder, but from him descended;


s: To mine I bore the love which here refineth."


s: "O," said I unto him, "through your domains


s: I never passed, but where is there a dwelling


s: Throughout all Europe, where they are not known?


s: That fame, which doeth honour to your house,


s: Proclaims its Signors and proclaims its land,


s: So that he knows of them who ne'er was there.


s: And, as I hope for heaven, I swear to you


s: The glory of the purse and of the sword.


s: That though a guilty head misguide the world,


s: Sole it goes right, and scorns the evil way."


s: And he: "Now go; for the sun shall not lie


s: Seven times upon the pillow which the Ram


s: With all his four feet covers and bestrides,


s: Shall in the middle of thy head be nailed


s: With greater nails than of another's speech,


s: Unless the course of justice standeth still."


s: Forth from the arms of her sweet paramour;


s: With gems her forehead all relucent was,


s: Which with its tail doth smite amain the nations,


s: And of the steps, with which she mounts, the Night


s: Had taken two in that place where we were,


s: And now the third was bending down its wings;


s: When I, who something had of Adam in me,


s: Vanquished by sleep, upon the grass reclined,


s: Just at the hour when her sad lay begins


s: The little swallow, near unto the morning,


s: More from the flesh, and less by thought imprisoned,


s: In dreams it seemed to me I saw suspended


s: An eagle in the sky, with plumes of gold,


s: With wings wide open, and intent to stoop,


s: And this, it seemed to me, was where had been


s: When to the high consistory he was rapt.


s: I thought within myself, perchance he strikes


s: From habit only here, and from elsewhere


s: Then wheeling somewhat more, it seemed to me,


s: And snatched me upward even to the fire.


s: Therein it seemed that he and I were burning,


s: And knowing not the place in which he was,


s: What time from Chiron stealthily his mother


s: Carried him sleeping in her arms to Scyros,


s: Wherefrom the Greeks withdrew him afterwards,


s: As doth the man who freezes with affright.


s: And now the sun was more than two hours high,


s: And turned towards the sea-shore was my face.


s: Do not restrain, but put forth all thy strength.


s: Thou hast at length arrived at Purgatory;


s: See there the cliff that closes it around;


s: See there the entrance, where it seems disjoined.


s: Whilom at dawn, which doth precede the day,


s: Upon the flowers that deck the land below,


s: There came a Lady and said: 'I am Lucia;


s: So will I make his journey easier for him.'


s: Remained; she took thee, and, as day grew bright,


s: Upward she came, and I upon her footsteps.


s: She laid thee here; and first her beauteous eyes


s: In guise of one whose doubts are reassured,


s: And who to confidence his fear doth change,


s: After the truth has been discovered to him,


s: So did I change; and when without disquiet


s: He moved, and I behind him, tow'rd the height.


s: My theme, and therefore if with greater art


s: Nearer approached we, and were in such place,


s: That there, where first appeared to me a rift


s: I saw a portal, and three stairs beneath,


s: And a gate-keeper, who yet spake no word.


s: And as I opened more and more mine eyes,


s: Which so reflected back the sunbeams tow'rds us,


s: "Tell it from where you are, what is't you wish?"


s: Began he to exclaim; "where is the escort?


s: Take heed your coming hither harm you not!"


s: "A Lady of Heaven, with these things conversant,"


s: Said to us, 'Thither go; there is the portal.'"


s: "And may she speed your footsteps in all good,"


s: "Come forward then unto these stairs of ours."


s: Thither did we approach; and the first stair


s: Was marble white, so polished and so smooth,


s: The second, tinct of deeper hue than perse,


s: Cracked all asunder lengthwise and across.


s: The third, that uppermost rests massively,


s: As blood that from a vein is spirting forth.


s: The Angel of God, upon the threshold seated,


s: Along the three stairs upward with good will


s: For mercy's sake besought that he would open,


s: But first upon my breast three times I smote.


s: With the sword's point, and, "Take heed that thou wash


s: These wounds, when thou shalt be within," he said.


s: Of the same colour were with his attire,


s: And from beneath it he drew forth two keys.


s: One was of gold, and the other was of silver;


s: First with the white, and after with the yellow,


s: Plied he the door, so that I was content.


s: So that it turn not rightly in the lock,"


s: He said to us, "this entrance doth not open.


s: More precious one is, but the other needs


s: For it is that which doth the knot unloose.


s: From Peter I have them; and he bade me err


s: If people but fall down before my feet."


