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diff --git a/1005-h/1005-h.htm b/1005-h/1005-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..47f3f07 --- /dev/null +++ b/1005-h/1005-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6377 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Divine Comedy, Hell, by Dante Alighieri</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.footnote {font-size: 90%; + text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> + +</head> + +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1005 ***</div> + +<h1>HELL</h1> + +<h5>OR THE INFERNO FROM THE DIVINE COMEDY</h5> + +<h5>BY</h5> + +<h2 class="no-break">Dante Alighieri</h2> + +<h3>Translated by<br />THE REV. H. F. CARY, M.A.</h3> + +<hr /> + +<h2>Contents</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.I">CANTO I.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.II">CANTO II.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.III">CANTO III.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.IV">CANTO IV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.V">CANTO V.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.VI">CANTO VI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.VII">CANTO VII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.VIII">CANTO VIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.IX">CANTO IX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.X">CANTO X.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XI">CANTO XI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XII">CANTO XII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XIII">CANTO XIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XIV">CANTO XIV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XV">CANTO XV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XVI">CANTO XVI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XVII">CANTO XVII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XVIII">CANTO XVIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XIX">CANTO XIX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XX">CANTO XX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXI">CANTO XXI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXII">CANTO XXII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXIII">CANTO XXIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXIV">CANTO XXIV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXV">CANTO XXV.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXVI">CANTO XXVI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXVII">CANTO XXVII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXVIII">CANTO XXVIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXIX">CANTO XXIX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXX">CANTO XXX.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXXI">CANTO XXXI.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXXII">CANTO XXXII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXXIII">CANTO XXXIII.</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#cantoI.XXXIV">CANTO XXXIV.</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>HELL</h2> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.I"></a>CANTO I</h2> + +<p> +In the midway of this our mortal life,<br/> +I found me in a gloomy wood, astray<br/> +Gone from the path direct: and e’en to tell<br/> +It were no easy task, how savage wild<br/> +That forest, how robust and rough its growth,<br/> +Which to remember only, my dismay<br/> +Renews, in bitterness not far from death.<br/> +Yet to discourse of what there good befell,<br/> +All else will I relate discover’d there.<br/> +How first I enter’d it I scarce can say,<br/> +Such sleepy dullness in that instant weigh’d<br/> +My senses down, when the true path I left,<br/> +But when a mountain’s foot I reach’d, where clos’d<br/> +The valley, that had pierc’d my heart with dread,<br/> +I look’d aloft, and saw his shoulders broad<br/> +Already vested with that planet’s beam,<br/> +Who leads all wanderers safe through every way. +</p> + +<p> +Then was a little respite to the fear,<br/> +That in my heart’s recesses deep had lain,<br/> +All of that night, so pitifully pass’d:<br/> +And as a man, with difficult short breath,<br/> +Forespent with toiling, ’scap’d from sea to shore,<br/> +Turns to the perilous wide waste, and stands<br/> +At gaze; e’en so my spirit, that yet fail’d<br/> +Struggling with terror, turn’d to view the straits,<br/> +That none hath pass’d and liv’d. My weary frame<br/> +After short pause recomforted, again<br/> +I journey’d on over that lonely steep, +</p> + +<p> +The hinder foot still firmer. Scarce the ascent<br/> +Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light,<br/> +And cover’d with a speckled skin, appear’d,<br/> +Nor, when it saw me, vanish’d, rather strove<br/> +To check my onward going; that ofttimes<br/> +With purpose to retrace my steps I turn’d. +</p> + +<p> +The hour was morning’s prime, and on his way<br/> +Aloft the sun ascended with those stars,<br/> +That with him rose, when Love divine first mov’d<br/> +Those its fair works: so that with joyous hope<br/> +All things conspir’d to fill me, the gay skin<br/> +Of that swift animal, the matin dawn<br/> +And the sweet season. Soon that joy was chas’d,<br/> +And by new dread succeeded, when in view<br/> +A lion came, ’gainst me, as it appear’d, +</p> + +<p> +With his head held aloft and hunger-mad,<br/> +That e’en the air was fear-struck. A she-wolf<br/> +Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem’d<br/> +Full of all wants, and many a land hath made<br/> +Disconsolate ere now. She with such fear<br/> +O’erwhelmed me, at the sight of her appall’d,<br/> +That of the height all hope I lost. As one,<br/> +Who with his gain elated, sees the time<br/> +When all unwares is gone, he inwardly<br/> +Mourns with heart-griping anguish; such was I,<br/> +Haunted by that fell beast, never at peace,<br/> +Who coming o’er against me, by degrees<br/> +Impell’d me where the sun in silence rests. +</p> + +<p> +While to the lower space with backward step<br/> +I fell, my ken discern’d the form one of one,<br/> +Whose voice seem’d faint through long disuse of speech.<br/> +When him in that great desert I espied,<br/> +“Have mercy on me!” cried I out aloud,<br/> +“Spirit! or living man! what e’er thou be!” +</p> + +<p> +He answer’d: “Now not man, man once I was,<br/> +And born of Lombard parents, Mantuana both<br/> +By country, when the power of Julius yet<br/> +Was scarcely firm. At Rome my life was past<br/> +Beneath the mild Augustus, in the time<br/> +Of fabled deities and false. A bard<br/> +Was I, and made Anchises’ upright son<br/> +The subject of my song, who came from Troy,<br/> +When the flames prey’d on Ilium’s haughty towers.<br/> +But thou, say wherefore to such perils past<br/> +Return’st thou? wherefore not this pleasant mount<br/> +Ascendest, cause and source of all delight?”<br/> +“And art thou then that Virgil, that well-spring,<br/> +From which such copious floods of eloquence<br/> +Have issued?” I with front abash’d replied.<br/> +“Glory and light of all the tuneful train!<br/> +May it avail me that I long with zeal<br/> +Have sought thy volume, and with love immense<br/> +Have conn’d it o’er. My master thou and guide!<br/> +Thou he from whom alone I have deriv’d<br/> +That style, which for its beauty into fame<br/> +Exalts me. See the beast, from whom I fled.<br/> +O save me from her, thou illustrious sage!” +</p> + +<p> +“For every vein and pulse throughout my frame<br/> +She hath made tremble.” He, soon as he saw<br/> +That I was weeping, answer’d, “Thou must needs<br/> +Another way pursue, if thou wouldst ’scape<br/> +From out that savage wilderness. This beast,<br/> +At whom thou criest, her way will suffer none<br/> +To pass, and no less hindrance makes than death:<br/> +So bad and so accursed in her kind,<br/> +That never sated is her ravenous will,<br/> +Still after food more craving than before.<br/> +To many an animal in wedlock vile<br/> +She fastens, and shall yet to many more,<br/> +Until that greyhound come, who shall destroy<br/> +Her with sharp pain. He will not life support<br/> +By earth nor its base metals, but by love,<br/> +Wisdom, and virtue, and his land shall be<br/> +The land ’twixt either Feltro. In his might<br/> +Shall safety to Italia’s plains arise,<br/> +For whose fair realm, Camilla, virgin pure,<br/> +Nisus, Euryalus, and Turnus fell.<br/> +He with incessant chase through every town<br/> +Shall worry, until he to hell at length<br/> +Restore her, thence by envy first let loose.<br/> +I for thy profit pond’ring now devise,<br/> +That thou mayst follow me, and I thy guide<br/> +Will lead thee hence through an eternal space,<br/> +Where thou shalt hear despairing shrieks, and see<br/> +Spirits of old tormented, who invoke<br/> +A second death; and those next view, who dwell<br/> +Content in fire, for that they hope to come,<br/> +Whene’er the time may be, among the blest,<br/> +Into whose regions if thou then desire<br/> +T’ ascend, a spirit worthier then I<br/> +Must lead thee, in whose charge, when I depart,<br/> +Thou shalt be left: for that Almighty King,<br/> +Who reigns above, a rebel to his law,<br/> +Adjudges me, and therefore hath decreed,<br/> +That to his city none through me should come.<br/> +He in all parts hath sway; there rules, there holds<br/> +His citadel and throne. O happy those,<br/> +Whom there he chooses!” I to him in few:<br/> +“Bard! by that God, whom thou didst not adore,<br/> +I do beseech thee (that this ill and worse<br/> +I may escape) to lead me, where thou saidst,<br/> +That I Saint Peter’s gate may view, and those<br/> +Who as thou tell’st, are in such dismal plight.” +</p> + +<p> +Onward he mov’d, I close his steps pursu’d. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.II"></a>CANTO II</h2> + +<p> +Now was the day departing, and the air,<br/> +Imbrown’d with shadows, from their toils releas’d<br/> +All animals on earth; and I alone<br/> +Prepar’d myself the conflict to sustain,<br/> +Both of sad pity, and that perilous road,<br/> +Which my unerring memory shall retrace. +</p> + +<p> +O Muses! O high genius! now vouchsafe<br/> +Your aid! O mind! that all I saw hast kept<br/> +Safe in a written record, here thy worth<br/> +And eminent endowments come to proof. +</p> + +<p> +I thus began: “Bard! thou who art my guide,<br/> +Consider well, if virtue be in me<br/> +Sufficient, ere to this high enterprise<br/> +Thou trust me. Thou hast told that Silvius’ sire,<br/> +Yet cloth’d in corruptible flesh, among<br/> +Th’ immortal tribes had entrance, and was there<br/> +Sensible present. Yet if heaven’s great Lord,<br/> +Almighty foe to ill, such favour shew’d,<br/> +In contemplation of the high effect,<br/> +Both what and who from him should issue forth,<br/> +It seems in reason’s judgment well deserv’d:<br/> +Sith he of Rome, and of Rome’s empire wide,<br/> +In heaven’s empyreal height was chosen sire:<br/> +Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain’d<br/> +And ’stablish’d for the holy place, where sits<br/> +Who to great Peter’s sacred chair succeeds.<br/> +He from this journey, in thy song renown’d,<br/> +Learn’d things, that to his victory gave rise<br/> +And to the papal robe. In after-times<br/> +The chosen vessel also travel’d there,<br/> +To bring us back assurance in that faith,<br/> +Which is the entrance to salvation’s way.<br/> +But I, why should I there presume? or who<br/> +Permits it? not, Aeneas I nor Paul.<br/> +Myself I deem not worthy, and none else<br/> +Will deem me. I, if on this voyage then<br/> +I venture, fear it will in folly end.<br/> +Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know’st,<br/> +Than I can speak.” As one, who unresolves<br/> +What he hath late resolv’d, and with new thoughts<br/> +Changes his purpose, from his first intent<br/> +Remov’d; e’en such was I on that dun coast,<br/> +Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first<br/> +So eagerly embrac’d. “If right thy words<br/> +I scan,” replied that shade magnanimous,<br/> +“Thy soul is by vile fear assail’d, which oft<br/> +So overcasts a man, that he recoils<br/> +From noblest resolution, like a beast<br/> +At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.<br/> +That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,<br/> +I will instruct thee why I came, and what<br/> +I heard in that same instant, when for thee<br/> +Grief touch’d me first. I was among the tribe,<br/> +Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest<br/> +And lovely, I besought her to command,<br/> +Call’d me; her eyes were brighter than the star<br/> +Of day; and she with gentle voice and soft<br/> +Angelically tun’d her speech address’d:<br/> +“O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame<br/> +Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!<br/> +A friend, not of my fortune but myself,<br/> +On the wide desert in his road has met<br/> +Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn’d.<br/> +Now much I dread lest he past help have stray’d,<br/> +And I be ris’n too late for his relief,<br/> +From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now,<br/> +And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue,<br/> +And by all means for his deliverance meet,<br/> +Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.<br/> +I who now bid thee on this errand forth<br/> +Am Beatrice; from a place I come<br/> +Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence,<br/> +Who prompts my speech. When in my Master’s sight<br/> +I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell.” +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +(Note: Beatrice. I use this word, as it is +pronounced in the Italian, as consisting of four +syllables, of which the third is a long one.) +</p> + +<p> +She then was silent, and I thus began:<br/> +“O Lady! by whose influence alone,<br/> +Mankind excels whatever is contain’d<br/> +Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,<br/> +So thy command delights me, that to obey,<br/> +If it were done already, would seem late.<br/> +No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;<br/> +Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth<br/> +To leave that ample space, where to return<br/> +Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath.” +</p> + +<p> +She then: “Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,<br/> +I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread<br/> +Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone<br/> +Are to be fear’d, whence evil may proceed,<br/> +None else, for none are terrible beside.<br/> +I am so fram’d by God, thanks to his grace!<br/> +That any suff’rance of your misery<br/> +Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire<br/> +Assails me. In high heaven a blessed dame<br/> +Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief<br/> +That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,<br/> +That God’s stern judgment to her will inclines.”<br/> +To Lucia calling, her she thus bespake:<br/> +“Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid<br/> +And I commend him to thee.” At her word<br/> +Sped Lucia, of all cruelty the foe,<br/> +And coming to the place, where I abode<br/> +Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,<br/> +She thus address’d me: “Thou true praise of God!<br/> +Beatrice! why is not thy succour lent<br/> +To him, who so much lov’d thee, as to leave<br/> +For thy sake all the multitude admires?<br/> +Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,<br/> +Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,<br/> +Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?”<br/> +“Ne’er among men did any with such speed<br/> +Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,<br/> +As when these words were spoken, I came here,<br/> +Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force<br/> +Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all<br/> +Who well have mark’d it, into honour brings.” +</p> + +<p> +“When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes<br/> +Tearful she turn’d aside; whereat I felt<br/> +Redoubled zeal to serve thee. As she will’d,<br/> +Thus am I come: I sav’d thee from the beast,<br/> +Who thy near way across the goodly mount<br/> +Prevented. What is this comes o’er thee then?<br/> +Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast<br/> +Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there<br/> +And noble daring? Since three maids so blest<br/> +Thy safety plan, e’en in the court of heaven;<br/> +And so much certain good my words forebode.” +</p> + +<p> +As florets, by the frosty air of night<br/> +Bent down and clos’d, when day has blanch’d their leaves,<br/> +Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;<br/> +So was my fainting vigour new restor’d,<br/> +And to my heart such kindly courage ran,<br/> +That I as one undaunted soon replied:<br/> +“O full of pity she, who undertook<br/> +My succour! and thou kind who didst perform<br/> +So soon her true behest! With such desire<br/> +Thou hast dispos’d me to renew my voyage,<br/> +That my first purpose fully is resum’d.<br/> +Lead on: one only will is in us both.<br/> +Thou art my guide, my master thou, and lord.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake I; and when he had onward mov’d,<br/> +I enter’d on the deep and woody way. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.III"></a>CANTO III</h2> + +<p> +“Through me you pass into the city of woe:<br/> +Through me you pass into eternal pain:<br/> +Through me among the people lost for aye.<br/> +Justice the founder of my fabric mov’d:<br/> +To rear me was the task of power divine,<br/> +Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.<br/> +Before me things create were none, save things<br/> +Eternal, and eternal I endure. +</p> + +<p> +“All hope abandon ye who enter here.” +</p> + +<p> +Such characters in colour dim I mark’d<br/> +Over a portal’s lofty arch inscrib’d:<br/> +Whereat I thus: “Master, these words import<br/> +Hard meaning.” He as one prepar’d replied:<br/> +“Here thou must all distrust behind thee leave;<br/> +Here be vile fear extinguish’d. We are come<br/> +Where I have told thee we shall see the souls<br/> +To misery doom’d, who intellectual good<br/> +Have lost.” And when his hand he had stretch’d forth<br/> +To mine, with pleasant looks, whence I was cheer’d,<br/> +Into that secret place he led me on. +</p> + +<p> +Here sighs with lamentations and loud moans<br/> +Resounded through the air pierc’d by no star,<br/> +That e’en I wept at entering. Various tongues,<br/> +Horrible languages, outcries of woe,<br/> +Accents of anger, voices deep and hoarse,<br/> +With hands together smote that swell’d the sounds,<br/> +Made up a tumult, that for ever whirls<br/> +Round through that air with solid darkness stain’d,<br/> +Like to the sand that in the whirlwind flies. +</p> + +<p> +I then, with error yet encompass’d, cried:<br/> +“O master! What is this I hear? What race<br/> +Are these, who seem so overcome with woe?” +</p> + +<p> +He thus to me: “This miserable fate<br/> +Suffer the wretched souls of those, who liv’d<br/> +Without or praise or blame, with that ill band<br/> +Of angels mix’d, who nor rebellious prov’d<br/> +Nor yet were true to God, but for themselves<br/> +Were only. From his bounds Heaven drove them forth,<br/> +Not to impair his lustre, nor the depth<br/> +Of Hell receives them, lest th’ accursed tribe<br/> +Should glory thence with exultation vain.” +</p> + +<p> +I then: “Master! what doth aggrieve them thus,<br/> +That they lament so loud?” He straight replied:<br/> +“That will I tell thee briefly. These of death<br/> +No hope may entertain: and their blind life<br/> +So meanly passes, that all other lots<br/> +They envy. Fame of them the world hath none,<br/> +Nor suffers; mercy and justice scorn them both.<br/> +Speak not of them, but look, and pass them by.” +</p> + +<p> +And I, who straightway look’d, beheld a flag,<br/> +Which whirling ran around so rapidly,<br/> +That it no pause obtain’d: and following came<br/> +Such a long train of spirits, I should ne’er<br/> +Have thought, that death so many had despoil’d. +</p> + +<p> +When some of these I recogniz’d, I saw<br/> +And knew the shade of him, who to base fear<br/> +Yielding, abjur’d his high estate. Forthwith<br/> +I understood for certain this the tribe<br/> +Of those ill spirits both to God displeasing<br/> +And to his foes. These wretches, who ne’er lived,<br/> +Went on in nakedness, and sorely stung<br/> +By wasps and hornets, which bedew’d their cheeks<br/> +With blood, that mix’d with tears dropp’d to their feet,<br/> +And by disgustful worms was gather’d there. +</p> + +<p> +Then looking farther onwards I beheld<br/> +A throng upon the shore of a great stream:<br/> +Whereat I thus: “Sir! grant me now to know<br/> +Whom here we view, and whence impell’d they seem<br/> +So eager to pass o’er, as I discern<br/> +Through the blear light?” He thus to me in few:<br/> +“This shalt thou know, soon as our steps arrive<br/> +Beside the woeful tide of Acheron.” +</p> + +<p> +Then with eyes downward cast and fill’d with shame,<br/> +Fearing my words offensive to his ear,<br/> +Till we had reach’d the river, I from speech<br/> +Abstain’d. And lo! toward us in a bark<br/> +Comes on an old man hoary white with eld, +</p> + +<p> +Crying, “Woe to you wicked spirits! hope not<br/> +Ever to see the sky again. I come<br/> +To take you to the other shore across,<br/> +Into eternal darkness, there to dwell<br/> +In fierce heat and in ice. And thou, who there<br/> +Standest, live spirit! get thee hence, and leave<br/> +These who are dead.” But soon as he beheld<br/> +I left them not, “By other way,” said he,<br/> +“By other haven shalt thou come to shore,<br/> +Not by this passage; thee a nimbler boat<br/> +Must carry.” Then to him thus spake my guide:<br/> +“Charon! thyself torment not: so ’t is will’d,<br/> +Where will and power are one: ask thou no more.” +</p> + +<p> +Straightway in silence fell the shaggy cheeks<br/> +Of him the boatman o’er the livid lake,<br/> +Around whose eyes glar’d wheeling flames. Meanwhile<br/> +Those spirits, faint and naked, color chang’d,<br/> +And gnash’d their teeth, soon as the cruel words<br/> +They heard. God and their parents they blasphem’d,<br/> +The human kind, the place, the time, and seed<br/> +That did engender them and give them birth. +</p> + +<p> +Then all together sorely wailing drew<br/> +To the curs’d strand, that every man must pass<br/> +Who fears not God. Charon, demoniac form,<br/> +With eyes of burning coal, collects them all,<br/> +Beck’ning, and each, that lingers, with his oar<br/> +Strikes. As fall off the light autumnal leaves,<br/> +One still another following, till the bough<br/> +Strews all its honours on the earth beneath; +</p> + +<p> +E’en in like manner Adam’s evil brood<br/> +Cast themselves one by one down from the shore,<br/> +Each at a beck, as falcon at his call. +</p> + +<p> +Thus go they over through the umber’d wave,<br/> +And ever they on the opposing bank<br/> +Be landed, on this side another throng<br/> +Still gathers. “Son,” thus spake the courteous guide,<br/> +“Those, who die subject to the wrath of God,<br/> +All here together come from every clime,<br/> +And to o’erpass the river are not loth:<br/> +For so heaven’s justice goads them on, that fear<br/> +Is turn’d into desire. Hence ne’er hath past<br/> +Good spirit. If of thee Charon complain,<br/> +Now mayst thou know the import of his words.” +</p> + +<p> +This said, the gloomy region trembling shook<br/> +So terribly, that yet with clammy dews<br/> +Fear chills my brow. The sad earth gave a blast,<br/> +That, lightening, shot forth a vermilion flame,<br/> +Which all my senses conquer’d quite, and I<br/> +Down dropp’d, as one with sudden slumber seiz’d. