s: Marvelous darkness shadow'd o'er the place.


s: Through wintry months tenacious pitch, to smear


s: Their unsound vessels; for th' inclement time


s: Sea-faring men restrains, and in that while


s: The ribs of his, that hath made many a voyage;


s: One hammers at the prow, one at the poop;


s: This shapeth oars, that other cables twirls,


s: The mizen one repairs and main-sail rent


s: Boil'd here a glutinous thick mass, that round


s: Lim'd all the shore beneath.  I that beheld,


s: But therein nought distinguish'd, save the surge,


s: Rais'd by the boiling, in one mighty swell


s: Heave, and by turns subsiding and fall.  While there


s: I fix'd my ken below, "Mark! mark!" my guide


s: Exclaiming, drew me towards him from the place,


s: Wherein I stood.  I turn'd myself as one,


s: He needs must shun, whom sudden fear unmans,


s: That he his flight delays not for the view.


s: That running, up advanc'd along the rock.


s: Ah! what fierce cruelty his look bespake!


s: In act how bitter did he seem, with wings


s: Buoyant outstretch'd and feet of nimblest tread!


s: Was with a sinner charg'd; by either haunch


s: He held him, the foot's sinew griping fast.


s: "Ye of our bridge!" he cried, "keen-talon'd fiends!


s: Whelm ye beneath, while I return for more.


s: That land hath store of such.  All men are there,


s: For lucre there an 'aye' is quickly made."


s: Him dashing down, o'er the rough rock he turn'd,


s: Sped with like eager haste.  That other sank


s: And forthwith writing to the surface rose.


s: But those dark demons, shrouded by the bridge,


s: Cried "Here the hallow'd visage saves not: here


s: Is other swimming than in Serchio's wave.


s: Wherefore if thou desire we rend thee not,


s: Take heed thou mount not o'er the pitch."  This said,


s: They grappled him with more than hundred hooks,


s: And shouted: "Cover'd thou must sport thee here;


s: So, if thou canst, in secret mayst thou filch."


s: E'en thus the cook bestirs him, with his grooms,


s: To thrust the flesh into the caldron down


s: With flesh-hooks, that it float not on the top.


s: Me then my guide bespake: "Lest they descry,


s: That thou art here, behind a craggy rock


s: Bend low and screen thee; and whate'er of force


s: Be offer'd me, or insult, fear thou not:


s: For I am well advis'd, who have been erst


s: In the like fray."  Beyond the bridge's head


s: Therewith he pass'd, and reaching the sixth pier,


s: Behov'd him then a forehead terror-proof.


s: With storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth


s: From whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush'd


s: Those from beneath the arch, and against him


s: Their weapons all they pointed.  He aloud:


s: "Be none of you outrageous: ere your time


s: Dare seize me, come forth from amongst you one,


s: "Who having heard my words, decide he then


s: If he shall tear these limbs."  They shouted loud,


s: The others standing firm, and as he came,


s: "What may this turn avail him?" he exclaim'd.


s: Thus far from all your skirmishing secure,"


s: My teacher answered, "without will divine


s: For so Heaven's pleasure is, that I should lead


s: Another through this savage wilderness."


s: Forthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop


s: And to the rest exclaim'd: "We have no power


s: To strike him."  Then to me my guide: "O thou!


s: Who on the bridge among the crags dost sit


s: Low crouching, safely now to me return."


s: I rose, and towards him moved with speed: the fiends


s: Meantime all forward drew: me terror seiz'd


s: Lest they should break the compact they had made.


s: Th' infantry dreading, lest his covenant


s: The foe should break; so close he hemm'd them round.


s: I to my leader's side adher'd, mine eyes


s: With fixt and motionless observance bent


s: On their unkindly visage.  They their hooks


s: "Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?"  To whom


s: Was answer'd: "Even so; nor miss thy aim."


s: But he, who was in conf'rence with my guide,


s: Turn'd rapid round, and thus the demon spake:


s: "Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!"  Then to us


s: This rock affords not, shiver'd to the base


s: Of the sixth arch.  But would you still proceed,


s: Another rock will yield you passage safe.


s: Yesterday, later by five hours than now,


s: Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill'd


s: The circuit of their course, since here the way


s: Was broken.  Thitherward I straight dispatch


s: Certain of these my scouts, who shall espy


s: Go ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.


s: Come Alichino forth," with that he cried,


s: Search ye around the bubbling tar.  For these,


s: In safety lead them, where the other crag


s: I then: "O master! what a sight is there!


s: Which, if thou know the way, I covet not.


s: Unless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark


s: How they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl


s: Threatens us present tortures?"  He replied:


s: "I charge thee fear not: let them, as they will,


s: Gnarl on: 't is but in token of their spite


s: Against the souls, who mourn in torment steep'd."


s: To leftward o'er the pier they turn'd; but each


s: Had first between his teeth prest close the tongue,


s: Toward their leader for a signal looking,


s: Which he with sound obscene triumphant gave.


s: IT hath been heretofore my chance to see


s: Horsemen with martial order shifting camp,


s: Or in retreat sometimes outstretch'd for flight;


s: Light-armed squadrons and fleet foragers


s: Scouring thy plains, Arezzo! have I seen,


s: And clashing tournaments, and tilting jousts,


s: Now with the sound of trumpets, now of bells,


s: Tabors, or signals made from castled heights,


s: Or introduc'd from foreign land; but ne'er


s: Nor ship, that tack'd by sign from land or star.


s: With saints, with gluttons at the tavern's mess.


s: Still earnest on the pitch I gaz'd, to mark


s: All things whate'er the chasm contain'd, and those


s: Who burn'd within.  As dolphins, that, in sign


s: To mariners, heave high their arched backs,


s: That thence forewarn'd they may advise to save


s: Their threaten'd vessels; so, at intervals,


s: To ease the pain his back some sinner show'd,


s: Then hid more nimbly than the lightning glance.


s: E'en as the frogs, that of a wat'ry moat


s: Stand at the brink, with the jaws only out,


s: Their feet and of the trunk all else concealed,


s: Thus on each part the sinners stood, but soon


s: Drew back under the wave.  I saw, and yet


s: My heart doth stagger, one, that waited thus,


s: As it befalls that oft one frog remains,


s: While the next springs away: and Graffiacan,


s: Who of the fiends was nearest, grappling seiz'd


s: His clotted locks, and dragg'd him sprawling up,


s: When they were chosen, I observ'd, and mark'd


s: See that his hide thou with thy talons flay,"


s: Then I: "Inform thee, master! if thou may,


s: What wretched soul is this, on whom their hand


s: His foes have laid."  My leader to his side


s: Approach'd, and whence he came inquir'd, to whom


s: Was answer'd thus: "Born in Navarre's domain


s: My mother plac'd me in a lord's retinue,


s: A spendthrift of his substance and himself.


s: The good king Thibault after that I serv'd,


s: To peculating here my thoughts were turn'd,


s: Whereof I give account in this dire heat."


s: Straight Ciriatto, from whose mouth a tusk


s: Ript him with one of these.  'Twixt evil claws


s: The mouse had fall'n: but Barbariccia cried,


s: Seizing him with both arms: "Stand thou apart,


s: While I do fix him on my prong transpierc'd."


s: Then added, turning to my guide his face,


s: "Inquire of him, if more thou wish to learn,


s: "Then tell us of the partners in thy guilt;


s: Under the tar?"--"I parted," he replied,


s: "But now from one, who sojourn'd not far thence;


s: Nor hook nor talon then should scare me more."--.


s: Then, darting forth a prong, seiz'd on his arm,


s: Would next have caught, whence angrily their chief,


s: Turning on all sides round, with threat'ning brow


s: Restrain'd them.  When their strife a little ceas'd,


s: Of him, who yet was gazing on his wound,


s: "Who was the spirit, from whom by evil hap


s: Parting, as thou has told, thou cam'st to shore?"--


s: And us'd them so that they commend him well.


s: Money he took, and them at large dismiss'd.


s: Committed to his keeping, play'd the part


s: Of barterer to the height:  with him doth herd


s: Sardinia is a theme, whereof their tongue


s: That other, how he grins!  More would I say,


s: But tremble lest he mean to maul me sore."


s: Their captain then to Farfarello turning,


s: Who roll'd his moony eyes in act to strike,


s: Rebuk'd him thus: "Off! cursed bird!  Avaunt!"--


s: Quaking with dread resum'd, "or Tuscan spirits


s: Or Lombard, I will cause them to appear.


s: Meantime let these ill talons bate their fury,


s: So that no vengeance they may fear from them,


s: And I, remaining in this self-same place,


s: Will for myself but one, make sev'n appear,


s: When my shrill whistle shall be heard; for so


s: Then wagg'd the head and spake: "Hear his device,


s: Mischievous as he is, to plunge him down."


s: Whereto he thus, who fail'd not in rich store


s: Of nice-wove toils; "Mischief forsooth extreme,


s: But thus, the rest gainsaying, him bespake:


s: "If thou do cast thee down, I not on foot


s: Will chase thee, but above the pitch will beat


s: My plumes.  Quit we the vantage ground, and let


s: The bank be as a shield, that we may see


s: Now, reader, of new sport expect to hear!


s: They each one turn'd his eyes to the' other shore,


s: He first, who was the hardest to persuade.


s: The spirit of Navarre chose well his time,


s: Planted his feet on land, and at one leap


s: Them quick resentment stung, but him the most,


s: Who was the cause of failure; in pursuit


s: He therefore sped, exclaiming; "Thou art caught."


s: But little it avail'd: terror outstripp'd


s: His following flight: the other plung'd beneath,


s: And he with upward pinion rais'd his breast:


s: E'en thus the water-fowl, when she perceives


s: The falcon near, dives instant down, while he


s: Enrag'd and spent retires.  That mockery


s: After him, with desire of strife inflam'd;


s: And, for the barterer had 'scap'd, so turn'd


s: In grapple close they join'd; but the' other prov'd


s: And in the boiling lake both fell.  The heat


s: Was umpire soon between them, but in vain


s: To lift themselves they strove, so fast were glued


s: Their pennons.  Barbariccia, as the rest,


s: That chance lamenting, four in flight dispatch'd


s: From the' other coast, with all their weapons arm'd.


s: They, to their post on each side speedily


s: Descending, stretch'd their hooks toward the fiends,


s: Who flounder'd, inly burning from their scars:


s: And we departing left them to that broil.


s: One first, the other following his steps,


s: As minor friars journeying on their road.


s: The present fray had turn'd my thoughts to muse


s: What fate unto the mouse and frog befell.


s: For language hath not sounds more like in sense,


s: And as one thought bursts from another forth,


s: For thus I reason'd: "These through us have been


s: So foil'd, with loss and mock'ry so complete,


s: As needs must sting them sore.  If anger then


s: Be to their evil will conjoin'd, more fell


s: They shall pursue us, than the savage hound


s: Snatches the leveret, panting 'twixt his jaws."


s: On end with terror, and look'd eager back.


s: Thyself and me thou hide not, much I dread


s: He answer'd: "Were I form'd of leaded glass,


s: That from within.  This moment came thy thoughts


s: And count'nance similar, so that from both


s: I one design have fram'd.  If the right coast


s: Incline so much, that we may thence descend


s: He had not spoke his purpose to the end,


s: When I from far beheld them with spread wings


s: Caught me, ev'n as a mother that from sleep


s: Is by the noise arous'd, and near her sees


s: The climbing fires, who snatches up her babe


s: And flies ne'er pausing, careful more of him


s: Clings round her limbs.  Down from the jutting beach


s: Supine he cast him, to that pendent rock,


s: Which closes on one part the other chasm.


s: Adown the tube to turn a landmill's wheel,


s: When nearest it approaches to the spokes,


s: Reach'd to the lowest of the bed beneath,


s: When over us the steep they reach'd; but fear


s: In him was none; for that high Providence,


s: Which plac'd them ministers of the fifth foss,


s: Power of departing thence took from them all.


