s: As thou perceivest; and he needs must feel,


s: Whoever passes, first how much he weighs;


s: And in like mode his father-in-law is punished


s: Within this moat, and the others of the council,


s: Then he directed to the Friar this voice:


s: "Be not displeased, if granted thee, to tell us


s: If to the right hand any pass slope down


s: By which we two may issue forth from here,


s: Without constraining some of the black angels


s: To come and extricate us from this deep."


s: Then he made answer: "Nearer than thou hopest


s: There is a rock, that forth from the great circle


s: Proceeds, and crosses all the cruel valleys,


s: Save that at this 'tis broken, and does not bridge it;


s: That sidelong slopes and at the bottom rises."


s: The Leader stood awhile with head bowed down;


s: Then said: "The business badly he recounted


s: Who grapples with his hook the sinners yonder."


s: And the Friar: "Many of the Devil's vices


s: Once heard I at Bologna, and among them,


s: That he's a liar and the father of lies."


s: Thereat my Leader with great strides went on,


s: Somewhat disturbed with anger in his looks;


s: In that part of the youthful year wherein


s: The Sun his locks beneath Aquarius tempers,


s: And now the nights draw near to half the day,


s: What time the hoar-frost copies on the ground


s: The outward semblance of her sister white,


s: The husbandman, whose forage faileth him,


s: Rises, and looks, and seeth the champaign


s: All gleaming white, whereat he beats his flank,


s: Returns in doors, and up and down laments,


s: Like a poor wretch, who knows not what to do;


s: Seeing the world has changed its countenance


s: In little time, and takes his shepherd's crook,


s: And forth the little lambs to pasture drives.


s: When I beheld his forehead so disturbed,


s: And to the ailment came as soon the plaster.


s: The Leader turned to me with that sweet look


s: Which at the mountain's foot I first beheld.


s: His arms he opened, after some advisement


s: For aye it seems that he provides beforehand,


s: Of a huge rock, he scanned another crag,


s: Saying: "To that one grapple afterwards,


s: But try first if 'tis such that it will hold thee."


s: This was no way for one clothed with a cloak;


s: For hardly we, he light, and I pushed upward,


s: And had it not been, that upon that precinct


s: Shorter was the ascent than on the other,


s: He I know not, but I had been dead beat.


s: Of the profoundest well is all inclining,


s: The structure of each valley doth import


s: That one bank rises and the other sinks.


s: Still we arrived at length upon the point


s: Wherefrom the last stone breaks itself asunder.


s: The breath was from my lungs so milked away,


s: When I was up, that I could go no farther,


s: "Now it behoves thee thus to put off sloth,"


s: Such vestige leaveth of himself on earth,


s: And therefore raise thee up, o'ercome the anguish


s: With spirit that o'ercometh every battle,


s: A longer stairway it behoves thee mount;


s: 'Tis not enough from these to have departed;


s: Let it avail thee, if thou understand me."


s: Better with breath than I did feel myself,


s: And said: "Go on, for I am strong and bold."


s: Which jagged was, and narrow, and difficult,


s: And more precipitous far than that before.


s: Speaking I went, not to appear exhausted;


s: Whereat a voice from the next moat came forth,


s: I know not what it said, though o'er the back


s: I now was of the arch that passes there;


s: But he seemed moved to anger who was speaking.


s: Could not attain the bottom, for the dark;


s: Wherefore I: "Master, see that thou arrive


s: At the next round, and let us descend the wall;


s: For as from hence I hear and understand not,


s: So I look down and nothing I distinguish."


s: "Other response," he said, "I make thee not,


s: Ought to be followed by the deed in silence."


s: We from the bridge descended at its head,


s: Where it connects itself with the eighth bank,


s: Of serpents, and of such a monstrous kind,


s: That the remembrance still congeals my blood


s: Let Libya boast no longer with her sand;


s: She breeds, with Cenchri and with Amphisbaena,


s: Neither so many plagues nor so malignant


s: People were running naked and affrighted.


s: They had their hands with serpents bound behind them;


s: And head, and were in front of them entwined.


s: There darted forth a serpent, which transfixed him


s: There where the neck is knotted to the shoulders.


s: Nor 'O' so quickly e'er, nor 'I' was written,


s: As he took fire, and burned; and ashes wholly


s: And when he on the ground was thus destroyed,


s: The ashes drew together, and of themselves


s: Even thus by the great sages 'tis confessed


s: The phoenix dies, and then is born again,


s: When it approaches its five-hundredth year;


s: On herb or grain it feeds not in its life,


s: But only on tears of incense and amomum,


s: And nard and myrrh are its last winding-sheet.


s: And as he is who falls, and knows not how,


s: By force of demons who to earth down drag him,


s: Which he has suffered, and in looking sighs;


s: Such was that sinner after he had risen.


s: That blows like these in vengeance poureth down!


s: The Guide thereafter asked him who he was;


s: Whence he replied: "I rained from Tuscany


s: A short time since into this cruel gorge.


s: A bestial life, and not a human, pleased me,


s: Even as the mule I was; I'm Vanni Fucci,


s: And I unto the Guide: "Tell him to stir not,


s: And ask what crime has thrust him here below,


s: For once a man of blood and wrath I saw him."


s: And the sinner, who had heard, dissembled not,


s: And with a melancholy shame was painted.


s: Then said: "It pains me more that thou hast caught me


s: Than when I from the other life was taken.


s: And falsely once 'twas laid upon another;


s: But that thou mayst not such a sight enjoy,


s: If thou shalt e'er be out of the dark places,


s: Thine ears to my announcement ope and hear:


s: Then Florence doth renew her men and manners;


s: Mars draws a vapour up from Val di Magra,


s: Which is with turbid clouds enveloped round,


s: When it shall suddenly rend the mist asunder,


s: So that each Bianco shall thereby be smitten.


s: And this I've said that it may give thee pain."


s: At the conclusion of his words, the thief


s: Lifted his hands aloft with both the figs,


s: Crying: "Take that, God, for at thee I aim them."


s: From that time forth the serpents were my friends;


s: As if it said: "I will not thou speak more;"


s: And round his arms another, and rebound him,


s: That with them he could not a motion make.


s: Since in ill-doing thou thy seed excellest?


s: Through all the sombre circles of this Hell,


s: Not he who fell at Thebes down from the walls!


s: He fled away, and spake no further word;


s: Come crying out: "Where is, where is the scoffer?"


s: Upon the shoulders, just behind the nape,


s: With wings wide open was a dragon lying,


s: And he sets fire to all that he encounters.


s: He goes not on the same road with his brothers,


s: By reason of the fraudulent theft he made


s: Of the great herd, which he had near to him;


s: Whereat his tortuous actions ceased beneath


s: Gave him a hundred, and he felt not ten."


s: While he was speaking thus, he had passed by,


s: And spirits three had underneath us come,


s: Of which nor I aware was, nor my Leader,


s: Until what time they shouted: "Who are you?"