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.IV"></a>CANTO IV</h2> + +<p> +Broke the deep slumber in my brain a crash<br/> +Of heavy thunder, that I shook myself,<br/> +As one by main force rous’d. Risen upright,<br/> +My rested eyes I mov’d around, and search’d<br/> +With fixed ken to know what place it was,<br/> +Wherein I stood. For certain on the brink<br/> +I found me of the lamentable vale,<br/> +The dread abyss, that joins a thund’rous sound<br/> +Of plaints innumerable. Dark and deep,<br/> +And thick with clouds o’erspread, mine eye in vain<br/> +Explor’d its bottom, nor could aught discern. +</p> + +<p> +“Now let us to the blind world there beneath<br/> +Descend;” the bard began all pale of look:<br/> +“I go the first, and thou shalt follow next.” +</p> + +<p> +Then I his alter’d hue perceiving, thus:<br/> +“How may I speed, if thou yieldest to dread,<br/> +Who still art wont to comfort me in doubt?” +</p> + +<p> +He then: “The anguish of that race below<br/> +With pity stains my cheek, which thou for fear<br/> +Mistakest. Let us on. Our length of way<br/> +Urges to haste.” Onward, this said, he mov’d;<br/> +And ent’ring led me with him on the bounds<br/> +Of the first circle, that surrounds th’ abyss.<br/> +Here, as mine ear could note, no plaint was heard<br/> +Except of sighs, that made th’ eternal air<br/> +Tremble, not caus’d by tortures, but from grief<br/> +Felt by those multitudes, many and vast,<br/> +Of men, women, and infants. Then to me<br/> +The gentle guide: “Inquir’st thou not what spirits<br/> +Are these, which thou beholdest? Ere thou pass<br/> +Farther, I would thou know, that these of sin<br/> +Were blameless; and if aught they merited,<br/> +It profits not, since baptism was not theirs,<br/> +The portal to thy faith. If they before<br/> +The Gospel liv’d, they serv’d not God aright;<br/> +And among such am I. For these defects,<br/> +And for no other evil, we are lost;” +</p> + +<p> +“Only so far afflicted, that we live<br/> +Desiring without hope.” So grief assail’d<br/> +My heart at hearing this, for well I knew<br/> +Suspended in that Limbo many a soul<br/> +Of mighty worth. “O tell me, sire rever’d!<br/> +Tell me, my master!” I began through wish<br/> +Of full assurance in that holy faith,<br/> +Which vanquishes all error; “say, did e’er<br/> +Any, or through his own or other’s merit,<br/> +Come forth from thence, whom afterward was blest?” +</p> + +<p> +Piercing the secret purport of my speech,<br/> +He answer’d: “I was new to that estate,<br/> +When I beheld a puissant one arrive<br/> +Amongst us, with victorious trophy crown’d.<br/> +He forth the shade of our first parent drew,<br/> +Abel his child, and Noah righteous man,<br/> +Of Moses lawgiver for faith approv’d,<br/> +Of patriarch Abraham, and David king,<br/> +Israel with his sire and with his sons,<br/> +Nor without Rachel whom so hard he won,<br/> +And others many more, whom he to bliss<br/> +Exalted. Before these, be thou assur’d,<br/> +No spirit of human kind was ever sav’d.” +</p> + +<p> +We, while he spake, ceas’d not our onward road,<br/> +Still passing through the wood; for so I name<br/> +Those spirits thick beset. We were not far<br/> +On this side from the summit, when I kenn’d<br/> +A flame, that o’er the darken’d hemisphere<br/> +Prevailing shin’d. Yet we a little space<br/> +Were distant, not so far but I in part<br/> +Discover’d, that a tribe in honour high<br/> +That place possess’d. “O thou, who every art<br/> +And science valu’st! who are these, that boast<br/> +Such honour, separate from all the rest?” +</p> + +<p> +He answer’d: “The renown of their great names<br/> +That echoes through your world above, acquires<br/> +Favour in heaven, which holds them thus advanc’d.”<br/> +Meantime a voice I heard: “Honour the bard<br/> +Sublime! his shade returns that left us late!”<br/> +No sooner ceas’d the sound, than I beheld<br/> +Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps,<br/> +Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad. +</p> + +<p> +When thus my master kind began: “Mark him,<br/> +Who in his right hand bears that falchion keen,<br/> +The other three preceding, as their lord.<br/> +This is that Homer, of all bards supreme:<br/> +Flaccus the next in satire’s vein excelling;<br/> +The third is Naso; Lucan is the last.<br/> +Because they all that appellation own,<br/> +With which the voice singly accosted me,<br/> +Honouring they greet me thus, and well they judge.” +</p> + +<p> +So I beheld united the bright school<br/> +Of him the monarch of sublimest song,<br/> +That o’er the others like an eagle soars.<br/> +When they together short discourse had held,<br/> +They turn’d to me, with salutation kind<br/> +Beck’ning me; at the which my master smil’d:<br/> +Nor was this all; but greater honour still<br/> +They gave me, for they made me of their tribe;<br/> +And I was sixth amid so learn’d a band. +</p> + +<p> +Far as the luminous beacon on we pass’d<br/> +Speaking of matters, then befitting well<br/> +To speak, now fitter left untold. At foot<br/> +Of a magnificent castle we arriv’d,<br/> +Seven times with lofty walls begirt, and round<br/> +Defended by a pleasant stream. O’er this<br/> +As o’er dry land we pass’d. Next through seven gates<br/> +I with those sages enter’d, and we came<br/> +Into a mead with lively verdure fresh. +</p> + +<p> +There dwelt a race, who slow their eyes around<br/> +Majestically mov’d, and in their port<br/> +Bore eminent authority; they spake<br/> +Seldom, but all their words were tuneful sweet. +</p> + +<p> +We to one side retir’d, into a place<br/> +Open and bright and lofty, whence each one<br/> +Stood manifest to view. Incontinent<br/> +There on the green enamel of the plain<br/> +Were shown me the great spirits, by whose sight<br/> +I am exalted in my own esteem. +</p> + +<p> +Electra there I saw accompanied<br/> +By many, among whom Hector I knew,<br/> +Anchises’ pious son, and with hawk’s eye<br/> +Caesar all arm’d, and by Camilla there<br/> +Penthesilea. On the other side<br/> +Old King Latinus, seated by his child<br/> +Lavinia, and that Brutus I beheld,<br/> +Who Tarquin chas’d, Lucretia, Cato’s wife<br/> +Marcia, with Julia and Cornelia there;<br/> +And sole apart retir’d, the Soldan fierce. +</p> + +<p> +Then when a little more I rais’d my brow,<br/> +I spied the master of the sapient throng,<br/> +Seated amid the philosophic train.<br/> +Him all admire, all pay him rev’rence due.<br/> +There Socrates and Plato both I mark’d,<br/> +Nearest to him in rank; Democritus,<br/> +Who sets the world at chance, Diogenes,<br/> +With Heraclitus, and Empedocles,<br/> +And Anaxagoras, and Thales sage,<br/> +Zeno, and Dioscorides well read<br/> +In nature’s secret lore. Orpheus I mark’d<br/> +And Linus, Tully and moral Seneca,<br/> +Euclid and Ptolemy, Hippocrates,<br/> +Galenus, Avicen, and him who made<br/> +That commentary vast, Averroes. +</p> + +<p> +Of all to speak at full were vain attempt;<br/> +For my wide theme so urges, that ofttimes<br/> +My words fall short of what bechanc’d. In two<br/> +The six associates part. Another way<br/> +My sage guide leads me, from that air serene,<br/> +Into a climate ever vex’d with storms:<br/> +And to a part I come where no light shines. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.V"></a>CANTO V</h2> + +<p> +From the first circle I descended thus<br/> +Down to the second, which, a lesser space<br/> +Embracing, so much more of grief contains<br/> +Provoking bitter moans. There, Minos stands<br/> +Grinning with ghastly feature: he, of all<br/> +Who enter, strict examining the crimes, +</p> + +<p> +Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath,<br/> +According as he foldeth him around:<br/> +For when before him comes th’ ill fated soul,<br/> +It all confesses; and that judge severe<br/> +Of sins, considering what place in hell<br/> +Suits the transgression, with his tail so oft<br/> +Himself encircles, as degrees beneath<br/> +He dooms it to descend. Before him stand<br/> +Always a num’rous throng; and in his turn<br/> +Each one to judgment passing, speaks, and hears<br/> +His fate, thence downward to his dwelling hurl’d. +</p> + +<p> +“O thou! who to this residence of woe<br/> +Approachest?” when he saw me coming, cried<br/> +Minos, relinquishing his dread employ,<br/> +“Look how thou enter here; beware in whom<br/> +Thou place thy trust; let not the entrance broad<br/> +Deceive thee to thy harm.” To him my guide:<br/> +“Wherefore exclaimest? Hinder not his way<br/> +By destiny appointed; so ’tis will’d<br/> +Where will and power are one. Ask thou no more.” +</p> + +<p> +Now ’gin the rueful wailings to be heard.<br/> +Now am I come where many a plaining voice<br/> +Smites on mine ear. Into a place I came<br/> +Where light was silent all. Bellowing there groan’d<br/> +A noise as of a sea in tempest torn<br/> +By warring winds. The stormy blast of hell<br/> +With restless fury drives the spirits on<br/> +Whirl’d round and dash’d amain with sore annoy. +</p> + +<p> +When they arrive before the ruinous sweep,<br/> +There shrieks are heard, there lamentations, moans,<br/> +And blasphemies ’gainst the good Power in heaven. +</p> + +<p> +I understood that to this torment sad<br/> +The carnal sinners are condemn’d, in whom<br/> +Reason by lust is sway’d. As in large troops<br/> +And multitudinous, when winter reigns,<br/> +The starlings on their wings are borne abroad;<br/> +So bears the tyrannous gust those evil souls.<br/> +On this side and on that, above, below,<br/> +It drives them: hope of rest to solace them<br/> +Is none, nor e’en of milder pang. As cranes,<br/> +Chanting their dol’rous notes, traverse the sky,<br/> +Stretch’d out in long array: so I beheld<br/> +Spirits, who came loud wailing, hurried on<br/> +By their dire doom. Then I: “Instructor! who<br/> +Are these, by the black air so scourg’d?”—“The first<br/> +’Mong those, of whom thou question’st,” he replied,<br/> +“O’er many tongues was empress. She in vice<br/> +Of luxury was so shameless, that she made<br/> +Liking be lawful by promulg’d decree,<br/> +To clear the blame she had herself incurr’d.<br/> +This is Semiramis, of whom ’tis writ,<br/> +That she succeeded Ninus her espous’d;<br/> +And held the land, which now the Soldan rules.<br/> +The next in amorous fury slew herself,<br/> +And to Sicheus’ ashes broke her faith:<br/> +Then follows Cleopatra, lustful queen.” +</p> + +<p> +There mark’d I Helen, for whose sake so long<br/> +The time was fraught with evil; there the great<br/> +Achilles, who with love fought to the end.<br/> +Paris I saw, and Tristan; and beside<br/> +A thousand more he show’d me, and by name<br/> +Pointed them out, whom love bereav’d of life. +</p> + +<p> +When I had heard my sage instructor name<br/> +Those dames and knights of antique days, o’erpower’d<br/> +By pity, well-nigh in amaze my mind<br/> +Was lost; and I began: “Bard! willingly<br/> +I would address those two together coming,<br/> +Which seem so light before the wind.” He thus:<br/> +“Note thou, when nearer they to us approach.” +</p> + +<p> +“Then by that love which carries them along,<br/> +Entreat; and they will come.” Soon as the wind<br/> +Sway’d them toward us, I thus fram’d my speech:<br/> +“O wearied spirits! come, and hold discourse<br/> +With us, if by none else restrain’d.” As doves<br/> +By fond desire invited, on wide wings<br/> +And firm, to their sweet nest returning home,<br/> +Cleave the air, wafted by their will along;<br/> +Thus issu’d from that troop, where Dido ranks,<br/> +They through the ill air speeding; with such force<br/> +My cry prevail’d by strong affection urg’d. +</p> + +<p> +“O gracious creature and benign! who go’st<br/> +Visiting, through this element obscure,<br/> +Us, who the world with bloody stain imbru’d;<br/> +If for a friend the King of all we own’d,<br/> +Our pray’r to him should for thy peace arise,<br/> +Since thou hast pity on our evil plight.<br/> +()f whatsoe’er to hear or to discourse<br/> +It pleases thee, that will we hear, of that<br/> +Freely with thee discourse, while e’er the wind,<br/> +As now, is mute. The land, that gave me birth,<br/> +Is situate on the coast, where Po descends<br/> +To rest in ocean with his sequent streams. +</p> + +<p> +“Love, that in gentle heart is quickly learnt,<br/> +Entangled him by that fair form, from me<br/> +Ta’en in such cruel sort, as grieves me still:<br/> +Love, that denial takes from none belov’d,<br/> +Caught me with pleasing him so passing well,<br/> +That, as thou see’st, he yet deserts me not. +</p> + +<p> +“Love brought us to one death: Caina waits<br/> +The soul, who spilt our life.” Such were their words;<br/> +At hearing which downward I bent my looks,<br/> +And held them there so long, that the bard cried:<br/> +“What art thou pond’ring?” I in answer thus:<br/> +“Alas! by what sweet thoughts, what fond desire<br/> +Must they at length to that ill pass have reach’d!” +</p> + +<p> +Then turning, I to them my speech address’d.<br/> +And thus began: “Francesca! your sad fate<br/> +Even to tears my grief and pity moves.<br/> +But tell me; in the time of your sweet sighs,<br/> +By what, and how love granted, that ye knew<br/> +Your yet uncertain wishes?” She replied:<br/> +“No greater grief than to remember days<br/> +Of joy, when mis’ry is at hand! That kens<br/> +Thy learn’d instructor. Yet so eagerly<br/> +If thou art bent to know the primal root,<br/> +From whence our love gat being, I will do,<br/> +As one, who weeps and tells his tale. One day<br/> +For our delight we read of Lancelot,<br/> +How him love thrall’d. Alone we were, and no<br/> +Suspicion near us. Ofttimes by that reading<br/> +Our eyes were drawn together, and the hue<br/> +Fled from our alter’d cheek. But at one point<br/> +Alone we fell. When of that smile we read,<br/> +The wished smile, rapturously kiss’d<br/> +By one so deep in love, then he, who ne’er<br/> +From me shall separate, at once my lips<br/> +All trembling kiss’d. The book and writer both<br/> +Were love’s purveyors. In its leaves that day<br/> +We read no more.” While thus one spirit spake,<br/> +The other wail’d so sorely, that heartstruck<br/> +I through compassion fainting, seem’d not far<br/> +From death, and like a corpse fell to the ground. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.VI"></a>CANTO VI</h2> + +<p> +My sense reviving, that erewhile had droop’d<br/> +With pity for the kindred shades, whence grief<br/> +O’ercame me wholly, straight around I see<br/> +New torments, new tormented souls, which way<br/> +Soe’er I move, or turn, or bend my sight.<br/> +In the third circle I arrive, of show’rs<br/> +Ceaseless, accursed, heavy, and cold, unchang’d<br/> +For ever, both in kind and in degree.<br/> +Large hail, discolour’d water, sleety flaw<br/> +Through the dun midnight air stream’d down amain:<br/> +Stank all the land whereon that tempest fell. +</p> + +<p> +Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange,<br/> +Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog<br/> +Over the multitude immers’d beneath.<br/> +His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard,<br/> +His belly large, and claw’d the hands, with which<br/> +He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs<br/> +Piecemeal disparts. Howling there spread, as curs,<br/> +Under the rainy deluge, with one side<br/> +The other screening, oft they roll them round,<br/> +A wretched, godless crew. When that great worm<br/> +Descried us, savage Cerberus, he op’d<br/> +His jaws, and the fangs show’d us; not a limb<br/> +Of him but trembled. Then my guide, his palms<br/> +Expanding on the ground, thence filled with earth<br/> +Rais’d them, and cast it in his ravenous maw. +</p> + +<p> +E’en as a dog, that yelling bays for food<br/> +His keeper, when the morsel comes, lets fall<br/> +His fury, bent alone with eager haste<br/> +To swallow it; so dropp’d the loathsome cheeks<br/> +Of demon Cerberus, who thund’ring stuns<br/> +The spirits, that they for deafness wish in vain. +</p> + +<p> +We, o’er the shades thrown prostrate by the brunt<br/> +Of the heavy tempest passing, set our feet<br/> +Upon their emptiness, that substance seem’d. +</p> + +<p> +They all along the earth extended lay<br/> +Save one, that sudden rais’d himself to sit,<br/> +Soon as that way he saw us pass. “O thou!”<br/> +He cried, “who through the infernal shades art led,<br/> +Own, if again thou know’st me. Thou wast fram’d<br/> +Or ere my frame was broken.” I replied:<br/> +“The anguish thou endur’st perchance so takes<br/> +Thy form from my remembrance, that it seems<br/> +As if I saw thee never. But inform<br/> +Me who thou art, that in a place so sad<br/> +Art set, and in such torment, that although<br/> +Other be greater, more disgustful none<br/> +Can be imagin’d.” He in answer thus: +</p> + +<p> +“Thy city heap’d with envy to the brim,<br/> +Ay that the measure overflows its bounds,<br/> +Held me in brighter days. Ye citizens<br/> +Were wont to name me Ciacco. For the sin<br/> +Of glutt’ny, damned vice, beneath this rain,<br/> +E’en as thou see’st, I with fatigue am worn;<br/> +Nor I sole spirit in this woe: all these<br/> +Have by like crime incurr’d like punishment.” +</p> + +<p> +No more he said, and I my speech resum’d:<br/> +“Ciacco! thy dire affliction grieves me much,<br/> +Even to tears. But tell me, if thou know’st,<br/> +What shall at length befall the citizens<br/> +Of the divided city; whether any just one<br/> +Inhabit there: and tell me of the cause,<br/> +Whence jarring discord hath assail’d it thus?” +</p> + +<p> +He then: “After long striving they will come<br/> +To blood; and the wild party from the woods<br/> +Will chase the other with much injury forth.<br/> +Then it behoves, that this must fall, within<br/> +Three solar circles; and the other rise<br/> +By borrow’d force of one, who under shore<br/> +Now rests. It shall a long space hold aloof<br/> +Its forehead, keeping under heavy weight<br/> +The other oppress’d, indignant at the load,<br/> +And grieving sore. The just are two in number,<br/> +But they neglected. Av’rice, envy, pride,<br/> +Three fatal sparks, have set the hearts of all<br/> +On fire.” Here ceas’d the lamentable sound;<br/> +And I continu’d thus: “Still would I learn<br/> +More from thee, farther parley still entreat.<br/> +Of Farinata and Tegghiaio say,<br/> +They who so well deserv’d, of Giacopo,<br/> +Arrigo, Mosca, and the rest, who bent<br/> +Their minds on working good. Oh! tell me where<br/> +They bide, and to their knowledge let me come.<br/> +For I am press’d with keen desire to hear,<br/> +If heaven’s sweet cup or poisonous drug of hell<br/> +Be to their lip assign’d.” He answer’d straight:<br/> +“These are yet blacker spirits. Various crimes<br/> +Have sunk them deeper in the dark abyss.<br/> +If thou so far descendest, thou mayst see them.<br/> +But to the pleasant world when thou return’st,<br/> +Of me make mention, I entreat thee, there.<br/> +No more I tell thee, answer thee no more.” +</p> + +<p> +This said, his fixed eyes he turn’d askance,<br/> +A little ey’d me, then bent down his head,<br/> +And ’midst his blind companions with it fell. +</p> + +<p> +When thus my guide: “No more his bed he leaves,<br/> +Ere the last angel-trumpet blow. The Power<br/> +Adverse to these shall then in glory come,<br/> +Each one forthwith to his sad tomb repair,<br/> +Resume his fleshly vesture and his form,<br/> +And hear the eternal doom re-echoing rend<br/> +The vault.” So pass’d we through that mixture foul<br/> +Of spirits and rain, with tardy steps; meanwhile<br/> +Touching, though slightly, on the life to come.<br/> +For thus I question’d: “Shall these tortures, Sir!<br/> +When the great sentence passes, be increas’d,<br/> +Or mitigated, or as now severe?” +</p> + +<p> +He then: “Consult thy knowledge; that decides<br/> +That as each thing to more perfection grows,<br/> +It feels more sensibly both good and pain.<br/> +Though ne’er to true perfection may arrive<br/> +This race accurs’d, yet nearer then than now<br/> +They shall approach it.” Compassing that path<br/> +Circuitous we journeyed, and discourse<br/> +Much more than I relate between us pass’d:<br/> +Till at the point, where the steps led below,<br/> +Arriv’d, there Plutus, the great foe, we found. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.VII"></a>CANTO VII</h2> + +<p> +“Ah me! O Satan! Satan!” loud exclaim’d<br/> +Plutus, in accent hoarse of wild alarm:<br/> +And the kind sage, whom no event surpris’d,<br/> +To comfort me thus spake: “Let not thy fear<br/> +Harm thee, for power in him, be sure, is none<br/> +To hinder down this rock thy safe descent.”