s: There in the depth we saw a painted tribe,


s: Faint in appearance and o'ercome with toil.


s: Caps had they on, with hoods, that fell low down


s: Before their eyes, in fashion like to those


s: Worn by the monks in Cologne.  Their outside


s: Was overlaid with gold, dazzling to view,


s: But leaden all within, and of such weight,


s: That Frederick's compar'd to these were straw.


s: We yet once more with them together turn'd


s: To leftward, on their dismal moan intent.


s: But by the weight oppress'd, so slowly came


s: Was chang'd at every movement of the step.


s: Whence I my guide address'd: "See that thou find


s: Some spirit, whose name may by his deeds be known,


s: And to that end look round thee as thou go'st."


s: Then one, who understood the Tuscan voice,


s: Cried after us aloud: "Hold in your feet,


s: Ye who so swiftly speed through the dusk air.


s: Perchance from me thou shalt obtain thy wish."


s: "Pause, and then onward at their pace proceed."


s: I staid, and saw two Spirits in whose look


s: Soon as arriv'd, they with an eye askance


s: Perus'd me, but spake not: then turning each


s: To other thus conferring said: "This one


s: Seems, by the action of his throat, alive.


s: And, be they dead, what privilege allows


s: They walk unmantled by the cumbrous stole?"


s: Disdain not to instruct us who thou art."


s: "By Arno's pleasant stream," I thus replied,


s: but who are ye, from whom such mighty grief,


s: As now I witness, courseth down your cheeks?


s: What torment breaks forth in this bitter woe?"


s: "Our bonnets gleaming bright with orange hue,"


s: One of them answer'd, "are so leaden gross,


s: That with their weight they make the balances


s: To crack beneath them.  Joyous friars we were,


s: To reconcile their strifes.  How there we sped,


s: But there brake off, for one had caught my eye,


s: Fix'd to a cross with three stakes on the ground:


s: He, when he saw me, writh'd himself, throughout


s: Distorted, ruffling with deep sighs his beard.


s: Thus spake: "That pierced spirit, whom intent


s: Thou view'st, was he who gave the Pharisees


s: Counsel, that it were fitting for one man


s: Transverse; nor any passes, but him first


s: Behoves make feeling trial how each weighs.


s: In straits like this along the foss are plac'd


s: He next his words address'd: "We pray ye tell,


s: We both may issue hence, without constraint


s: On the dark angels, that compell'd they come


s: To lead us from this depth."  He thus replied:


s: "Nearer than thou dost hope, there is a rock


s: From the next circle moving, which o'ersteps


s: Each vale of horror, save that here his cope


s: Is shatter'd.  By the ruin ye may mount:


s: For on the side it slants, and most the height


s: Rises below."  With head bent down awhile


s: My leader stood, then spake: "He warn'd us ill,


s: Who yonder hangs the sinners on his hook."


s: And the father of lies!'"  When he had spoke,


s: My leader with large strides proceeded on,


s: Somewhat disturb'd with anger in his look.


s: I therefore left the spirits heavy laden,


s: And following, his beloved footsteps mark'd.


s: IN the year's early nonage, when the sun


s: And now towards equal day the nights recede,


s: Her dazzling sister's image, but not long


s: The village hind, whom fails his wintry store,


s: And looking out beholds the plain around


s: All whiten'd, whence impatiently he smites


s: His thighs, and to his hut returning in,


s: There paces to and fro, wailing his lot,


s: Then comes he forth again, and feels new hope


s: Spring in his bosom, finding e'en thus soon


s: The world hath chang'd its count'nance, grasps his crook,


s: And forth to pasture drives his little flock:


s: That ill was cur'd; for at the fallen bridge


s: Arriving, towards me with a look as sweet,


s: He turn'd him back, as that I first beheld


s: At the steep mountain's foot.  Regarding well


s: The ruin, and some counsel first maintain'd


s: With his own thought, he open'd wide his arm


s: And took me up.  As one, who, while he works,


s: Computes his labour's issue, that he seems


s: Still to foresee the' effect, so lifting me


s: Said he, "but first make proof, if it be such


s: As will sustain thee."  For one capp'd with lead


s: This were no journey.  Scarcely he, though light,


s: And I, though onward push'd from crag to crag,


s: Could mount.  And if the precinct of this coast


s: Were not less ample than the last, for him


s: I know not, but my strength had surely fail'd.


s: The site of every valley hence requires,


s: That one side upward slope, the other fall.


s: At length the point of our descent we reach'd


s: From the last flag: soon as to that arriv'd,


s: So was the breath exhausted from my lungs,


s: I could no further, but did seat me there.


s: "Now needs thy best of man;" so spake my guide:


s: "For not on downy plumes, nor under shade


s: Without which whosoe'er consumes his days


s: Leaveth such vestige of himself on earth,


s: Thou therefore rise: vanish thy weariness


s: By the mind's effort, in each struggle form'd


s: To vanquish, if she suffer not the weight


s: Of her corporeal frame to crush her down.


s: From these to have escap'd sufficeth not.


s: If well thou note me, profit by my words."


s: I straightway rose, and show'd myself less spent


s: Than I in truth did feel me.  "On," I cried,


s: "For I am stout and fearless."  Up the rock


s: Our way we held, more rugged than before,


s: Narrower and steeper far to climb.  From talk


s: I ceas'd not, as we journey'd, so to seem


s: Least faint; whereat a voice from the other foss


s: Did issue forth, for utt'rance suited ill.


s: Though on the arch that crosses there I stood,


s: What were the words I knew not, but who spake


s: Seem'd mov'd in anger.  Down I stoop'd to look,


s: But my quick eye might reach not to the depth


s: For shrouding darkness; wherefore thus I spake:


s: "To the next circle, Teacher, bend thy steps,


s: And from the wall dismount we; for as hence


s: Beneath, and naught discern."--"I answer not,"


s: Said he, "but by the deed.  To fair request


s: We from the bridge's head descended, where


s: To the eighth mound it joins, and then the chasm


s: Of serpents terrible, so strange of shape


s: And hideous, that remembrance in my veins


s: Yet shrinks the vital current.  Of her sands


s: Cenchris and Amphisboena, plagues so dire


s: Or in such numbers swarming ne'er she shew'd,


s: Ran naked spirits wing'd with horrid fear,


s: Nor hope had they of crevice where to hide,


s: Or heliotrope to charm them out of view.


s: With serpents were their hands behind them bound,


s: Which through their reins infix'd the tail and head


s: Twisted in folds before.  And lo! on one


s: And, where the neck is on the shoulders tied,


s: Transpierc'd him.  Far more quickly than e'er pen


s: Wrote O or I, he kindled, burn'd, and chang'd


s: To ashes, all pour'd out upon the earth.


s: When there dissolv'd he lay, the dust again


s: Uproll'd spontaneous, and the self-same form


s: The' Arabian Phoenix, when five hundred years


s: Have well nigh circled, dies, and springs forthwith


s: Renascent.  Blade nor herb throughout his life


s: He tastes, but tears of frankincense alone


s: And myrrh his funeral shroud.  As one that falls,


s: He knows not how, by force demoniac dragg'd


s: To earth, or through obstruction fettering up


s: Who, risen from his trance, gazeth around,


s: He hath endur'd, and wildly staring sighs;


s: So stood aghast the sinner when he rose.


s: Oh! how severe God's judgment, that deals out


s: Such blows in stormy vengeance!  Who he was


s: My teacher next inquir'd, and thus in few


s: To this dire gullet.  Me the beastial life


s: And not the human pleas'd, mule that I was,


s: I then to Virgil: "Bid him stir not hence,


s: And ask what crime did thrust him hither: once


s: The sinner heard and feign'd not, but towards me


s: His mind directing and his face, wherein


s: Was dismal shame depictur'd, thus he spake:


s: "It grieves me more to have been caught by thee


s: In this sad plight, which thou beholdest, than


s: What thou inquirest.  I am doom'd thus low


s: And with the guilt another falsely charged.


s: But that thou mayst not joy to see me thus,


s: So as thou e'er shalt 'scape this darksome realm


s: Open thine ears and hear what I forebode.


s: Then Florence changeth citizens and laws.


s: From Valdimagra, drawn by wrathful Mars,


s: And sharp and eager driveth on the storm


s: With arrowy hurtling o'er Piceno's field,


s: Whence suddenly the cloud shall burst, and strike


s: Each helpless Bianco prostrate to the ground.


s: This have I told, that grief may rend thy heart."


s: WHEN he had spoke, the sinner rais'd his hands


s: Pointed in mockery, and cried: "Take them, God!


s: I level them at thee!"  From that day forth


s: The serpents were my friends; for round his neck


s: One of then rolling twisted, as it said,


s: "Be silent, tongue!"  Another to his arms


s: So close, it took from them the power to move.


s: To turn thee into ashes, cumb'ring earth


s: Thou hast outdone thy seed?  I did not mark,


s: Through all the gloomy circles of the' abyss,


s: Spirit, that swell'd so proudly 'gainst his God,


s: Not him, who headlong fell from Thebes.  He fled,


s: Nor utter'd more; and after him there came


s: A centaur full of fury, shouting, "Where


s: Where is the caitiff?"  On Maremma's marsh


s: Swarm not the serpent tribe, as on his haunch


s: They swarm'd, to where the human face begins.


s: With open wings, a dragon breathing fire


s: He, from his brethren parted, here must tread


s: A different journey, for his fraudful theft


s: Of the great herd, that near him stall'd; whence found


s: His felon deeds their end, beneath the mace


s: Of stout Alcides, that perchance laid on


s: A hundred blows, and not the tenth was felt."


s: While yet he spake, the centaur sped away:


s: And under us three spirits came, of whom


s: Nor I nor he was ware, till they exclaim'd;


s: "Say who are ye?"  We then brake off discourse,


s: Intent on these alone.  I knew them not;


s: But, as it chanceth oft, befell, that one


s: Had need to name another.  "Where," said he,


s: "Doth Cianfa lurk?"  I, for a sign my guide


s: Should stand attentive, plac'd against my lips


s: The witness of mine eyes.  But as I looked


s: Toward them, lo! a serpent with six feet


s: Springs forth on one, and fastens full upon him:


s: His midmost grasp'd the belly, a forefoot


s: Seiz'd on each arm (while deep in either cheek


s: He flesh'd his fangs); the hinder on the thighs


s: Were spread, 'twixt which the tail inserted curl'd


s: Upon the reins behind.  Ivy ne'er clasp'd


s: A dodder'd oak, as round the other's limbs


s: The hideous monster intertwin'd his own.


s: Then, as they both had been of burning wax,


s: That which was either now was seen no more.


s: Thus up the shrinking paper, ere it burns,


s: A brown tint glides, not turning yet to black,


s: And the clean white expires.  The other two


s: Look'd on exclaiming: "Ah, how dost thou change,


s: Agnello!  See!  Thou art nor double now,


s: "Nor only one."  The two heads now became


s: One, and two figures blended in one form


s: Appear'd, where both were lost.  Of the four lengths


s: Two arms were made: the belly and the chest


s: The thighs and legs into such members chang'd,


s: As never eye hath seen.  Of former shape


s: All trace was vanish'd.  Two yet neither seem'd


s: Of the fierce dog-star, that lays bare the fields,


s: Shifting from brake to brake, the lizard seems


s: A flash of lightning, if he thwart the road,


s: Approaching seem'd, an adder all on fire,


s: As the dark pepper-grain, livid and swart.


s: In that part, whence our life is nourish'd first,


s: One he transpierc'd; then down before him fell


s: Stretch'd out.  The pierced spirit look'd on him


s: But spake not; yea stood motionless and yawn'd,


s: As if by sleep or fev'rous fit assail'd.


s: He ey'd the serpent, and the serpent him.


s: One from the wound, the other from the mouth


s: Breath'd a thick smoke, whose vap'ry columns join'd.