s: I did not know them; but it came to pass,


s: That one to name the other was compelled,


s: Exclaiming: "Where can Cianfa have remained?"


s: Whence I, so that the Leader might attend,


s: Upward from chin to nose my finger laid.


s: If thou art, Reader, slow now to believe


s: As I was holding raised on them my brows,


s: Behold! a serpent with six feet darts forth


s: In front of one, and fastens wholly on him.


s: With middle feet it bound him round the paunch,


s: And with the forward ones his arms it seized;


s: Then thrust its teeth through one cheek and the other;


s: The hindermost it stretched upon his thighs,


s: And put its tail through in between the two,


s: And up behind along the reins outspread it.


s: Unto a tree so, as this horrible reptile


s: Upon the other's limbs entwined its own.


s: Then they stuck close, as if of heated wax


s: They had been made, and intermixed their colour;


s: Nor one nor other seemed now what he was;


s: Which is not black as yet, and the white dies.


s: The other two looked on, and each of them


s: Cried out: "O me, Agnello, how thou changest!


s: Behold, thou now art neither two nor one."


s: When there appeared to us two figures mingled


s: Into one face, wherein the two were lost.


s: Of the four lists were fashioned the two arms,


s: The thighs and legs, the belly and the chest


s: Members became that never yet were seen.


s: Every original aspect there was cancelled;


s: Two and yet none did the perverted image


s: Appear, and such departed with slow pace.


s: Even as a lizard, under the great scourge


s: Lightning appeareth if the road it cross;


s: Thus did appear, coming towards the bellies


s: Of the two others, a small fiery serpent,


s: And in that part whereat is first received


s: Then downward fell in front of him extended.


s: The one transfixed looked at it, but said naught;


s: Nay, rather with feet motionless he yawned,


s: Just as if sleep or fever had assailed him.


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


s: Smoked violently, and the smoke commingled.


s: Henceforth be silent Lucan, where he mentions


s: And wait to hear what now shall be shot forth.


s: Converts he fabling, that I grudge him not;


s: Because two natures never front to front


s: Has he transmuted, so that both the forms


s: That to a fork the serpent cleft his tail,


s: And eke the wounded drew his feet together.


s: The legs together with the thighs themselves


s: Adhered so, that in little time the juncture


s: No sign whatever made that was apparent.


s: He with the cloven tail assumed the figure


s: I saw the arms draw inward at the armpits,


s: And both feet of the reptile, that were short,


s: Lengthen as much as those contracted were.


s: Thereafter the hind feet, together twisted,


s: And of his own the wretch had two created.


s: Though turning not away their impious lamps,


s: Underneath which each one his muzzle changed.


s: He who was standing drew it tow'rds the temples,


s: And from excess of matter, which came thither,


s: Issued the ears from out the hollow cheeks;


s: What did not backward run and was retained


s: And the lips thickened far as was befitting.


s: He who lay prostrate thrusts his muzzle forward,


s: And backward draws the ears into his head,


s: In the same manner as the snail its horns;


s: And so the tongue, which was entire and apt


s: For speech before, is cleft, and the bi-forked


s: In the other closes up, and the smoke ceases.


s: The soul, which to a reptile had been changed,


s: Along the valley hissing takes to flight,


s: And after him the other speaking sputters.


s: Then did he turn upon him his new shoulders,


s: And said to the other: "I'll have Buoso run,


s: Crawling as I have done, along this road."


s: In this way I beheld the seventh ballast


s: Shift and reshift, and here be my excuse


s: The novelty, if aught my pen transgress.


s: And notwithstanding that mine eyes might be


s: Somewhat bewildered, and my mind dismayed,


s: But that I plainly saw Puccio Sciancato;


s: And he it was who sole of three companions,


s: Which came in the beginning, was not changed;


s: The other was he whom thou, Gaville, weepest.


s: Rejoice, O Florence, since thou art so great,


s: That over sea and land thou beatest thy wings,


s: And throughout Hell thy name is spread abroad!


s: Among the thieves five citizens of thine


s: Like these I found, whence shame comes unto me,


s: And thou thereby to no great honour risest.


s: But if when morn is near our dreams are true,


s: Feel shalt thou in a little time from now


s: What Prato, if none other, craves for thee.


s: And if it now were, it were not too soon;


s: Would that it were, seeing it needs must be,


s: For 'twill aggrieve me more the more I age.


s: We went our way, and up along the stairs


s: The bourns had made us to descend before,


s: The foot without the hand sped not at all.


s: That it may run not unless virtue guide it;


s: So that if some good star, or better thing,


s: Have given me good, I may myself not grudge it.


s: Rests at the time when he who lights the world


s: His countenance keeps least concealed from us,


s: While as the fly gives place unto the gnat)


s: Seeth the glow-worms down along the valley,


s: Perchance there where he ploughs and makes his vintage;


s: As soon as I was where the depth appeared.


s: And such as he who with the bears avenged him


s: What time the steeds to heaven erect uprose,


s: So as to see aught else than flame alone,


s: Even as a little cloud ascending upward,


s: Thus each along the gorge of the intrenchment


s: Was moving; for not one reveals the theft,


s: And the Leader, who beheld me so attent,


s: Exclaimed: "Within the fires the spirits are;


s: Each swathes himself with that wherewith he burns."


s: "My Master," I replied, "by hearing thee


s: It might be so, and already wished to ask thee


s: Who is within that fire, which comes so cleft


s: Where was Eteocles with his brother placed."


s: He answered me: "Within there are tormented


s: And there within their flame do they lament


s: The ambush of the horse, which made the door


s: Whence issued forth the Romans' gentle seed;


s: Therein is wept the craft, for which being dead


s: And pain for the Palladium there is borne."


s: "If they within those sparks possess the power


s: To speak," I said, "thee, Master, much I pray,


s: And re-pray, that the prayer be worth a thousand,


s: Until the horned flame shall hither come;


s: Thou seest that with desire I lean towards it."


s: Of much applause, and therefore I accept it;


s: But take heed that thy tongue restrain itself.


s: Leave me to speak, because I have conceived


s: That which thou wishest; for they might disdain


s: Perchance, since they were Greeks, discourse of thine."


s: When now the flame had come unto that point,


s: Where to my Leader it seemed time and place,


s: After this fashion did I hear him speak:


s: If I deserved of you, while I was living,


s: When in the world I wrote the lofty verses,


s: Whither, being lost, he went away to die."


s: Then of the antique flame the greater horn,


s: Even as a flame doth which the wind fatigues.


s: Moving as if it were the tongue that spake,


s: It uttered forth a voice, and said: "When I


s: From Circe had departed, who concealed me


s: For my old father, nor the due affection


s: With one sole ship, and that small company


s: Both of the shores I saw as far as Spain,


s: And the others which that sea bathes round about.


s: Where Hercules his landmarks set as signals,


s: That man no farther onward should adventure.


s: On the right hand behind me left I Seville,


s: And on the other already had left Ceuta.


s: 'O brothers, who amid a hundred thousand


s: Perils,' I said, 'have come unto the West,


s: Following the sun, of the unpeopled world.