s: Then pushed the portals of the sacred door,


s: Exclaiming: "Enter; but I give you warning


s: That forth returns whoever looks behind."


s: And when upon their hinges were turned round


s: Which are of metal, massive and sonorous,


s: Roared not so loud, nor so discordant seemed


s: Tarpeia, when was ta'en from it the good


s: At the first thunder-peal I turned attentive,


s: That which I heard, as we are wont to catch,


s: When people singing with the organ stand;


s: For now we hear, and now hear not, the words.


s: When we had crossed the threshold of the door


s: Which the perverted love of souls disuses,


s: Because it makes the crooked way seem straight,


s: And if I had turned back mine eyes upon it,


s: What for my failing had been fit excuse?


s: We mounted upward through a rifted rock,


s: Now here, now there, to the receding side."


s: And this our footsteps so infrequent made,


s: That sooner had the moon's decreasing disk


s: Than we were forth from out that needle's eye;


s: There where the mountain backward piles itself,


s: More desolate than roads across the deserts.


s: From where its margin borders on the void,


s: To foot of the high bank that ever rises,


s: A human body three times told would measure;


s: And far as eye of mine could wing its flight,


s: Now on the left, and on the right flank now,


s: Thereon our feet had not been moved as yet,


s: When I perceived the embankment round about,


s: Which all right of ascent had interdicted,


s: With sculptures, that not only Polycletus,


s: But Nature's self, had there been put to shame.


s: The Angel, who came down to earth with tidings


s: Of peace, that had been wept for many a year,


s: And opened Heaven from its long interdict,


s: There sculptured in a gracious attitude,


s: He did not seem an image that is silent.


s: One would have sworn that he was saying, "Ave;"


s: Who turned the key to ope the exalted love,


s: And in her mien this language had impressed,


s: "Keep not thy mind upon one place alone,"


s: The gentle Master said, who had me standing


s: Upon that side where people have their hearts;


s: Wherefore I passed Virgilius and drew near,


s: So that before mine eyes it might be set.


s: There sculptured in the self-same marble were


s: The cart and oxen, drawing the holy ark,


s: Wherefore one dreads an office not appointed.


s: People appeared in front, and all of them


s: Made one say "No," the other, "Yes, they sing."


s: Likewise unto the smoke of the frankincense,


s: Which there was imaged forth, the eyes and nose


s: Dancing with girded loins, the humble Psalmist,


s: And more and less than King was he in this.


s: Of a great palace, Michal looked upon him,


s: I moved my feet from where I had been standing,


s: Which after Michal glimmered white upon me.


s: There the high glory of the Roman Prince


s: 'Tis of the Emperor Trajan I am speaking;


s: Around about him seemed it thronged and full


s: Of cavaliers, and the eagles in the gold


s: Above them visibly in the wind were moving.


s: The wretched woman in the midst of these


s: Seemed to be saying: "Give me vengeance, Lord,


s: For my dead son, for whom my heart is breaking."


s: I shall return."  And she: "My Lord," like one


s: In whom grief is impatient, "shouldst thou not


s: Return?"  And he: "Who shall be where I am


s: Will give it thee."  And she: "Good deed of others


s: What boots it thee, if thou neglect thine own?"


s: Whence he: "Now comfort thee, for it behoves me


s: Justice so wills, and pity doth retain me."


s: Was the creator of this visible language,


s: And dear to look on for their Maker's sake,


s: "Behold, upon this side, but rare they make


s: Their steps," the Poet murmured, "many people;


s: These will direct us to the lofty stairs."


s: Mine eyes, that in beholding were intent


s: To see new things, of which they curious are,


s: In turning round towards him were not slow.


s: But still I wish not, Reader, thou shouldst swerve


s: From thy good purposes, because thou hearest


s: How God ordaineth that the debt be paid;


s: Attend not to the fashion of the torment,


s: Think of what follows; think that at the worst


s: It cannot reach beyond the mighty sentence.


s: Moving towards us seems to me not persons,


s: And what I know not, so in sight I waver."


s: Of this their torment bows them so to earth,


s: That my own eyes at first contended with it;


s: By sight what cometh underneath those stones;


s: Already canst thou see how each is stricken."


s: O ye proud Christians! wretched, weary ones!


s: Confidence have in your backsliding steps,


s: Born to bring forth the angelic butterfly


s: That flieth unto judgment without screen?


s: Why floats aloft your spirit high in air?


s: Even as the worm in whom formation fails!