<br/> +Then to that sworn lip turning, “Peace!” he cried, +</p> + +<p> +“Curs’d wolf! thy fury inward on thyself<br/> +Prey, and consume thee! Through the dark profound<br/> +Not without cause he passes. So ’t is will’d<br/> +On high, there where the great Archangel pour’d<br/> +Heav’n’s vengeance on the first adulterer proud.” +</p> + +<p> +As sails full spread and bellying with the wind<br/> +Drop suddenly collaps’d, if the mast split;<br/> +So to the ground down dropp’d the cruel fiend. +</p> + +<p> +Thus we, descending to the fourth steep ledge,<br/> +Gain’d on the dismal shore, that all the woe<br/> +Hems in of all the universe. Ah me!<br/> +Almighty Justice! in what store thou heap’st<br/> +New pains, new troubles, as I here beheld!<br/> +Wherefore doth fault of ours bring us to this? +</p> + +<p> +E’en as a billow, on Charybdis rising,<br/> +Against encounter’d billow dashing breaks;<br/> +Such is the dance this wretched race must lead,<br/> +Whom more than elsewhere numerous here I found,<br/> +From one side and the other, with loud voice,<br/> +Both roll’d on weights by main forge of their breasts,<br/> +Then smote together, and each one forthwith<br/> +Roll’d them back voluble, turning again,<br/> +Exclaiming these, “Why holdest thou so fast?”<br/> +Those answering, “And why castest thou away?”<br/> +So still repeating their despiteful song,<br/> +They to the opposite point on either hand<br/> +Travers’d the horrid circle: then arriv’d,<br/> +Both turn’d them round, and through the middle space<br/> +Conflicting met again. At sight whereof<br/> +I, stung with grief, thus spake: “O say, my guide!<br/> +What race is this? Were these, whose heads are shorn,<br/> +On our left hand, all sep’rate to the church?” +</p> + +<p> +He straight replied: “In their first life these all<br/> +In mind were so distorted, that they made,<br/> +According to due measure, of their wealth,<br/> +No use. This clearly from their words collect,<br/> +Which they howl forth, at each extremity<br/> +Arriving of the circle, where their crime<br/> +Contrary’ in kind disparts them. To the church<br/> +Were separate those, that with no hairy cowls<br/> +Are crown’d, both Popes and Cardinals, o’er whom<br/> +Av’rice dominion absolute maintains.” +</p> + +<p> +I then: “Mid such as these some needs must be,<br/> +Whom I shall recognize, that with the blot<br/> +Of these foul sins were stain’d.” He answering thus:<br/> +“Vain thought conceiv’st thou. That ignoble life,<br/> +Which made them vile before, now makes them dark,<br/> +And to all knowledge indiscernible.<br/> +Forever they shall meet in this rude shock:<br/> +These from the tomb with clenched grasp shall rise,<br/> +Those with close-shaven locks. That ill they gave,<br/> +And ill they kept, hath of the beauteous world<br/> +Depriv’d, and set them at this strife, which needs<br/> +No labour’d phrase of mine to set if off.<br/> +Now may’st thou see, my son! how brief, how vain,<br/> +The goods committed into fortune’s hands,<br/> +For which the human race keep such a coil!<br/> +Not all the gold, that is beneath the moon,<br/> +Or ever hath been, of these toil-worn souls<br/> +Might purchase rest for one.” I thus rejoin’d: +</p> + +<p> +“My guide! of thee this also would I learn;<br/> +This fortune, that thou speak’st of, what it is,<br/> +Whose talons grasp the blessings of the world?” +</p> + +<p> +He thus: “O beings blind! what ignorance<br/> +Besets you? Now my judgment hear and mark.<br/> +He, whose transcendent wisdom passes all,<br/> +The heavens creating, gave them ruling powers<br/> +To guide them, so that each part shines to each,<br/> +Their light in equal distribution pour’d.<br/> +By similar appointment he ordain’d<br/> +Over the world’s bright images to rule.<br/> +Superintendence of a guiding hand<br/> +And general minister, which at due time<br/> +May change the empty vantages of life<br/> +From race to race, from one to other’s blood,<br/> +Beyond prevention of man’s wisest care:<br/> +Wherefore one nation rises into sway,<br/> +Another languishes, e’en as her will<br/> +Decrees, from us conceal’d, as in the grass<br/> +The serpent train. Against her nought avails<br/> +Your utmost wisdom. She with foresight plans,<br/> +Judges, and carries on her reign, as theirs<br/> +The other powers divine. Her changes know<br/> +Nore intermission: by necessity<br/> +She is made swift, so frequent come who claim<br/> +Succession in her favours. This is she,<br/> +So execrated e’en by those, whose debt<br/> +To her is rather praise; they wrongfully<br/> +With blame requite her, and with evil word;<br/> +But she is blessed, and for that recks not:<br/> +Amidst the other primal beings glad<br/> +Rolls on her sphere, and in her bliss exults.<br/> +Now on our way pass we, to heavier woe<br/> +Descending: for each star is falling now,<br/> +That mounted at our entrance, and forbids<br/> +Too long our tarrying.” We the circle cross’d<br/> +To the next steep, arriving at a well,<br/> +That boiling pours itself down to a foss<br/> +Sluic’d from its source. Far murkier was the wave<br/> +Than sablest grain: and we in company<br/> +Of the’ inky waters, journeying by their side,<br/> +Enter’d, though by a different track, beneath.<br/> +Into a lake, the Stygian nam’d, expands<br/> +The dismal stream, when it hath reach’d the foot<br/> +Of the grey wither’d cliffs. Intent I stood<br/> +To gaze, and in the marish sunk descried<br/> +A miry tribe, all naked, and with looks<br/> +Betok’ning rage. They with their hands alone<br/> +Struck not, but with the head, the breast, the feet,<br/> +Cutting each other piecemeal with their fangs. +</p> + +<p> +The good instructor spake; “Now seest thou, son!<br/> +The souls of those, whom anger overcame.<br/> +This too for certain know, that underneath<br/> +The water dwells a multitude, whose sighs<br/> +Into these bubbles make the surface heave,<br/> +As thine eye tells thee wheresoe’er it turn.”<br/> +Fix’d in the slime they say: “Sad once were we<br/> +In the sweet air made gladsome by the sun,<br/> +Carrying a foul and lazy mist within:<br/> +Now in these murky settlings are we sad.”<br/> +Such dolorous strain they gurgle in their throats.<br/> +But word distinct can utter none.” Our route<br/> +Thus compass’d we, a segment widely stretch’d<br/> +Between the dry embankment, and the core<br/> +Of the loath’d pool, turning meanwhile our eyes<br/> +Downward on those who gulp’d its muddy lees;<br/> +Nor stopp’d, till to a tower’s low base we came. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.VIII"></a>CANTO VIII</h2> + +<p> +My theme pursuing, I relate that ere<br/> +We reach’d the lofty turret’s base, our eyes<br/> +Its height ascended, where two cressets hung<br/> +We mark’d, and from afar another light<br/> +Return the signal, so remote, that scarce<br/> +The eye could catch its beam. I turning round<br/> +To the deep source of knowledge, thus inquir’d:<br/> +“Say what this means? and what that other light<br/> +In answer set? what agency doth this?” +</p> + +<p> +“There on the filthy waters,” he replied,<br/> +“E’en now what next awaits us mayst thou see,<br/> +If the marsh-gender’d fog conceal it not.” +</p> + +<p> +Never was arrow from the cord dismiss’d,<br/> +That ran its way so nimbly through the air,<br/> +As a small bark, that through the waves I spied<br/> +Toward us coming, under the sole sway<br/> +Of one that ferried it, who cried aloud:<br/> +“Art thou arriv’d, fell spirit?”—“Phlegyas, Phlegyas,<br/> +This time thou criest in vain,” my lord replied;<br/> +“No longer shalt thou have us, but while o’er<br/> +The slimy pool we pass.” As one who hears<br/> +Of some great wrong he hath sustain’d, whereat<br/> +Inly he pines; so Phlegyas inly pin’d<br/> +In his fierce ire. My guide descending stepp’d<br/> +Into the skiff, and bade me enter next<br/> +Close at his side; nor till my entrance seem’d<br/> +The vessel freighted. Soon as both embark’d,<br/> +Cutting the waves, goes on the ancient prow,<br/> +More deeply than with others it is wont. +</p> + +<p> +While we our course o’er the dead channel held.<br/> +One drench’d in mire before me came, and said;<br/> +“Who art thou, that thou comest ere thine hour?” +</p> + +<p> +I answer’d: “Though I come, I tarry not;<br/> +But who art thou, that art become so foul?” +</p> + +<p> +“One, as thou seest, who mourn:” he straight replied. +</p> + +<p> +To which I thus: “In mourning and in woe,<br/> +Curs’d spirit! tarry thou.g I know thee well,<br/> +E’en thus in filth disguis’d.” Then stretch’d he forth<br/> +Hands to the bark; whereof my teacher sage<br/> +Aware, thrusting him back: “Away! down there; +</p> + +<p> +“To the’ other dogs!” then, with his arms my neck<br/> +Encircling, kiss’d my cheek, and spake: “O soul<br/> +Justly disdainful! blest was she in whom<br/> +Thou was conceiv’d! He in the world was one<br/> +For arrogance noted; to his memory<br/> +No virtue lends its lustre; even so<br/> +Here is his shadow furious. There above<br/> +How many now hold themselves mighty kings<br/> +Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,<br/> +Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!” +</p> + +<p> +I then: “Master! him fain would I behold<br/> +Whelm’d in these dregs, before we quit the lake.” +</p> + +<p> +He thus: “Or ever to thy view the shore<br/> +Be offer’d, satisfied shall be that wish,<br/> +Which well deserves completion.” Scarce his words<br/> +Were ended, when I saw the miry tribes<br/> +Set on him with such violence, that yet<br/> +For that render I thanks to God and praise<br/> +“To Filippo Argenti:” cried they all:<br/> +And on himself the moody Florentine<br/> +Turn’d his avenging fangs. Him here we left,<br/> +Nor speak I of him more. But on mine ear<br/> +Sudden a sound of lamentation smote,<br/> +Whereat mine eye unbarr’d I sent abroad. +</p> + +<p> +And thus the good instructor: “Now, my son!<br/> +Draws near the city, that of Dis is nam’d,<br/> +With its grave denizens, a mighty throng.” +</p> + +<p> +I thus: “The minarets already, Sir!<br/> +There certes in the valley I descry,<br/> +Gleaming vermilion, as if they from fire<br/> +Had issu’d.” He replied: “Eternal fire,<br/> +That inward burns, shows them with ruddy flame<br/> +Illum’d; as in this nether hell thou seest.” +</p> + +<p> +We came within the fosses deep, that moat<br/> +This region comfortless. The walls appear’d<br/> +As they were fram’d of iron. We had made<br/> +Wide circuit, ere a place we reach’d, where loud<br/> +The mariner cried vehement: “Go forth!<br/> +The’ entrance is here!” Upon the gates I spied<br/> +More than a thousand, who of old from heaven<br/> +Were hurl’d. With ireful gestures, “Who is this,”<br/> +They cried, “that without death first felt, goes through<br/> +The regions of the dead?” My sapient guide<br/> +Made sign that he for secret parley wish’d;<br/> +Whereat their angry scorn abating, thus<br/> +They spake: “Come thou alone; and let him go<br/> +Who hath so hardily enter’d this realm.<br/> +Alone return he by his witless way;<br/> +If well he know it, let him prove. For thee,<br/> +Here shalt thou tarry, who through clime so dark<br/> +Hast been his escort.” Now bethink thee, reader!<br/> +What cheer was mine at sound of those curs’d words.<br/> +I did believe I never should return. +</p> + +<p> +“O my lov’d guide! who more than seven times<br/> +Security hast render’d me, and drawn<br/> +From peril deep, whereto I stood expos’d,<br/> +Desert me not,” I cried, “in this extreme.<br/> +And if our onward going be denied,<br/> +Together trace we back our steps with speed.” +</p> + +<p> +My liege, who thither had conducted me,<br/> +Replied: “Fear not: for of our passage none<br/> +Hath power to disappoint us, by such high<br/> +Authority permitted. But do thou<br/> +Expect me here; meanwhile thy wearied spirit<br/> +Comfort, and feed with kindly hope, assur’d<br/> +I will not leave thee in this lower world.” +</p> + +<p> +This said, departs the sire benevolent,<br/> +And quits me. Hesitating I remain<br/> +At war ’twixt will and will not in my thoughts. +</p> + +<p> +I could not hear what terms he offer’d them,<br/> +But they conferr’d not long, for all at once<br/> +To trial fled within. Clos’d were the gates<br/> +By those our adversaries on the breast<br/> +Of my liege lord: excluded he return’d<br/> +To me with tardy steps. Upon the ground<br/> +His eyes were bent, and from his brow eras’d<br/> +All confidence, while thus with sighs he spake:<br/> +“Who hath denied me these abodes of woe?”<br/> +Then thus to me: “That I am anger’d, think<br/> +No ground of terror: in this trial I<br/> +Shall vanquish, use what arts they may within<br/> +For hindrance. This their insolence, not new,<br/> +Erewhile at gate less secret they display’d,<br/> +Which still is without bolt; upon its arch<br/> +Thou saw’st the deadly scroll: and even now<br/> +On this side of its entrance, down the steep,<br/> +Passing the circles, unescorted, comes<br/> +One whose strong might can open us this land.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.IX"></a>CANTO IX</h2> + +<p> +The hue, which coward dread on my pale cheeks<br/> +Imprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,<br/> +Chas’d that from his which newly they had worn,<br/> +And inwardly restrain’d it. He, as one<br/> +Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye<br/> +Not far could lead him through the sable air,<br/> +And the thick-gath’ring cloud. “It yet behooves<br/> +We win this fight”—thus he began—“if not—<br/> +Such aid to us is offer’d.—Oh, how long<br/> +Me seems it, ere the promis’d help arrive!” +</p> + +<p> +I noted, how the sequel of his words<br/> +Clok’d their beginning; for the last he spake<br/> +Agreed not with the first. But not the less<br/> +My fear was at his saying; sith I drew<br/> +To import worse perchance, than that he held,<br/> +His mutilated speech. “Doth ever any<br/> +Into this rueful concave’s extreme depth<br/> +Descend, out of the first degree, whose pain<br/> +Is deprivation merely of sweet hope?” +</p> + +<p> +Thus I inquiring. “Rarely,” he replied,<br/> +“It chances, that among us any makes<br/> +This journey, which I wend. Erewhile ’tis true<br/> +Once came I here beneath, conjur’d by fell<br/> +Erictho, sorceress, who compell’d the shades<br/> +Back to their bodies. No long space my flesh<br/> +Was naked of me, when within these walls<br/> +She made me enter, to draw forth a spirit<br/> +From out of Judas’ circle. Lowest place<br/> +Is that of all, obscurest, and remov’d<br/> +Farthest from heav’n’s all-circling orb. The road<br/> +Full well I know: thou therefore rest secure.<br/> +That lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round<br/> +The city’ of grief encompasses, which now<br/> +We may not enter without rage.” Yet more<br/> +He added: but I hold it not in mind,<br/> +For that mine eye toward the lofty tower<br/> +Had drawn me wholly, to its burning top.<br/> +Where in an instant I beheld uprisen<br/> +At once three hellish furies stain’d with blood:<br/> +In limb and motion feminine they seem’d;<br/> +Around them greenest hydras twisting roll’d<br/> +Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept<br/> +Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound. +</p> + +<p> +He knowing well the miserable hags<br/> +Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake: +</p> + +<p> +“Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left<br/> +This is Megaera; on the right hand she,<br/> +Who wails, Alecto; and Tisiphone<br/> +I’ th’ midst.” This said, in silence he remain’d<br/> +Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves<br/> +Smote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais’d,<br/> +That to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.<br/> +“Hasten Medusa: so to adamant<br/> +Him shall we change;” all looking down exclaim’d.<br/> +“E’en when by Theseus’ might assail’d, we took<br/> +No ill revenge.” “Turn thyself round, and keep<br/> +Thy count’nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire<br/> +Be shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return<br/> +Upwards would be for ever lost.” This said,<br/> +Himself my gentle master turn’d me round,<br/> +Nor trusted he my hands, but with his own<br/> +He also hid me. Ye of intellect<br/> +Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal’d<br/> +Under close texture of the mystic strain! +</p> + +<p> +And now there came o’er the perturbed waves<br/> +Loud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made<br/> +Either shore tremble, as if of a wind<br/> +Impetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,<br/> +That ’gainst some forest driving all its might,<br/> +Plucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls<br/> +Afar; then onward passing proudly sweeps<br/> +Its whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly. +</p> + +<p> +Mine eyes he loos’d, and spake: “And now direct<br/> +Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam,<br/> +There, thickest where the smoke ascends.” As frogs<br/> +Before their foe the serpent, through the wave<br/> +Ply swiftly all, till at the ground each one<br/> +Lies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits<br/> +Destroy’d, so saw I fleeing before one<br/> +Who pass’d with unwet feet the Stygian sound.<br/> +He, from his face removing the gross air,<br/> +Oft his left hand forth stretch’d, and seem’d alone<br/> +By that annoyance wearied. I perceiv’d<br/> +That he was sent from heav’n, and to my guide<br/> +Turn’d me, who signal made that I should stand<br/> +Quiet, and bend to him. Ah me! how full<br/> +Of noble anger seem’d he! To the gate<br/> +He came, and with his wand touch’d it, whereat<br/> +Open without impediment it flew. +</p> + +<p> +“Outcasts of heav’n! O abject race and scorn’d!”<br/> +Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,<br/> +“Whence doth this wild excess of insolence<br/> +Lodge in you? wherefore kick you ’gainst that will<br/> +Ne’er frustrate of its end, and which so oft<br/> +Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?<br/> +What profits at the fays to but the horn?<br/> +Your Cerberus, if ye remember, hence<br/> +Bears still, peel’d of their hair, his throat and maw.” +</p> + +<p> +This said, he turn’d back o’er the filthy way,<br/> +And syllable to us spake none, but wore<br/> +The semblance of a man by other care<br/> +Beset, and keenly press’d, than thought of him<br/> +Who in his presence stands. Then we our steps<br/> +Toward that territory mov’d, secure<br/> +After the hallow’d words. We unoppos’d<br/> +There enter’d; and my mind eager to learn<br/> +What state a fortress like to that might hold,<br/> +I soon as enter’d throw mine eye around,<br/> +And see on every part wide-stretching space<br/> +Replete with bitter pain and torment ill. +</p> + +<p> +As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,<br/> +Or as at Pola, near Quarnaro’s gulf,<br/> +That closes Italy and laves her bounds,<br/> +The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;<br/> +So was it here, save what in horror here<br/> +Excell’d: for ’midst the graves were scattered flames,<br/> +Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn’d,<br/> +That iron for no craft there hotter needs. +</p> + +<p> +Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath<br/> +From them forth issu’d lamentable moans,<br/> +Such as the sad and tortur’d well might raise. +</p> + +<p> +I thus: “Master! say who are these, interr’d<br/> +Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear<br/> +The dolorous sighs?” He answer thus return’d: +</p> + +<p> +“The arch-heretics are here, accompanied<br/> +By every sect their followers; and much more,<br/> +Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like<br/> +With like is buried; and the monuments<br/> +Are different in degrees of heat.” This said,<br/> +He to the right hand turning, on we pass’d<br/> +Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.X"></a>CANTO X</h2> + +<p> +Now by a secret pathway we proceed,<br/> +Between the walls, that hem the region round,<br/> +And the tormented souls: my master first,<br/> +I close behind his steps. “Virtue supreme!”<br/> +I thus began; “who through these ample orbs<br/> +In circuit lead’st me, even as thou will’st,<br/> +Speak thou, and satisfy my wish. May those,<br/> +Who lie within these sepulchres, be seen?<br/> +Already all the lids are rais’d, and none<br/> +O’er them keeps watch.” He thus in answer spake<br/> +“They shall be closed all, what-time they here<br/> +From Josaphat return’d shall come, and bring<br/> +Their bodies, which above they now have left.<br/> +The cemetery on this part obtain<br/> +With Epicurus all his followers,<br/> +Who with the body make the spirit die.<br/> +Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon<br/> +Both to the question ask’d, and to the wish,<br/> +Which thou conceal’st in silence.” I replied:<br/> +“I keep not, guide belov’d! from thee my heart<br/> +Secreted, but to shun vain length of words,<br/> +A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself.” +</p> + +<p> +“O Tuscan! thou who through the city of fire<br/> +Alive art passing, so discreet of speech!<br/> +Here please thee stay awhile. Thy utterance<br/> +Declares the place of thy nativity<br/> +To be that noble land, with which perchance<br/> +I too severely dealt.” Sudden that sound<br/> +Forth issu’d from a vault, whereat in fear<br/> +I somewhat closer to my leader’s side<br/> +Approaching, he thus spake: “What dost thou? Turn.<br/> +Lo, Farinata, there! who hath himself<br/> +Uplifted: from his girdle upwards all<br/> +Expos’d behold him.” On his face was mine<br/> +Already fix’d; his breast and forehead there<br/> +Erecting, seem’d as in high scorn he held<br/> +E’en hell. Between the sepulchres to him<br/> +My guide thrust me with fearless hands and prompt,<br/> +This warning added: “See thy words be clear!” +</p> + +<p> +He, soon as there I stood at the tomb’s foot,<br/> +Ey’d me a space, then in disdainful mood<br/> +Address’d me: “Say, what ancestors were thine?” +</p> + +<p> +I, willing to obey him, straight reveal’d<br/> +The whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow<br/> +Somewhat uplifting, cried: “Fiercely were they<br/> +Adverse to me, my party, and the blood<br/> +From whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad<br/> +Scatter’d them.” “Though driv’n out, yet they each time<br/> +From all parts,” answer’d I, “return’d; an art<br/> +Which yours have shown, they are not skill’d to learn.” +</p> + +<p> +Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw,<br/> +Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin,<br/> +Leaning, methought, upon its knees uprais’d.