s: Consider ye the seed from which ye sprang;


s: Ye were not made to live like unto brutes,


s: But for pursuit of virtue and of knowledge.'


s: With this brief exhortation, for the voyage,


s: That then I hardly could have held them back.


s: And having turned our stern unto the morning,


s: We of the oars made wings for our mad flight,


s: Five times rekindled and as many quenched


s: Had been the splendour underneath the moon,


s: Since we had entered into the deep pass,


s: When there appeared to us a mountain, dim


s: From distance, and it seemed to me so high


s: Joyful were we, and soon it turned to weeping;


s: For out of the new land a whirlwind rose,


s: And smote upon the fore part of the ship.


s: Three times it made her whirl with all the waters,


s: At the fourth time it made the stern uplift,


s: And the prow downward go, as pleased Another,


s: To speak no more, and now departed from us


s: By a confused sound that issued from it.


s: As the Sicilian bull (that bellowed first


s: With the lament of him, and that was right,


s: Bellowed so with the voice of the afflicted,


s: That, notwithstanding it was made of brass,


s: Still it appeared with agony transfixed;


s: At first from out the fire, to its own language


s: But afterwards, when they had gathered way


s: Up through the point, giving it that vibration


s: The tongue had given them in their passage out,


s: We heard it said: "O thou, at whom I aim


s: My voice, and who but now wast speaking Lombard,


s: Saying, 'Now go thy way, no more I urge thee,'


s: To stay and speak with me let it not irk thee;


s: Thou seest it irks not me, and I am burning.


s: If thou but lately into this blind world


s: Hast fallen down from that sweet Latian land,


s: Wherefrom I bring the whole of my transgression,


s: Say, if the Romagnuols have peace or war,


s: For I was from the mountains there between


s: Urbino and the yoke whence Tiber bursts."


s: I still was downward bent and listening,


s: When my Conductor touched me on the side,


s: Saying: "Speak thou: this one a Latian is."


s: "O soul, that down below there art concealed,


s: Without war in the bosom of its tyrants;


s: But open war I none have left there now.


s: Ravenna stands as it long years has stood;


s: So that she covers Cervia with her vans.


s: The city which once made the long resistance,


s: Beneath the Green Paws finds itself again;


s: Verrucchio's ancient Mastiff and the new,


s: Where they are wont make wimbles of their teeth.


s: Who changes sides 'twixt summer-time and winter;


s: And that of which the Savio bathes the flank,


s: Even as it lies between the plain and mountain,


s: Now I entreat thee tell us who thou art;


s: Be not more stubborn than the rest have been,


s: So may thy name hold front there in the world."


s: In its own fashion, the sharp point it moved


s: This way and that, and then gave forth such breath:


s: To one who to the world would e'er return,


s: This flame without more flickering would stand still;


s: But for the High Priest, whom may ill betide,


s: And how and wherefore I will have thee hear.


s: While I was still the form of bone and pulp


s: I knew them all, and practised so their craft,


s: That to the ends of earth the sound went forth.


s: I saw myself arrived, when each one ought


s: To lower the sails, and coil away the ropes,


s: That which before had pleased me then displeased me;


s: And penitent and confessing I surrendered,


s: Ah woe is me! and it would have bestead me;


s: For each one of his enemies was Christian,


s: And none of them had been to conquer Acre,


s: Nor the high office, nor the sacred orders,


s: Which used to make those girt with it more meagre;


s: But even as Constantine sought out Sylvester


s: Counsel he asked of me, and I was silent,


s: And then he said: 'Be not thy heart afraid;


s: Henceforth I thee absolve; and thou instruct me


s: Heaven have I power to lock and to unlock,


s: As thou dost know; therefore the keys are two,


s: The which my predecessor held not dear.'


s: There, where my silence was the worst advice;


s: And said I: 'Father, since thou washest me


s: The promise long with the fulfilment short


s: Will make thee triumph in thy lofty seat.'


s: Francis came afterward, when I was dead,


s: Said to him: 'Take him not; do me no wrong;


s: From which time forth I have been at his hair;


s: Nor can one both repent and will at once,


s: Because of the contradiction which consents not.'


s: When he seized on me, saying: 'Peradventure


s: Thou didst not think that I was a logician!'


s: Eight times his tail about his stubborn back,


s: And after he had bitten it in great rage,


s: Said: 'Of the thievish fire a culprit this;'


s: Wherefore, here where thou seest, am I lost,


s: The flame departed uttering lamentations,


s: Writhing and flapping its sharp-pointed horn.


s: Onward we passed, both I and my Conductor,


s: Which the moat covers, where is paid the fee


s: By those who, sowing discord, win their burden.


s: Who ever could, e'en with untrammelled words,


s: Tell of the blood and of the wounds in full


s: Which now I saw, by many times narrating?


s: Each tongue would for a certainty fall short


s: That have small room to comprehend so much.


s: Of Puglia were lamenting for their blood


s: Shed by the Romans and the lingering war


s: That of the rings made such illustrious spoils,


s: By making counterstand to Robert Guiscard,


s: And all the rest, whose bones are gathered still


s: Where without arms the old Alardo conquered,


s: And one his limb transpierced, and one lopped off,


s: Should show, it would be nothing to compare


s: With the disgusting mode of the ninth Bolgia.


s: Rent from the chin to where one breaketh wind.


s: Between his legs were hanging down his entrails;


s: His heart was visible, and the dismal sack


s: He looked at me, and opened with his hands


s: His bosom, saying: "See now how I rend me;


s: Cleft in the face from forelock unto chin;


s: And all the others whom thou here beholdest,


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


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


s: Putting again each one of all this ream,


s: When we have gone around the doleful road;


s: By reason that our wounds are closed again


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


s: That is adjudged upon thine accusations?"


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Through wonderment oblivious of their torture.


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


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


s: So with provisions, that no stress of snow


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


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


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


s: And nose cut off close underneath the brows,


s: Staying to look in wonder with the others,


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


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


s: To Messer Guido and Angiolello likewise,


s: Cast over from their vessel shall they be,


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


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


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


s: Would fain be fasting from the vision of,


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


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


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


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


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


s: This one, being banished, every doubt submerged


s: With tongue asunder in his windpipe slit,


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


s: The stumps uplifting through the murky air,


s: So that the blood made horrible his face,


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


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


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


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


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


s: Without some further proof, even to recount,


s: If it were not that conscience reassures me,


s: Beneath the hauberk of its feeling pure.


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


s: A trunk without a head walk in like manner


s: As walked the others of the mournful herd.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: To bring more closely unto us its words,


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


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


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


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


s: I made the father and the son rebellious;


s: And David did with his accursed goadings.


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


s: Thus is observed in me the counterpoise."