s: Is seen to join its knees unto its breast,


s: Arise in him who sees it, fashioned thus


s: Beheld I those, when I had ta'en good heed.


s: True is it, they were more or less bent down,


s: According as they more or less were laden;


s: And he who had most patience in his looks


s: Weeping did seem to say, "I can no more!"


s: "Our Father, thou who dwellest in the heavens,


s: Not circumscribed, but from the greater love


s: Thou bearest to the first effects on high,


s: Praised be thy name and thine omnipotence


s: To render thanks to thy sweet effluence.


s: Make sacrifice to thee, Hosanna singing,


s: So may all men make sacrifice of theirs.


s: Withouten which in this rough wilderness


s: Backward goes he who toils most to advance.


s: And even as we the trespass we have suffered


s: Put not to proof with the old Adversary,


s: But thou from him who spurs it so, deliver.


s: Not for ourselves is made, who need it not,


s: But for their sake who have remained behind us."


s: Thus for themselves and us good furtherance


s: Those shades imploring, went beneath a weight


s: Like unto that of which we sometimes dream,


s: And weary all, upon that foremost cornice,


s: Purging away the smoke-stains of the world.


s: If there good words are always said for us,


s: What may not here be said and done for them,


s: By those who have a good root to their will?


s: Well may we help them wash away the marks


s: That hence they carried, so that clean and light


s: "Ah! so may pity and justice you disburden


s: Soon, that ye may have power to move the wing,


s: That shall uplift you after your desire,


s: Show us on which hand tow'rd the stairs the way


s: Is shortest, and if more than one the passes,


s: Point us out that which least abruptly falls;


s: For he who cometh with me, through the burden


s: Of Adam's flesh wherewith he is invested,


s: Against his will is chary of his climbing."


s: The words of theirs which they returned to those


s: That he whom I was following had spoken,


s: It was not manifest from whom they came,


s: But it was said: "To the right hand come with us


s: Along the bank, and ye shall find a pass


s: Which this proud neck of mine doth subjugate,


s: Whence I am forced to hold my visage down,


s: Him, who still lives and does not name himself,


s: Would I regard, to see if I may know him


s: A Latian was I, and born of a great Tuscan;


s: I know not if his name were ever with you.


s: The ancient blood and deeds of gallantry


s: That, thinking not upon the common mother,


s: Has pride done harm, but all my kith and kin


s: Listening I downward bent my countenance;


s: And one of them, not this one who was speaking,


s: Twisted himself beneath the weight that cramps him,


s: And looked at me, and knew me, and called out,


s: On me, who all bowed down was going with them.


s: "O," asked I him, "art thou not Oderisi,


s: Agobbio's honour, and honour of that art


s: "Brother," said he, "more laughing are the leaves


s: Touched by the brush of Franco Bolognese;


s: All his the honour now, and mine in part.


s: While I was living, for the great desire


s: Of excellence, on which my heart was bent.


s: Here of such pride is paid the forfeiture;


s: And yet I should not be here, were it not


s: That, having power to sin, I turned to God.


s: How little green upon thy summit lingers,


s: If't be not followed by an age of grossness!


s: Should hold the field, now Giotto has the cry,


s: So that the other's fame is growing dim.


s: The glory of our tongue, and he perchance


s: Is born, who from the nest shall chase them both.


s: Naught is this mundane rumour but a breath


s: Of wind, that comes now this way and now that,


s: And changes name, because it changes side.


s: What fame shalt thou have more, if old peel off


s: From thee thy flesh, than if thou hadst been dead


s: Before thou left the 'pappo' and the 'dindi,'


s: Ere pass a thousand years? which is a shorter


s: Space to the eterne, than twinkling of an eye


s: Unto the circle that in heaven wheels slowest.


s: With him, who takes so little of the road


s: And now he scarce is lisped of in Siena,


s: Where he was lord, what time was overthrown


s: Which comes and goes, and that discolours it


s: By which it issues green from out the earth."


s: And I: "Thy true speech fills my heart with good


s: Humility, and great tumour thou assuagest;


s: But who is he, of whom just now thou spakest?"


s: "That," he replied, "is Provenzan Salvani,


s: He has gone thus, and goeth without rest


s: E'er since he died; such money renders back


s: In payment he who is on earth too daring."


s: The verge of life before that he repent,


s: Remains below there and ascends not hither,


s: Until as much time as he lived be passed,


s: How was the coming granted him in largess?"