s: Nor thy disastrous fate, Sabellus! tell,


s: Him chang'd, and her into a fountain clear,


s: Two natures thus transmuted did he sing,


s: Wherein both shapes were ready to assume


s: The other's substance.  They in mutual guise


s: So answer'd, that the serpent split his train


s: Divided to a fork, and the pierc'd spirit


s: Drew close his steps together, legs and thighs


s: Compacted, that no sign of juncture soon


s: The figure which the spirit lost, its skin


s: The shoulders next I mark'd, that ent'ring join'd


s: The monster's arm-pits, whose two shorter feet


s: So lengthen'd, as the other's dwindling shrunk.


s: That part that man conceals, which in the wretch


s: Was cleft in twain.  While both the shadowy smoke


s: Th' excrescent pile on one, peeling it off


s: One upright rose, and prone the other fell.


s: Not yet their glaring and malignant lamps


s: Were shifted, though each feature chang'd beneath.


s: Of him who stood erect, the mounting face


s: Retreated towards the temples, and what there


s: Superfluous matter came, shot out in ears


s: From the smooth cheeks, the rest, not backward dragg'd,


s: Of its excess did shape the nose; and swell'd


s: He, on the earth who lay, meanwhile extends


s: His sharpen'd visage, and draws down the ears


s: Into the head, as doth the slug his horns.


s: For utt'rance, severs; and the other's fork


s: Closing unites.  That done the smoke was laid.


s: The soul, transform'd into the brute, glides off,


s: The other talking sputters; but soon turn'd


s: His new-grown shoulders on him, and in few


s: Crawling, as I have done, speed Buoso now!"


s: Th' unsteady ballast of the seventh hold:


s: And here if aught my tongue have swerv'd, events


s: So strange may be its warrant.  O'er mine eyes


s: Confusion hung, and on my thoughts amaze.


s: Yet 'scap'd they not so covertly, but well


s: Of the three first that came, who chang'd not: thou,


s: The other's fate, Gaville, still dost rue.


s: Hast thriven, that o'er land and sea thy wings


s: Thou beatest, and thy name spreads over hell!


s: Among the plund'rers such the three I found


s: Thy citizens, whence shame to me thy son,


s: And no proud honour to thyself redounds.


s: But if our minds, when dreaming near the dawn,


s: Are of the truth presageful, thou ere long


s: Shalt feel what Prato, (not to say the rest)


s: Would fain might come upon thee; and that chance


s: Were in good time, if it befell thee now.


s: Would so it were, since it must needs befall!


s: For as time wears me, I shall grieve the more.


s: We from the depth departed; and my guide


s: Remounting scal'd the flinty steps, which late


s: We downward trac'd, and drew me up the steep.


s: Among the crags and splinters of the rock,


s: Sped not our feet without the help of hands.


s: Then sorrow seiz'd me, which e'en now revives,


s: As my thought turns again to what I saw,


s: And, more than I am wont, I rein and curb


s: The powers of nature in me, lest they run


s: Where Virtue guides not; that if aught of good


s: My gentle star, or something better gave me,


s: As in that season, when the sun least veils


s: His face that lightens all, what time the fly


s: Gives way to the shrill gnat, the peasant then


s: Upon some cliff reclin'd, beneath him sees


s: Fire-flies innumerous spangling o'er the vale,


s: Vineyard or tilth, where his day-labour lies:


s: With flames so numberless throughout its space


s: Shone the eighth chasm, apparent, when the depth


s: Was to my view expos'd. As he, whose wrongs


s: Rais'd their steep flight for heav'n; his eyes meanwhile,


s: Straining pursu'd them, till the flame alone


s: E'en thus along the gulf moves every flame,


s: And grasp'd a flinty mass, or else had fall'n,


s: Though push'd not from the height.  The guide, who mark'd


s: "Within these ardours are the spirits, each


s: Swath'd in confining fire."--"Master, thy word,"


s: I answer'd, "hath assur'd me; yet I deem'd


s: To ask thee, who is in yon fire, that comes


s: Ascending from that funeral pile, where lay


s: The Theban brothers?"  He replied: "Within


s: Their penal tortures, thus to vengeance now


s: These in the flame with ceaseless groans deplore


s: The ambush of the horse, that open'd wide


s: Which sow'd imperial Rome; nor less the guile


s: Lament they, whence of her Achilles 'reft


s: And there is rued the stratagem, that Troy


s: Of her Palladium spoil'd."--"If they have power


s: Of utt'rance from within these sparks," said I,


s: "O master! think my prayer a thousand fold


s: In repetition urg'd, that thou vouchsafe


s: To pause, till here the horned flame arrive.


s: He thus: "Thy prayer is worthy of much praise,


s: Thy tongue refrain: to question them be mine,


s: For I divine thy wish: and they perchance,


s: For they were Greeks, might shun discourse with thee."


s: When there the flame had come, where time and place


s: Seem'd fitting to my guide, he thus began:


s: "O ye, who dwell two spirits in one fire!


s: Whate'er the measure were of that desert,


s: When in the world my lofty strain I pour'd,


s: In what clime death o'ertook him self-destroy'd."


s: Of the old flame forthwith the greater horn


s: That labours with the wind, then to and fro


s: Wagging the top, as a tongue uttering sounds,


s: Threw out its voice, and spake: "When I escap'd


s: Ere thus Aeneas yet had nam'd the shore,


s: That should have crown'd Penelope with joy,


s: T' explore the world, and search the ways of life,


s: Man's evil and his virtue.  Forth I sail'd


s: With but one bark, and the small faithful band


s: To the strait pass, where Hercules ordain'd


s: The bound'ries not to be o'erstepp'd by man.


s: The walls of Seville to my right I left,


s: "O brothers!"  I began, "who to the west


s: Through perils without number now have reach'd,


s: To this the short remaining watch, that yet


s: Our senses have to wake, refuse not proof


s: Of the unpeopled world, following the track


s: Of Phoebus. Call to mind from whence we sprang:


s: Ye were not form'd to live the life of brutes


s: But virtue to pursue and knowledge high.


s: With these few words I sharpen'd for the voyage


s: Could scarcely have withheld them.  To the dawn


s: Our poop we turn'd, and for the witless flight


s: Made our oars wings, still gaining on the left.


s: Each star of the' other pole night now beheld,


s: And ours so low, that from the ocean-floor


s: It rose not.  Five times re-illum'd, as oft


s: Vanish'd the light from underneath the moon


s: Since the deep way we enter'd, when from far


s: Appear'd a mountain dim, loftiest methought


s: Of all I e'er beheld.  Joy seiz'd us straight,


s: But soon to mourning changed.  From the new land


s: A whirlwind sprung, and at her foremost side


s: Did strike the vessel.  Thrice it whirl'd her round


s: With all the waves, the fourth time lifted up


s: The poop, and sank the prow: so fate decreed:


s: NOW upward rose the flame, and still'd its light


s: To speak no more, and now pass'd on with leave


s: From the mild poet gain'd, when following came


s: Another, from whose top a sound confus'd,


s: Forth issuing, drew our eyes that way to look.


s: His cries first echoed, who had shap'd its mould,


s: Tormented, that the brazen monster seem'd


s: Pierc'd through with pain; thus while no way they found


s: Into its language turn'd the dismal words:


s: But soon as they had won their passage forth,


s: Up from the point, which vibrating obey'd


s: Their motion at the tongue, these sounds we heard:


s: That lately didst exclaim in Lombard phrase,


s: Let it not irk thee here to pause awhile,


s: And yet I burn.  If but e'en now thou fall


s: into this blind world, from that pleasant land


s: Of Latium, whence I draw my sum of guilt,


s: Have peace or war.  For of the mountains there


s: Whence Tyber first unlocks his mighty flood."


s: Leaning I listen'd yet with heedful ear,


s: When, as he touch'd my side, the leader thus:


s: In her proud tyrants' bosoms, nor is now:


s: But open war there left I none.  The state,


s: Ravenna hath maintain'd this many a year,


s: Is steadfast.  There Polenta's eagle broods,


s: O'ershadows Cervia. The green talons grasp


s: The land, that stood erewhile the proof so long,


s: And pil'd in bloody heap the host of France.


s: "The' old mastiff of Verruchio and the young,


s: That tore Montagna in their wrath, still make,


s: Where they are wont, an augre of their fangs.


s: Inconstant partisan! that changeth sides,


s: Or ever summer yields to winter's frost.


s: And she, whose flank is wash'd of Savio's wave,


s: As 'twixt the level and the steep she lies,


s: Lives so 'twixt tyrant power and liberty.


s: "Now tell us, I entreat thee, who art thou?


s: Be not more hard than others.  In the world,


s: So may thy name still rear its forehead high."


s: Then roar'd awhile the fire, its sharpen'd point


s: On either side wav'd, and thus breath'd at last:


s: This flame should rest unshaken.  But since ne'er,


s: Has found his upward way, I answer thee,


s: "A man of arms at first, I cloth'd me then


s: In good Saint Francis' girdle, hoping so


s: T' have made amends.  And certainly my hope


s: Had fail'd not, but that he, whom curses light on,


s: The' high priest again seduc'd me into sin.


s: And how and wherefore listen while I tell.


s: Long as this spirit mov'd the bones and pulp


s: My mother gave me, less my deeds bespake


s: And with such art conducted, that the sound


s: Reach'd the world's limit.  Soon as to that part


s: Of life I found me come, when each behoves


s: That which before had pleased me then I rued,


s: And to repentance and confession turn'd;


s: Wretch that I was! and well it had bested me!


s: The chief of the new Pharisees meantime,


s: All Christians were, nor against Acre one


s: Had fought, nor traffic'd in the Soldan's land),


s: In himself, rev'renc'd, nor in me that cord,


s: Which us'd to mark with leanness whom it girded.


s: This man besought: my counsel to that end


s: He ask'd: and I was silent: for his words


s: Seem'd drunken: but forthwith he thus resum'd:


s: 'From thy heart banish fear: of all offence


s: Heav'n, as thou knowest, I have power to shut


s: And open: and the keys are therefore twain,


s: The which my predecessor meanly priz'd.'"


s: Then, yielding to the forceful arguments,


s: And answer'd: "Father! since thou washest me


s: Clear of that guilt wherein I now must fall,


s: Large promise with performance scant, be sure,


s: Shall make thee triumph in thy lofty seat."


s: "When I was number'd with the dead, then came


s: He met, who cried: 'Wrong me not; he is mine,


s: And must below to join the wretched crew,


s: For the deceitful counsel which he gave.


s: E'er since I watch'd him, hov'ring at his hair,


s: Seiz'd me, and cried, "Thou haply thought'st me not


s: Twin'd eight times round his callous back the tail,


s: Which biting with excess of rage, he spake:


s: "This is a guilty soul, that in the fire


s: Must vanish.  Hence perdition-doom'd I rove


s: A prey to rankling sorrow in this garb."


s: When he had thus fulfill'd his words, the flame


s: And writhing its sharp horn.  We onward went,


s: Of those, who load them with committed sin.


s: WHO, e'en in words unfetter'd, might at full


s: Tell of the wounds and blood that now I saw,


s: Though he repeated oft the tale? No tongue


s: So vast a theme could equal, speech and thought


s: Collected, stood the people all, who e'er


s: Pour'd on Apulia's happy soil their blood,


s: Slain by the Trojans, and in that long war


s: When of the rings the measur'd booty made


s: A pile so high, as Rome's historian writes


s: Who errs not, with the multitude, that felt


s: The grinding force of Guiscard's Norman steel,


s: And those the rest, whose bones are gather'd yet


s: Branded th' Apulian name, or where beyond


s: One were to show transpierc'd, another his


s: Were but a thing of nought, to the' hideous sight


s: Of the ninth chasm.  A rundlet, that hath lost


s: Its middle or side stave, gapes not so wide,


s: As one I mark'd, torn from the chin throughout


s: Down to the hinder passage: 'twixt the legs


s: Dangling his entrails hung, the midriff lay


s: That turns th' englutted aliment to dross.