<br/> +It look’d around, as eager to explore<br/> +If there were other with me; but perceiving<br/> +That fond imagination quench’d, with tears<br/> +Thus spake: “If thou through this blind prison go’st.<br/> +Led by thy lofty genius and profound,<br/> +Where is my son? and wherefore not with thee?” +</p> + +<p> +I straight replied: “Not of myself I come,<br/> +By him, who there expects me, through this clime<br/> +Conducted, whom perchance Guido thy son<br/> +Had in contempt.” Already had his words<br/> +And mode of punishment read me his name,<br/> +Whence I so fully answer’d. He at once<br/> +Exclaim’d, up starting, “How! said’st thou he HAD?<br/> +No longer lives he? Strikes not on his eye<br/> +The blessed daylight?” Then of some delay<br/> +I made ere my reply aware, down fell<br/> +Supine, not after forth appear’d he more. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom<br/> +I yet was station’d, chang’d not count’nance stern,<br/> +Nor mov’d the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.<br/> +“And if,” continuing the first discourse,<br/> +“They in this art,” he cried, “small skill have shown,<br/> +That doth torment me more e’en than this bed.<br/> +But not yet fifty times shall be relum’d<br/> +Her aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,<br/> +Ere thou shalt know the full weight of that art.<br/> +So to the pleasant world mayst thou return,<br/> +As thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,<br/> +Against my kin this people is so fell?” +</p> + +<p> +“The slaughter and great havoc,” I replied,<br/> +“That colour’d Arbia’s flood with crimson stain—<br/> +To these impute, that in our hallow’d dome<br/> +Such orisons ascend.” Sighing he shook<br/> +The head, then thus resum’d: “In that affray<br/> +I stood not singly, nor without just cause<br/> +Assuredly should with the rest have stirr’d;<br/> +But singly there I stood, when by consent<br/> +Of all, Florence had to the ground been raz’d,<br/> +The one who openly forbad the deed.” +</p> + +<p> +“So may thy lineage find at last repose,”<br/> +I thus adjur’d him, “as thou solve this knot,<br/> +Which now involves my mind. If right I hear,<br/> +Ye seem to view beforehand, that which time<br/> +Leads with him, of the present uninform’d.” +</p> + +<p> +“We view, as one who hath an evil sight,”<br/> +He answer’d, “plainly, objects far remote:<br/> +So much of his large spendour yet imparts<br/> +The’ Almighty Ruler; but when they approach<br/> +Or actually exist, our intellect<br/> +Then wholly fails, nor of your human state<br/> +Except what others bring us know we aught.<br/> +Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all<br/> +Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,<br/> +When on futurity the portals close.” +</p> + +<p> +Then conscious of my fault, and by remorse<br/> +Smitten, I added thus: “Now shalt thou say<br/> +To him there fallen, that his offspring still<br/> +Is to the living join’d; and bid him know,<br/> +That if from answer silent I abstain’d,<br/> +’Twas that my thought was occupied intent<br/> +Upon that error, which thy help hath solv’d.” +</p> + +<p> +But now my master summoning me back<br/> +I heard, and with more eager haste besought<br/> +The spirit to inform me, who with him<br/> +Partook his lot. He answer thus return’d: +</p> + +<p> +“More than a thousand with me here are laid<br/> +Within is Frederick, second of that name,<br/> +And the Lord Cardinal, and of the rest<br/> +I speak not.” He, this said, from sight withdrew.<br/> +But I my steps towards the ancient bard<br/> +Reverting, ruminated on the words<br/> +Betokening me such ill. Onward he mov’d,<br/> +And thus in going question’d: “Whence the’ amaze<br/> +That holds thy senses wrapt?” I satisfied<br/> +The’ inquiry, and the sage enjoin’d me straight:<br/> +“Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard<br/> +To thee importing harm; and note thou this,”<br/> +With his rais’d finger bidding me take heed, +</p> + +<p> +“When thou shalt stand before her gracious beam,<br/> +Whose bright eye all surveys, she of thy life<br/> +The future tenour will to thee unfold.” +</p> + +<p> +Forthwith he to the left hand turn’d his feet:<br/> +We left the wall, and tow’rds the middle space<br/> +Went by a path, that to a valley strikes;<br/> +Which e’en thus high exhal’d its noisome steam. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XI"></a>CANTO XI</h2> + +<p> +Upon the utmost verge of a high bank,<br/> +By craggy rocks environ’d round, we came,<br/> +Where woes beneath more cruel yet were stow’d:<br/> +And here to shun the horrible excess<br/> +Of fetid exhalation, upward cast<br/> +From the profound abyss, behind the lid<br/> +Of a great monument we stood retir’d, +</p> + +<p> +Whereon this scroll I mark’d: “I have in charge<br/> +Pope Anastasius, whom Photinus drew<br/> +From the right path.—Ere our descent behooves<br/> +We make delay, that somewhat first the sense,<br/> +To the dire breath accustom’d, afterward<br/> +Regard it not.” My master thus; to whom<br/> +Answering I spake: “Some compensation find<br/> +That the time past not wholly lost.” He then:<br/> +“Lo! how my thoughts e’en to thy wishes tend!<br/> +My son! within these rocks,” he thus began,<br/> +“Are three close circles in gradation plac’d,<br/> +As these which now thou leav’st. Each one is full<br/> +Of spirits accurs’d; but that the sight alone<br/> +Hereafter may suffice thee, listen how<br/> +And for what cause in durance they abide. +</p> + +<p> +“Of all malicious act abhorr’d in heaven,<br/> +The end is injury; and all such end<br/> +Either by force or fraud works other’s woe<br/> +But fraud, because of man peculiar evil,<br/> +To God is more displeasing; and beneath<br/> +The fraudulent are therefore doom’d to’ endure<br/> +Severer pang. The violent occupy<br/> +All the first circle; and because to force<br/> +Three persons are obnoxious, in three rounds<br/> +Hach within other sep’rate is it fram’d.<br/> +To God, his neighbour, and himself, by man<br/> +Force may be offer’d; to himself I say<br/> +And his possessions, as thou soon shalt hear<br/> +At full. Death, violent death, and painful wounds<br/> +Upon his neighbour he inflicts; and wastes<br/> +By devastation, pillage, and the flames,<br/> +His substance. Slayers, and each one that smites<br/> +In malice, plund’rers, and all robbers, hence<br/> +The torment undergo of the first round<br/> +In different herds. Man can do violence<br/> +To himself and his own blessings: and for this<br/> +He in the second round must aye deplore<br/> +With unavailing penitence his crime,<br/> +Whoe’er deprives himself of life and light,<br/> +In reckless lavishment his talent wastes,<br/> +And sorrows there where he should dwell in joy.<br/> +To God may force be offer’d, in the heart<br/> +Denying and blaspheming his high power,<br/> +And nature with her kindly law contemning.<br/> +And thence the inmost round marks with its seal<br/> +Sodom and Cahors, and all such as speak<br/> +Contemptuously’ of the Godhead in their hearts. +</p> + +<p> +“Fraud, that in every conscience leaves a sting,<br/> +May be by man employ’d on one, whose trust<br/> +He wins, or on another who withholds<br/> +Strict confidence. Seems as the latter way<br/> +Broke but the bond of love which Nature makes.<br/> +Whence in the second circle have their nest<br/> +Dissimulation, witchcraft, flatteries,<br/> +Theft, falsehood, simony, all who seduce<br/> +To lust, or set their honesty at pawn,<br/> +With such vile scum as these. The other way<br/> +Forgets both Nature’s general love, and that<br/> +Which thereto added afterwards gives birth<br/> +To special faith. Whence in the lesser circle,<br/> +Point of the universe, dread seat of Dis,<br/> +The traitor is eternally consum’d.” +</p> + +<p> +I thus: “Instructor, clearly thy discourse<br/> +Proceeds, distinguishing the hideous chasm<br/> +And its inhabitants with skill exact.<br/> +But tell me this: they of the dull, fat pool,<br/> +Whom the rain beats, or whom the tempest drives,<br/> +Or who with tongues so fierce conflicting meet,<br/> +Wherefore within the city fire-illum’d<br/> +Are not these punish’d, if God’s wrath be on them?<br/> +And if it be not, wherefore in such guise<br/> +Are they condemned?” He answer thus return’d:<br/> +“Wherefore in dotage wanders thus thy mind,<br/> +Not so accustom’d? or what other thoughts<br/> +Possess it? Dwell not in thy memory<br/> +The words, wherein thy ethic page describes<br/> +Three dispositions adverse to Heav’n’s will,<br/> +Incont’nence, malice, and mad brutishness,<br/> +And how incontinence the least offends<br/> +God, and least guilt incurs? If well thou note<br/> +This judgment, and remember who they are,<br/> +Without these walls to vain repentance doom’d,<br/> +Thou shalt discern why they apart are plac’d<br/> +From these fell spirits, and less wreakful pours<br/> +Justice divine on them its vengeance down.” +</p> + +<p> +“O Sun! who healest all imperfect sight,<br/> +Thou so content’st me, when thou solv’st my doubt,<br/> +That ignorance not less than knowledge charms.<br/> +Yet somewhat turn thee back,” I in these words<br/> +Continu’d, “where thou saidst, that usury<br/> +Offends celestial Goodness; and this knot<br/> +Perplex’d unravel.” He thus made reply:<br/> +“Philosophy, to an attentive ear,<br/> +Clearly points out, not in one part alone,<br/> +How imitative nature takes her course<br/> +From the celestial mind and from its art:<br/> +And where her laws the Stagyrite unfolds,<br/> +Not many leaves scann’d o’er, observing well<br/> +Thou shalt discover, that your art on her<br/> +Obsequious follows, as the learner treads<br/> +In his instructor’s step, so that your art<br/> +Deserves the name of second in descent<br/> +From God. These two, if thou recall to mind<br/> +Creation’s holy book, from the beginning<br/> +Were the right source of life and excellence<br/> +To human kind. But in another path<br/> +The usurer walks; and Nature in herself<br/> +And in her follower thus he sets at nought,<br/> +Placing elsewhere his hope. But follow now<br/> +My steps on forward journey bent; for now<br/> +The Pisces play with undulating glance<br/> +Along the’ horizon, and the Wain lies all<br/> +O’er the north-west; and onward there a space<br/> +Is our steep passage down the rocky height.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XII"></a>CANTO XII</h2> + +<p> +The place where to descend the precipice<br/> +We came, was rough as Alp, and on its verge<br/> +Such object lay, as every eye would shun. +</p> + +<p> +As is that ruin, which Adice’s stream<br/> +On this side Trento struck, should’ring the wave,<br/> +Or loos’d by earthquake or for lack of prop;<br/> +For from the mountain’s summit, whence it mov’d<br/> +To the low level, so the headlong rock<br/> +Is shiver’d, that some passage it might give<br/> +To him who from above would pass; e’en such<br/> +Into the chasm was that descent: and there<br/> +At point of the disparted ridge lay stretch’d<br/> +The infamy of Crete, detested brood<br/> +Of the feign’d heifer: and at sight of us<br/> +It gnaw’d itself, as one with rage distract. +</p> + +<p> +To him my guide exclaim’d: “Perchance thou deem’st<br/> +The King of Athens here, who, in the world<br/> +Above, thy death contriv’d. Monster! avaunt!<br/> +He comes not tutor’d by thy sister’s art,<br/> +But to behold your torments is he come.” +</p> + +<p> +Like to a bull, that with impetuous spring<br/> +Darts, at the moment when the fatal blow<br/> +Hath struck him, but unable to proceed<br/> +Plunges on either side; so saw I plunge<br/> +The Minotaur; whereat the sage exclaim’d:<br/> +“Run to the passage! while he storms, ’t is well<br/> +That thou descend.” Thus down our road we took<br/> +Through those dilapidated crags, that oft<br/> +Mov’d underneath my feet, to weight like theirs<br/> +Unus’d. I pond’ring went, and thus he spake: +</p> + +<p> +“Perhaps thy thoughts are of this ruin’d steep,<br/> +Guarded by the brute violence, which I<br/> +Have vanquish’d now. Know then, that when I erst<br/> +Hither descended to the nether hell,<br/> +This rock was not yet fallen. But past doubt<br/> +(If well I mark) not long ere He arrived,<br/> +Who carried off from Dis the mighty spoil<br/> +Of the highest circle, then through all its bounds<br/> +Such trembling seiz’d the deep concave and foul,<br/> +I thought the universe was thrill’d with love,<br/> +Whereby, there are who deem, the world hath oft<br/> +Been into chaos turn’d: and in that point,<br/> +Here, and elsewhere, that old rock toppled down.<br/> +But fix thine eyes beneath: the river of blood<br/> +Approaches, in the which all those are steep’d,<br/> +Who have by violence injur’d.” O blind lust!<br/> +O foolish wrath! who so dost goad us on<br/> +In the brief life, and in the eternal then<br/> +Thus miserably o’erwhelm us. I beheld<br/> +An ample foss, that in a bow was bent,<br/> +As circling all the plain; for so my guide<br/> +Had told. Between it and the rampart’s base<br/> +On trail ran Centaurs, with keen arrows arm’d,<br/> +As to the chase they on the earth were wont. +</p> + +<p> +At seeing us descend they each one stood;<br/> +And issuing from the troop, three sped with bows<br/> +And missile weapons chosen first; of whom<br/> +One cried from far: “Say to what pain ye come<br/> +Condemn’d, who down this steep have journied? Speak<br/> +From whence ye stand, or else the bow I draw.” +</p> + +<p> +To whom my guide: “Our answer shall be made<br/> +To Chiron, there, when nearer him we come.<br/> +Ill was thy mind, thus ever quick and rash.” +</p> + +<p> +Then me he touch’d, and spake: “Nessus is this,<br/> +Who for the fair Deianira died,<br/> +And wrought himself revenge for his own fate.<br/> +He in the midst, that on his breast looks down,<br/> +Is the great Chiron who Achilles nurs’d;<br/> +That other Pholus, prone to wrath.” Around<br/> +The foss these go by thousands, aiming shafts<br/> +At whatsoever spirit dares emerge<br/> +From out the blood, more than his guilt allows. +</p> + +<p> +We to those beasts, that rapid strode along,<br/> +Drew near, when Chiron took an arrow forth,<br/> +And with the notch push’d back his shaggy beard<br/> +To the cheek-bone, then his great mouth to view<br/> +Exposing, to his fellows thus exclaim’d:<br/> +“Are ye aware, that he who comes behind<br/> +Moves what he touches? The feet of the dead<br/> +Are not so wont.” My trusty guide, who now<br/> +Stood near his breast, where the two natures join,<br/> +Thus made reply: “He is indeed alive,<br/> +And solitary so must needs by me<br/> +Be shown the gloomy vale, thereto induc’d<br/> +By strict necessity, not by delight.<br/> +She left her joyful harpings in the sky,<br/> +Who this new office to my care consign’d.<br/> +He is no robber, no dark spirit I.<br/> +But by that virtue, which empowers my step<br/> +To treat so wild a path, grant us, I pray,<br/> +One of thy band, whom we may trust secure,<br/> +Who to the ford may lead us, and convey<br/> +Across, him mounted on his back; for he<br/> +Is not a spirit that may walk the air.” +</p> + +<p> +Then on his right breast turning, Chiron thus<br/> +To Nessus spake: “Return, and be their guide.<br/> +And if ye chance to cross another troop,<br/> +Command them keep aloof.” Onward we mov’d,<br/> +The faithful escort by our side, along<br/> +The border of the crimson-seething flood,<br/> +Whence from those steep’d within loud shrieks arose. +</p> + +<p> +Some there I mark’d, as high as to their brow<br/> +Immers’d, of whom the mighty Centaur thus:<br/> +“These are the souls of tyrants, who were given<br/> +To blood and rapine. Here they wail aloud<br/> +Their merciless wrongs. Here Alexander dwells,<br/> +And Dionysius fell, who many a year<br/> +Of woe wrought for fair Sicily. That brow<br/> +Whereon the hair so jetty clust’ring hangs,<br/> +Is Azzolino; that with flaxen locks<br/> +Obizzo’ of Este, in the world destroy’d<br/> +By his foul step-son.” To the bard rever’d<br/> +I turned me round, and thus he spake; “Let him<br/> +Be to thee now first leader, me but next<br/> +To him in rank.” Then farther on a space<br/> +The Centaur paus’d, near some, who at the throat<br/> +Were extant from the wave; and showing us<br/> +A spirit by itself apart retir’d,<br/> +Exclaim’d: “He in God’s bosom smote the heart,<br/> +Which yet is honour’d on the bank of Thames.” +</p> + +<p> +A race I next espied, who held the head,<br/> +And even all the bust above the stream.<br/> +’Midst these I many a face remember’d well.<br/> +Thus shallow more and more the blood became,<br/> +So that at last it but imbru’d the feet;<br/> +And there our passage lay athwart the foss. +</p> + +<p> +“As ever on this side the boiling wave<br/> +Thou seest diminishing,” the Centaur said,<br/> +“So on the other, be thou well assur’d,<br/> +It lower still and lower sinks its bed,<br/> +Till in that part it reuniting join,<br/> +Where ’t is the lot of tyranny to mourn.<br/> +There Heav’n’s stern justice lays chastising hand<br/> +On Attila, who was the scourge of earth,<br/> +On Sextus, and on Pyrrhus, and extracts<br/> +Tears ever by the seething flood unlock’d<br/> +From the Rinieri, of Corneto this,<br/> +Pazzo the other nam’d, who fill’d the ways<br/> +With violence and war.” This said, he turn’d,<br/> +And quitting us, alone repass’d the ford. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XIII"></a>CANTO XIII</h2> + +<p> +Ere Nessus yet had reach’d the other bank,<br/> +We enter’d on a forest, where no track<br/> +Of steps had worn a way. Not verdant there<br/> +The foliage, but of dusky hue; not light<br/> +The boughs and tapering, but with knares deform’d<br/> +And matted thick: fruits there were none, but thorns<br/> +Instead, with venom fill’d. Less sharp than these,<br/> +Less intricate the brakes, wherein abide<br/> +Those animals, that hate the cultur’d fields,<br/> +Betwixt Corneto and Cecina’s stream. +</p> + +<p> +Here the brute Harpies make their nest, the same<br/> +Who from the Strophades the Trojan band<br/> +Drove with dire boding of their future woe.<br/> +Broad are their pennons, of the human form<br/> +Their neck and count’nance, arm’d with talons keen<br/> +The feet, and the huge belly fledge with wings<br/> +These sit and wail on the drear mystic wood. +</p> + +<p> +The kind instructor in these words began:<br/> +“Ere farther thou proceed, know thou art now<br/> +I’ th’ second round, and shalt be, till thou come<br/> +Upon the horrid sand: look therefore well<br/> +Around thee, and such things thou shalt behold,<br/> +As would my speech discredit.” On all sides<br/> +I heard sad plainings breathe, and none could see<br/> +From whom they might have issu’d. In amaze<br/> +Fast bound I stood. He, as it seem’d, believ’d,<br/> +That I had thought so many voices came<br/> +From some amid those thickets close conceal’d,<br/> +And thus his speech resum’d: “If thou lop off<br/> +A single twig from one of those ill plants,<br/> +The thought thou hast conceiv’d shall vanish quite.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereat a little stretching forth my hand,<br/> +From a great wilding gather’d I a branch,<br/> +And straight the trunk exclaim’d: “Why pluck’st thou me?” +</p> + +<p> +Then as the dark blood trickled down its side,<br/> +These words it added: “Wherefore tear’st me thus?<br/> +Is there no touch of mercy in thy breast?<br/> +Men once were we, that now are rooted here.<br/> +Thy hand might well have spar’d us, had we been<br/> +The souls of serpents.” As a brand yet green,<br/> +That burning at one end from the’ other sends<br/> +A groaning sound, and hisses with the wind<br/> +That forces out its way, so burst at once,<br/> +Forth from the broken splinter words and blood. +</p> + +<p> +I, letting fall the bough, remain’d as one<br/> +Assail’d by terror, and the sage replied:<br/> +“If he, O injur’d spirit! could have believ’d<br/> +What he hath seen but in my verse describ’d,<br/> +He never against thee had stretch’d his hand.<br/> +But I, because the thing surpass’d belief,<br/> +Prompted him to this deed, which even now<br/> +Myself I rue. But tell me, who thou wast;<br/> +That, for this wrong to do thee some amends,<br/> +In the upper world (for thither to return<br/> +Is granted him) thy fame he may revive.” +</p> + +<p> +“That pleasant word of thine,” the trunk replied<br/> +“Hath so inveigled me, that I from speech<br/> +Cannot refrain, wherein if I indulge<br/> +A little longer, in the snare detain’d,<br/> +Count it not grievous. I it was, who held<br/> +Both keys to Frederick’s heart, and turn’d the wards,<br/> +Opening and shutting, with a skill so sweet,<br/> +That besides me, into his inmost breast<br/> +Scarce any other could admittance find.<br/> +The faith I bore to my high charge was such,<br/> +It cost me the life-blood that warm’d my veins.<br/> +The harlot, who ne’er turn’d her gloating eyes<br/> +From Caesar’s household, common vice and pest<br/> +Of courts, ’gainst me inflam’d the minds of all;<br/> +And to Augustus they so spread the flame,<br/> +That my glad honours chang’d to bitter woes.<br/> +My soul, disdainful and disgusted, sought<br/> +Refuge in death from scorn, and I became,<br/> +Just as I was, unjust toward myself.<br/> +By the new roots, which fix this stem, I swear,<br/> +That never faith I broke to my liege lord,<br/> +Who merited such honour; and of you,<br/> +If any to the world indeed return,<br/> +Clear he from wrong my memory, that lies<br/> +Yet prostrate under envy’s cruel blow.” +</p> + +<p> +First somewhat pausing, till the mournful words<br/> +Were ended, then to me the bard began:<br/> +“Lose not the time; but speak and of him ask,<br/> +If more thou wish to learn.” Whence I replied:<br/> +“Question thou him again of whatsoe’er<br/> +Will, as thou think’st, content me; for no power<br/> +Have I to ask, such pity’ is at my heart.” +</p> + +<p> +He thus resum’d; “So may he do for thee<br/> +Freely what thou entreatest, as thou yet<br/> +Be pleas’d, imprison’d Spirit! to declare,<br/> +How in these gnarled joints the soul is tied;<br/> +And whether any ever from such frame<br/> +Be loosen’d, if thou canst, that also tell.