s: "When he in greatest splendour lived," said he,


s: All shame being laid aside, he placed himself;


s: And there to draw his friend from the duress


s: Which in the prison-house of Charles he suffered,


s: He brought himself to tremble in each vein.


s: I say no more, and know that I speak darkly;


s: Yet little time shall pass before thy neighbours


s: Will so demean themselves that thou canst gloss it.


s: This action has released him from those confines."


s: But when he said, "Leave him, and onward pass,


s: For here 'tis good that with the sail and oars,


s: As much as may be, each push on his barque;"


s: Upright, as walking wills it, I redressed


s: My person, notwithstanding that my thoughts


s: Remained within me downcast and abashed.


s: Already showed how light of foot we were,


s: When unto me he said: "Cast down thine eyes;


s: 'Twere well for thee, to alleviate the way,


s: Above the buried dead their tombs in earth


s: Bear sculptured on them what they were before;


s: Whence often there we weep for them afresh,


s: From pricking of remembrance, which alone


s: So saw I there, but of a better semblance


s: In point of artifice, with figures covered


s: Whate'er as pathway from the mount projects.


s: More than all other creatures, down from heaven


s: Flaming with lightnings fall upon one side.


s: Still clad in armour round about their father,


s: Gaze at the scattered members of the giants.


s: I saw, at foot of his great labour, Nimrod,


s: Between thy seven and seven children slain!


s: O Saul! how fallen upon thy proper sword


s: Didst thou appear there lifeless in Gilboa,


s: That felt thereafter neither rain nor dew!


s: E'en then half spider, sad upon the shreds


s: Of fabric wrought in evil hour for thee!


s: Thine image there; but full of consternation


s: A chariot bears it off, when none pursues!


s: Displayed moreo'er the adamantine pavement


s: Displayed how his own sons did throw themselves


s: And how, he being dead, they left him there;


s: Displayed the ruin and the cruel carnage


s: That Tomyris wrought, when she to Cyrus said,


s: "Blood didst thou thirst for, and with blood I glut thee!"


s: And likewise the remainder of that slaughter.


s: I saw there Troy in ashes and in caverns;


s: Displayed the image that is there discerned!


s: That could portray the shades and traits which there


s: Would cause each subtile genius to admire?


s: Dead seemed the dead, the living seemed alive;


s: Better than I saw not who saw the truth,


s: All that I trod upon while bowed I went.


s: Now wax ye proud, and on with looks uplifted,


s: Ye sons of Eve, and bow not down your faces


s: More of the mount by us was now encompassed,


s: And far more spent the circuit of the sun,


s: 'Tis no more time to go thus meditating.


s: From service of the day the sixth handmaiden.


s: With reverence thine acts and looks adorn,


s: So that he may delight to speed us upward;


s: Think that this day will never dawn again."


s: Such as appears the tremulous morning star.


s: His arms he opened, and opened then his wings;


s: "Come," said he, "near at hand here are the steps,


s: And easy from henceforth is the ascent."


s: At this announcement few are they who come!


s: He led us on to where the rock was cleft;


s: There smote upon my forehead with his wings,


s: As on the right hand, to ascend the mount


s: Where seated is the church that lordeth it


s: The bold abruptness of the ascent is broken


s: By stairways that were made there in the age


s: When still were safe the ledger and the stave,


s: E'en thus attempered is the bank which falls


s: Sheer downward from the second circle there;


s: But on this, side and that the high rock graze.


s: As we were turning thitherward our persons,


s: Sang in such wise that speech could tell it not.


s: Ah me! how different are these entrances


s: From the Infernal! for with anthems here


s: One enters, and below with wild laments.


s: We now were hunting up the sacred stairs,


s: Than on the plain it had appeared before.


s: Whence I: "My Master, say, what heavy thing


s: Has been uplifted from me, so that hardly


s: Aught of fatigue is felt by me in walking?"


s: He answered: "When the P's which have remained


s: Shall wholly, as the first is, be erased,


s: Thy feet will be so vanquished by good will,


s: That not alone they shall not feel fatigue,


s: Then did I even as they do who are going


s: With something on the head to them unknown,


s: Unless the signs of others make them doubt,


s: Wherefore the hand to ascertain is helpful,


s: And seeks and finds, and doth fulfill the office


s: Which cannot be accomplished by the sight;


s: And with the fingers of the right hand spread


s: I found but six the letters, that had carved


s: The mountain, which ascending shriveth all.