s: He ey'd me, with his hands laid his breast bare,


s: And cried; "Now mark how I do rip me! lo!


s: Walks Ali weeping, from the chin his face


s: Cleft to the forelock; and the others all


s: Whom here thou seest, while they liv'd, did sow


s: Scandal and schism, and therefore thus are rent.


s: A fiend is here behind, who with his sword


s: Each of this ream, when we have compast round


s: The dismal way, for first our gashes close


s: Art thou, that standest musing on the rock,


s: Sentenc'd upon thy crimes?"--"Him death not yet,"


s: My guide rejoin'd, "hath overta'en, nor sin


s: Conducts to torment; but, that he may make


s: Must through the depths of hell, from orb to orb,


s: Conduct him.  Trust my words, for they are true."


s: More than a hundred spirits, when that they heard,


s: Stood in the foss to mark me, through amazed,


s: Forgetful of their pangs.  "Thou, who perchance


s: Shalt shortly view the sun, this warning thou


s: Bear to Dolcino: bid him, if he wish not


s: Here soon to follow me, that with good store


s: Of food he arm him, lest impris'ning snows


s: No easy conquest else."  With foot uprais'd


s: For stepping, spake Mohammed, on the ground


s: Then fix'd it to depart.  Another shade,


s: Pierc'd in the throat, his nostrils mutilate


s: E'en from beneath the eyebrows, and one ear


s: Lopt off, who with the rest through wonder stood


s: Gazing, before the rest advanc'd, and bar'd


s: His wind-pipe, that without was all o'ersmear'd


s: With crimson stain.  "O thou!" said he, "whom sin


s: Condemns not, and whom erst (unless too near


s: Have seen on Latian ground, call thou to mind


s: Returning, thou behold'st the pleasant land


s: "And there instruct the twain, whom Fano boasts


s: That if 't is giv'n us here to scan aright


s: Shall be cast forth, and whelm'd under the waves


s: Of a fell tyrant.  'Twixt the Cyprian isle


s: Or Argive crew of old.  That one-ey'd traitor


s: (Whose realm there is a spirit here were fain


s: His eye had still lack'd sight of) them shall bring


s: To conf'rence with him, then so shape his end,


s: That they shall need not 'gainst Focara's wind


s: Offer up vow nor pray'r."  I answering thus:


s: "Declare, as thou dost wish that I above


s: In whom that sight doth wake such sad remembrance?"


s: Forthwith he laid his hand on the cheek-bone


s: Expanding, cried: "Lo! this is he I wot of;


s: He speaks not for himself: the outcast this


s: Who overwhelm'd the doubt in Caesar's mind,


s: Methought was Curio, from whose throat was cut


s: The tongue, which spake that hardy word.  Then one


s: Maim'd of each hand, uplifted in the gloom


s: The bleeding stumps, that they with gory spots


s: Sullied his face, and cried: "'Remember thee


s: 'The deed once done there is an end,' that prov'd


s: I added: "Ay, and death to thine own tribe."


s: Whence heaping woe on woe he hurried off,


s: As one grief stung to madness.  But I there


s: Still linger'd to behold the troop, and saw


s: Things, such as I may fear without more proof


s: To tell of, but that conscience makes me firm,


s: The boon companion, who her strong breast-plate


s: Buckles on him, that feels no guilt within


s: And bids him on and fear not.  Without doubt


s: I saw, and yet it seems to pass before me,


s: Of the sad flock pac'd onward.  By the hair


s: It bore the sever'd member, lantern-wise


s: Pendent in hand, which look'd at us and said,


s: "Woe's me!"  The spirit lighted thus himself,


s: And two there were in one, and one in two.


s: How that may be he knows who ordereth so.


s: When at the bridge's foot direct he stood,


s: His arm aloft he rear'd, thrusting the head


s: Full in our view, that nearer we might hear


s: The words, which thus it utter'd: "Now behold


s: This grievous torment, thou, who breathing go'st


s: Thou mayst bear tidings of me, know that I


s: Am Bertrand, he of Born, who gave King John


s: The counsel mischievous.  Father and son


s: For parting those so closely knit, my brain


s: That in this trunk inhabits.  Thus the law


s: Of the vast multitude, whom various wounds


s: Disfigur'd, that they long'd to stay and weep.


s: But Virgil rous'd me: "What yet gazest on?


s: Wherefore doth fasten yet thy sight below


s: This weakness.  Know, if thou wouldst number them


s: That two and twenty miles the valley winds


s: Beneath our feet: the time permitted now


s: Is short, and more not seen remains to see."


s: "If thou," I straight replied, "hadst weigh'd the cause


s: For which I look'd, thou hadst perchance excus'd


s: The tarrying still."  My leader part pursu'd


s: His way, the while I follow'd, answering him,


s: And adding thus: "Within that cave I deem,


s: There is a spirit dwells, one of my blood,


s: Wailing the crime that costs him now so dear."


s: Then spake my master: "Let thy soul no more


s: Afflict itself for him.  Direct elsewhere


s: Its thought, and leave him.  At the bridge's foot


s: I mark'd how he did point with menacing look


s: At thee, and heard him by the others nam'd


s: Wert busied with his spirit, who once rul'd


s: The towers of Hautefort, that thou lookedst not


s: That way, ere he was gone."--"O guide belov'd!


s: His violent death yet unaveng'd," said I,


s: Made him contemptuous: therefore, as I think,


s: He pass'd me speechless by; and doing so


s: Hath made me more compassionate his fate."


s: So we discours'd to where the rock first show'd


s: The other valley, had more light been there,


s: E'en to the lowest depth.  Soon as we came


s: O'er the last cloister in the dismal rounds


s: Were to our view expos'd, then many a dart


s: With points of thrilling pity, that I clos'd


s: Both ears against the volley with mine hands.


s: As were the torment, if each lazar-house


s: 'Twixt July and September, with the isle


s: Had heap'd their maladies all in one foss


s: Together; such was here the torment: dire


s: The stench, as issuing steams from fester'd limbs.


s: Descended still to leftward.  Then my sight


s: Was livelier to explore the depth, wherein


s: All-searching Justice, dooms to punishment


s: Each living thing, e'en to the little worm,


s: (And afterward, as bards of yore have told,


s: From seed of emmets) than was here to see


s: The spirits, that languish'd through the murky vale


s: Up-pil'd on many a stack.  Confus'd they lay,


s: One o'er the belly, o'er the shoulders one


s: Roll'd of another; sideling crawl'd a third


s: We journey'd on, in silence looking round


s: And list'ning those diseas'd, who strove in vain


s: To lift their forms.  Then two I mark'd, that sat


s: Propp'd 'gainst each other, as two brazen pans


s: Set to retain the heat.  From head to foot,


s: A tetter bark'd them round. Nor saw I e'er


s: Groom currying so fast, for whom his lord


s: Tir'd with long watching, as of these each one


s: Plied quickly his keen nails, through furiousness


s: Came drawn from underneath in flakes, like scales


s: Scrap'd from the bream or fish of broader mail.


s: "O thou, who with thy fingers rendest off


s: Thy coat of proof," thus spake my guide to one,


s: "And sometimes makest tearing pincers of them,


s: Serve thee for everlasting to this toil."


s: "Both are of Latium," weeping he replied,


s: "Whom tortur'd thus thou seest: but who art thou


s: That hast inquir'd of us?"  To whom my guide:


s: "One that descend with this man, who yet lives,


s: From rock to rock, and show him hell's abyss."


s: Then started they asunder, and each turn'd


s: Trembling toward us, with the rest, whose ear


s: Those words redounding struck.  To me my liege


s: Address'd him: "Speak to them whate'er thou list."


s: Filch your remembrance from the thoughts of men


s: And of what race ye come.  Your punishment,


s: Deter you not from opening thus much to me."


s: To die by fire; but that, for which I died,


s: Leads me not here.  True is in sport I told him,


s: That I had learn'd to wing my flight in air.


s: Prevail'd on one suppos'd his sire to burn me.


s: But Minos to this chasm last of the ten,


s: Has doom'd me.  Him no subterfuge eludes."


s: Then to the bard I spake: "Was ever race


s: Light as Sienna's?  Sure not France herself


s: Can show a tribe so frivolous and vain."


s: The other leprous spirit heard my words,


s: And thus return'd: "Be Stricca from this charge


s: Discover'd in that garden, where such seed


s: Roots deepest in the soil: and be that troop


s: Lavish'd his vineyards and wide-spreading woods,


s: A spectacle for all.  That thou mayst know


s: Thus gladly, bend this way thy sharpen'd sight,


s: That well my face may answer to thy ken;


s: So shalt thou see I am Capocchio's ghost,


s: Who forg'd transmuted metals by the power


s: Thus needs must well remember how I aped


s: WHAT time resentment burn'd in Juno's breast


s: As more than once in dire mischance was rued,


s: That he his spouse beholding with a babe


s: Laden on either arm, "Spread out," he cried,


s: And the young lions at the pass:" then forth


s: Stretch'd he his merciless talons, grasping one,


s: Whom swinging down he dash'd upon a rock,


s: And with her other burden self-destroy'd


s: The hapless mother plung'd: and when the pride


s: Of all-presuming Troy fell from its height,


s: By fortune overwhelm'd, and the old king


s: With his realm perish'd, then did Hecuba,


s: A wretch forlorn and captive, when she saw


s: Polyxena first slaughter'd, and her son,


s: Next met the mourner's view, then reft of sense


s: Such mighty power had grief to wrench her soul.


s: Bet ne'er the Furies or of Thebes or Troy


s: With such fell cruelty were seen, their goads


s: That gnarling wildly scamper'd, like the swine


s: Excluded from his stye.  One reach'd Capocchio,


s: And in the neck-joint sticking deep his fangs,


s: Dragg'd him, that o'er the solid pavement rubb'd


s: His belly stretch'd out prone.  The other shape,


s: He of Arezzo, there left trembling, spake;


s: "That sprite of air is Schicchi; in like mood


s: Of random mischief vent he still his spite."


s: To whom I answ'ring: "Oh! as thou dost hope,


s: The other may not flesh its jaws on thee,


s: Ere it speed hence."--"That is the ancient soul


s: Of wretched Myrrha," he replied, "who burn'd


s: With most unholy flame for her own sire,


s: "And a false shape assuming, so perform'd


s: The deed of sin; e'en as the other there,


s: That onward passes, dar'd to counterfeit


s: The seal affixing, that himself might gain,


s: For his own share, the lady of the herd."


s: When vanish'd the two furious shades, on whom


s: Mine eye was held, I turn'd it back to view


s: In fashion like a lute, had but the groin


s: Been sever'd, where it meets the forked part.


s: Swoln dropsy, disproportioning the limbs


s: With ill-converted moisture, that the paunch


s: Suits not the visage, open'd wide his lips


s: Gasping as in the hectic man for drought,


s: One towards the chin, the other upward curl'd.


s: Wherefore I know not, are exempt from pain,"


s: The rills, that glitter down the grassy slopes


s: The banks whereby they glide to Arno's stream,


s: For more the pictur'd semblance dries me up,


s: Much more than the disease, which makes the flesh


s: Desert these shrivel'd cheeks.  So from the place,


s: Where I transgress'd, stern justice urging me,


s: Takes means to quicken more my lab'ring sighs.


s: The metal with the Baptist's form imprest,


s: For which on earth I left my body burnt.


s: But if I here might see the sorrowing soul


s: For Branda's limpid spring I would not change


s: The welcome sight.  One is e'en now within,


s: If truly the mad spirits tell, that round


s: Are wand'ring.  But wherein besteads me that?


s: My limbs are fetter'd.  Were I but so light,


s: That I each hundred years might move one inch,


s: Seeking him out amidst the shapeless crew,


s: Than half of one across.  They brought me down


s: Among this tribe; induc'd by them I stamp'd


s: The florens with three carats of alloy."