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


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


s: Why is thy sight still riveted down there


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


s: Consider, if to count them thou believest,


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


s: And now the moon is underneath our feet;


s: Henceforth the time allotted us is brief,


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


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


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


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


s: Meanwhile my Guide departed, and behind him


s: I held mine eyes with such attention fixed,


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


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


s: Thy thought from this time forward upon him;


s: Attend elsewhere, and there let him remain;


s: Pointing at thee, and threatening with his finger


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


s: So wholly at that time wast thou impeded


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


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


s: Made him disdainful; whence he went away,


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


s: Upon the crag, which the next valley shows


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


s: When we were now right over the last cloister


s: Could manifest themselves unto our sight,


s: Divers lamentings pierced me through and through,


s: Which with compassion had their arrows barbed,


s: Whereat mine ears I covered with my hands.


s: What pain would be, if from the hospitals


s: Of Valdichiana, 'twixt July and September,


s: All the diseases in one moat were gathered,


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


s: As from putrescent limbs is wont to issue.


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


s: And then more vivid was my power of sight


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


s: Punishes forgers, which she here records.


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


s: All fell, and afterwards the ancient people,


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


s: Than was it to behold through that dark valley


s: The spirits languishing in divers heaps.


s: One of the other lay, and others crawling


s: Shifted themselves along the dismal road.


s: We step by step went onward without speech,


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


s: I saw two sitting leaned against each other,


s: As leans in heating platter against platter,


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


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


s: Of nails upon himself, for the great rage


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


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


s: Or any other fish that has them largest.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: And trembling each one turned himself to me,


s: With others who had heard him by rebound.


s: Wholly to me did the good Master gather,


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


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


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


s: Let not your foul and loathsome punishment


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Within that garden where such seed takes root;


s: And taking out the band, among whom squandered


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


s: And where his wit the Abbagliato proffered!


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


s: Against the Sienese, make sharp thine eye


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


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


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


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


s: As she already more than once had shown,


s: That, seeing his own wife with children twain


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


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


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


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


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


s: And at the time when fortune downward hurled


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


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


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


s: So much the anguish had her mind distorted;


s: But not of Thebes the furies nor the Trojan


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


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


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


s: It made his belly grate the solid bottom.


s: And the Aretine, who trembling had remained,


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


s: And raving goes thus harrying other people."


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: The heavy dropsy, that so disproportions


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


s: That the face corresponds not to the belly,


s: As does the hectic, who because of thirst


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


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


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


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


s: The rivulets, that from the verdant hills


s: Making their channels to be cold and moist,


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


s: Draweth occasion from the place in which


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


s: The currency imprinted with the Baptist,


s: But if I here could see the tristful soul


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


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


s: Shades that are going round about speak truth;


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


s: A hundred years I could advance one inch,


s: Seeking him out among this squalid folk,


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


s: They did induce me into coining florins,


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


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


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


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


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


s: One the false woman is who accused Joseph,


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


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


s: And one of them, who felt himself annoyed


s: At being, peradventure, named so darkly,


s: Smote with the fist upon his hardened paunch.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: He made reply who had the swollen belly,


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


s: "Rueful to thee the thirst be wherewith cracks


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: In listening to them was I wholly fixed,


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


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


s: I turned me round towards him with such shame


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


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


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


s: For to excuse myself I wished, and still


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


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


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


s: Therefore thyself disburden of all sadness,


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


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


s: Where there are people in a like dispute;


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


s: One and the selfsame tongue first wounded me,


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


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


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


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


s: We turned our backs upon the wretched valley,


s: Upon the bank that girds it round about,


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


s: So that my sight went little in advance;


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


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


s: Short while my head turned thitherward I held


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


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


s: Athwart the darkness at too great a distance,


s: It happens that thou errest in thy fancy.


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


s: How much the sense deceives itself by distance;


s: Therefore a little faster spur thee on."


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


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


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


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


s: Little by little doth the sight refigure


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


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


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


s: Montereggione crowns itself with towers,


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


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


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


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


s: Certainly Nature, when she left the making


s: And if of elephants and whales she doth not


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


s: No rampart can the people make against it.


s: His face appeared to me as long and large


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


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


s: Three Frieslanders in vain had vaunted them;


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


s: To which were not befitting sweeter psalms.


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


s: When wrath or other passion touches thee.


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


s: Which keeps it fastened, O bewildered soul,


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


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


s: This one is Nimrod, by whose evil thought


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


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


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


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


s: We found another far more fierce and large.


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


s: With chains, that held him so begirt about


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


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


s: "This proud one wished to make experiment


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


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


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


s: What time the giants terrified the gods;


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


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


s: These eyes of mine might have experience."


s: Whence he replied: "Thou shalt behold Antaeus


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


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


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


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


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


s: There never was an earthquake of such might


s: That it could shake a tower so violently,


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


s: For nothing more was needful than the fear,


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


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


s: When Hannibal turned back with all his hosts,


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


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


s: Among thy brothers, some it seems still think


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


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


s: There where the cold doth lock Cocytus up.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Hands whose great pressure Hercules once felt.


s: Virgilius, when he felt himself embraced,


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


s: Beneath the leaning side, when goes a cloud


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


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


s: But lightly in the abyss, which swallows up


s: Nor thus bowed downward made he there delay,


s: If I had rhymes both rough and stridulous,


s: Down upon which thrust all the other rocks,


s: I would press out the juice of my conception


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


s: Not without fear I bring myself to speak;


s: To sketch the bottom of all the universe,


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


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


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


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


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


s: When we were down within the darksome well,


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


s: And I was scanning still the lofty wall,


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


s: Take heed thou do not trample with thy feet


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


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


s: And underfoot a lake, that from the frost


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


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


s: Nor there beneath the frigid sky the Don,


s: As there was here; so that if Tambernich


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


s: And as to croak the frog doth place himself


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


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


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


s: Were the disconsolate shades within the ice,


s: Setting their teeth unto the note of storks.


s: Each one his countenance held downward bent;


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


s: When round about me somewhat I had looked,


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


s: The hair upon their heads together mingled.


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Clamp never bound together wood with wood


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


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


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


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


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


s: Belonged to them and to their father Albert.


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


s: Not he in whom were broken breast and shadow


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


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


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


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


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


s: And evermore will come, at frozen ponds.


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


s: Where everything of weight unites together,


s: And I was shivering in the eternal shade,


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


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


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


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


s: Unless thou comest to increase the vengeance


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: He weepeth here the silver of the French;


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


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


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


s: Of whom the gorget Florence slit asunder;


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


s: And even as bread through hunger is devoured,


s: The uppermost on the other set his teeth,


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


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


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


s: Thy hatred against him whom thou art eating,


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


s: That if thou rightfully of him complain,


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


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


s: His mouth uplifted from his grim repast,


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


s: The desperate grief, which wrings my heart already


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


s: Speaking and weeping shalt thou see together.