s: There in like manner doth a cornice bind


s: The hill all round about, as does the first,


s: Save that its arc more suddenly is curved.


s: Shade is there none, nor sculpture that appears;


s: So seems the bank, and so the road seems smooth,


s: "If to inquire we wait for people here,"


s: The Poet said, "I fear that peradventure


s: Then steadfast on the sun his eyes he fixed,


s: Made his right side the centre of his motion,


s: And turned the left part of himself about.


s: "O thou sweet light! with trust in whom I enter


s: Upon this novel journey, do thou lead us,"


s: Said he, "as one within here should be led.


s: Thou warmest the world, thou shinest over it;


s: Thy rays should evermore our leaders be!"


s: And tow'rds us there were heard to fly, albeit


s: Unto Love's table courteous invitations,


s: The first voice that passed onward in its flight,


s: "Vinum non habent," said in accents loud,


s: Because of distance, passed another, crying,


s: "O," said I, "Father, these, what voices are they?"


s: Saying: "Love those from whom ye have had evil!"


s: And the good Master said: "This circle scourges


s: Are drawn from love the lashes of the scourge.


s: I think that thou wilt hear it, as I judge,


s: Before thou comest to the Pass of Pardon.


s: But fix thine eyes athwart the air right steadfast,


s: And people thou wilt see before us sitting,


s: And each one close against the cliff is seated."


s: Then wider than at first mine eyes I opened;


s: I looked before me, and saw shades with mantles


s: Not from the colour of the stone diverse.


s: And when we were a little farther onward,


s: I do not think there walketh still on earth


s: A man so hard, that he would not be pierced


s: For when I had approached so near to them


s: Drained was I at the eyes by heavy grief.


s: Covered with sackcloth vile they seemed to me,


s: And one sustained the other with his shoulder,


s: And all of them were by the bank sustained.


s: Thus do the blind, in want of livelihood,


s: Stand at the doors of churches asking alms,


s: But at their aspect, which no less implores.


s: And as unto the blind the sun comes not,


s: So to the shades, of whom just now I spake,


s: Heaven's light will not be bounteous of itself;


s: For all their lids an iron wire transpierces,


s: Is done, because it will not quiet stay.


s: To me it seemed, in passing, to do outrage,


s: Wherefore I turned me to my counsel sage.


s: Well knew he what the mute one wished to say,


s: But said: "Speak, and be brief, and to the point."


s: Of the embankment from which one may fall,


s: The shades devout, who through the horrible seam


s: Pressed out the tears so that they bathed their cheeks.


s: To them I turned me, and, "O people, certain,"


s: Which your desire has solely in its care,


s: Through them descend the river of the mind,


s: Tell me, for dear 'twill be to me and gracious,


s: And 'twill perchance be good for him I learn it."


s: Whereat I made myself still nearer heard.


s: Among the rest I saw a shade that waited


s: Its chin it lifted upward like a blind man.


s: "Spirit," I said, "who stoopest to ascend,


s: Make thyself known to me by place or name."


s: The others here recleanse my guilty life,


s: More happy far than at my own good fortune.


s: And that thou mayst not think that I deceive thee,


s: Hear if I was as foolish as I tell thee.


s: Were joined in battle with their adversaries,


s: And I was praying God for what he willed.


s: Routed were they, and turned into the bitter


s: Passes of flight; and I, the chase beholding,


s: A joy received unequalled by all others;


s: Crying to God, 'Henceforth I fear thee not,'


s: As did the blackbird at the little sunshine.


s: My debt have been by penitence discharged,


s: Had it not been that in remembrance held me


s: But who art thou, that into our conditions


s: Questioning goest, and hast thine eyes unbound


s: As I believe, and breathing dost discourse?"


s: "Mine eyes," I said, "will yet be here ta'en from me,


s: But for short space; for small is the offence


s: Committed by their being turned with envy.


s: Far greater is the fear, wherein suspended


s: For even now the load down there weighs on me."


s: And she to me: "Who led thee, then, among us


s: Up here, if to return below thou thinkest?"


s: And I: "He who is with me, and speaks not;


s: Spirit elect, if thou wouldst have me move


s: O'er yonder yet my mortal feet for thee."


s: "O, this is such a novel thing to hear,"


s: She answered, "that great sign it is God loves thee;


s: Therefore with prayer of thine sometimes assist me.


s: And I implore, by what thou most desirest,


s: If e'er thou treadest the soil of Tuscany,


s: Them wilt thou see among that people vain


s: Who hope in Talamone, and will lose there


s: More hope than in discovering the Diana;


s: But there still more the admirals will lose."