s: "Who are that abject pair," I next inquir'd,


s: "That closely bounding thee upon thy right


s: Lie smoking, like a band in winter steep'd


s: In the chill stream?"--"When to this gulf I dropt,"


s: He answer'd, "here I found them; since that hour


s: They have not turn'd, nor ever shall, I ween,


s: Till time hath run his course.  One is that dame


s: Sinon the other, that false Greek from Troy.


s: Sharp fever drains the reeky moistness out,


s: In such a cloud upsteam'd."  When that he heard,


s: One, gall'd perchance to be so darkly nam'd,


s: With clench'd hand smote him on the braced paunch,


s: That like a drum resounded: but forthwith


s: Returning with his arm, that seem'd as hard.


s: "Though my o'erweighty limbs have ta'en from me


s: The power to move," said he, "I have an arm


s: Was answer'd: "When thou wentest to the fire,


s: Then readier when it coin'd th' impostor gold."


s: And thus the dropsied: "Ay, now speak'st thou true.


s: But there thou gav'st not such true testimony,


s: When thou wast question'd of the truth, at Troy."


s: "If I spake false, thou falsely stamp'dst the coin,"


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


s: "Remember," he replied, "O perjur'd one,


s: The horse remember, that did teem with death,


s: And all the world be witness to thy guilt."


s: "To thine," return'd the Greek, "witness the thirst


s: Whence thy tongue cracks, witness the fluid mound,


s: Rear'd by thy belly up before thine eyes,


s: A mass corrupt."  To whom the coiner thus:


s: "Thy mouth gapes wide as ever to let pass


s: Yet I am stuff'd with moisture.  Thou art parch'd,


s: Pains rack thy head, no urging would'st thou need


s: I was all fix'd to listen, when my guide


s: And I do quarrel with thee."  I perceiv'd


s: How angrily he spake, and towards him turn'd


s: With shame so poignant, as remember'd yet


s: Confounds me.  As a man that dreams of harm


s: Befall'n him, dreaming wishes it a dream,


s: And that which is, desires as if it were not,


s: Such then was I, who wanting power to speak


s: Wish'd to excuse myself, and all the while


s: Excus'd me, though unweeting that I did.


s: "More grievous fault than thine has been, less shame,"


s: My master cried, "might expiate.  Therefore cast


s: Chance bring thee, where like conference is held,


s: Such wrangling is a joy for vulgar minds."


s: THE very tongue, whose keen reproof before


s: Had wounded me, that either cheek was stain'd,


s: Now minister'd my cure.  So have I heard,


s: Achilles and his father's javelin caus'd


s: Pain first, and then the boon of health restor'd.


s: W cross'd th' encircled mound in silence.  There


s: Was twilight dim, that far long the gloom


s: Mine eye advanc'd not: but I heard a horn


s: Sounded aloud. The peal it blew had made


s: The thunder feeble.  Following its course


s: The adverse way, my strained eyes were bent


s: O'erthrew the host of Charlemagne, and quench'd


s: His saintly warfare.  Thitherward not long


s: My head was rais'd, when many lofty towers


s: Methought I spied.  "Master," said I, "what land


s: Is this?"  He answer'd straight: "Too long a space


s: To traverse: thou hast therefore widely err'd


s: Thou well shalt see, how distance can delude


s: The sense.  A little therefore urge thee on."


s: "Yet know," said he, "ere farther we advance,


s: That it less strange may seem, these are not towers,


s: But giants.  In the pit they stand immers'd,


s: Each from his navel downward, round the bank."


s: Our vision traces what the mist involves


s: Condens'd in air; so piercing through the gross


s: We near'd toward the brink, mine error fled,


s: And fear came o'er me.  As with circling round


s: Of turrets, Montereggion crowns his walls,


s: E'en thus the shore, encompassing th' abyss,


s: Was turreted with giants, half their length


s: Uprearing, horrible, whom Jove from heav'n


s: Yet threatens, when his mutt'ring thunder rolls.


s: Shoulders, and breast, and of the belly huge


s: Great part, and both arms down along his ribs.


s: All-teeming nature, when her plastic hand


s: Left framing of these monsters, did display


s: Past doubt her wisdom, taking from mad War


s: Such slaves to do his bidding; and if she


s: Repent her not of th' elephant and whale,


s: Wiser and more discreet; for when brute force


s: Resistance none avails.  His visage seem'd


s: In length and bulk, as doth the pine, that tops


s: Saint Peter's Roman fane; and th' other bones


s: The bank, which girdled him below, such height


s: Arose his stature, that three Friezelanders


s: Had striv'n in vain to reach but to his hair.


s: Downward from whence a man his garments loops.


s: So shouted his fierce lips, which sweeter hymns


s: Became not; and my guide address'd him thus:


s: "O senseless spirit! let thy horn for thee


s: Interpret: therewith vent thy rage, if rage


s: Or other passion wring thee.  Search thy neck,


s: There shalt thou find the belt that binds it on.


s: Where hangs the baldrick!"  Then to me he spake:


s: "He doth accuse himself.  Nimrod is this,


s: Through whose ill counsel in the world no more


s: One tongue prevails.  But pass we on, nor waste


s: Our words; for so each language is to him,


s: Then to the leftward turning sped we forth,


s: And at a sling's throw found another shade


s: Far fiercer and more huge.  I cannot say


s: What master hand had girt him; but he held


s: Behind the right arm fetter'd, and before


s: The other with a chain, that fasten'd him


s: From the neck down, and five times round his form


s: Apparent met the wreathed links.  "This proud one


s: Would of his strength against almighty Jove


s: Make trial," said my guide; "whence he is thus


s: "Great was his prowess, when the giants brought


s: Fear on the gods: those arms, which then he piled,


s: Now moves he never."  Forthwith I return'd:


s: "Fain would I, if 't were possible, mine eyes


s: Experience next."  He answer'd: "Thou shalt see


s: Not far from hence Antaeus, who both speaks


s: And is unfetter'd, who shall place us there


s: Where guilt is at its depth.  Far onward stands


s: Whom thou wouldst fain behold, in chains, and made


s: Like to this spirit, save that in his looks


s: More fell he seems."  By violent earthquake rock'd


s: Ne'er shook a tow'r, so reeling to its base,


s: I dreaded death, nor than the terror more


s: That held him fast.  We, straightway journeying on,


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


s: "O thou, who in the fortunate vale, that made


s: Great Scipio heir of glory, when his sword


s: Drove back the troop of Hannibal in flight,


s: Who thence of old didst carry for thy spoil


s: An hundred lions; and if thou hadst fought


s: In the high conflict on thy brethren's side,


s: Seems as men yet believ'd, that through thine arm


s: The sons of earth had conquer'd, now vouchsafe


s: To place us down beneath, where numbing cold


s: Locks up Cocytus.  Force not that we crave


s: Or Tityus' help or Typhon's.  Here is one


s: Can give what in this realm ye covet.  Stoop


s: Therefore, nor scornfully distort thy lip.


s: Renown on thee, for he doth live, and looks


s: Grace call him not unto herself."  Thus spake


s: The teacher.  He in haste forth stretch'd his hands,


s: And caught my guide.  Alcides whilom felt


s: That grapple straighten'd score.  Soon as my guide


s: Had felt it, he bespake me thus: "This way


s: That I may clasp thee;" then so caught me up,


s: That we were both one burden.  As appears


s: Where it doth lean, if chance a passing cloud


s: Such then Antaeus seem'd, as at mine ease


s: I mark'd him stooping.  I were fain at times


s: T' have pass'd another way.  Yet in th' abyss,


s: Lightly he plac'd us; nor there leaning stay'd,


s: COULD I command rough rhimes and hoarse, to suit


s: That hole of sorrow, o'er which ev'ry rock


s: His firm abutment rears, then might the vein


s: Of fancy rise full springing: but not mine


s: Such measures, and with falt'ring awe I touch


s: The mighty theme; for to describe the depth


s: To jest with, and demands a tongue not us'd


s: To infant babbling.  But let them assist


s: My song, the tuneful maidens, by whose aid


s: Amphion wall'd in Thebes, so with the truth


s: My speech shall best accord.  Oh ill-starr'd folk,


s: In such a mansion, as scarce thought finds words


s: To speak of, better had ye here on earth


s: Been flocks or mountain goats.  As down we stood


s: In the dark pit beneath the giants' feet,


s: Bespoke me thus: "Look how thou walkest.  Take


s: Good heed, thy soles do tread not on the heads


s: Of thy poor brethren."  Thereupon I turn'd,


s: A lake, whose frozen surface liker seem'd


s: To glass than water.  Not so thick a veil


s: In winter e'er hath Austrian Danube spread


s: O'er his still course, nor Tanais far remote


s: Under the chilling sky.  Roll'd o'er that mass


s: Not e'en its rim had creak'd. As peeps the frog


s: Croaking above the wave, what time in dreams


s: The village gleaner oft pursues her toil,


s: So, to where modest shame appears, thus low


s: Blue pinch'd and shrin'd in ice the spirits stood,


s: Moving their teeth in shrill note like the stork.


s: His face each downward held; their mouth the cold,


s: Their eyes express'd the dolour of their heart.


s: A space I look'd around, then at my feet


s: Saw two so strictly join'd, that of their head


s: The very hairs were mingled.  "Tell me ye,


s: Whose bosoms thus together press," said I,


s: "Who are ye?"  At that sound their necks they bent,


s: And when their looks were lifted up to me,


s: Straightway their eyes, before all moist within,


s: Distill'd upon their lips, and the frost bound


s: The tears betwixt those orbs and held them there.


s: Plank unto plank hath never cramp clos'd up


s: So stoutly.  Whence like two enraged goats


s: They clash'd together; them such fury seiz'd.


s: And one, from whom the cold both ears had reft,


s: Exclaim'd, still looking downward: "Why on us


s: Dost speculate so long?  If thou wouldst know


s: Who are these two, the valley, whence his wave


s: Their sire Alberto, and next him themselves.


s: They from one body issued; and throughout


s: Caina thou mayst search, nor find a shade


s: Not him, whose breast and shadow Arthur's land


s: At that one blow dissever'd, not Focaccia,


s: No not this spirit, whose o'erjutting head


s: Obstructs my onward view: he bore the name


s: Well knowest who he was: and to cut short


s: Carlino here my kinsman, whose deep guilt


s: Shall wash out mine."  A thousand visages


s: Then mark'd I, which the keen and eager cold


s: Had shap'd into a doggish grin; whence creeps


s: A shiv'ring horror o'er me, at the thought


s: Of those frore shallows.  While we journey'd on


s: Toward the middle, at whose point unites


s: All heavy substance, and I trembling went


s: Through that eternal chillness, I know not


s: But, passing 'midst the heads, my foot did strike


s: With violent blow against the face of one.


s: "Wherefore dost bruise me?" weeping, he exclaim'd,


s: "Unless thy errand be some fresh revenge


s: For Montaperto, wherefore troublest me?"


s: That I through him may rid me of my doubt.


s: Thenceforth what haste thou wilt."  The teacher paus'd,


s: Still curs'd me in his wrath.  "What art thou, speak,


s: That railest thus on others?"  He replied:


s: "Now who art thou, that smiting others' cheeks


s: Through Antenora roamest, with such force


s: As were past suff'rance, wert thou living still?"


s: "And I am living, to thy joy perchance,"


s: That with the rest I may thy name enrol."


s: Said he, "thou tender'st: hence; nor vex me more.


s: Ill knowest thou to flatter in this vale."


s: Then seizing on his hinder scalp, I cried:


s: "Name thee, or not a hair shall tarry here."


s: "Rend all away," he answer'd, "yet for that


s: Though at my head thou pluck a thousand times."


s: Now I had grasp'd his tresses, and stript off


s: More than one tuft, he barking, with his eyes


s: Drawn in and downward, when another cried,


s: "What ails thee, Bocca?  Sound not loud enough


s: Thy chatt'ring teeth, but thou must bark outright?