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


s: Thou hast come down here; but a Florentine


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


s: And this one was Ruggieri the Archbishop;


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


s: That, by effect of his malicious thoughts,


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


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


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


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


s: Had shown me through its opening many moons


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


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


s: Hunting the wolf and whelps upon the mountain


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


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


s: After brief course seemed unto me forespent


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


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


s: Moaning amid their sleep I heard my sons


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


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


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


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


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


s: And through his dream was each one apprehensive;


s: Of the horrible tower; whereat without a word


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


s: They wept; and darling little Anselm mine


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Threw himself down outstretched before my feet,


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: The wretched skull resumed he with his teeth,


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


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


s: Since slow to punish thee thy neighbours are,


s: And make a hedge across the mouth of Arno


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


s: Guiltless of any crime, thou modern Thebes!


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


s: We passed still farther onward, where the ice


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


s: Weeping itself there does not let them weep,


s: And grief that finds a barrier in the eyes


s: Turns itself inward to increase the anguish;


s: Because the earliest tears a cluster form,


s: Fill all the cup beneath the eyebrow full.


s: And notwithstanding that, as in a callus,


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


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


s: Is not below here every vapour quenched?"


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


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


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


s: And one of the wretches of the frozen crust


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


s: May vent the sorrow which impregns my heart


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


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


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


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


s: That oftentimes the soul descendeth here


s: And, that thou mayest more willingly remove


s: From off my countenance these glassy tears,


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


s: Until his time has wholly been revolved.


s: And still perchance above appears the body


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: There where is boiling the tenacious pitch,


s: Who made together with him the betrayal.


s: But hitherward stretch out thy hand forthwith,


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


s: Wherefore are ye not scattered from the world?


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


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


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


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


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


s: Methought that such a building then I saw;


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


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


s: There where the shades were wholly covered up,


s: And glimmered through like unto straws in glass.


s: Some prone are lying, others stand erect,


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


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


s: When in advance so far we had proceeded,


s: The creature who once had the beauteous semblance,


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


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


s: Where thou with fortitude must arm thyself."


s: Because all language would be insufficient.


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


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


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


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


s: Consider now how great must be that whole,


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


s: And lifted up his brow against his Maker,


s: Well may proceed from him all tribulation.


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


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


s: Above the middle part of either shoulder,


s: And they were joined together at the crest;


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


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


s: Underneath each came forth two mighty wings,


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


s: So that three winds proceeded forth therefrom.


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


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


s: At every mouth he with his teeth was crunching


s: So that he three of them tormented thus.


s: To him in front the biting was as naught


s: Unto the clawing, for sometimes the spine


s: Utterly stripped of all the skin remained.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: And when the wings were opened wide apart,


s: He laid fast hold upon the shaggy sides;


s: From fell to fell descended downward then


s: Between the thick hair and the frozen crust.


s: When we were come to where the thigh revolves


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


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


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


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


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


s: The Master said, panting as one fatigued,


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


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


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


s: I lifted up mine eyes and thought to see


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


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


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


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


s: There where we were, but dungeon natural,


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


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


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


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


s: Thou art beyond the centre, where I grasped


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


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


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


s: To which things heavy draw from every side,


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


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


s: Thou hast thy feet upon the little sphere


s: Which makes the other face of the Judecca.


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


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


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


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


s: And came to our hemisphere; and peradventure


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


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


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


s: Of a small rivulet, that there descendeth


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


s: With course that winds about and slightly falls.


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


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


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


s: Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars.


s: who postponed Repentance till the last Hour.  Belacqua.


s: Prophecy of the Abduction of Pope Boniface VIII and


s: upon the Stairway, and his Dream of Leah and Rachel.


s: translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow


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


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


s: That leaves behind itself a sea so cruel;


s: Wherein the human spirit doth purge itself,


s: And to ascend to heaven becometh worthy.


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


s: That was upgathered in the cloudless aspect


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


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


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


s: The beauteous planet, that to love incites,


s: Veiling the Fishes that were in her escort.


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


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


s: Rejoicing in their flamelets seemed the heaven.


s: Because thou art deprived of seeing these!


s: When from regarding them I had withdrawn,


s: There where the Wain had disappeared already,


s: Worthy of so much reverence in his look,


s: A long beard and with white hair intermingled


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


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


s: Did so adorn his countenance with light,


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


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


s: Have fled away from the eternal prison?"


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


s: In issuing forth out of the night profound,


s: That ever black makes the infernal valley?


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: A Lady from Heaven descended, at whose prayers


s: But since it is thy will more be unfolded


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


s: This one has never his last evening seen,


s: That very little time was there to turn.


s: Than this to which I have myself betaken.


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


s: Who purge themselves beneath thy guardianship.


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


s: Virtue descendeth from on high that aids me


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


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


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


s: Was death in Utica, where thou didst leave


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


s: By us the eternal edicts are not broken;


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


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


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


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


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


s: Permit us through thy sevenfold realm to go;


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


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


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


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


s: Now that she dwells beyond the evil river,


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: So that thou cleanse away all stain therefrom,


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


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


s: No other plant that putteth forth the leaf,


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


s: Because it yieldeth not unto the shocks.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Both of his hands upon the grass outspread


s: There did he make in me uncovered wholly


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


s: There he begirt me as the other pleased;


s: The humble plant, such it sprang up again


s: Was issuing forth from Ganges with the Scales


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


s: So that the white and the vermilion cheeks


s: By too great age were changing into orange.


s: Like people who are thinking of their road,


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


s: Through the gross vapours Mars grows fiery red


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


s: A light along the sea so swiftly coming,


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


s: From which when I a little had withdrawn


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


s: Again I saw it brighter grown and larger.


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


s: Little by little there came forth another.


s: While the first whiteness into wings unfolded;


s: But when he clearly recognised the pilot,


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


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


s: Henceforward shalt thou see such officers!


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


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


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


s: Fanning the air with the eternal pinions,


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


s: Then as still nearer and more near us came


s: The Bird Divine, more radiant he appeared,


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


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


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


s: So that the water swallowed naught thereof.


s: Upon the stern stood the Celestial Pilot;


s: And more than a hundred spirits sat within.


s: With whatso in that psalm is after written.


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


s: Whereat all cast themselves upon the shore,


s: The throng which still remained there unfamiliar


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


s: On every side was darting forth the day.


s: The sun, who had with his resplendent shafts


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


s: When the new people lifted up their faces


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


s: Perchance that we have knowledge of this place,


s: But we are strangers even as yourselves.


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


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


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


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


s: The people throng to listen to the news,


s: And no one shows himself afraid of crowding,


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


s: One from among them saw I coming forward,


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


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


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


s: Whereat the shadow smiled and backward drew;


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Has many times denied to me this passage,


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


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


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


s: Where salt the waters of the Tiber grow,


s: Unto that outlet now his wing is pointed,


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


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


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


s: Thee may it please to comfort therewithal


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


s: Hitherward coming is so much distressed."


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


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


s: Which with him were, appeared as satisfied


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


s: We all of us were moveless and attentive


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


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


s: What negligence, what standing still is this?


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


s: Even as when, collecting grain or tares,


s: The doves, together at their pasture met,


s: Quiet, nor showing their accustomed pride,


s: If aught appear of which they are afraid,


s: Because they are assailed by greater care;


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


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


s: Nor was our own departure less in haste.