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereat the trunk breath’d hard, and the wind soon<br/> +Chang’d into sounds articulate like these; +</p> + +<p> +“Briefly ye shall be answer’d. When departs<br/> +The fierce soul from the body, by itself<br/> +Thence torn asunder, to the seventh gulf<br/> +By Minos doom’d, into the wood it falls,<br/> +No place assign’d, but wheresoever chance<br/> +Hurls it, there sprouting, as a grain of spelt,<br/> +It rises to a sapling, growing thence<br/> +A savage plant. The Harpies, on its leaves<br/> +Then feeding, cause both pain and for the pain<br/> +A vent to grief. We, as the rest, shall come<br/> +For our own spoils, yet not so that with them<br/> +We may again be clad; for what a man<br/> +Takes from himself it is not just he have.<br/> +Here we perforce shall drag them; and throughout<br/> +The dismal glade our bodies shall be hung,<br/> +Each on the wild thorn of his wretched shade.” +</p> + +<p> +Attentive yet to listen to the trunk<br/> +We stood, expecting farther speech, when us<br/> +A noise surpris’d, as when a man perceives<br/> +The wild boar and the hunt approach his place<br/> +Of station’d watch, who of the beasts and boughs<br/> +Loud rustling round him hears. And lo! there came<br/> +Two naked, torn with briers, in headlong flight,<br/> +That they before them broke each fan o’ th’ wood.<br/> +“Haste now,” the foremost cried, “now haste thee death!” +</p> + +<p> +The’ other, as seem’d, impatient of delay<br/> +Exclaiming, “Lano! not so bent for speed<br/> +Thy sinews, in the lists of Toppo’s field.”<br/> +And then, for that perchance no longer breath<br/> +Suffic’d him, of himself and of a bush<br/> +One group he made. Behind them was the wood<br/> +Full of black female mastiffs, gaunt and fleet,<br/> +As greyhounds that have newly slipp’d the leash.<br/> +On him, who squatted down, they stuck their fangs,<br/> +And having rent him piecemeal bore away<br/> +The tortur’d limbs. My guide then seiz’d my hand,<br/> +And led me to the thicket, which in vain<br/> +Mourn’d through its bleeding wounds: “O Giacomo<br/> +Of Sant’ Andrea! what avails it thee,”<br/> +It cried, “that of me thou hast made thy screen?<br/> +For thy ill life what blame on me recoils?” +</p> + +<p> +When o’er it he had paus’d, my master spake:<br/> +“Say who wast thou, that at so many points<br/> +Breath’st out with blood thy lamentable speech?” +</p> + +<p> +He answer’d: “Oh, ye spirits: arriv’d in time<br/> +To spy the shameful havoc, that from me<br/> +My leaves hath sever’d thus, gather them up,<br/> +And at the foot of their sad parent-tree<br/> +Carefully lay them. In that city’ I dwelt,<br/> +Who for the Baptist her first patron chang’d,<br/> +Whence he for this shall cease not with his art<br/> +To work her woe: and if there still remain’d not<br/> +On Arno’s passage some faint glimpse of him,<br/> +Those citizens, who rear’d once more her walls<br/> +Upon the ashes left by Attila,<br/> +Had labour’d without profit of their toil.<br/> +I slung the fatal noose from my own roof.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XIV"></a>CANTO XIV</h2> + +<p> +Soon as the charity of native land<br/> +Wrought in my bosom, I the scatter’d leaves<br/> +Collected, and to him restor’d, who now<br/> +Was hoarse with utt’rance. To the limit thence<br/> +We came, which from the third the second round<br/> +Divides, and where of justice is display’d<br/> +Contrivance horrible. Things then first seen<br/> +Clearlier to manifest, I tell how next<br/> +A plain we reach’d, that from its sterile bed<br/> +Each plant repell’d. The mournful wood waves round<br/> +Its garland on all sides, as round the wood<br/> +Spreads the sad foss. There, on the very edge,<br/> +Our steps we stay’d. It was an area wide<br/> +Of arid sand and thick, resembling most<br/> +The soil that erst by Cato’s foot was trod. +</p> + +<p> +Vengeance of Heav’n! Oh! how shouldst thou be fear’d<br/> +By all, who read what here my eyes beheld! +</p> + +<p> +Of naked spirits many a flock I saw,<br/> +All weeping piteously, to different laws<br/> +Subjected: for on the’ earth some lay supine,<br/> +Some crouching close were seated, others pac’d<br/> +Incessantly around; the latter tribe,<br/> +More numerous, those fewer who beneath<br/> +The torment lay, but louder in their grief. +</p> + +<p> +O’er all the sand fell slowly wafting down<br/> +Dilated flakes of fire, as flakes of snow<br/> +On Alpine summit, when the wind is hush’d.<br/> +As in the torrid Indian clime, the son<br/> +Of Ammon saw upon his warrior band<br/> +Descending, solid flames, that to the ground<br/> +Came down: whence he bethought him with his troop<br/> +To trample on the soil; for easier thus<br/> +The vapour was extinguish’d, while alone;<br/> +So fell the eternal fiery flood, wherewith<br/> +The marble glow’d underneath, as under stove<br/> +The viands, doubly to augment the pain. +</p> + +<p> +Unceasing was the play of wretched hands,<br/> +Now this, now that way glancing, to shake off<br/> +The heat, still falling fresh. I thus began:<br/> +“Instructor! thou who all things overcom’st,<br/> +Except the hardy demons, that rush’d forth<br/> +To stop our entrance at the gate, say who<br/> +Is yon huge spirit, that, as seems, heeds not<br/> +The burning, but lies writhen in proud scorn,<br/> +As by the sultry tempest immatur’d?” +</p> + +<p> +Straight he himself, who was aware I ask’d<br/> +My guide of him, exclaim’d: “Such as I was<br/> +When living, dead such now I am. If Jove<br/> +Weary his workman out, from whom in ire<br/> +He snatch’d the lightnings, that at my last day<br/> +Transfix’d me, if the rest be weary out<br/> +At their black smithy labouring by turns<br/> +In Mongibello, while he cries aloud;<br/> +“Help, help, good Mulciber!” as erst he cried<br/> +In the Phlegraean warfare, and the bolts<br/> +Launch he full aim’d at me with all his might,<br/> +He never should enjoy a sweet revenge.” +</p> + +<p> +Then thus my guide, in accent higher rais’d<br/> +Than I before had heard him: “Capaneus!<br/> +Thou art more punish’d, in that this thy pride<br/> +Lives yet unquench’d: no torrent, save thy rage,<br/> +Were to thy fury pain proportion’d full.” +</p> + +<p> +Next turning round to me with milder lip<br/> +He spake: “This of the seven kings was one,<br/> +Who girt the Theban walls with siege, and held,<br/> +As still he seems to hold, God in disdain,<br/> +And sets his high omnipotence at nought.<br/> +But, as I told him, his despiteful mood<br/> +Is ornament well suits the breast that wears it.<br/> +Follow me now; and look thou set not yet<br/> +Thy foot in the hot sand, but to the wood<br/> +Keep ever close.” Silently on we pass’d<br/> +To where there gushes from the forest’s bound<br/> +A little brook, whose crimson’d wave yet lifts<br/> +My hair with horror. As the rill, that runs<br/> +From Bulicame, to be portion’d out<br/> +Among the sinful women; so ran this<br/> +Down through the sand, its bottom and each bank<br/> +Stone-built, and either margin at its side,<br/> +Whereon I straight perceiv’d our passage lay. +</p> + +<p> +“Of all that I have shown thee, since that gate<br/> +We enter’d first, whose threshold is to none<br/> +Denied, nought else so worthy of regard,<br/> +As is this river, has thine eye discern’d,<br/> +O’er which the flaming volley all is quench’d.” +</p> + +<p> +So spake my guide; and I him thence besought,<br/> +That having giv’n me appetite to know,<br/> +The food he too would give, that hunger crav’d. +</p> + +<p> +“In midst of ocean,” forthwith he began,<br/> +“A desolate country lies, which Crete is nam’d,<br/> +Under whose monarch in old times the world<br/> +Liv’d pure and chaste. A mountain rises there,<br/> +Call’d Ida, joyous once with leaves and streams,<br/> +Deserted now like a forbidden thing.<br/> +It was the spot which Rhea, Saturn’s spouse,<br/> +Chose for the secret cradle of her son;<br/> +And better to conceal him, drown’d in shouts<br/> +His infant cries. Within the mount, upright<br/> +An ancient form there stands and huge, that turns<br/> +His shoulders towards Damiata, and at Rome<br/> +As in his mirror looks. Of finest gold<br/> +His head is shap’d, pure silver are the breast<br/> +And arms; thence to the middle is of brass.<br/> +And downward all beneath well-temper’d steel,<br/> +Save the right foot of potter’s clay, on which<br/> +Than on the other more erect he stands,<br/> +Each part except the gold, is rent throughout;<br/> +And from the fissure tears distil, which join’d<br/> +Penetrate to that cave. They in their course<br/> +Thus far precipitated down the rock<br/> +Form Acheron, and Styx, and Phlegethon;<br/> +Then by this straiten’d channel passing hence<br/> +Beneath, e’en to the lowest depth of all,<br/> +Form there Cocytus, of whose lake (thyself<br/> +Shall see it) I here give thee no account.” +</p> + +<p> +Then I to him: “If from our world this sluice<br/> +Be thus deriv’d; wherefore to us but now<br/> +Appears it at this edge?” He straight replied:<br/> +“The place, thou know’st, is round; and though great part<br/> +Thou have already pass’d, still to the left<br/> +Descending to the nethermost, not yet<br/> +Hast thou the circuit made of the whole orb.<br/> +Wherefore if aught of new to us appear,<br/> +It needs not bring up wonder in thy looks.” +</p> + +<p> +Then I again inquir’d: “Where flow the streams<br/> +Of Phlegethon and Lethe? for of one<br/> +Thou tell’st not, and the other of that shower,<br/> +Thou say’st, is form’d.” He answer thus return’d:<br/> +“Doubtless thy questions all well pleas’d I hear.<br/> +Yet the red seething wave might have resolv’d<br/> +One thou proposest. Lethe thou shalt see,<br/> +But not within this hollow, in the place,<br/> +Whither to lave themselves the spirits go,<br/> +Whose blame hath been by penitence remov’d.”<br/> +He added: “Time is now we quit the wood.<br/> +Look thou my steps pursue: the margins give<br/> +Safe passage, unimpeded by the flames;<br/> +For over them all vapour is extinct.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XV"></a>CANTO XV</h2> + +<p> +One of the solid margins bears us now<br/> +Envelop’d in the mist, that from the stream<br/> +Arising, hovers o’er, and saves from fire<br/> +Both piers and water. As the Flemings rear<br/> +Their mound, ’twixt Ghent and Bruges, to chase back<br/> +The ocean, fearing his tumultuous tide<br/> +That drives toward them, or the Paduans theirs<br/> +Along the Brenta, to defend their towns<br/> +And castles, ere the genial warmth be felt<br/> +On Chiarentana’s top; such were the mounds,<br/> +So fram’d, though not in height or bulk to these<br/> +Made equal, by the master, whosoe’er<br/> +He was, that rais’d them here. We from the wood<br/> +Were not so far remov’d, that turning round<br/> +I might not have discern’d it, when we met<br/> +A troop of spirits, who came beside the pier. +</p> + +<p> +They each one ey’d us, as at eventide<br/> +One eyes another under a new moon,<br/> +And toward us sharpen’d their sight as keen,<br/> +As an old tailor at his needle’s eye. +</p> + +<p> +Thus narrowly explor’d by all the tribe,<br/> +I was agniz’d of one, who by the skirt<br/> +Caught me, and cried, “What wonder have we here!” +</p> + +<p> +And I, when he to me outstretch’d his arm,<br/> +Intently fix’d my ken on his parch’d looks,<br/> +That although smirch’d with fire, they hinder’d not<br/> +But I remember’d him; and towards his face<br/> +My hand inclining, answer’d: “Sir! Brunetto! +</p> + +<p> +“And art thou here?” He thus to me: “My son!<br/> +Oh let it not displease thee, if Brunetto<br/> +Latini but a little space with thee<br/> +Turn back, and leave his fellows to proceed.” +</p> + +<p> +I thus to him replied: “Much as I can,<br/> +I thereto pray thee; and if thou be willing,<br/> +That I here seat me with thee, I consent;<br/> +His leave, with whom I journey, first obtain’d.” +</p> + +<p> +“O son!” said he, “whoever of this throng<br/> +One instant stops, lies then a hundred years,<br/> +No fan to ventilate him, when the fire<br/> +Smites sorest. Pass thou therefore on. I close<br/> +Will at thy garments walk, and then rejoin<br/> +My troop, who go mourning their endless doom.” +</p> + +<p> +I dar’d not from the path descend to tread<br/> +On equal ground with him, but held my head<br/> +Bent down, as one who walks in reverent guise. +</p> + +<p> +“What chance or destiny,” thus he began,<br/> +“Ere the last day conducts thee here below?<br/> +And who is this, that shows to thee the way?” +</p> + +<p> +“There up aloft,” I answer’d, “in the life<br/> +Serene, I wander’d in a valley lost,<br/> +Before mine age had to its fullness reach’d.<br/> +But yester-morn I left it: then once more<br/> +Into that vale returning, him I met;<br/> +And by this path homeward he leads me back.” +</p> + +<p> +“If thou,” he answer’d, “follow but thy star,<br/> +Thou canst not miss at last a glorious haven:<br/> +Unless in fairer days my judgment err’d.<br/> +And if my fate so early had not chanc’d,<br/> +Seeing the heav’ns thus bounteous to thee, I<br/> +Had gladly giv’n thee comfort in thy work.<br/> +But that ungrateful and malignant race,<br/> +Who in old times came down from Fesole,<br/> +Ay and still smack of their rough mountain-flint,<br/> +Will for thy good deeds shew thee enmity.<br/> +Nor wonder; for amongst ill-savour’d crabs<br/> +It suits not the sweet fig-tree lay her fruit.<br/> +Old fame reports them in the world for blind,<br/> +Covetous, envious, proud. Look to it well:<br/> +Take heed thou cleanse thee of their ways. For thee<br/> +Thy fortune hath such honour in reserve,<br/> +That thou by either party shalt be crav’d<br/> +With hunger keen: but be the fresh herb far<br/> +From the goat’s tooth. The herd of Fesole<br/> +May of themselves make litter, not touch the plant,<br/> +If any such yet spring on their rank bed,<br/> +In which the holy seed revives, transmitted<br/> +From those true Romans, who still there remain’d,<br/> +When it was made the nest of so much ill.” +</p> + +<p> +“Were all my wish fulfill’d,” I straight replied,<br/> +“Thou from the confines of man’s nature yet<br/> +Hadst not been driven forth; for in my mind<br/> +Is fix’d, and now strikes full upon my heart<br/> +The dear, benign, paternal image, such<br/> +As thine was, when so lately thou didst teach me<br/> +The way for man to win eternity;<br/> +And how I priz’d the lesson, it behooves,<br/> +That, long as life endures, my tongue should speak,<br/> +What of my fate thou tell’st, that write I down:<br/> +And with another text to comment on<br/> +For her I keep it, the celestial dame,<br/> +Who will know all, if I to her arrive.<br/> +This only would I have thee clearly note:<br/> +That so my conscience have no plea against me;<br/> +Do fortune as she list, I stand prepar’d.<br/> +Not new or strange such earnest to mine ear.<br/> +Speed fortune then her wheel, as likes her best,<br/> +The clown his mattock; all things have their course.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereat my sapient guide upon his right<br/> +Turn’d himself back, then look’d at me and spake:<br/> +“He listens to good purpose who takes note.” +</p> + +<p> +I not the less still on my way proceed,<br/> +Discoursing with Brunetto, and inquire<br/> +Who are most known and chief among his tribe. +</p> + +<p> +“To know of some is well;” thus he replied,<br/> +“But of the rest silence may best beseem.<br/> +Time would not serve us for report so long.<br/> +In brief I tell thee, that all these were clerks,<br/> +Men of great learning and no less renown,<br/> +By one same sin polluted in the world.<br/> +With them is Priscian, and Accorso’s son<br/> +Francesco herds among that wretched throng:<br/> +And, if the wish of so impure a blotch<br/> +Possess’d thee, him thou also might’st have seen,<br/> +Who by the servants’ servant was transferr’d<br/> +From Arno’s seat to Bacchiglione, where<br/> +His ill-strain’d nerves he left. I more would add,<br/> +But must from farther speech and onward way<br/> +Alike desist, for yonder I behold<br/> +A mist new-risen on the sandy plain.<br/> +A company, with whom I may not sort,<br/> +Approaches. I commend my TREASURE to thee,<br/> +Wherein I yet survive; my sole request.” +</p> + +<p> +This said he turn’d, and seem’d as one of those,<br/> +Who o’er Verona’s champain try their speed<br/> +For the green mantle, and of them he seem’d,<br/> +Not he who loses but who gains the prize. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XVI"></a>CANTO XVI</h2> + +<p> +Now came I where the water’s din was heard,<br/> +As down it fell into the other round,<br/> +Resounding like the hum of swarming bees:<br/> +When forth together issu’d from a troop,<br/> +That pass’d beneath the fierce tormenting storm,<br/> +Three spirits, running swift. They towards us came,<br/> +And each one cried aloud, “Oh do thou stay!<br/> +Whom by the fashion of thy garb we deem<br/> +To be some inmate of our evil land.” +</p> + +<p> +Ah me! what wounds I mark’d upon their limbs,<br/> +Recent and old, inflicted by the flames!<br/> +E’en the remembrance of them grieves me yet. +</p> + +<p> +Attentive to their cry my teacher paus’d,<br/> +And turn’d to me his visage, and then spake;<br/> +“Wait now! our courtesy these merit well:<br/> +And were ’t not for the nature of the place,<br/> +Whence glide the fiery darts, I should have said,<br/> +That haste had better suited thee than them.” +</p> + +<p> +They, when we stopp’d, resum’d their ancient wail,<br/> +And soon as they had reach’d us, all the three<br/> +Whirl’d round together in one restless wheel.<br/> +As naked champions, smear’d with slippery oil,<br/> +Are wont intent to watch their place of hold<br/> +And vantage, ere in closer strife they meet;<br/> +Thus each one, as he wheel’d, his countenance<br/> +At me directed, so that opposite<br/> +The neck mov’d ever to the twinkling feet. +</p> + +<p> +“If misery of this drear wilderness,”<br/> +Thus one began, “added to our sad cheer<br/> +And destitute, do call forth scorn on us<br/> +And our entreaties, let our great renown<br/> +Incline thee to inform us who thou art,<br/> +That dost imprint with living feet unharm’d<br/> +The soil of Hell. He, in whose track thou see’st<br/> +My steps pursuing, naked though he be<br/> +And reft of all, was of more high estate<br/> +Than thou believest; grandchild of the chaste<br/> +Gualdrada, him they Guidoguerra call’d,<br/> +Who in his lifetime many a noble act<br/> +Achiev’d, both by his wisdom and his sword.<br/> +The other, next to me that beats the sand,<br/> +Is Aldobrandi, name deserving well,<br/> +In the’ upper world, of honour; and myself<br/> +Who in this torment do partake with them,<br/> +Am Rusticucci, whom, past doubt, my wife<br/> +Of savage temper, more than aught beside<br/> +Hath to this evil brought.” If from the fire<br/> +I had been shelter’d, down amidst them straight<br/> +I then had cast me, nor my guide, I deem,<br/> +Would have restrain’d my going; but that fear<br/> +Of the dire burning vanquish’d the desire,<br/> +Which made me eager of their wish’d embrace. +</p> + +<p> +I then began: “Not scorn, but grief much more,<br/> +Such as long time alone can cure, your doom<br/> +Fix’d deep within me, soon as this my lord<br/> +Spake words, whose tenour taught me to expect<br/> +That such a race, as ye are, was at hand.<br/> +I am a countryman of yours, who still<br/> +Affectionate have utter’d, and have heard<br/> +Your deeds and names renown’d. Leaving the gall<br/> +For the sweet fruit I go, that a sure guide<br/> +Hath promis’d to me. But behooves, that far<br/> +As to the centre first I downward tend.” +</p> + +<p> +“So may long space thy spirit guide thy limbs,”<br/> +He answer straight return’d; “and so thy fame<br/> +Shine bright, when thou art gone; as thou shalt tell,<br/> +If courtesy and valour, as they wont,<br/> +Dwell in our city, or have vanish’d clean?<br/> +For one amidst us late condemn’d to wail,<br/> +Borsiere, yonder walking with his peers,<br/> +Grieves us no little by the news he brings.” +</p> + +<p> +“An upstart multitude and sudden gains,<br/> +Pride and excess, O Florence! have in thee<br/> +Engender’d, so that now in tears thou mourn’st!”<br/> +Thus cried I with my face uprais’d, and they<br/> +All three, who for an answer took my words,<br/> +Look’d at each other, as men look when truth<br/> +Comes to their ear. “If thou at other times,”<br/> +They all at once rejoin’d, “so easily<br/> +Satisfy those, who question, happy thou,<br/> +Gifted with words, so apt to speak thy thought!<br/> +Wherefore if thou escape this darksome clime,<br/> +Returning to behold the radiant stars,<br/> +When thou with pleasure shalt retrace the past,<br/> +See that of us thou speak among mankind.” +</p> + +<p> +This said, they broke the circle, and so swift<br/> +Fled, that as pinions seem’d their nimble feet. +</p> + +<p> +Not in so short a time might one have said<br/> +“Amen,” as they had vanish’d. Straight my guide<br/> +Pursu’d his track. I follow’d; and small space<br/> +Had we pass’d onward, when the water’s sound<br/> +Was now so near at hand, that we had scarce<br/> +Heard one another’s speech for the loud din. +</p> + +<p> +E’en as the river, that holds on its course<br/> +Unmingled, from the mount of Vesulo,<br/> +On the left side of Apennine, toward<br/> +The east, which Acquacheta higher up<br/> +They call, ere it descend into the vale,<br/> +At Forli by that name no longer known,<br/> +Rebellows o’er Saint Benedict, roll’d on<br/> +From the’ Alpine summit down a precipice,<br/> +Where space enough to lodge a thousand spreads;<br/> +Thus downward from a craggy steep we found,<br/> +That this dark wave resounded, roaring loud,<br/> +So that the ear its clamour soon had stunn’d. +</p> + +<p> +I had a cord that brac’d my girdle round,<br/> +Wherewith I erst had thought fast bound to take<br/> +The painted leopard. This when I had all<br/> +Unloosen’d from me (so my master bade)<br/> +I gather’d up, and stretch’d it forth to him.