s: True tidings will I bear."--"Off," he replied,


s: "Tell what thou list; but as thou escape from hence


s: To speak of him whose tongue hath been so glib,


s: Forget not: here he wails the Frenchman's gold.


s: 'Him of Duera,' thou canst say, 'I mark'd,


s: Where the starv'd sinners pine.'  If thou be ask'd


s: What other shade was with them, at thy side


s: The biting axe of Florence.  Farther on,


s: We now had left him, passing on our way,


s: Pent in one hollow, that the head of one


s: Is raven'd up through hunger, th' uppermost


s: Did so apply his fangs to th' other's brain,


s: Where the spine joins it.  Not more furiously


s: Than on that skull and on its garbage he.


s: "O thou who show'st so beastly sign of hate


s: 'Gainst him thou prey'st on, let me hear," said I


s: "The cause, on such condition, that if right


s: Warrant thy grievance, knowing who ye are,


s: If that, wherewith I speak be moist so long."


s: HIS jaws uplifting from their fell repast,


s: That sinner wip'd them on the hairs o' th' head,


s: Which he behind had mangled, then began:


s: Sorrow past cure, which but to think of wrings


s: My heart, or ere I tell on't. But if words,


s: That I may utter, shall prove seed to bear


s: The traitor whom I gnaw at, thou at once


s: Shalt see me speak and weep.  Who thou mayst be


s: I know not, nor how here below art come:


s: When I do hear thee.  Know I was on earth


s: Ruggieri.  Why I neighbour him so close,


s: Now list.  That through effect of his ill thoughts


s: What therefore thou canst not have heard, that is,


s: How cruel was the murder, shalt thou hear,


s: And know if he have wrong'd me.  A small grate


s: Within that mew, which for my sake the name


s: Of famine bears, where others yet must pine,


s: Already through its opening sev'ral moons


s: Had shown me, when I slept the evil sleep,


s: That from the future tore the curtain off.


s: This one, methought, as master of the sport,


s: Rode forth to chase the gaunt wolf and his whelps


s: Unto the mountain, which forbids the sight


s: Of Lucca to the Pisan.  With lean brachs


s: After short course the father and the sons


s: Seem'd tir'd and lagging, and methought I saw


s: The sharp tusks gore their sides.  When I awoke


s: Before the dawn, amid their sleep I heard


s: My sons (for they were with me) weep and ask


s: For bread.  Right cruel art thou, if no pang


s: Thou feel at thinking what my heart foretold;


s: And if not now, why use thy tears to flow?


s: Now had they waken'd; and the hour drew near


s: When they were wont to bring us food; the mind


s: Of each misgave him through his dream, and I


s: Heard, at its outlet underneath lock'd up


s: The' horrible tower: whence uttering not a word


s: They wept: and one, my little Anslem, cried:


s: "Thou lookest so!  Father what ails thee?"  Yet


s: I shed no tear, nor answer'd all that day


s: Came out upon the world.  When a faint beam


s: Through agony I bit, and they who thought


s: I did it through desire of feeding, rose


s: O' th' sudden, and cried, 'Father, we should grieve


s: Far less, if thou wouldst eat of us: thou gav'st


s: 'And do thou strip them off from us again.'


s: Then, not to make them sadder, I kept down


s: My spirit in stillness.  That day and the next


s: We all were silent.  Ah, obdurate earth!


s: To the fourth day, then Geddo at my feet


s: Outstretch'd did fling him, crying, 'Hast no help


s: For me, my father!'  There he died, and e'en


s: Plainly as thou seest me, saw I the three


s: Fall one by one 'twixt the fifth day and sixth:


s: "Whence I betook me now grown blind to grope


s: Call'd on them who were dead.  Then fasting got


s: The mastery of grief."  Thus having spoke,


s: Once more upon the wretched skull his teeth


s: He fasten'd, like a mastiff's 'gainst the bone


s: Firm and unyielding.  Oh thou Pisa! shame


s: Of all the people, who their dwelling make


s: In that fair region, where th' Italian voice


s: Is heard, since that thy neighbours are so slack


s: To punish, from their deep foundations rise


s: The mouth of Arno, that each soul in thee


s: To stretch his children on the rack.  For them,


s: Of gentle ones, of whom my song hath told,


s: Their tender years, thou modern Thebes! did make


s: Where others skarf'd in rugged folds of ice


s: Not on their feet were turn'd, but each revers'd.


s: For at their eyes grief seeking passage finds


s: For increase of sharp anguish: the first tears


s: Hang cluster'd, and like crystal vizors show,


s: Now though the cold had from my face dislodg'd


s: Each feeling, as 't were callous, yet me seem'd


s: Some breath of wind I felt.  "Whence cometh this,"


s: All vapour quench'd?"--"'Thou shalt be speedily,"


s: He answer'd, "where thine eye shall tell thee whence


s: The cause descrying of this airy shower."


s: Then cried out one in the chill crust who mourn'd:


s: "O souls so cruel! that the farthest post


s: Hath been assign'd you, from this face remove


s: The harden'd veil, that I may vent the grief


s: Impregnate at my heart, some little space


s: "Say who thou wast, if thou wouldst have mine aid;


s: Its fruitage, and am here repaid, the date


s: More luscious for my fig."--"Hah!"  I exclaim'd,


s: "Art thou too dead!"--"How in the world aloft


s: And that thou mayst wipe out more willingly


s: The glazed tear-drops that o'erlay mine eyes,


s: Know that the soul, that moment she betrays,


s: Till all its time be rounded; headlong she


s: Falls to this cistern.  And perchance above


s: Who here behind me winters.  Him thou know'st,


s: The years are many that have pass'd away,


s: Since to this fastness Branca Doria came."


s: "Now," answer'd I, "methinks thou mockest me,


s: But doth all natural functions of a man,


s: Eats, drinks, and sleeps, and putteth raiment on."


s: By th' evil talons guarded, where the pitch


s: Tenacious boils, had Michael Zanche reach'd,


s: Who with him treachery wrought.  But now put forth


s: Thy hand, and ope mine eyes."  I op'd them not.


s: With every foulness stain'd, why from the earth


s: Are ye not cancel'd?  Such an one of yours


s: Is in Cocytus plung'd, and yet doth seem


s: "THE banners of Hell's Monarch do come forth


s: Towards us; therefore look," so spake my guide,


s: "If thou discern him."  As, when breathes a cloud


s: Heavy and dense, or when the shades of night


s: Fall on our hemisphere, seems view'd from far


s: A windmill, which the blast stirs briskly round,


s: Such was the fabric then methought I saw,


s: To shield me from the wind, forthwith I drew


s: Behind my guide: no covert else was there.


s: Now came I (and with fear I bid my strain


s: Record the marvel) where the souls were all


s: Whelm'd underneath, transparent, as through glass


s: Pellucid the frail stem.  Some prone were laid,


s: Others stood upright, this upon the soles,


s: That on his head, a third with face to feet


s: Arch'd like a bow.  When to the point we came,


s: Whereat my guide was pleas'd that I should see


s: He from before me stepp'd and made me pause.


s: "Lo!"  he exclaim'd, "lo Dis! and lo the place,


s: Where thou hast need to arm thy heart with strength."


s: Since words would fail to tell thee of my state.


s: I was not dead nor living.  Think thyself


s: If quick conception work in thee at all,


s: How I did feel.  That emperor, who sways


s: The realm of sorrow, at mid breast from th' ice


s: Stood forth; and I in stature am more like


s: A giant, than the giants are in his arms.


s: Mark now how great that whole must be, which suits


s: May all our mis'ry flow.  Oh what a sight!


s: How passing strange it seem'd, when I did spy


s: Of hue vermilion, th' other two with this


s: Midway each shoulder join'd and at the crest;


s: The right 'twixt wan and yellow seem'd: the left


s: To look on, such as come from whence old Nile


s: Stoops to the lowlands.  Under each shot forth


s: Outstretch'd on the wide sea.  No plumes had they,


s: But were in texture like a bat, and these


s: He flapp'd i' th' air, that from him issued still


s: Three winds, wherewith Cocytus to its depth


s: Was frozen.  At six eyes he wept: the tears


s: Adown three chins distill'd with bloody foam.


s: At every mouth his teeth a sinner champ'd


s: Bruis'd as with pond'rous engine, so that three


s: Were in this guise tormented.  But far more


s: Than from that gnawing, was the foremost pang'd


s: By the fierce rending, whence ofttimes the back


s: Was stript of all its skin.  "That upper spirit,


s: Who hath worse punishment," so spake my guide,


s: And plies the feet without.  Of th' other two,


s: Whose heads are under, from the murky jaw


s: Who hangs, is Brutus: lo! how he doth writhe


s: And speaks not!  Th' other Cassius, that appears


s: So large of limb.  But night now re-ascends,


s: And it is time for parting.  All is seen."


s: I clipp'd him round the neck, for so he bade;


s: And noting time and place, he, when the wings


s: Enough were op'd, caught fast the shaggy sides,


s: And down from pile to pile descending stepp'd


s: Between the thick fell and the jagged ice.


s: Soon as he reach'd the point, whereat the thigh


s: Upon the swelling of the haunches turns,


s: My leader there with pain and struggling hard


s: Turn'd round his head, where his feet stood before,


s: And grappled at the fell, as one who mounts,


s: That into hell methought we turn'd again.


s: "Expect that by such stairs as these," thus spake


s: The teacher, panting like a man forespent,


s: And plac'd me on a brink to sit, next join'd


s: With wary step my side.  I rais'd mine eyes,


s: Where he was lately left, but saw him now


s: With legs held upward.  Let the grosser sort,


s: Who see not what the point was I had pass'd,


s: Bethink them if sore toil oppress'd me then.


s: "Arise," my master cried, "upon thy feet.


s: The way is long, and much uncouth the road;


s: And now within one hour and half of noon


s: The sun returns."  It was no palace-hall


s: But natural dungeon where ill footing was


s: And scant supply of light.  "Ere from th' abyss


s: "My guide! vouchsafe few words to set me free


s: From error's thralldom.  Where is now the ice?


s: How standeth he in posture thus revers'd?


s: And how from eve to morn in space so brief


s: Hath the sun made his transit?"  He in few


s: Thus answering spake: "Thou deemest thou art still


s: On th' other side the centre, where I grasp'd


s: Th' abhorred worm, that boreth through the world.


s: Thou wast on th' other side, so long as I


s: Descended; when I turn'd, thou didst o'erpass


s: That point, to which from ev'ry part is dragg'd


s: All heavy substance.  Thou art now arriv'd


s: Which the great continent doth overspread,


s: The Man, that was born sinless, and so liv'd.


s: Thy feet are planted on the smallest sphere,


s: Here rises, when there evening sets: and he,


s: Whose shaggy pile was scal'd, yet standeth fix'd,


s: As at the first.  On this part he fell down


s: From heav'n; and th' earth, here prominent before,


s: Through fear of him did veil her with the sea,


s: And to our hemisphere retir'd.  Perchance


s: To shun him was the vacant space left here


s: By what of firm land on this side appears,


s: That sprang aloof."  There is a place beneath,


s: The vaulted tomb, discover'd not by sight,


s: But by the sound of brooklet, that descends


s: Which, as it winds with no precipitous course,


s: The wave hath eaten.  By that hidden way


s: To the fair world: and heedless of repose


s: We climbed, he first, I following his steps,


s: Till on our view the beautiful lights of heav'n


s: Dawn'd through a circular opening in the cave:


s: O'er better waves to speed her rapid course


s: The light bark of my genius lifts the sail,


s: Well pleas'd to leave so cruel sea behind;


s: In which the human spirit from sinful blot


s: Is purg'd, and for ascent to Heaven prepares.


s: Here, O ye hallow'd Nine! for in your train


s: I follow, here the deadened strain revive;


s: A somewhat higher song, of that loud tone,


s: Which when the wretched birds of chattering note


s: Had heard, they of forgiveness lost all hope.