s: "Who is this one that goes about our mountain,


s: Or ever Death has given him power of flight,


s: And opes his eyes and shuts them at his will?"


s: "I know not who, but know he's not alone;


s: Ask him thyself, for thou art nearer to him,


s: And gently, so that he may speak, accost him."


s: Thus did two spirits, leaning tow'rds each other,


s: Discourse about me there on the right hand;


s: Then held supine their faces to address me.


s: And said the one: "O soul, that, fastened still


s: Within the body, tow'rds the heaven art going,


s: Whence comest and who art thou; for thou mak'st us


s: As much to marvel at this grace of thine


s: As must a thing that never yet has been."


s: And I: "Through midst of Tuscany there wanders


s: And not a hundred miles of course suffice it;


s: To tell you who I am were speech in vain,


s: Because my name as yet makes no great noise."


s: With intellect of mine," then answered me


s: He who first spake, "thou speakest of the Arno."


s: And said the other to him: "Why concealed


s: And thus the shade that questioned was of this


s: Himself acquitted: "I know not; but truly


s: 'Tis fit the name of such a valley perish;


s: For from its fountain-head (where is so pregnant


s: The Alpine mountain whence is cleft Peloro


s: That in few places it that mark surpasses)


s: To where it yields itself in restoration


s: Of what the heaven doth of the sea dry up,


s: Whence have the rivers that which goes with them,


s: By all, as is a serpent, through misfortune


s: Of place, or through bad habit that impels them;


s: On which account have so transformed their nature


s: It seems that Circe had them in her pasture.


s: It first directeth its impoverished way.


s: Curs findeth it thereafter, coming downward,


s: More snarling than their puissance demands,


s: And turns from them disdainfully its muzzle.


s: It goes on falling, and the more it grows,


s: The more it finds the dogs becoming wolves,


s: Descended then through many a hollow gulf,


s: It finds the foxes so replete with fraud,


s: They fear no cunning that may master them.


s: Nor will I cease because another hears me;


s: And well 'twill be for him, if still he mind him


s: Of what a truthful spirit to me unravels.


s: Of the wild stream, and terrifies them all.


s: He sells their flesh, it being yet alive;


s: Thereafter slaughters them like ancient beeves;


s: Many of life, himself of praise, deprives.


s: Blood-stained he issues from the dismal forest;


s: He leaves it such, a thousand years from now


s: In its primeval state 'tis not re-wooded."


s: As at the announcement of impending ills


s: The face of him who listens is disturbed,


s: From whate'er side the peril seize upon him;


s: So I beheld that other soul, which stood


s: Turned round to listen, grow disturbed and sad,


s: When it had gathered to itself the word.


s: The speech of one and aspect of the other


s: Had me desirous made to know their names,


s: And question mixed with prayers I made thereof,


s: Whereat the spirit which first spake to me


s: Began again: "Thou wishest I should bring me


s: To do for thee what thou'lt not do for me;


s: But since God willeth that in thee shine forth


s: Such grace of his, I'll not be chary with thee;


s: Thou wouldst have seen me sprinkled o'er with pallor.


s: From my own sowing such the straw I reap!


s: O human race! why dost thou set thy heart


s: This is Renier; this is the boast and honour


s: Of the house of Calboli, where no one since


s: Has made himself the heir of his desert.


s: 'Twixt Po and mount, and sea-shore and the Reno,


s: Of good required for truth and for diversion;


s: Where is good Lizio, and Arrigo Manardi,


s: The house of Traversara, and th' Anastagi,


s: The dames and cavaliers, the toils and ease


s: That filled our souls with love and courtesy,


s: There where the hearts have so malicious grown!


s: And ill does Castrocaro, and Conio worse,


s: Will do well the Pagani, when their Devil


s: Shall have departed; but not therefore pure


s: But go now, Tuscan, for it now delights me


s: To weep far better than it does to speak,


s: So much has our discourse my mind distressed."


s: Heard us depart; therefore, by keeping silent,


s: Thunder, when it doth cleave the air, appeared


s: A voice, that counter to us came, exclaiming:


s: As soon as hearing had a truce from this,


s: That it resembled thunderings following fast:


s: And then, to press myself close to the Poet,


s: I backward, and not forward, took a step.


s: And said he to me: "That was the hard curb


s: That ought to hold a man within his bounds;


s: But you take in the bait so that the hook