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


s: Turned to the mountain whither reason spurs us,


s: I pressed me close unto my faithful comrade,


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


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


s: He seemed to me within himself remorseful;


s: O noble conscience, and without a stain,


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


s: My mind, that hitherto had been restrained,


s: Let loose its faculties as if delighted,


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


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


s: Was broken in front of me into the figure


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


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


s: Only in front of me the ground obscured.


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


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


s: 'Tis evening there already where is buried


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


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


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


s: Bodies like this that Power provides, which wills


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


s: Which the one Substance in three Persons follows!


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


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


s: And ye have seen desiring without fruit,


s: Those whose desire would have been quieted,


s: Which evermore is given them for a grief.


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


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


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


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


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


s: "Who knoweth now upon which hand the hill


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


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


s: And while he held his eyes upon the ground


s: On the left hand appeared to me a throng


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: When they all crowded unto the hard masses


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


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


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


s: Virgilius made beginning, "by that peace


s: Tell us upon what side the mountain slopes,


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


s: As sheep come issuing forth from out the fold


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


s: Timidly, holding down their eyes and nostrils,


s: And what the foremost does the others do,


s: Huddling themselves against her, if she stop,


s: Simple and quiet and the wherefore know not;


s: I saw the leader of that fortunate flock,


s: As soon as those in the advance saw broken


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


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


s: They stopped, and backward drew themselves somewhat;


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


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


s: Whereby the sunshine on the ground is cleft.


s: That not without a power which comes from Heaven


s: Doth he endeavour to surmount this wall."


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


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


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


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


s: Thus going turn thine eyes, consider well


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Therefore, when thou returnest, I beseech thee


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


s: By these two mortal stabs, I gave myself


s: Weeping to Him, who willingly doth pardon.


s: But Infinite Goodness hath such ample arms,


s: The bones of my dead body still would be


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


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


s: Beyond the realm, almost beside the Verde,


s: Where he transported them with tapers quenched.


s: Of Holy Church, though penitent at last,


s: Thirty times told the time that he has been


s: Shorter by means of righteous prayers become.


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


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


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


s: Wholly to that the soul collects itself,


s: It seemeth that no other power it heeds;


s: And this against that error is which thinks


s: And hence, whenever aught is heard or seen


s: Which keeps the soul intently bent upon it,


s: Because one faculty is that which listens,


s: And other that which the soul keeps entire;


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


s: In hearing and in gazing at that spirit;


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


s: We came to where those souls with one accord


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


s: The villager, what time the grape imbrowns,


s: Than was the passage-way through which ascended


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


s: With the swift pinions and the plumes I say


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


s: We mounted upward through the rifted rock,


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


s: And feet and hands the ground beneath required.


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


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


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


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


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


s: The summit was so high it vanquished sight,


s: Than line from middle quadrant to the centre.


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


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


s: Pointing me to a terrace somewhat higher,


s: Which on that side encircles all the hill.


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


s: Strained every nerve, behind him scrambling up,


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


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


s: Then to the sun uplifted them, and wondered


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


s: The Poet well perceived that I was wholly


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


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


s: That up and down conducteth with its light,


s: Thou wouldst behold the zodiac's jagged wheel


s: Revolving still more near unto the Bears,


s: Unless it swerved aside from its old track.


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


s: Together with this mount on earth to stand,


s: So that they both one sole horizon have,


s: And hemispheres diverse; whereby the road


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


s: If thine intelligence right clearly heed."


s: There where my wit appeared incompetent,


s: Which in some art is the Equator called,


s: And aye remains between the Sun and Winter,


s: For reason which thou sayest, departeth hence


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: At the beginning down below 'tis tiresome,


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


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


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


s: There to repose thy panting breath expect;


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


s: And as he finished uttering these words,


s: A voice close by us sounded: "Peradventure


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


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


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


s: Which neither I nor he before had noticed.


s: Thither we drew; and there were persons there


s: Who in the shadow stood behind the rock,


s: As one through indolence is wont to stand.


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


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


s: Holding his face low down between them bowed.


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


s: Then even Sloth herself his sister were."


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


s: Just lifting up his eyes above his thigh,


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


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


s: That still a little did my breathing quicken,


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


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


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


s: His sluggish attitude and his curt words


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


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


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


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


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


s: First heaven must needs so long revolve me round


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


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


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


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


s: Meanwhile the Poet was before me mounting,


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


s: I had already from those shades departed,


s: And followed in the footsteps of my Guide,


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Stand like a steadfast tower, that never wags


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


s: For evermore the man in whom is springing


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


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


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


s: I said it somewhat with that colour tinged


s: Which makes a man of pardon sometimes worthy.


s: Meanwhile along the mountain-side across


s: For passage of the sunshine through my body,


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


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


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


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


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


s: Vapours enkindled saw I ne'er so swiftly


s: At early nightfall cleave the air serene,


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


s: But upward they returned in briefer time,


s: And, on arriving, with the others wheeled


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Long since we all were slain by violence,


s: Then did a light from heaven admonish us,


s: So that, both penitent and pardoning, forth


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Thou be so courteous to me of thy prayers


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


s: That I may purge away my grave offences.


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


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


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


s: In hatred far beyond what justice willed.


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


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


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


s: Fulfilled that draws thee to the lofty mountain,


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


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


s: That never has thy sepulture been known?"


s: There where the name thereof becometh void


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


s: Fleeing on foot, and bloodying the plain;


s: I fell, and tenantless my flesh remained.


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


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


s: Thou bearest away the eternal part of him,


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


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


s: Well knowest thou how in the air is gathered


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


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


s: To intellect, and moved the mist and wind


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


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


s: From Pratomagno to the great yoke covered


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


s: So that the pregnant air to water changed;


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


s: And as it mingled with the mighty torrents,


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


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


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


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


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


s: And rested thee from thy long journeying,"


s: After the second followed the third spirit,


s: He who has lost remains behind despondent,


s: The throws repeating, and in sadness learns;


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


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


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


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


s: And from the throng he thus defends himself.


s: Even such was I in that dense multitude,


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


s: And, promising, I freed myself therefrom.


s: There was the Aretine, who from the arms


s: And he who fleeing from pursuit was drowned.


s: There was imploring with his hands outstretched


s: Who made the good Marzucco seem so strong.


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


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


s: While still on earth the Lady of Brabant,


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


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


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


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


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


s: Might then their expectation bootless be?


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


s: And not fallacious is the hope of these,


s: If with sane intellect 'tis well regarded;


s: For top of judgment doth not vail itself,


s: Because the fire of love fulfils at once


s: What he must satisfy who here installs him.


s: And there, where I affirmed that proposition,


s: Because the prayer from God was separate.


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


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


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


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


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


s: But otherwise the fact is than thou thinkest.


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


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


s: So that thou dost not interrupt his rays.


s: But yonder there behold! a soul that stationed


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


s: How lofty and disdainful thou didst bear thee,


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


s: Still near to it Virgilius drew, entreating


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


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


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


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


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


s: A ship without a pilot in great tempest!