s: Sweet hue of eastern sapphire, that was spread


s: High up as the first circle, to mine eyes


s: Forth from the atmosphere of deadly gloom,


s: That had mine eyes and bosom fill'd with grief.


s: The radiant planet, that to love invites,


s: Made all the orient laugh, and veil'd beneath


s: The Pisces' light, that in his escort came.


s: To the right hand I turn'd, and fix'd my mind


s: On the' other pole attentive, where I saw


s: Four stars ne'er seen before save by the ken


s: Of our first parents.  Heaven of their rays


s: Seem'd joyous.  O thou northern site, bereft


s: Indeed, and widow'd, since of these depriv'd!


s: As from this view I had desisted, straight


s: Turning a little tow'rds the other pole,


s: There from whence now the wain had disappear'd,


s: Alone, so worthy of rev'rence in his look,


s: That ne'er from son to father more was ow'd.


s: Low down his beard and mix'd with hoary white


s: Descended, like his locks, which parting fell


s: Upon his breast in double fold.  The beams


s: So brightly shone, and with such radiance clear


s: Deck'd it, that I beheld him as the sun.


s: "Say who are ye, that stemming the blind stream,


s: Forth from th' eternal prison-house have fled?"


s: He spoke and moved those venerable plumes.


s: "Who hath conducted, or with lantern sure


s: Lights you emerging from the depth of night,


s: That makes the infernal valley ever black?


s: Are the firm statutes of the dread abyss


s: Broken, or in high heaven new laws ordain'd,


s: That thus, condemn'd, ye to my caves approach?"


s: My guide, then laying hold on me, by words


s: And intimations given with hand and head,


s: Made my bent knees and eye submissive pay


s: Due reverence; then thus to him replied.


s: "Not of myself I come; a Dame from heaven


s: Descending, had besought me in my charge


s: To bring.  But since thy will implies, that more


s: This mortal ne'er hath seen the farthest gloom.


s: So near, that little space was left to turn.


s: Then, as before I told, I was dispatch'd


s: Save this which I have ta'en.  I have display'd


s: And purpose now those spirits to display,


s: That under thy command are purg'd from sin.


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


s: From high descends the virtue, by whose aid


s: I to thy sight and hearing him have led.


s: Now may our coming please thee.  In the search


s: They know, who for her sake have life refus'd.


s: Thou knowest, to whom death for her was sweet


s: In Utica, where thou didst leave those weeds,


s: That in the last great day will shine so bright.


s: He breathes, and I am free of Minos' power,


s: Of thy chaste Marcia beam, who still in look


s: Prays thee, O hallow'd spirit! to own her shine.


s: Then by her love we' implore thee, let us pass


s: Through thy sev'n regions; for which best thanks


s: If mention there below thou not disdain."


s: "Marcia so pleasing in my sight was found,"


s: He then to him rejoin'd, "while I was there,


s: That all she ask'd me I was fain to grant.


s: Now that beyond the' accursed stream she dwells,


s: Which was ordain'd me, when I issued thence.


s: Not so, if Dame from heaven, as thou sayst,


s: Moves and directs thee; then no flattery needs.


s: Enough for me that in her name thou ask.


s: Go therefore now: and with a slender reed


s: See that thou duly gird him, and his face


s: Lave, till all sordid stain thou wipe from thence.


s: For not with eye, by any cloud obscur'd,


s: Who stands the foremost minister in heaven.


s: This islet all around, there far beneath,


s: Where the wave beats it, on the oozy bed


s: Produces store of reeds. No other plant,


s: Cover'd with leaves, or harden'd in its stalk,


s: There lives, not bending to the water's sway.


s: Will show you, that now rises, where to take


s: Speechless, and to my guide retiring close,


s: Toward him turn'd mine eyes.  He thus began;


s: "My son! observant thou my steps pursue.


s: We must retreat to rearward, for that way


s: The champain to its low extreme declines."


s: The dawn had chas'd the matin hour of prime,


s: I spy'd the trembling of the ocean stream.


s: Who, wander'd from his track, thinks every step


s: Trodden in vain till he regain the path.


s: When we had come, where yet the tender dew


s: Strove with the sun, and in a place, where fresh


s: The wind breath'd o'er it, while it slowly dried;


s: My master plac'd, in graceful act and kind.


s: Stretch'd out to him my cheeks suffus'd with tears.


s: That hue, which the dun shades of hell conceal'd.


s: Man, that could after measure back his course,


s: He girt me in such manner as had pleas'd


s: Him who instructed, and O, strange to tell!


s: Resembling, straightway in its place arose.


s: Now had the sun to that horizon reach'd,


s: That covers, with the most exalted point


s: Sounds, from the stream of Ganges issued forth,


s: Holding the scales, that from her hands are dropp'd


s: When she reigns highest: so that where I was,


s: Aurora's white and vermeil-tinctur'd cheek


s: To orange turn'd as she in age increas'd.


s: Meanwhile we linger'd by the water's brink,


s: Like men, who, musing on their road, in thought


s: Journey, while motionless the body rests.


s: Through the thick vapours Mars with fiery beam


s: Glares down in west, over the ocean floor;


s: So seem'd, what once again I hope to view,


s: A light so swiftly coming through the sea,


s: No winged course might equal its career.


s: From which when for a space I had withdrawn


s: Thine eyes, to make inquiry of my guide,


s: And brightness: thou on either side appear'd


s: Something, but what I knew not of bright hue,


s: Stood, while the brightness, that we first discern'd,


s: Open'd the form of wings: then when he knew


s: The pilot, cried aloud, "Down, down; bend low


s: Thy knees; behold God's angel: fold thy hands:


s: Now shalt thou see true Ministers indeed.


s: "Lo how all human means he sets at naught!


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


s: Except his wings, between such distant shores.


s: Lo how straight up to heaven he holds them rear'd,


s: Winnowing the air with those eternal plumes,


s: That not like mortal hairs fall off or change!"


s: As more and more toward us came, more bright


s: Appear'd the bird of God, nor could the eye


s: Endure his splendor near: I mine bent down.


s: He drove ashore in a small bark so swift


s: And light, that in its course no wave it drank.


s: The heav'nly steersman at the prow was seen,


s: Within a hundred spirits and more there sat.


s: All with one voice together sang, with what


s: Then soon as with the sign of holy cross


s: He bless'd them, they at once leap'd out on land,


s: The swiftly as he came return'd. The crew,


s: There left, appear'd astounded with the place,


s: Gazing around as one who sees new sights.


s: From every side the sun darted his beams,


s: And with his arrowy radiance from mid heav'n


s: Had chas'd the Capricorn, when that strange tribe


s: Lifting their eyes towards us: "If ye know,


s: Declare what path will Lead us to the mount."


s: Them Virgil answer'd.  "Ye suppose perchance


s: Us well acquainted with this place: but here,


s: We, as yourselves, are strangers.  Not long erst


s: By other road so rough and hard, that now


s: The' ascent will seem to us as play."  The spirits,


s: Who from my breathing had perceiv'd I liv'd,


s: Grew pale with wonder.  As the multitude


s: Flock round a herald, sent with olive branch,


s: To hear what news he brings, and in their haste


s: Tread one another down, e'en so at sight


s: Of me those happy spirits were fix'd, each one


s: Where cleans'd from sin, it might be made all fair.


s: To do the like was mov'd.  O shadows vain


s: Except in outward semblance! thrice my hands


s: I clasp'd behind it, they as oft return'd


s: I needs must think was painted in my looks,


s: For that the shadow smil'd and backward drew.


s: Then who it was I knew, and pray'd of it,


s: To talk with me, it would a little pause.


s: It answered: "Thee as in my mortal frame


s: I lov'd, so loos'd forth it I love thee still,


s: And therefore pause; but why walkest thou here?"


s: "Not without purpose once more to return,


s: Journeying this way;" I said, "but how of thee


s: Hath so much time been lost?"  He answer'd straight:


s: Who when and whom he chooses takes, me oft


s: This passage hath denied, since of just will


s: His will he makes.  These three months past indeed,


s: He, whose chose to enter, with free leave


s: Hath taken; whence I wand'ring by the shore


s: Where Tyber's wave grows salt, of him gain'd kind


s: Admittance, at that river's mouth, tow'rd which


s: His wings are pointed, for there always throng


s: Then I: "If new laws have not quite destroy'd


s: Memory and use of that sweet song of love,


s: That while all my cares had power to 'swage;


s: My spirit, that incumber'd with its frame,


s: Travelling so far, of pain is overcome."


s: "Love that discourses in my thoughts."  He then


s: The sweetness thrills me yet.  My gentle guide


s: And all who came with him, so well were pleas'd,


s: That seem'd naught else might in their thoughts have room.


s: Fast fix'd in mute attention to his notes


s: We stood, when lo! that old man venerable


s: What negligence detains you loit'ring here?


s: Run to the mountain to cast off those scales,


s: That from your eyes the sight of God conceal."


s: As a wild flock of pigeons, to their food


s: Collected, blade or tares, without their pride


s: Accustom'd, and in still and quiet sort,


s: Their meal, assail'd by more important care;


s: So I that new-come troop beheld, the song


s: Deserting, hasten to the mountain's side,


s: As one who goes yet where he tends knows not.


s: Nor with less hurried step did we depart.


s: Them sudden flight had scatter'd over the plain,


s: Turn'd tow'rds the mountain, whither reason's voice


s: Depriv'd, might I have sped, or who beside


s: Would o'er the mountainous tract have led my steps


s: Seem'd smitten.  O clear conscience and upright


s: How doth a little fling wound thee sore!


s: Soon as his feet desisted (slack'ning pace),


s: From haste, that mars all decency of act,


s: My mind, that in itself before was wrapt,


s: Its thoughts expanded, as with joy restor'd:


s: My face, where highest to heav'n its top o'erflows.


s: The sun, that flar'd behind, with ruddy beam


s: His rays resistance met.  I turn'd aside


s: When thus my solace, turning him around,


s: Bespake me kindly: "Why distrustest thou?


s: Believ'st not I am with thee, thy sure guide?


s: It now is evening there, where buried lies


s: The body, in which I cast a shade, remov'd


s: To Naples from Brundusium's wall.  Nor thou


s: Torments of heat and cold extreme, like frames


s: That virtue hath dispos'd, which how it works


s: Who hopes, our reason may that space explore,


s: Which holds three persons in one substance knit.


s: Seek not the wherefore, race of human kind;


s: Could ye have seen the whole, no need had been


s: Have seen such men desiring fruitlessly;


s: To whose desires repose would have been giv'n,


s: That now but serve them for eternal grief.


s: And others many more."  And then he bent


s: Downwards his forehead, and in troubled mood


s: Broke off his speech.  Meanwhile we had arriv'd


s: Far as the mountain's foot, and there the rock


s: Found of so steep ascent, that nimblest steps


s: To climb it had been vain.  The most remote


s: Most wild untrodden path, in all the tract


s: "Who knows on which hand now the steep declines?"


s: My master said and paus'd, "so that he may


s: Ascend, who journeys without aid of wine?"


s: And while with looks directed to the ground


s: And I gaz'd upward round the stony height,


s: Of spirits, that toward us mov'd their steps,


s: Yet moving seem'd not, they so slow approach'd.


s: I thus my guide address'd: "Upraise thine eyes,


s: Lo that way some, of whom thou may'st obtain


s: Counsel, if of thyself thou find'st it not!"


s: Straightway he look'd, and with free speech replied:


s: "Let us tend thither: they but softly come.


s: And thou be firm in hope, my son belov'd."


s: Now was that people distant far in space


s: As at a throw the nervous arm could fling,


s: When all drew backward on the messy crags


s: Of the steep bank, and firmly stood unmov'd


s: As one who walks in doubt might stand to look.