<br/> +Then to the right he turn’d, and from the brink<br/> +Standing few paces distant, cast it down<br/> +Into the deep abyss. “And somewhat strange,”<br/> +Thus to myself I spake, “signal so strange<br/> +Betokens, which my guide with earnest eye<br/> +Thus follows.” Ah! what caution must men use<br/> +With those who look not at the deed alone,<br/> +But spy into the thoughts with subtle skill! +</p> + +<p> +“Quickly shall come,” he said, “what I expect,<br/> +Thine eye discover quickly, that whereof<br/> +Thy thought is dreaming.” Ever to that truth,<br/> +Which but the semblance of a falsehood wears,<br/> +A man, if possible, should bar his lip;<br/> +Since, although blameless, he incurs reproach.<br/> +But silence here were vain; and by these notes<br/> +Which now I sing, reader! I swear to thee,<br/> +So may they favour find to latest times!<br/> +That through the gross and murky air I spied<br/> +A shape come swimming up, that might have quell’d<br/> +The stoutest heart with wonder, in such guise<br/> +As one returns, who hath been down to loose<br/> +An anchor grappled fast against some rock,<br/> +Or to aught else that in the salt wave lies,<br/> +Who upward springing close draws in his feet. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XVII"></a>CANTO XVII</h2> + +<p> +“Lo! the fell monster with the deadly sting!<br/> +Who passes mountains, breaks through fenced walls<br/> +And firm embattled spears, and with his filth<br/> +Taints all the world!” Thus me my guide address’d,<br/> +And beckon’d him, that he should come to shore,<br/> +Near to the stony causeway’s utmost edge. +</p> + +<p> +Forthwith that image vile of fraud appear’d,<br/> +His head and upper part expos’d on land,<br/> +But laid not on the shore his bestial train.<br/> +His face the semblance of a just man’s wore,<br/> +So kind and gracious was its outward cheer;<br/> +The rest was serpent all: two shaggy claws<br/> +Reach’d to the armpits, and the back and breast,<br/> +And either side, were painted o’er with nodes<br/> +And orbits. Colours variegated more<br/> +Nor Turks nor Tartars e’er on cloth of state<br/> +With interchangeable embroidery wove,<br/> +Nor spread Arachne o’er her curious loom.<br/> +As ofttimes a light skiff, moor’d to the shore,<br/> +Stands part in water, part upon the land;<br/> +Or, as where dwells the greedy German boor,<br/> +The beaver settles watching for his prey;<br/> +So on the rim, that fenc’d the sand with rock,<br/> +Sat perch’d the fiend of evil. In the void<br/> +Glancing, his tail upturn’d its venomous fork,<br/> +With sting like scorpion’s arm’d. Then thus my guide:<br/> +“Now need our way must turn few steps apart,<br/> +Far as to that ill beast, who couches there.” +</p> + +<p> +Thereat toward the right our downward course<br/> +We shap’d, and, better to escape the flame<br/> +And burning marle, ten paces on the verge<br/> +Proceeded. Soon as we to him arrive,<br/> +A little further on mine eye beholds<br/> +A tribe of spirits, seated on the sand<br/> +Near the wide chasm. Forthwith my master spake:<br/> +“That to the full thy knowledge may extend<br/> +Of all this round contains, go now, and mark<br/> +The mien these wear: but hold not long discourse.<br/> +Till thou returnest, I with him meantime<br/> +Will parley, that to us he may vouchsafe<br/> +The aid of his strong shoulders.” Thus alone<br/> +Yet forward on the’ extremity I pac’d<br/> +Of that seventh circle, where the mournful tribe<br/> +Were seated. At the eyes forth gush’d their pangs.<br/> +Against the vapours and the torrid soil<br/> +Alternately their shifting hands they plied.<br/> +Thus use the dogs in summer still to ply<br/> +Their jaws and feet by turns, when bitten sore<br/> +By gnats, or flies, or gadflies swarming round. +</p> + +<p> +Noting the visages of some, who lay<br/> +Beneath the pelting of that dolorous fire,<br/> +One of them all I knew not; but perceiv’d,<br/> +That pendent from his neck each bore a pouch<br/> +With colours and with emblems various mark’d,<br/> +On which it seem’d as if their eye did feed. +</p> + +<p> +And when amongst them looking round I came,<br/> +A yellow purse I saw with azure wrought,<br/> +That wore a lion’s countenance and port.<br/> +Then still my sight pursuing its career,<br/> +Another I beheld, than blood more red.<br/> +A goose display of whiter wing than curd.<br/> +And one, who bore a fat and azure swine<br/> +Pictur’d on his white scrip, addressed me thus:<br/> +“What dost thou in this deep? Go now and know,<br/> +Since yet thou livest, that my neighbour here<br/> +Vitaliano on my left shall sit.<br/> +A Paduan with these Florentines am I.<br/> +Ofttimes they thunder in mine ears, exclaiming<br/> +‘O haste that noble knight! he who the pouch<br/> +With the three beaks will bring!’” This said, he writh’d<br/> +The mouth, and loll’d the tongue out, like an ox<br/> +That licks his nostrils. I, lest longer stay<br/> +He ill might brook, who bade me stay not long,<br/> +Backward my steps from those sad spirits turn’d. +</p> + +<p> +My guide already seated on the haunch<br/> +Of the fierce animal I found; and thus<br/> +He me encourag’d. “Be thou stout; be bold.<br/> +Down such a steep flight must we now descend!<br/> +Mount thou before: for that no power the tail<br/> +May have to harm thee, I will be i’ th’ midst.” +</p> + +<p> +As one, who hath an ague fit so near,<br/> +His nails already are turn’d blue, and he<br/> +Quivers all o’er, if he but eye the shade;<br/> +Such was my cheer at hearing of his words.<br/> +But shame soon interpos’d her threat, who makes<br/> +The servant bold in presence of his lord. +</p> + +<p> +I settled me upon those shoulders huge,<br/> +And would have said, but that the words to aid<br/> +My purpose came not, “Look thou clasp me firm!” +</p> + +<p> +But he whose succour then not first I prov’d,<br/> +Soon as I mounted, in his arms aloft,<br/> +Embracing, held me up, and thus he spake:<br/> +“Geryon! now move thee! be thy wheeling gyres<br/> +Of ample circuit, easy thy descent.<br/> +Think on th’ unusual burden thou sustain’st.” +</p> + +<p> +As a small vessel, back’ning out from land,<br/> +Her station quits; so thence the monster loos’d,<br/> +And when he felt himself at large, turn’d round<br/> +There where the breast had been, his forked tail.<br/> +Thus, like an eel, outstretch’d at length he steer’d,<br/> +Gath’ring the air up with retractile claws. +</p> + +<p> +Not greater was the dread when Phaeton<br/> +The reins let drop at random, whence high heaven,<br/> +Whereof signs yet appear, was wrapt in flames;<br/> +Nor when ill-fated Icarus perceiv’d,<br/> +By liquefaction of the scalded wax,<br/> +The trusted pennons loosen’d from his loins,<br/> +His sire exclaiming loud, “Ill way thou keep’st!”<br/> +Than was my dread, when round me on each part<br/> +The air I view’d, and other object none<br/> +Save the fell beast. He slowly sailing, wheels<br/> +His downward motion, unobserv’d of me,<br/> +But that the wind, arising to my face,<br/> +Breathes on me from below. Now on our right<br/> +I heard the cataract beneath us leap<br/> +With hideous crash; whence bending down to’ explore,<br/> +New terror I conceiv’d at the steep plunge: +</p> + +<p> +For flames I saw, and wailings smote mine ear:<br/> +So that all trembling close I crouch’d my limbs,<br/> +And then distinguish’d, unperceiv’d before,<br/> +By the dread torments that on every side<br/> +Drew nearer, how our downward course we wound. +</p> + +<p> +As falcon, that hath long been on the wing,<br/> +But lure nor bird hath seen, while in despair<br/> +The falconer cries, “Ah me! thou stoop’st to earth!”<br/> +Wearied descends, and swiftly down the sky<br/> +In many an orbit wheels, then lighting sits<br/> +At distance from his lord in angry mood;<br/> +So Geryon lighting places us on foot<br/> +Low down at base of the deep-furrow’d rock,<br/> +And, of his burden there discharg’d, forthwith<br/> +Sprang forward, like an arrow from the string. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XVIII"></a>CANTO XVIII</h2> + +<p> +There is a place within the depths of hell<br/> +Call’d Malebolge, all of rock dark-stain’d<br/> +With hue ferruginous, e’en as the steep<br/> +That round it circling winds. Right in the midst<br/> +Of that abominable region, yawns<br/> +A spacious gulf profound, whereof the frame<br/> +Due time shall tell. The circle, that remains,<br/> +Throughout its round, between the gulf and base<br/> +Of the high craggy banks, successive forms<br/> +Ten trenches, in its hollow bottom sunk. +</p> + +<p> +As where to guard the walls, full many a foss<br/> +Begirds some stately castle, sure defence<br/> +Affording to the space within, so here<br/> +Were model’d these; and as like fortresses<br/> +E’en from their threshold to the brink without,<br/> +Are flank’d with bridges; from the rock’s low base<br/> +Thus flinty paths advanc’d, that ’cross the moles<br/> +And dikes, struck onward far as to the gulf,<br/> +That in one bound collected cuts them off.<br/> +Such was the place, wherein we found ourselves<br/> +From Geryon’s back dislodg’d. The bard to left<br/> +Held on his way, and I behind him mov’d. +</p> + +<p> +On our right hand new misery I saw,<br/> +New pains, new executioners of wrath,<br/> +That swarming peopled the first chasm. Below<br/> +Were naked sinners. Hitherward they came,<br/> +Meeting our faces from the middle point,<br/> +With us beyond but with a larger stride.<br/> +E’en thus the Romans, when the year returns<br/> +Of Jubilee, with better speed to rid<br/> +The thronging multitudes, their means devise<br/> +For such as pass the bridge; that on one side<br/> +All front toward the castle, and approach<br/> +Saint Peter’s fane, on th’ other towards the mount. +</p> + +<p> +Each divers way along the grisly rock,<br/> +Horn’d demons I beheld, with lashes huge,<br/> +That on their back unmercifully smote.<br/> +Ah! how they made them bound at the first stripe! +</p> + +<p> +None for the second waited nor the third. +</p> + +<p> +Meantime as on I pass’d, one met my sight<br/> +Whom soon as view’d; “Of him,” cried I, “not yet<br/> +Mine eye hath had his fill.” With fixed gaze<br/> +I therefore scann’d him. Straight the teacher kind<br/> +Paus’d with me, and consented I should walk<br/> +Backward a space, and the tormented spirit,<br/> +Who thought to hide him, bent his visage down.<br/> +But it avail’d him nought; for I exclaim’d:<br/> +“Thou who dost cast thy eye upon the ground,<br/> +Unless thy features do belie thee much,<br/> +Venedico art thou. But what brings thee<br/> +Into this bitter seas’ning?” He replied:<br/> +“Unwillingly I answer to thy words.<br/> +But thy clear speech, that to my mind recalls<br/> +The world I once inhabited, constrains me.<br/> +Know then ’twas I who led fair Ghisola<br/> +To do the Marquis’ will, however fame<br/> +The shameful tale have bruited. Nor alone<br/> +Bologna hither sendeth me to mourn<br/> +Rather with us the place is so o’erthrong’d<br/> +That not so many tongues this day are taught,<br/> +Betwixt the Reno and Savena’s stream,<br/> +To answer SIPA in their country’s phrase.<br/> +And if of that securer proof thou need,<br/> +Remember but our craving thirst for gold.” +</p> + +<p> +Him speaking thus, a demon with his thong<br/> +Struck, and exclaim’d, “Away! corrupter! here<br/> +Women are none for sale.” Forthwith I join’d<br/> +My escort, and few paces thence we came<br/> +To where a rock forth issued from the bank.<br/> +That easily ascended, to the right<br/> +Upon its splinter turning, we depart<br/> +From those eternal barriers. When arriv’d,<br/> +Where underneath the gaping arch lets pass<br/> +The scourged souls: “Pause here,” the teacher said,<br/> +“And let these others miserable, now<br/> +Strike on thy ken, faces not yet beheld,<br/> +For that together they with us have walk’d.” +</p> + +<p> +From the old bridge we ey’d the pack, who came<br/> +From th’ other side towards us, like the rest,<br/> +Excoriate from the lash. My gentle guide,<br/> +By me unquestion’d, thus his speech resum’d:<br/> +“Behold that lofty shade, who this way tends,<br/> +And seems too woe-begone to drop a tear.<br/> +How yet the regal aspect he retains!<br/> +Jason is he, whose skill and prowess won<br/> +The ram from Colchos. To the Lemnian isle<br/> +His passage thither led him, when those bold<br/> +And pitiless women had slain all their males.<br/> +There he with tokens and fair witching words<br/> +Hypsipyle beguil’d, a virgin young,<br/> +Who first had all the rest herself beguil’d.<br/> +Impregnated he left her there forlorn.<br/> +Such is the guilt condemns him to this pain.<br/> +Here too Medea’s inj’ries are avenged.<br/> +All bear him company, who like deceit<br/> +To his have practis’d. And thus much to know<br/> +Of the first vale suffice thee, and of those<br/> +Whom its keen torments urge.” Now had we come<br/> +Where, crossing the next pier, the straighten’d path<br/> +Bestrides its shoulders to another arch. +</p> + +<p> +Hence in the second chasm we heard the ghosts,<br/> +Who jibber in low melancholy sounds,<br/> +With wide-stretch’d nostrils snort, and on themselves<br/> +Smite with their palms. Upon the banks a scurf<br/> +From the foul steam condens’d, encrusting hung,<br/> +That held sharp combat with the sight and smell. +</p> + +<p> +So hollow is the depth, that from no part,<br/> +Save on the summit of the rocky span,<br/> +Could I distinguish aught. Thus far we came;<br/> +And thence I saw, within the foss below,<br/> +A crowd immers’d in ordure, that appear’d<br/> +Draff of the human body. There beneath<br/> +Searching with eye inquisitive, I mark’d<br/> +One with his head so grim’d, ’t were hard to deem,<br/> +If he were clerk or layman. Loud he cried:<br/> +“Why greedily thus bendest more on me,<br/> +Than on these other filthy ones, thy ken?” +</p> + +<p> +“Because if true my mem’ry,” I replied,<br/> +“I heretofore have seen thee with dry locks,<br/> +And thou Alessio art of Lucca sprung.<br/> +Therefore than all the rest I scan thee more.” +</p> + +<p> +Then beating on his brain these words he spake:<br/> +“Me thus low down my flatteries have sunk,<br/> +Wherewith I ne’er enough could glut my tongue.” +</p> + +<p> +My leader thus: “A little further stretch<br/> +Thy face, that thou the visage well mayst note<br/> +Of that besotted, sluttish courtezan,<br/> +Who there doth rend her with defiled nails,<br/> +Now crouching down, now risen on her feet. +</p> + +<p> +“Thais is this, the harlot, whose false lip<br/> +Answer’d her doting paramour that ask’d,<br/> +‘Thankest me much!’—‘Say rather wondrously,’<br/> +And seeing this here satiate be our view.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XIX"></a>CANTO XIX</h2> + +<p> +Woe to thee, Simon Magus! woe to you,<br/> +His wretched followers! who the things of God,<br/> +Which should be wedded unto goodness, them,<br/> +Rapacious as ye are, do prostitute<br/> +For gold and silver in adultery!<br/> +Now must the trumpet sound for you, since yours<br/> +Is the third chasm. Upon the following vault<br/> +We now had mounted, where the rock impends<br/> +Directly o’er the centre of the foss. +</p> + +<p> +Wisdom Supreme! how wonderful the art,<br/> +Which thou dost manifest in heaven, in earth,<br/> +And in the evil world, how just a meed<br/> +Allotting by thy virtue unto all! +</p> + +<p> +I saw the livid stone, throughout the sides<br/> +And in its bottom full of apertures,<br/> +All equal in their width, and circular each,<br/> +Nor ample less nor larger they appear’d<br/> +Than in Saint John’s fair dome of me belov’d<br/> +Those fram’d to hold the pure baptismal streams,<br/> +One of the which I brake, some few years past,<br/> +To save a whelming infant; and be this<br/> +A seal to undeceive whoever doubts<br/> +The motive of my deed. From out the mouth<br/> +Of every one, emerg’d a sinner’s feet<br/> +And of the legs high upward as the calf<br/> +The rest beneath was hid. On either foot<br/> +The soles were burning, whence the flexile joints<br/> +Glanc’d with such violent motion, as had snapt<br/> +Asunder cords or twisted withs. As flame,<br/> +Feeding on unctuous matter, glides along<br/> +The surface, scarcely touching where it moves;<br/> +So here, from heel to point, glided the flames. +</p> + +<p> +“Master! say who is he, than all the rest<br/> +Glancing in fiercer agony, on whom<br/> +A ruddier flame doth prey?” I thus inquir’d. +</p> + +<p> +“If thou be willing,” he replied, “that I<br/> +Carry thee down, where least the slope bank falls,<br/> +He of himself shall tell thee and his wrongs.” +</p> + +<p> +I then: “As pleases thee to me is best.<br/> +Thou art my lord; and know’st that ne’er I quit<br/> +Thy will: what silence hides that knowest thou.”<br/> +Thereat on the fourth pier we came, we turn’d,<br/> +And on our left descended to the depth,<br/> +A narrow strait and perforated close.<br/> +Nor from his side my leader set me down,<br/> +Till to his orifice he brought, whose limb<br/> +Quiv’ring express’d his pang. “Whoe’er thou art,<br/> +Sad spirit! thus revers’d, and as a stake<br/> +Driv’n in the soil!” I in these words began,<br/> +“If thou be able, utter forth thy voice.” +</p> + +<p> +There stood I like the friar, that doth shrive<br/> +A wretch for murder doom’d, who e’en when fix’d,<br/> +Calleth him back, whence death awhile delays. +</p> + +<p> +He shouted: “Ha! already standest there?<br/> +Already standest there, O Boniface!<br/> +By many a year the writing play’d me false.<br/> +So early dost thou surfeit with the wealth,<br/> +For which thou fearedst not in guile to take<br/> +The lovely lady, and then mangle her?” +</p> + +<p> +I felt as those who, piercing not the drift<br/> +Of answer made them, stand as if expos’d<br/> +In mockery, nor know what to reply,<br/> +When Virgil thus admonish’d: “Tell him quick,<br/> +I am not he, not he, whom thou believ’st.” +</p> + +<p> +And I, as was enjoin’d me, straight replied. +</p> + +<p> +That heard, the spirit all did wrench his feet,<br/> +And sighing next in woeful accent spake:<br/> +“What then of me requirest? If to know<br/> +So much imports thee, who I am, that thou<br/> +Hast therefore down the bank descended, learn<br/> +That in the mighty mantle I was rob’d,<br/> +And of a she-bear was indeed the son,<br/> +So eager to advance my whelps, that there<br/> +My having in my purse above I stow’d,<br/> +And here myself. Under my head are dragg’d<br/> +The rest, my predecessors in the guilt<br/> +Of simony. Stretch’d at their length they lie<br/> +Along an opening in the rock. ’Midst them<br/> +I also low shall fall, soon as he comes,<br/> +For whom I took thee, when so hastily<br/> +I question’d. But already longer time<br/> +Hath pass’d, since my souls kindled, and I thus<br/> +Upturn’d have stood, than is his doom to stand<br/> +Planted with fiery feet. For after him,<br/> +One yet of deeds more ugly shall arrive,<br/> +From forth the west, a shepherd without law,<br/> +Fated to cover both his form and mine.<br/> +He a new Jason shall be call’d, of whom<br/> +In Maccabees we read; and favour such<br/> +As to that priest his king indulgent show’d,<br/> +Shall be of France’s monarch shown to him.” +</p> + +<p> +I know not if I here too far presum’d,<br/> +But in this strain I answer’d: “Tell me now,<br/> +What treasures from St. Peter at the first<br/> +Our Lord demanded, when he put the keys<br/> +Into his charge? Surely he ask’d no more<br/> +But, Follow me! Nor Peter nor the rest<br/> +Or gold or silver of Matthias took,<br/> +When lots were cast upon the forfeit place<br/> +Of the condemned soul. Abide thou then;<br/> +Thy punishment of right is merited:<br/> +And look thou well to that ill-gotten coin,<br/> +Which against Charles thy hardihood inspir’d.<br/> +If reverence of the keys restrain’d me not,<br/> +Which thou in happier time didst hold, I yet<br/> +Severer speech might use. Your avarice<br/> +O’ercasts the world with mourning, under foot<br/> +Treading the good, and raising bad men up.<br/> +Of shepherds, like to you, th’ Evangelist<br/> +Was ware, when her, who sits upon the waves,<br/> +With kings in filthy whoredom he beheld,<br/> +She who with seven heads tower’d at her birth,<br/> +And from ten horns her proof of glory drew,<br/> +Long as her spouse in virtue took delight.<br/> +Of gold and silver ye have made your god,<br/> +Diff’ring wherein from the idolater,<br/> +But he that worships one, a hundred ye?<br/> +Ah, Constantine! to how much ill gave birth,<br/> +Not thy conversion, but that plenteous dower,<br/> +Which the first wealthy Father gain’d from thee!” +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile, as thus I sung, he, whether wrath<br/> +Or conscience smote him, violent upsprang<br/> +Spinning on either sole. I do believe<br/> +My teacher well was pleas’d, with so compos’d<br/> +A lip, he listen’d ever to the sound<br/> +Of the true words I utter’d. In both arms<br/> +He caught, and to his bosom lifting me<br/> +Upward retrac’d the way of his descent. +</p> + +<p> +Nor weary of his weight he press’d me close,<br/> +Till to the summit of the rock we came,<br/> +Our passage from the fourth to the fifth pier.<br/> +His cherish’d burden there gently he plac’d<br/> +Upon the rugged rock and steep, a path<br/> +Not easy for the clamb’ring goat to mount. +</p> + +<p> +Thence to my view another vale appear’d +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XX"></a>CANTO XX</h2> + +<p> +And now the verse proceeds to torments new,<br/> +Fit argument of this the twentieth strain<br/> +Of the first song, whose awful theme records<br/> +The spirits whelm’d in woe. Earnest I look’d<br/> +Into the depth, that open’d to my view,<br/> +Moisten’d with tears of anguish, and beheld<br/> +A tribe, that came along the hollow vale,<br/> +In silence weeping: such their step as walk<br/> +Quires chanting solemn litanies on earth. +</p> + +<p> +As on them more direct mine eye descends,<br/> +Each wondrously seem’d to be revers’d<br/> +At the neck-bone, so that the countenance<br/> +Was from the reins averted: and because<br/> +None might before him look, they were compell’d<br/> +To’ advance with backward gait. Thus one perhaps<br/> +Hath been by force of palsy clean transpos’d,<br/> +But I ne’er saw it nor believe it so. +</p> + +<p> +Now, reader! think within thyself, so God<br/> +Fruit of thy reading give thee! how I long<br/> +Could keep my visage dry, when I beheld<br/> +Near me our form distorted in such guise,<br/> +That on the hinder parts fall’n from the face<br/> +The tears down-streaming roll’d. Against a rock<br/> +I leant and wept, so that my guide exclaim’d:<br/> +“What, and art thou too witless as the rest?