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Withouten this the shame would be the less.


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


s: If well thou hearest what God teacheth thee,


s: Behold how fell this wild beast has become,


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


s: Her that has grown recalcitrant and savage,


s: And oughtest to bestride her saddle-bow,


s: May a just judgment from the stars down fall


s: That thy successor may have fear thereof;


s: Because thy father and thyself have suffered,


s: By greed of those transalpine lands distrained,


s: Come and behold Montecchi and Cappelletti,


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


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


s: And thou shalt see how safe is Santafiore!


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


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


s: Come and behold how loving are the people;


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


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


s: Each peasant churl who plays the partisan!


s: My Florence! well mayst thou contented be


s: With this digression, which concerns thee not,


s: Thanks to thy people who such forethought take!


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


s: That unadvised they come not to the bow,


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


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


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


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


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


s: The ancient laws, and were so civilized,


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


s: Reaches not what thou in October spinnest.


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


s: Hast thou remodelled, and renewed thy members?


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


s: Thou shalt behold thyself like a sick woman,


s: But by her tossing wardeth off her pain.


s: Had three and four times been reiterated,


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


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


s: Something whereat he marvels, who believes


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


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


s: And, where inferiors embrace, embraced him.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: And which too late by me was recognized.


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


s: But darkness only, where the lamentations


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


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


s: There dwell I among those who the three saintly


s: Virtues did not put on, and without vice


s: The others knew and followed all of them.


s: But if thou know and can, some indication


s: Where Purgatory has its right beginning."


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: And on the ground the good Sordello drew


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


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


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


s: To going up, save the nocturnal darkness;


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


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


s: While the horizon holds the day imprisoned."


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


s: Little had we withdrawn us from that place,


s: When I perceived the mount was hollowed out


s: In fashion as the valleys here are hollowed.


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


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


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


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


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


s: Where dies the border more than half away.


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


s: By herbage and by flowers within that hollow


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


s: As by its greater vanquished is the less.


s: Nor in that place had nature painted only,


s: But of the sweetness of a thousand odours


s: Made there a mingled fragrance and unknown.


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


s: There seated, singing, spirits I beheld,


s: Which were not visible outside the valley.


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


s: Began the Mantuan who had led us thither,


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


s: Better from off this ledge the acts and faces


s: Than in the plain below received among them.


s: He who sits highest, and the semblance bears


s: Of having what he should have done neglected,


s: And to the others' song moves not his lips,


s: Rudolph the Emperor was, who had the power


s: To heal the wounds that Italy have slain,


s: So that through others slowly she revives.


s: The other, who in look doth comfort him,


s: Governed the region where the water springs,


s: The Moldau bears the Elbe, and Elbe the sea.


s: His name was Ottocar; and in swaddling-clothes


s: And the small-nosed, who close in council seems


s: Look there, how he is beating at his breast!


s: Father and father-in-law of France's Pest


s: Are they, and know his vicious life and lewd,


s: And hence proceeds the grief that so doth pierce them.


s: He who appears so stalwart, and chimes in,


s: Singing, with that one of the manly nose,


s: The stripling who in rear of him is sitting,


s: Well had the valour passed from vase to vase,


s: Which cannot of the other heirs be said.


s: Frederick and Jacomo possess the realms,


s: Not oftentimes upriseth through the branches


s: Who gives it, so that we may ask of Him.


s: Eke to the large-nosed reach my words, no less


s: Than to the other, Pier, who with him sings;


s: Whence Provence and Apulia grieve already


s: He who the lowest on the ground among them


s: Sits looking upward, is the Marquis William,


s: 'Twas now the hour that turneth back desire


s: In those who sail the sea, and melts the heart,


s: The day they've said to their sweet friends farewell,


s: And the new pilgrim penetrates with love,


s: My hearing, and to watch one of the souls


s: Uprisen, that begged attention with its hand.


s: It joined and lifted upward both its palms,


s: As if it said to God, "Naught else I care for."


s: Forth from its mouth, and with such dulcet notes,


s: It made me issue forth from my own mind.


s: And then the others, sweetly and devoutly,


s: Accompanied it through all the hymn entire,


s: Having their eyes on the supernal wheels.


s: Here, Reader, fix thine eyes well on the truth,


s: And from on high come forth and down descend,


s: I saw two Angels with two flaming swords,


s: Green as the little leaflets just now born


s: Their garments were, which, by their verdant pinions


s: Beaten and blown abroad, they trailed behind.


s: One just above us came to take his station,


s: So that the people were contained between them.


s: Clearly in them discerned I the blond head;


s: But in their faces was the eye bewildered,


s: "From Mary's bosom both of them have come,"


s: Sordello said, "as guardians of the valley


s: Against the serpent, that will come anon."


s: Turned round about, and closely drew myself,


s: Utterly frozen, to the faithful shoulders.


s: And once again Sordello: "Now descend we


s: 'Mid the grand shades, and we will speak to them;


s: Right pleasant will it be for them to see you."


s: Only three steps I think that I descended,


s: And was below, and saw one who was looking


s: Only at me, as if he fain would know me.


s: But not so that between his eyes and mine


s: It did not show what it before locked up.


s: Tow'rds me he moved, and I tow'rds him did move;


s: When I beheld thee not among the damned!


s: No greeting fair was left unsaid between us;


s: Then asked he: "How long is it since thou camest


s: O'er the far waters to the mountain's foot?"


s: "Oh!" said I to him, "through the dismal places


s: I came this morn; and am in the first life,


s: He and Sordello both shrank back from me,


s: Like people who are suddenly bewildered.


s: To one who sat there, crying, "Up, Currado!


s: Come and behold what God in grace has willed!"


s: Then, turned to me: "By that especial grace


s: His own first wherefore, that it has no ford,


s: When thou shalt be beyond the waters wide,


s: I do not think her mother loves me more,


s: Since she has laid aside her wimple white,


s: Which she, unhappy, needs must wish again.


s: How long in woman lasts the fire of love,


s: If eye or touch do not relight it often.


s: So fair a hatchment will not make for her


s: A-field, as would have made Gallura's Cock."


s: In this wise spake he, with the stamp impressed


s: My greedy eyes still wandered up to heaven,


s: Still to that point where slowest are the stars,


s: Even as a wheel the nearest to its axle.


s: And my Conductor: "Son, what dost thou gaze at


s: Up there?"  And I to him: "At those three torches


s: With which this hither pole is all on fire."


s: And he to me: "The four resplendent stars


s: Thou sawest this morning are down yonder low,


s: And these have mounted up to where those were."


s: Drew him, and said, "Lo there our Adversary!"


s: And pointed with his finger to look thither.


s: Upon the side on which the little valley


s: No barrier hath, a serpent was; perchance


s: The same which gave to Eve the bitter food.


s: 'Twixt grass and flowers came on the evil streak,


s: Turning at times its head about, and licking


s: Its back like to a beast that smoothes itself.


s: But well I saw that they were both in motion.