s: Virgil to them began, "by that blest peace,


s: Which, as I deem, is for you all prepar'd,


s: Instruct us where the mountain low declines,


s: So that attempt to mount it be not vain.


s: For who knows most, him loss of time most grieves."


s: As sheep, that step from forth their fold, by one,


s: Or pairs, or three at once; meanwhile the rest


s: Stand fearfully, bending the eye and nose


s: To ground, and what the foremost does, that do


s: The others, gath'ring round her, if she stops,


s: Simple and quiet, nor the cause discern;


s: Who of that fortunate crew were at the head,


s: Of modest mien and graceful in their gait.


s: When they before me had beheld the light


s: From my right side fall broken on the ground,


s: So that the shadow reach'd the cave, they stopp'd


s: And somewhat back retir'd: the same did all,


s: Who follow'd, though unweeting of the cause.


s: That the sun's light is broken on the ground,


s: Marvel not: but believe, that not without


s: Over this wall aspire."  So them bespake


s: My master; and that virtuous tribe rejoin'd;


s: "Turn, and before you there the entrance lies,"


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


s: Who journey'st thus this way, thy visage turn,


s: Think if me elsewhere thou hast ever seen."


s: I tow'rds him turn'd, and with fix'd eye beheld.


s: He seem'd, but on one brow a gash was mark'd.


s: Him ever: "Now behold!"  he said, and show'd


s: High on his breast a wound: then smiling spake.


s: Costanza: whence I pray thee, when return'd,


s: Aught else be told.  When by two mortal blows


s: Weeping to him, who of free will forgives.


s: Hath goodness infinite, that it receives


s: All who turn to it.  Had this text divine


s: Been of Cosenza's shepherd better scann'd,


s: Yet at the bridge's head my bones had lain,


s: Protected; but the rain now drenches them,


s: And the wind drives, out of the kingdom's bounds,


s: Far as the stream of Verde, where, with lights


s: Extinguish'd, he remov'd them from their bed.


s: Yet by their curse we are not so destroy'd,


s: But that the eternal love may turn, while hope


s: Retains her verdant blossoms.  True it is,


s: Against the holy church, though he repent,


s: Must wander thirty-fold for all the time


s: Be not by prayers of good men shorter made


s: Look therefore if thou canst advance my bliss;


s: Thou hast beheld me, and beside the terms


s: By means of those below much profit comes."


s: Entire the soul collects herself, it seems


s: And thus the error is disprov'd which holds


s: The soul not singly lighted in the breast.


s: And therefore when as aught is heard or seen,


s: That firmly keeps the soul toward it turn'd,


s: Time passes, and a man perceives it not.


s: For that, whereby he hearken, is one power,


s: Another that, which the whole spirit hash;


s: This is as it were bound, while that is free.


s: This found I true by proof, hearing that spirit


s: And wond'ring; for full fifty steps aloft


s: When we arriv'd where all with one accord


s: The spirits shouted, "Here is what ye ask."


s: When the ripe grape imbrowns, than was the path,


s: By which my guide, and I behind him close,


s: Or mounts Bismantua's height, must use his feet;


s: With the swift wing and plumes of high desire,


s: And with light furnish'd to direct my way.


s: We through the broken rock ascended, close


s: Pent on each side, while underneath the ground


s: Ask'd help of hands and feet.  When we arriv'd


s: Near on the highest ridge of the steep bank,


s: Where the plain level open'd I exclaim'd,


s: "O master! say which way can we proceed?"


s: He answer'd, "Let no step of thine recede.


s: Some practis'd guide appear."  That eminence


s: Was lofty that no eye might reach its point,


s: And the side proudly rising, more than line


s: From the mid quadrant to the centre drawn.


s: If thou stay not."--" My son!"  He straight reply'd,


s: "Thus far put forth thy strength;" and to a track


s: Pointed, that, on this side projecting, round


s: Circles the hill.  His words so spurr'd me on,


s: That I behind him clamb'ring, forc'd myself,


s: Till my feet press'd the circuit plain beneath.


s: There both together seated, turn'd we round


s: To eastward, whence was our ascent: and oft


s: Many beside have with delight look'd back.


s: First on the nether shores I turn'd my eyes,


s: Then rais'd them to the sun, and wond'ring mark'd


s: That from the left it smote us.  Soon perceiv'd


s: Amaz'd I stood, where 'twixt us and the north


s: Its course it enter'd.  Whence he thus to me:


s: Of that broad mirror, that high up and low


s: Imparts his light beneath, thou might'st behold


s: Wheel, if its ancient course it not forsook.


s: How that may be if thou would'st think; within


s: Plac'd on the earth, so that to both be one


s: Where lies the path that Phaeton ill knew


s: To guide his erring chariot: thou wilt see


s: He passes, while by that on the' other side,


s: If with clear view shine intellect attend."


s: "Of truth, kind teacher!"  I exclaim'd, "so clear


s: Where seem'd my ken to fail, that the mid orb


s: Of art is called the Equator, and remains


s: Ever between the sun and winter) for the cause


s: Thou hast assign'd, from hence toward the north


s: Departs, when those who in the Hebrew land


s: Inhabit, see it tow'rds the warmer part.


s: But if it please thee, I would gladly know,


s: How far we have to journey: for the hill


s: Mounts higher, than this sight of mine can mount."


s: He thus to me: "Such is this steep ascent,


s: But, more a man proceeds, less evil grows.


s: When pleasant it shall seem to thee, so much


s: That upward going shall be easy to thee.


s: Then of this path thou wilt have reach'd the end.


s: There hope to rest thee from thy toil.  No more


s: I answer, and thus far for certain know."


s: A voice there sounded: "Yet ye first perchance


s: May to repose you by constraint be led."


s: At sound thereof each turn'd, and on the left


s: Nor he before was ware.  Thither we drew,


s: find there were some, who in the shady place


s: Thru' idleness might stand.  Among them one,


s: Who seem'd to me much wearied, sat him down,


s: And with his arms did fold his knees about,


s: Holding his face between them downward bent.


s: "Sweet Sir!"  I cry'd, "behold that man, who shows


s: Were sister to him."  Straight he turn'd to us,


s: And, o'er the thigh lifting his face, observ'd,


s: Then in these accents spake: "Up then, proceed


s: Thou valiant one."  Straight who it was I knew;


s: Nor could the pain I felt (for want of breath


s: Still somewhat urg'd me) hinder my approach.


s: And when I came to him, he scarce his head


s: Uplifted, saying "Well hast thou discern'd,


s: How from the left the sun his chariot leads."


s: To laughter somewhat mov'd; when I began:


s: "Belacqua, now for thee I grieve no more.


s: But tell, why thou art seated upright there?


s: Waitest thou escort to conduct thee hence?


s: Then he: "My brother, of what use to mount,


s: When to my suffering would not let me pass


s: The bird of God, who at the portal sits?


s: Behooves so long that heav'n first bear me round


s: That riseth up from heart which lives in grace.


s: What other kind avails, not heard in heaven?"'


s: Ascending, cried: "Haste thee, for see the sun


s: Has touch'd the point meridian, and the night


s: Now covers with her foot Marocco's shore."


s: Now had I left those spirits, and pursued


s: Pointing the finger at me one exclaim'd:


s: "See how it seems as if the light not shone


s: From the left hand of him beneath, and he,


s: As living, seems to be led on."  Mine eyes


s: I at that sound reverting, saw them gaze


s: Through wonder first at me, and then at me


s: And the light broken underneath, by turns.


s: "Why are thy thoughts thus riveted?"  my guide


s: Exclaim'd, "that thou hast slack'd thy pace? or how


s: Imports it thee, what thing is whisper'd here?


s: Come after me, and to their babblings leave


s: The crowd. Be as a tower, that, firmly set,


s: Shakes not its top for any blast that blows!


s: He, in whose bosom thought on thought shoots out,


s: Still of his aim is wide, in that the one


s: Sicklies and wastes to nought the other's strength."


s: What other could I answer save "I come?"


s: I said it, somewhat with that colour ting'd


s: Meanwhile traverse along the hill there came,


s: When they perceiv'd that through my body I


s: Gave way not for the rays to pass, their song


s: Straight to a long and hoarse exclaim they chang'd;


s: And two of them, in guise of messengers,


s: "Of your condition we would gladly learn."


s: To them my guide.  "Ye may return, and bear


s: Tidings to them who sent you, that his frame


s: His shade they paus'd, enough is answer'd them.


s: Him let them honour, they may prize him well."


s: Ne'er saw I fiery vapours with such speed


s: Cut through the serene air at fall of night,


s: Nor August's clouds athwart the setting sun,


s: That upward these did not in shorter space


s: Return; and, there arriving, with the rest


s: Wheel back on us, as with loose rein a troop.


s: "Many," exclaim'd the bard, "are these, who throng


s: Go therefore on, and listen as thou go'st."


s: With the same limbs, that clad thee at thy birth."


s: Shouting they came, "a little rest thy step.


s: Hast e'er beheld, that tidings of him there


s: Thou mayst report.  Ah, wherefore go'st thou on?


s: By violence died, and to our latest hour


s: Were sinners, but then warn'd by light from heav'n,


s: Did issue out of life at peace with God,


s: Who with desire to see him fills our heart."


s: That I can do, may please you, gentle spirits!


s: Speak; and I will perform it, by that peace,


s: Which on the steps of guide so excellent


s: Following from world to world intent I seek."


s: In answer he began: "None here distrusts


s: Thy kindness, though not promis'd with an oath;


s: So as the will fail not for want of power.


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


s: Entreat thee, if thou ever see that land,


s: Which lies between Romagna and the realm


s: Of Charles, that of thy courtesy thou pray


s: By which I may purge off my grievous sins.


s: From thence I came.  But the deep passages,


s: Whence issued out the blood wherein I dwelt,


s: Were made, where to be more secure I thought.


s: The author of the deed was Este's prince,


s: Who, more than right could warrant, with his wrath


s: Might I have breath'd. But to the marsh I sped,


s: And in the mire and rushes tangled there


s: Fell, and beheld my life-blood float the plain."


s: Then said another: "Ah! so may the wish,


s: That takes thee o'er the mountain, be fulfill'd,


s: As thou shalt graciously give aid to mine.


s: Giovanna nor none else have care for me,


s: Sorrowing with these I therefore go."  I thus:


s: "From Campaldino's field what force or chance


s: Drew thee, that ne'er thy sepulture was known?"


s: "Oh!"  answer'd he, "at Casentino's foot


s: A stream there courseth, nam'd Archiano, sprung


s: E'en where its name is cancel'd, there came I,


s: Pierc'd in the heart, fleeing away on foot,


s: And bloodying the plain.  Here sight and speech


s: Fail'd me, and finishing with Mary's name


s: I fell, and tenantless my flesh remain'd.


s: I will report the truth; which thou again


s: Tell to the living.  Me God's angel took,


s: Whilst he of hell exclaim'd: "O thou from heav'n!


s: Say wherefore hast thou robb'd me?  Thou of him


s: Th' eternal portion bear'st with thee away


s: For one poor tear that he deprives me of.


s: "Thou knowest how in the atmosphere collects


s: Soon as it mounts where cold condenses it.


s: Still follows evil, came, and rais'd the wind


s: Given by his nature.  Thence the valley, soon


s: As day was spent, he cover'd o'er with cloud


s: And stretch'd the sky above, so that the air


s: Impregnate chang'd to water.  Fell the rain,


s: And to the fosses came all that the land


s: Contain'd not; and, as mightiest streams are wont,


s: To the great river with such headlong sweep


s: Rush'd, that nought stay'd its course.  My stiffen'd frame


s: Laid at his mouth the fell Archiano found,


s: Loos'ning the cross, that of myself I made


s: When overcome with pain.  He hurl'd me on,


s: Along the banks and bottom of his course;


s: Then in his muddy spoils encircling wrapt."


s: "Ah! when thou to the world shalt be return'd,


s: And rested after thy long road," so spake


s: Next the third spirit; "then remember me.