<br/> +Here pity most doth show herself alive,<br/> +When she is dead. What guilt exceedeth his,<br/> +Who with Heaven’s judgment in his passion strives?<br/> +Raise up thy head, raise up, and see the man,<br/> +Before whose eyes earth gap’d in Thebes, when all<br/> +Cried out, ‘Amphiaraus, whither rushest?<br/> +‘Why leavest thou the war?’ He not the less<br/> +Fell ruining far as to Minos down,<br/> +Whose grapple none eludes. Lo! how he makes<br/> +The breast his shoulders, and who once too far<br/> +Before him wish’d to see, now backward looks,<br/> +And treads reverse his path. Tiresias note,<br/> +Who semblance chang’d, when woman he became<br/> +Of male, through every limb transform’d, and then<br/> +Once more behov’d him with his rod to strike<br/> +The two entwining serpents, ere the plumes,<br/> +That mark’d the better sex, might shoot again. +</p> + +<p> +“Aruns, with more his belly facing, comes.<br/> +On Luni’s mountains ’midst the marbles white,<br/> +Where delves Carrara’s hind, who wons beneath,<br/> +A cavern was his dwelling, whence the stars<br/> +And main-sea wide in boundless view he held. +</p> + +<p> +“The next, whose loosen’d tresses overspread<br/> +Her bosom, which thou seest not (for each hair<br/> +On that side grows) was Manto, she who search’d<br/> +Through many regions, and at length her seat<br/> +Fix’d in my native land, whence a short space<br/> +My words detain thy audience. When her sire<br/> +From life departed, and in servitude<br/> +The city dedicate to Bacchus mourn’d,<br/> +Long time she went a wand’rer through the world.<br/> +Aloft in Italy’s delightful land<br/> +A lake there lies, at foot of that proud Alp,<br/> +That o’er the Tyrol locks Germania in,<br/> +Its name Benacus, which a thousand rills,<br/> +Methinks, and more, water between the vale<br/> +Camonica and Garda and the height<br/> +Of Apennine remote. There is a spot<br/> +At midway of that lake, where he who bears<br/> +Of Trento’s flock the past’ral staff, with him<br/> +Of Brescia, and the Veronese, might each<br/> +Passing that way his benediction give.<br/> +A garrison of goodly site and strong<br/> +Peschiera stands, to awe with front oppos’d<br/> +The Bergamese and Brescian, whence the shore<br/> +More slope each way descends. There, whatsoev’er<br/> +Benacus’ bosom holds not, tumbling o’er<br/> +Down falls, and winds a river flood beneath<br/> +Through the green pastures. Soon as in his course<br/> +The steam makes head, Benacus then no more<br/> +They call the name, but Mincius, till at last<br/> +Reaching Governo into Po he falls.<br/> +Not far his course hath run, when a wide flat<br/> +It finds, which overstretchmg as a marsh<br/> +It covers, pestilent in summer oft.<br/> +Hence journeying, the savage maiden saw<br/> +’Midst of the fen a territory waste<br/> +And naked of inhabitants. To shun<br/> +All human converse, here she with her slaves<br/> +Plying her arts remain’d, and liv’d, and left<br/> +Her body tenantless. Thenceforth the tribes,<br/> +Who round were scatter’d, gath’ring to that place<br/> +Assembled; for its strength was great, enclos’d<br/> +On all parts by the fen. On those dead bones<br/> +They rear’d themselves a city, for her sake,<br/> +Calling it Mantua, who first chose the spot,<br/> +Nor ask’d another omen for the name,<br/> +Wherein more numerous the people dwelt,<br/> +Ere Casalodi’s madness by deceit<br/> +Was wrong’d of Pinamonte. If thou hear<br/> +Henceforth another origin assign’d<br/> +Of that my country, I forewarn thee now,<br/> +That falsehood none beguile thee of the truth.” +</p> + +<p> +I answer’d: “Teacher, I conclude thy words<br/> +So certain, that all else shall be to me<br/> +As embers lacking life. But now of these,<br/> +Who here proceed, instruct me, if thou see<br/> +Any that merit more especial note.<br/> +For thereon is my mind alone intent.” +</p> + +<p> +He straight replied: “That spirit, from whose cheek<br/> +The beard sweeps o’er his shoulders brown, what time<br/> +Graecia was emptied of her males, that scarce<br/> +The cradles were supplied, the seer was he<br/> +In Aulis, who with Calchas gave the sign<br/> +When first to cut the cable. Him they nam’d<br/> +Eurypilus: so sings my tragic strain,<br/> +In which majestic measure well thou know’st,<br/> +Who know’st it all. That other, round the loins<br/> +So slender of his shape, was Michael Scot,<br/> +Practis’d in ev’ry slight of magic wile. +</p> + +<p> +“Guido Bonatti see: Asdente mark,<br/> +Who now were willing, he had tended still<br/> +The thread and cordwain; and too late repents. +</p> + +<p> +“See next the wretches, who the needle left,<br/> +The shuttle and the spindle, and became<br/> +Diviners: baneful witcheries they wrought<br/> +With images and herbs. But onward now:<br/> +For now doth Cain with fork of thorns confine<br/> +On either hemisphere, touching the wave<br/> +Beneath the towers of Seville. Yesternight<br/> +The moon was round. Thou mayst remember well:<br/> +For she good service did thee in the gloom<br/> +Of the deep wood.” This said, both onward mov’d. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXI"></a>CANTO XXI</h2> + +<p> +Thus we from bridge to bridge, with other talk,<br/> +The which my drama cares not to rehearse,<br/> +Pass’d on; and to the summit reaching, stood<br/> +To view another gap, within the round<br/> +Of Malebolge, other bootless pangs. +</p> + +<p> +Marvelous darkness shadow’d o’er the place. +</p> + +<p> +In the Venetians’ arsenal as boils<br/> +Through wintry months tenacious pitch, to smear<br/> +Their unsound vessels; for th’ inclement time<br/> +Sea-faring men restrains, and in that while<br/> +His bark one builds anew, another stops<br/> +The ribs of his, that hath made many a voyage;<br/> +One hammers at the prow, one at the poop;<br/> +This shapeth oars, that other cables twirls,<br/> +The mizen one repairs and main-sail rent<br/> +So not by force of fire but art divine<br/> +Boil’d here a glutinous thick mass, that round<br/> +Lim’d all the shore beneath. I that beheld,<br/> +But therein nought distinguish’d, save the surge,<br/> +Rais’d by the boiling, in one mighty swell<br/> +Heave, and by turns subsiding and fall. While there<br/> +I fix’d my ken below, “Mark! mark!” my guide<br/> +Exclaiming, drew me towards him from the place,<br/> +Wherein I stood. I turn’d myself as one,<br/> +Impatient to behold that which beheld<br/> +He needs must shun, whom sudden fear unmans,<br/> +That he his flight delays not for the view.<br/> +Behind me I discern’d a devil black,<br/> +That running, up advanc’d along the rock.<br/> +Ah! what fierce cruelty his look bespake!<br/> +In act how bitter did he seem, with wings<br/> +Buoyant outstretch’d and feet of nimblest tread!<br/> +His shoulder proudly eminent and sharp<br/> +Was with a sinner charg’d; by either haunch<br/> +He held him, the foot’s sinew griping fast. +</p> + +<p> +“Ye of our bridge!” he cried, “keen-talon’d fiends!<br/> +Lo! one of Santa Zita’s elders! Him<br/> +Whelm ye beneath, while I return for more.<br/> +That land hath store of such. All men are there,<br/> +Except Bonturo, barterers: of ‘no’<br/> +For lucre there an ‘aye’ is quickly made.” +</p> + +<p> +Him dashing down, o’er the rough rock he turn’d,<br/> +Nor ever after thief a mastiff loos’d<br/> +Sped with like eager haste. That other sank<br/> +And forthwith writing to the surface rose.<br/> +But those dark demons, shrouded by the bridge,<br/> +Cried “Here the hallow’d visage saves not: here<br/> +Is other swimming than in Serchio’s wave.<br/> +Wherefore if thou desire we rend thee not,<br/> +Take heed thou mount not o’er the pitch.” This said,<br/> +They grappled him with more than hundred hooks,<br/> +And shouted: “Cover’d thou must sport thee here;<br/> +So, if thou canst, in secret mayst thou filch.” +</p> + +<p> +E’en thus the cook bestirs him, with his grooms,<br/> +To thrust the flesh into the caldron down<br/> +With flesh-hooks, that it float not on the top. +</p> + +<p> +Me then my guide bespake: “Lest they descry,<br/> +That thou art here, behind a craggy rock<br/> +Bend low and screen thee; and whate’er of force<br/> +Be offer’d me, or insult, fear thou not:<br/> +For I am well advis’d, who have been erst<br/> +In the like fray.” Beyond the bridge’s head<br/> +Therewith he pass’d, and reaching the sixth pier,<br/> +Behov’d him then a forehead terror-proof. +</p> + +<p> +With storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth<br/> +Upon the poor man’s back, who suddenly<br/> +From whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush’d<br/> +Those from beneath the arch, and against him<br/> +Their weapons all they pointed. He aloud:<br/> +“Be none of you outrageous: ere your time<br/> +Dare seize me, come forth from amongst you one, +</p> + +<p> +“Who having heard my words, decide he then<br/> +If he shall tear these limbs.” They shouted loud,<br/> +“Go, Malacoda!” Whereat one advanc’d,<br/> +The others standing firm, and as he came,<br/> +“What may this turn avail him?” he exclaim’d. +</p> + +<p> +“Believ’st thou, Malacoda! I had come<br/> +Thus far from all your skirmishing secure,”<br/> +My teacher answered, “without will divine<br/> +And destiny propitious? Pass we then<br/> +For so Heaven’s pleasure is, that I should lead<br/> +Another through this savage wilderness.” +</p> + +<p> +Forthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop<br/> +The instrument of torture at his feet,<br/> +And to the rest exclaim’d: “We have no power<br/> +To strike him.” Then to me my guide: “O thou!<br/> +Who on the bridge among the crags dost sit<br/> +Low crouching, safely now to me return.” +</p> + +<p> +I rose, and towards him moved with speed: the fiends<br/> +Meantime all forward drew: me terror seiz’d<br/> +Lest they should break the compact they had made.<br/> +Thus issuing from Caprona, once I saw<br/> +Th’ infantry dreading, lest his covenant<br/> +The foe should break; so close he hemm’d them round. +</p> + +<p> +I to my leader’s side adher’d, mine eyes<br/> +With fixt and motionless observance bent<br/> +On their unkindly visage. They their hooks<br/> +Protruding, one the other thus bespake:<br/> +“Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?” To whom<br/> +Was answer’d: “Even so; nor miss thy aim.” +</p> + +<p> +But he, who was in conf’rence with my guide,<br/> +Turn’d rapid round, and thus the demon spake:<br/> +“Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!” Then to us<br/> +He added: “Further footing to your step<br/> +This rock affords not, shiver’d to the base<br/> +Of the sixth arch. But would you still proceed,<br/> +Up by this cavern go: not distant far,<br/> +Another rock will yield you passage safe.<br/> +Yesterday, later by five hours than now,<br/> +Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill’d<br/> +The circuit of their course, since here the way<br/> +Was broken. Thitherward I straight dispatch<br/> +Certain of these my scouts, who shall espy<br/> +If any on the surface bask. With them<br/> +Go ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.<br/> +Come Alichino forth,” with that he cried,<br/> +“And Calcabrina, and Cagnazzo thou!<br/> +The troop of ten let Barbariccia lead.<br/> +With Libicocco Draghinazzo haste,<br/> +Fang’d Ciriatto, Grafflacane fierce,<br/> +And Farfarello, and mad Rubicant.<br/> +Search ye around the bubbling tar. For these,<br/> +In safety lead them, where the other crag<br/> +Uninterrupted traverses the dens.” +</p> + +<p> +I then: “O master! what a sight is there!<br/> +Ah! without escort, journey we alone,<br/> +Which, if thou know the way, I covet not.<br/> +Unless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark<br/> +How they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl<br/> +Threatens us present tortures?” He replied:<br/> +“I charge thee fear not: let them, as they will,<br/> +Gnarl on: ’t is but in token of their spite<br/> +Against the souls, who mourn in torment steep’d.” +</p> + +<p> +To leftward o’er the pier they turn’d; but each<br/> +Had first between his teeth prest close the tongue,<br/> +Toward their leader for a signal looking,<br/> +Which he with sound obscene triumphant gave. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXII"></a>CANTO XXII</h2> + +<p> +It hath been heretofore my chance to see<br/> +Horsemen with martial order shifting camp,<br/> +To onset sallying, or in muster rang’d,<br/> +Or in retreat sometimes outstretch’d for flight;<br/> +Light-armed squadrons and fleet foragers<br/> +Scouring thy plains, Arezzo! have I seen,<br/> +And clashing tournaments, and tilting jousts,<br/> +Now with the sound of trumpets, now of bells,<br/> +Tabors, or signals made from castled heights,<br/> +And with inventions multiform, our own,<br/> +Or introduc’d from foreign land; but ne’er<br/> +To such a strange recorder I beheld,<br/> +In evolution moving, horse nor foot,<br/> +Nor ship, that tack’d by sign from land or star. +</p> + +<p> +With the ten demons on our way we went;<br/> +Ah fearful company! but in the church<br/> +With saints, with gluttons at the tavern’s mess. +</p> + +<p> +Still earnest on the pitch I gaz’d, to mark<br/> +All things whate’er the chasm contain’d, and those<br/> +Who burn’d within. As dolphins, that, in sign<br/> +To mariners, heave high their arched backs,<br/> +That thence forewarn’d they may advise to save<br/> +Their threaten’d vessels; so, at intervals,<br/> +To ease the pain his back some sinner show’d,<br/> +Then hid more nimbly than the lightning glance. +</p> + +<p> +E’en as the frogs, that of a wat’ry moat<br/> +Stand at the brink, with the jaws only out,<br/> +Their feet and of the trunk all else concealed,<br/> +Thus on each part the sinners stood, but soon<br/> +As Barbariccia was at hand, so they<br/> +Drew back under the wave. I saw, and yet<br/> +My heart doth stagger, one, that waited thus,<br/> +As it befalls that oft one frog remains,<br/> +While the next springs away: and Graffiacan,<br/> +Who of the fiends was nearest, grappling seiz’d<br/> +His clotted locks, and dragg’d him sprawling up,<br/> +That he appear’d to me an otter. Each<br/> +Already by their names I knew, so well<br/> +When they were chosen, I observ’d, and mark’d<br/> +How one the other call’d. “O Rubicant!<br/> +See that his hide thou with thy talons flay,”<br/> +Shouted together all the cursed crew. +</p> + +<p> +Then I: “Inform thee, master! if thou may,<br/> +What wretched soul is this, on whom their hand<br/> +His foes have laid.” My leader to his side<br/> +Approach’d, and whence he came inquir’d, to whom<br/> +Was answer’d thus: “Born in Navarre’s domain<br/> +My mother plac’d me in a lord’s retinue,<br/> +For she had borne me to a losel vile,<br/> +A spendthrift of his substance and himself.<br/> +The good king Thibault after that I serv’d,<br/> +To peculating here my thoughts were turn’d,<br/> +Whereof I give account in this dire heat.” +</p> + +<p> +Straight Ciriatto, from whose mouth a tusk<br/> +Issued on either side, as from a boar,<br/> +Ript him with one of these. ’Twixt evil claws<br/> +The mouse had fall’n: but Barbariccia cried,<br/> +Seizing him with both arms: “Stand thou apart,<br/> +While I do fix him on my prong transpierc’d.”<br/> +Then added, turning to my guide his face,<br/> +“Inquire of him, if more thou wish to learn,<br/> +Ere he again be rent.” My leader thus:<br/> +“Then tell us of the partners in thy guilt;<br/> +Knowest thou any sprung of Latian land<br/> +Under the tar?”—“I parted,” he replied,<br/> +“But now from one, who sojourn’d not far thence;<br/> +So were I under shelter now with him!<br/> +Nor hook nor talon then should scare me more.”—. +</p> + +<p> +“Too long we suffer,” Libicocco cried,<br/> +Then, darting forth a prong, seiz’d on his arm,<br/> +And mangled bore away the sinewy part.<br/> +Him Draghinazzo by his thighs beneath<br/> +Would next have caught, whence angrily their chief,<br/> +Turning on all sides round, with threat’ning brow<br/> +Restrain’d them. When their strife a little ceas’d,<br/> +Of him, who yet was gazing on his wound,<br/> +My teacher thus without delay inquir’d:<br/> +“Who was the spirit, from whom by evil hap<br/> +Parting, as thou has told, thou cam’st to shore?”— +</p> + +<p> +“It was the friar Gomita,” he rejoin’d,<br/> +“He of Gallura, vessel of all guile,<br/> +Who had his master’s enemies in hand,<br/> +And us’d them so that they commend him well.<br/> +Money he took, and them at large dismiss’d.<br/> +So he reports: and in each other charge<br/> +Committed to his keeping, play’d the part<br/> +Of barterer to the height: with him doth herd<br/> +The chief of Logodoro, Michel Zanche.<br/> +Sardinia is a theme, whereof their tongue<br/> +Is never weary. Out! alas! behold<br/> +That other, how he grins! More would I say,<br/> +But tremble lest he mean to maul me sore.” +</p> + +<p> +Their captain then to Farfarello turning,<br/> +Who roll’d his moony eyes in act to strike,<br/> +Rebuk’d him thus: “Off! cursed bird! Avaunt!”— +</p> + +<p> +“If ye desire to see or hear,” he thus<br/> +Quaking with dread resum’d, “or Tuscan spirits<br/> +Or Lombard, I will cause them to appear.<br/> +Meantime let these ill talons bate their fury,<br/> +So that no vengeance they may fear from them,<br/> +And I, remaining in this self-same place,<br/> +Will for myself but one, make sev’n appear,<br/> +When my shrill whistle shall be heard; for so<br/> +Our custom is to call each other up.” +</p> + +<p> +Cagnazzo at that word deriding grinn’d,<br/> +Then wagg’d the head and spake: “Hear his device,<br/> +Mischievous as he is, to plunge him down.” +</p> + +<p> +Whereto he thus, who fail’d not in rich store<br/> +Of nice-wove toils; “Mischief forsooth extreme,<br/> +Meant only to procure myself more woe!” +</p> + +<p> +No longer Alichino then refrain’d,<br/> +But thus, the rest gainsaying, him bespake:<br/> +“If thou do cast thee down, I not on foot<br/> +Will chase thee, but above the pitch will beat<br/> +My plumes. Quit we the vantage ground, and let<br/> +The bank be as a shield, that we may see<br/> +If singly thou prevail against us all.” +</p> + +<p> +Now, reader, of new sport expect to hear! +</p> + +<p> +They each one turn’d his eyes to the’ other shore,<br/> +He first, who was the hardest to persuade.<br/> +The spirit of Navarre chose well his time,<br/> +Planted his feet on land, and at one leap<br/> +Escaping disappointed their resolve. +</p> + +<p> +Them quick resentment stung, but him the most,<br/> +Who was the cause of failure; in pursuit<br/> +He therefore sped, exclaiming; “Thou art caught.” +</p> + +<p> +But little it avail’d: terror outstripp’d<br/> +His following flight: the other plung’d beneath,<br/> +And he with upward pinion rais’d his breast:<br/> +E’en thus the water-fowl, when she perceives<br/> +The falcon near, dives instant down, while he<br/> +Enrag’d and spent retires. That mockery<br/> +In Calcabrina fury stirr’d, who flew<br/> +After him, with desire of strife inflam’d;<br/> +And, for the barterer had ’scap’d, so turn’d<br/> +His talons on his comrade. O’er the dyke<br/> +In grapple close they join’d; but the’ other prov’d<br/> +A goshawk able to rend well his foe; +</p> + +<p> +And in the boiling lake both fell. The heat<br/> +Was umpire soon between them, but in vain<br/> +To lift themselves they strove, so fast were glued<br/> +Their pennons. Barbariccia, as the rest,<br/> +That chance lamenting, four in flight dispatch’d<br/> +From the’ other coast, with all their weapons arm’d.<br/> +They, to their post on each side speedily<br/> +Descending, stretch’d their hooks toward the fiends,<br/> +Who flounder’d, inly burning from their scars:<br/> +And we departing left them to that broil. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXIII"></a>CANTO XXIII</h2> + +<p> +In silence and in solitude we went,<br/> +One first, the other following his steps,<br/> +As minor friars journeying on their road. +</p> + +<p> +The present fray had turn’d my thoughts to muse<br/> +Upon old Aesop’s fable, where he told<br/> +What fate unto the mouse and frog befell.<br/> +For language hath not sounds more like in sense,<br/> +Than are these chances, if the origin<br/> +And end of each be heedfully compar’d.<br/> +And as one thought bursts from another forth,<br/> +So afterward from that another sprang,<br/> +Which added doubly to my former fear.<br/> +For thus I reason’d: “These through us have been<br/> +So foil’d, with loss and mock’ry so complete,<br/> +As needs must sting them sore. If anger then<br/> +Be to their evil will conjoin’d, more fell<br/> +They shall pursue us, than the savage hound<br/> +Snatches the leveret, panting ’twixt his jaws.” +</p> + +<p> +Already I perceiv’d my hair stand all<br/> +On end with terror, and look’d eager back. +</p> + +<p> +“Teacher,” I thus began, “if speedily<br/> +Thyself and me thou hide not, much I dread<br/> +Those evil talons. Even now behind<br/> +They urge us: quick imagination works<br/> +So forcibly, that I already feel them.” +</p> + +<p> +He answer’d: “Were I form’d of leaded glass,<br/> +I should not sooner draw unto myself<br/> +Thy outward image, than I now imprint<br/> +That from within. This moment came thy thoughts<br/> +Presented before mine, with similar act<br/> +And count’nance similar, so that from both<br/> +I one design have fram’d. If the right coast<br/> +Incline so much, that we may thence descend<br/> +Into the other chasm, we shall escape<br/> +Secure from this imagined pursuit.” +</p> + +<p> +He had not spoke his purpose to the end,<br/> +When I from far beheld them with spread wings<br/> +Approach to take us. Suddenly my guide<br/> +Caught me, ev’n as a mother that from sleep<br/> +Is by the noise arous’d, and near her sees<br/> +The climbing fires, who snatches up her babe<br/> +And flies ne’er pausing, careful more of him<br/> +Than of herself, that but a single vest<br/> +Clings round her limbs. Down from the jutting beach<br/> +Supine he cast him, to that pendent rock,<br/> +Which closes on one part the other chasm. +</p> + +<p> +Never ran water with such hurrying pace<br/> +Adown the tube to turn a landmill’s wheel,<br/> +When nearest it approaches to the spokes,<br/> +As then along that edge my master ran,<br/> +Carrying me in his bosom, as a child,<br/> +Not a companion. Scarcely had his feet<br/> +Reach’d to the lowest of the bed beneath, +</p> + +<p> +When over us the steep they reach’d; but fear<br/> +In him was none; for that high Providence,<br/> +Which plac’d them ministers of the fifth foss,<br/> +Power of departing thence took from them all. +</p> + +<p> +There in the depth we saw a painted tribe,<br/> +Who pac’d with tardy steps around, and wept,<br/> +Faint in appearance and o’ercome with toil.