s: Hearing the air cleft by their verdant wings,


s: The serpent fled, and round the Angels wheeled,


s: The shade that to the Judge had near approached


s: When he had called, throughout that whole assault


s: "So may the light that leadeth thee on high


s: Find in thine own free-will as much of wax


s: Thou knowest, tell it me, who once was great there.


s: I'm not the elder, but from him descended;


s: To mine I bore the love which here refineth."


s: "O," said I unto him, "through your domains


s: I never passed, but where is there a dwelling


s: Throughout all Europe, where they are not known?


s: That fame, which doeth honour to your house,


s: Proclaims its Signors and proclaims its land,


s: So that he knows of them who ne'er was there.


s: And, as I hope for heaven, I swear to you


s: The glory of the purse and of the sword.


s: That though a guilty head misguide the world,


s: Sole it goes right, and scorns the evil way."


s: And he: "Now go; for the sun shall not lie


s: Seven times upon the pillow which the Ram


s: With all his four feet covers and bestrides,


s: Shall in the middle of thy head be nailed


s: With greater nails than of another's speech,


s: Unless the course of justice standeth still."


s: Forth from the arms of her sweet paramour;


s: With gems her forehead all relucent was,


s: Which with its tail doth smite amain the nations,


s: And of the steps, with which she mounts, the Night


s: Had taken two in that place where we were,


s: And now the third was bending down its wings;


s: When I, who something had of Adam in me,


s: Vanquished by sleep, upon the grass reclined,


s: Just at the hour when her sad lay begins


s: The little swallow, near unto the morning,


s: More from the flesh, and less by thought imprisoned,


s: In dreams it seemed to me I saw suspended


s: An eagle in the sky, with plumes of gold,


s: With wings wide open, and intent to stoop,


s: And this, it seemed to me, was where had been


s: When to the high consistory he was rapt.


s: I thought within myself, perchance he strikes


s: From habit only here, and from elsewhere


s: Then wheeling somewhat more, it seemed to me,


s: And snatched me upward even to the fire.


s: Therein it seemed that he and I were burning,


s: And knowing not the place in which he was,


s: What time from Chiron stealthily his mother


s: Carried him sleeping in her arms to Scyros,


s: Wherefrom the Greeks withdrew him afterwards,


s: As doth the man who freezes with affright.


s: And now the sun was more than two hours high,


s: And turned towards the sea-shore was my face.


s: Do not restrain, but put forth all thy strength.


s: Thou hast at length arrived at Purgatory;


s: See there the cliff that closes it around;


s: See there the entrance, where it seems disjoined.


s: Whilom at dawn, which doth precede the day,


s: Upon the flowers that deck the land below,


s: There came a Lady and said: 'I am Lucia;


s: So will I make his journey easier for him.'


s: Remained; she took thee, and, as day grew bright,


s: Upward she came, and I upon her footsteps.


s: She laid thee here; and first her beauteous eyes


s: In guise of one whose doubts are reassured,


s: And who to confidence his fear doth change,


s: After the truth has been discovered to him,


s: So did I change; and when without disquiet


s: He moved, and I behind him, tow'rd the height.


s: My theme, and therefore if with greater art


s: Nearer approached we, and were in such place,


s: That there, where first appeared to me a rift


s: I saw a portal, and three stairs beneath,


s: And a gate-keeper, who yet spake no word.


s: And as I opened more and more mine eyes,


s: Which so reflected back the sunbeams tow'rds us,


s: "Tell it from where you are, what is't you wish?"


s: Began he to exclaim; "where is the escort?


s: Take heed your coming hither harm you not!"


s: "A Lady of Heaven, with these things conversant,"


s: Said to us, 'Thither go; there is the portal.'"


s: "And may she speed your footsteps in all good,"


s: "Come forward then unto these stairs of ours."


s: Thither did we approach; and the first stair


s: Was marble white, so polished and so smooth,


s: The second, tinct of deeper hue than perse,


s: Cracked all asunder lengthwise and across.


s: The third, that uppermost rests massively,


s: As blood that from a vein is spirting forth.


s: The Angel of God, upon the threshold seated,


s: Along the three stairs upward with good will


s: For mercy's sake besought that he would open,


s: But first upon my breast three times I smote.


s: With the sword's point, and, "Take heed that thou wash


s: These wounds, when thou shalt be within," he said.


s: Of the same colour were with his attire,


s: And from beneath it he drew forth two keys.


s: One was of gold, and the other was of silver;


s: First with the white, and after with the yellow,


s: Plied he the door, so that I was content.


s: So that it turn not rightly in the lock,"


s: He said to us, "this entrance doth not open.


s: More precious one is, but the other needs


s: For it is that which doth the knot unloose.


s: From Peter I have them; and he bade me err


s: If people but fall down before my feet."


s: Then pushed the portals of the sacred door,


s: Exclaiming: "Enter; but I give you warning


s: That forth returns whoever looks behind."


s: And when upon their hinges were turned round


s: Which are of metal, massive and sonorous,


s: Roared not so loud, nor so discordant seemed


s: Tarpeia, when was ta'en from it the good


s: At the first thunder-peal I turned attentive,


s: That which I heard, as we are wont to catch,


s: When people singing with the organ stand;


s: For now we hear, and now hear not, the words.


s: When we had crossed the threshold of the door


s: Which the perverted love of souls disuses,


s: Because it makes the crooked way seem straight,


s: And if I had turned back mine eyes upon it,


s: What for my failing had been fit excuse?


s: We mounted upward through a rifted rock,


s: Now here, now there, to the receding side."


s: And this our footsteps so infrequent made,


s: That sooner had the moon's decreasing disk


s: Than we were forth from out that needle's eye;


s: There where the mountain backward piles itself,


s: More desolate than roads across the deserts.


s: From where its margin borders on the void,


s: To foot of the high bank that ever rises,


s: A human body three times told would measure;


s: And far as eye of mine could wing its flight,


s: Now on the left, and on the right flank now,


s: Thereon our feet had not been moved as yet,


s: When I perceived the embankment round about,


s: Which all right of ascent had interdicted,


s: With sculptures, that not only Polycletus,


s: But Nature's self, had there been put to shame.


s: The Angel, who came down to earth with tidings


s: Of peace, that had been wept for many a year,


s: And opened Heaven from its long interdict,


s: There sculptured in a gracious attitude,


s: He did not seem an image that is silent.


s: One would have sworn that he was saying, "Ave;"


s: Who turned the key to ope the exalted love,


s: And in her mien this language had impressed,


s: "Keep not thy mind upon one place alone,"


s: The gentle Master said, who had me standing


s: Upon that side where people have their hearts;


s: Wherefore I passed Virgilius and drew near,


s: So that before mine eyes it might be set.


s: There sculptured in the self-same marble were


s: The cart and oxen, drawing the holy ark,


s: Wherefore one dreads an office not appointed.


s: People appeared in front, and all of them


s: Made one say "No," the other, "Yes, they sing."


s: Likewise unto the smoke of the frankincense,