<br/> +Caps had they on, with hoods, that fell low down<br/> +Before their eyes, in fashion like to those<br/> +Worn by the monks in Cologne. Their outside<br/> +Was overlaid with gold, dazzling to view,<br/> +But leaden all within, and of such weight,<br/> +That Frederick’s compar’d to these were straw.<br/> +Oh, everlasting wearisome attire! +</p> + +<p> +We yet once more with them together turn’d<br/> +To leftward, on their dismal moan intent.<br/> +But by the weight oppress’d, so slowly came<br/> +The fainting people, that our company<br/> +Was chang’d at every movement of the step. +</p> + +<p> +Whence I my guide address’d: “See that thou find<br/> +Some spirit, whose name may by his deeds be known,<br/> +And to that end look round thee as thou go’st.” +</p> + +<p> +Then one, who understood the Tuscan voice,<br/> +Cried after us aloud: “Hold in your feet,<br/> +Ye who so swiftly speed through the dusk air.<br/> +Perchance from me thou shalt obtain thy wish.” +</p> + +<p> +Whereat my leader, turning, me bespake:<br/> +“Pause, and then onward at their pace proceed.” +</p> + +<p> +I staid, and saw two Spirits in whose look<br/> +Impatient eagerness of mind was mark’d<br/> +To overtake me; but the load they bare<br/> +And narrow path retarded their approach. +</p> + +<p> +Soon as arriv’d, they with an eye askance<br/> +Perus’d me, but spake not: then turning each<br/> +To other thus conferring said: “This one<br/> +Seems, by the action of his throat, alive.<br/> +And, be they dead, what privilege allows<br/> +They walk unmantled by the cumbrous stole?” +</p> + +<p> +Then thus to me: “Tuscan, who visitest<br/> +The college of the mourning hypocrites,<br/> +Disdain not to instruct us who thou art.” +</p> + +<p> +“By Arno’s pleasant stream,” I thus replied,<br/> +“In the great city I was bred and grew,<br/> +And wear the body I have ever worn.<br/> +but who are ye, from whom such mighty grief,<br/> +As now I witness, courseth down your cheeks?<br/> +What torment breaks forth in this bitter woe?”<br/> +“Our bonnets gleaming bright with orange hue,”<br/> +One of them answer’d, “are so leaden gross,<br/> +That with their weight they make the balances<br/> +To crack beneath them. Joyous friars we were,<br/> +Bologna’s natives, Catalano I,<br/> +He Loderingo nam’d, and by thy land<br/> +Together taken, as men used to take<br/> +A single and indifferent arbiter,<br/> +To reconcile their strifes. How there we sped,<br/> +Gardingo’s vicinage can best declare.” +</p> + +<p> +“O friars!” I began, “your miseries—”<br/> +But there brake off, for one had caught my eye,<br/> +Fix’d to a cross with three stakes on the ground:<br/> +He, when he saw me, writh’d himself, throughout<br/> +Distorted, ruffling with deep sighs his beard.<br/> +And Catalano, who thereof was ’ware, +</p> + +<p> +Thus spake: “That pierced spirit, whom intent<br/> +Thou view’st, was he who gave the Pharisees<br/> +Counsel, that it were fitting for one man<br/> +To suffer for the people. He doth lie<br/> +Transverse; nor any passes, but him first<br/> +Behoves make feeling trial how each weighs.<br/> +In straits like this along the foss are plac’d<br/> +The father of his consort, and the rest<br/> +Partakers in that council, seed of ill<br/> +And sorrow to the Jews.” I noted then,<br/> +How Virgil gaz’d with wonder upon him,<br/> +Thus abjectly extended on the cross<br/> +In banishment eternal. To the friar<br/> +He next his words address’d: “We pray ye tell,<br/> +If so be lawful, whether on our right<br/> +Lies any opening in the rock, whereby<br/> +We both may issue hence, without constraint<br/> +On the dark angels, that compell’d they come<br/> +To lead us from this depth.” He thus replied:<br/> +“Nearer than thou dost hope, there is a rock<br/> +From the next circle moving, which o’ersteps<br/> +Each vale of horror, save that here his cope<br/> +Is shatter’d. By the ruin ye may mount:<br/> +For on the side it slants, and most the height<br/> +Rises below.” With head bent down awhile<br/> +My leader stood, then spake: “He warn’d us ill,<br/> +Who yonder hangs the sinners on his hook.” +</p> + +<p> +To whom the friar: At Bologna erst<br/> +“I many vices of the devil heard,<br/> +Among the rest was said, ‘He is a liar,<br/> +And the father of lies!’” When he had spoke,<br/> +My leader with large strides proceeded on,<br/> +Somewhat disturb’d with anger in his look. +</p> + +<p> +I therefore left the spirits heavy laden,<br/> +And following, his beloved footsteps mark’d. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXIV"></a>CANTO XXIV</h2> + +<p> +In the year’s early nonage, when the sun<br/> +Tempers his tresses in Aquarius’ urn,<br/> +And now towards equal day the nights recede,<br/> +When as the rime upon the earth puts on<br/> +Her dazzling sister’s image, but not long<br/> +Her milder sway endures, then riseth up<br/> +The village hind, whom fails his wintry store,<br/> +And looking out beholds the plain around<br/> +All whiten’d, whence impatiently he smites<br/> +His thighs, and to his hut returning in,<br/> +There paces to and fro, wailing his lot,<br/> +As a discomfited and helpless man;<br/> +Then comes he forth again, and feels new hope<br/> +Spring in his bosom, finding e’en thus soon<br/> +The world hath chang’d its count’nance, grasps his crook,<br/> +And forth to pasture drives his little flock:<br/> +So me my guide dishearten’d when I saw<br/> +His troubled forehead, and so speedily<br/> +That ill was cur’d; for at the fallen bridge<br/> +Arriving, towards me with a look as sweet,<br/> +He turn’d him back, as that I first beheld<br/> +At the steep mountain’s foot. Regarding well<br/> +The ruin, and some counsel first maintain’d<br/> +With his own thought, he open’d wide his arm<br/> +And took me up. As one, who, while he works,<br/> +Computes his labour’s issue, that he seems<br/> +Still to foresee the’ effect, so lifting me<br/> +Up to the summit of one peak, he fix’d<br/> +His eye upon another. “Grapple that,”<br/> +Said he, “but first make proof, if it be such<br/> +As will sustain thee.” For one capp’d with lead<br/> +This were no journey. Scarcely he, though light,<br/> +And I, though onward push’d from crag to crag,<br/> +Could mount. And if the precinct of this coast<br/> +Were not less ample than the last, for him<br/> +I know not, but my strength had surely fail’d.<br/> +But Malebolge all toward the mouth<br/> +Inclining of the nethermost abyss,<br/> +The site of every valley hence requires,<br/> +That one side upward slope, the other fall. +</p> + +<p> +At length the point of our descent we reach’d<br/> +From the last flag: soon as to that arriv’d,<br/> +So was the breath exhausted from my lungs,<br/> +I could no further, but did seat me there. +</p> + +<p> +“Now needs thy best of man;” so spake my guide:<br/> +“For not on downy plumes, nor under shade<br/> +Of canopy reposing, fame is won,<br/> +Without which whosoe’er consumes his days<br/> +Leaveth such vestige of himself on earth,<br/> +As smoke in air or foam upon the wave.<br/> +Thou therefore rise: vanish thy weariness<br/> +By the mind’s effort, in each struggle form’d<br/> +To vanquish, if she suffer not the weight<br/> +Of her corporeal frame to crush her down.<br/> +A longer ladder yet remains to scale.<br/> +From these to have escap’d sufficeth not.<br/> +If well thou note me, profit by my words.” +</p> + +<p> +I straightway rose, and show’d myself less spent<br/> +Than I in truth did feel me. “On,” I cried,<br/> +“For I am stout and fearless.” Up the rock<br/> +Our way we held, more rugged than before,<br/> +Narrower and steeper far to climb. From talk<br/> +I ceas’d not, as we journey’d, so to seem<br/> +Least faint; whereat a voice from the other foss<br/> +Did issue forth, for utt’rance suited ill.<br/> +Though on the arch that crosses there I stood,<br/> +What were the words I knew not, but who spake<br/> +Seem’d mov’d in anger. Down I stoop’d to look,<br/> +But my quick eye might reach not to the depth<br/> +For shrouding darkness; wherefore thus I spake:<br/> +“To the next circle, Teacher, bend thy steps,<br/> +And from the wall dismount we; for as hence<br/> +I hear and understand not, so I see<br/> +Beneath, and naught discern.”—“I answer not,”<br/> +Said he, “but by the deed. To fair request<br/> +Silent performance maketh best return.” +</p> + +<p> +We from the bridge’s head descended, where<br/> +To the eighth mound it joins, and then the chasm<br/> +Opening to view, I saw a crowd within<br/> +Of serpents terrible, so strange of shape<br/> +And hideous, that remembrance in my veins<br/> +Yet shrinks the vital current. Of her sands<br/> +Let Lybia vaunt no more: if Jaculus,<br/> +Pareas and Chelyder be her brood,<br/> +Cenchris and Amphisboena, plagues so dire<br/> +Or in such numbers swarming ne’er she shew’d,<br/> +Not with all Ethiopia, and whate’er<br/> +Above the Erythraean sea is spawn’d. +</p> + +<p> +Amid this dread exuberance of woe<br/> +Ran naked spirits wing’d with horrid fear,<br/> +Nor hope had they of crevice where to hide,<br/> +Or heliotrope to charm them out of view.<br/> +With serpents were their hands behind them bound,<br/> +Which through their reins infix’d the tail and head<br/> +Twisted in folds before. And lo! on one<br/> +Near to our side, darted an adder up,<br/> +And, where the neck is on the shoulders tied,<br/> +Transpierc’d him. Far more quickly than e’er pen<br/> +Wrote O or I, he kindled, burn’d, and chang’d<br/> +To ashes, all pour’d out upon the earth.<br/> +When there dissolv’d he lay, the dust again<br/> +Uproll’d spontaneous, and the self-same form<br/> +Instant resumed. So mighty sages tell,<br/> +The’ Arabian Phoenix, when five hundred years<br/> +Have well nigh circled, dies, and springs forthwith<br/> +Renascent. Blade nor herb throughout his life<br/> +He tastes, but tears of frankincense alone<br/> +And odorous amomum: swaths of nard<br/> +And myrrh his funeral shroud. As one that falls,<br/> +He knows not how, by force demoniac dragg’d<br/> +To earth, or through obstruction fettering up<br/> +In chains invisible the powers of man,<br/> +Who, risen from his trance, gazeth around,<br/> +Bewilder’d with the monstrous agony<br/> +He hath endur’d, and wildly staring sighs;<br/> +So stood aghast the sinner when he rose. +</p> + +<p> +Oh! how severe God’s judgment, that deals out<br/> +Such blows in stormy vengeance! Who he was<br/> +My teacher next inquir’d, and thus in few<br/> +He answer’d: “Vanni Fucci am I call’d,<br/> +Not long since rained down from Tuscany<br/> +To this dire gullet. Me the beastial life<br/> +And not the human pleas’d, mule that I was,<br/> +Who in Pistoia found my worthy den.” +</p> + +<p> +I then to Virgil: “Bid him stir not hence,<br/> +And ask what crime did thrust him hither: once<br/> +A man I knew him choleric and bloody.” +</p> + +<p> +The sinner heard and feign’d not, but towards me<br/> +His mind directing and his face, wherein<br/> +Was dismal shame depictur’d, thus he spake:<br/> +“It grieves me more to have been caught by thee<br/> +In this sad plight, which thou beholdest, than<br/> +When I was taken from the other life.<br/> +I have no power permitted to deny<br/> +What thou inquirest. I am doom’d thus low<br/> +To dwell, for that the sacristy by me<br/> +Was rifled of its goodly ornaments,<br/> +And with the guilt another falsely charged.<br/> +But that thou mayst not joy to see me thus,<br/> +So as thou e’er shalt ’scape this darksome realm<br/> +Open thine ears and hear what I forebode.<br/> +Reft of the Neri first Pistoia pines,<br/> +Then Florence changeth citizens and laws.<br/> +From Valdimagra, drawn by wrathful Mars,<br/> +A vapour rises, wrapt in turbid mists,<br/> +And sharp and eager driveth on the storm<br/> +With arrowy hurtling o’er Piceno’s field,<br/> +Whence suddenly the cloud shall burst, and strike<br/> +Each helpless Bianco prostrate to the ground.<br/> +This have I told, that grief may rend thy heart.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXV"></a>CANTO XXV</h2> + +<p> +When he had spoke, the sinner rais’d his hands<br/> +Pointed in mockery, and cried: “Take them, God!<br/> +I level them at thee!” From that day forth<br/> +The serpents were my friends; for round his neck<br/> +One of then rolling twisted, as it said,<br/> +“Be silent, tongue!” Another to his arms<br/> +Upgliding, tied them, riveting itself<br/> +So close, it took from them the power to move. +</p> + +<p> +Pistoia! Ah Pistoia! why dost doubt<br/> +To turn thee into ashes, cumb’ring earth<br/> +No longer, since in evil act so far<br/> +Thou hast outdone thy seed? I did not mark,<br/> +Through all the gloomy circles of the’ abyss,<br/> +Spirit, that swell’d so proudly ’gainst his God,<br/> +Not him, who headlong fell from Thebes. He fled,<br/> +Nor utter’d more; and after him there came<br/> +A centaur full of fury, shouting, “Where<br/> +Where is the caitiff?” On Maremma’s marsh<br/> +Swarm not the serpent tribe, as on his haunch<br/> +They swarm’d, to where the human face begins.<br/> +Behind his head upon the shoulders lay,<br/> +With open wings, a dragon breathing fire<br/> +On whomsoe’er he met. To me my guide:<br/> +“Cacus is this, who underneath the rock<br/> +Of Aventine spread oft a lake of blood.<br/> +He, from his brethren parted, here must tread<br/> +A different journey, for his fraudful theft<br/> +Of the great herd, that near him stall’d; whence found<br/> +His felon deeds their end, beneath the mace<br/> +Of stout Alcides, that perchance laid on<br/> +A hundred blows, and not the tenth was felt.” +</p> + +<p> +While yet he spake, the centaur sped away:<br/> +And under us three spirits came, of whom<br/> +Nor I nor he was ware, till they exclaim’d;<br/> +“Say who are ye?” We then brake off discourse,<br/> +Intent on these alone. I knew them not;<br/> +But, as it chanceth oft, befell, that one<br/> +Had need to name another. “Where,” said he,<br/> +“Doth Cianfa lurk?” I, for a sign my guide<br/> +Should stand attentive, plac’d against my lips<br/> +The finger lifted. If, O reader! now<br/> +Thou be not apt to credit what I tell,<br/> +No marvel; for myself do scarce allow<br/> +The witness of mine eyes. But as I looked<br/> +Toward them, lo! a serpent with six feet<br/> +Springs forth on one, and fastens full upon him:<br/> +His midmost grasp’d the belly, a forefoot<br/> +Seiz’d on each arm (while deep in either cheek<br/> +He flesh’d his fangs); the hinder on the thighs<br/> +Were spread, ’twixt which the tail inserted curl’d<br/> +Upon the reins behind. Ivy ne’er clasp’d<br/> +A dodder’d oak, as round the other’s limbs<br/> +The hideous monster intertwin’d his own.<br/> +Then, as they both had been of burning wax,<br/> +Each melted into other, mingling hues,<br/> +That which was either now was seen no more.<br/> +Thus up the shrinking paper, ere it burns,<br/> +A brown tint glides, not turning yet to black,<br/> +And the clean white expires. The other two<br/> +Look’d on exclaiming: “Ah, how dost thou change,<br/> +Agnello! See! Thou art nor double now, +</p> + +<p> +“Nor only one.” The two heads now became<br/> +One, and two figures blended in one form<br/> +Appear’d, where both were lost. Of the four lengths<br/> +Two arms were made: the belly and the chest<br/> +The thighs and legs into such members chang’d,<br/> +As never eye hath seen. Of former shape<br/> +All trace was vanish’d. Two yet neither seem’d<br/> +That image miscreate, and so pass’d on<br/> +With tardy steps. As underneath the scourge<br/> +Of the fierce dog-star, that lays bare the fields,<br/> +Shifting from brake to brake, the lizard seems<br/> +A flash of lightning, if he thwart the road,<br/> +So toward th’ entrails of the other two<br/> +Approaching seem’d, an adder all on fire,<br/> +As the dark pepper-grain, livid and swart.<br/> +In that part, whence our life is nourish’d first,<br/> +One he transpierc’d; then down before him fell<br/> +Stretch’d out. The pierced spirit look’d on him<br/> +But spake not; yea stood motionless and yawn’d,<br/> +As if by sleep or fev’rous fit assail’d.<br/> +He ey’d the serpent, and the serpent him.<br/> +One from the wound, the other from the mouth<br/> +Breath’d a thick smoke, whose vap’ry columns join’d. +</p> + +<p> +Lucan in mute attention now may hear,<br/> +Nor thy disastrous fate, Sabellus! tell,<br/> +Nor shine, Nasidius! Ovid now be mute.<br/> +What if in warbling fiction he record<br/> +Cadmus and Arethusa, to a snake<br/> +Him chang’d, and her into a fountain clear,<br/> +I envy not; for never face to face<br/> +Two natures thus transmuted did he sing,<br/> +Wherein both shapes were ready to assume<br/> +The other’s substance. They in mutual guise<br/> +So answer’d, that the serpent split his train<br/> +Divided to a fork, and the pierc’d spirit<br/> +Drew close his steps together, legs and thighs<br/> +Compacted, that no sign of juncture soon<br/> +Was visible: the tail disparted took<br/> +The figure which the spirit lost, its skin<br/> +Soft’ning, his indurated to a rind.<br/> +The shoulders next I mark’d, that ent’ring join’d<br/> +The monster’s arm-pits, whose two shorter feet<br/> +So lengthen’d, as the other’s dwindling shrunk.<br/> +The feet behind then twisting up became<br/> +That part that man conceals, which in the wretch<br/> +Was cleft in twain. While both the shadowy smoke<br/> +With a new colour veils, and generates<br/> +Th’ excrescent pile on one, peeling it off<br/> +From th’ other body, lo! upon his feet<br/> +One upright rose, and prone the other fell.<br/> +Not yet their glaring and malignant lamps<br/> +Were shifted, though each feature chang’d beneath.<br/> +Of him who stood erect, the mounting face<br/> +Retreated towards the temples, and what there<br/> +Superfluous matter came, shot out in ears<br/> +From the smooth cheeks, the rest, not backward dragg’d,<br/> +Of its excess did shape the nose; and swell’d<br/> +Into due size protuberant the lips.<br/> +He, on the earth who lay, meanwhile extends<br/> +His sharpen’d visage, and draws down the ears<br/> +Into the head, as doth the slug his horns.<br/> +His tongue continuous before and apt<br/> +For utt’rance, severs; and the other’s fork<br/> +Closing unites. That done the smoke was laid.<br/> +The soul, transform’d into the brute, glides off,<br/> +Hissing along the vale, and after him<br/> +The other talking sputters; but soon turn’d<br/> +His new-grown shoulders on him, and in few<br/> +Thus to another spake: “Along this path<br/> +Crawling, as I have done, speed Buoso now!” +</p> + +<p> +So saw I fluctuate in successive change<br/> +Th’ unsteady ballast of the seventh hold:<br/> +And here if aught my tongue have swerv’d, events<br/> +So strange may be its warrant. O’er mine eyes<br/> +Confusion hung, and on my thoughts amaze. +</p> + +<p> +Yet ’scap’d they not so covertly, but well<br/> +I mark’d Sciancato: he alone it was<br/> +Of the three first that came, who chang’d not: thou,<br/> +The other’s fate, Gaville, still dost rue. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXVI"></a>CANTO XXVI</h2> + +<p> +Florence exult! for thou so mightily<br/> +Hast thriven, that o’er land and sea thy wings<br/> +Thou beatest, and thy name spreads over hell!<br/> +Among the plund’rers such the three I found<br/> +Thy citizens, whence shame to me thy son,<br/> +And no proud honour to thyself redounds. +</p> + +<p> +But if our minds, when dreaming near the dawn,<br/> +Are of the truth presageful, thou ere long<br/> +Shalt feel what Prato, (not to say the rest)<br/> +Would fain might come upon thee; and that chance<br/> +Were in good time, if it befell thee now.<br/> +Would so it were, since it must needs befall!<br/> +For as time wears me, I shall grieve the more. +</p> + +<p> +We from the depth departed; and my guide<br/> +Remounting scal’d the flinty steps, which late<br/> +We downward trac’d, and drew me up the steep.<br/> +Pursuing thus our solitary way<br/> +Among the crags and splinters of the rock,<br/> +Sped not our feet without the help of hands. +</p> + +<p> +Then sorrow seiz’d me, which e’en now revives,<br/> +As my thought turns again to what I saw,<br/> +And, more than I am wont, I rein and curb<br/> +The powers of nature in me, lest they run<br/> +Where Virtue guides not; that if aught of good<br/> +My gentle star, or something better gave me,<br/> +I envy not myself the precious boon. +</p> + +<p> +As in that season, when the sun least veils<br/> +His face that lightens all, what time the fly<br/> +Gives way to the shrill gnat, the peasant then<br/> +Upon some cliff reclin’d, beneath him sees<br/> +Fire-flies innumerous spangling o’er the vale,<br/> +Vineyard or tilth, where his day-labour lies:<br/> +With flames so numberless throughout its space<br/> +Shone the eighth chasm, apparent, when the depth<br/> +Was to my view expos’d. As he, whose wrongs<br/> +The bears aveng’d, at its departure saw<br/> +Elijah’s chariot, when the steeds erect<br/> +Rais’d their steep flight for heav’n; his eyes meanwhile,<br/> +Straining pursu’d them, till the flame alone<br/> +Upsoaring like a misty speck he kenn’d;<br/> +E’en thus along the gulf moves every flame,<br/> +A sinner so enfolded close in each,<br/> +That none exhibits token of the theft. +</p> + +<p> +Upon the bridge I forward bent to look,<br/> +And grasp’d a flinty mass, or else had fall’n,<br/> +Though push’d not from the height. The guide, who mark’d<br/> +How I did gaze attentive, thus began: +</p> + +<p> +“Within these ardours are the spirits, each<br/> +Swath’d in confining fire.”—“Master, thy word,”<br/> +I answer’d, “hath assur’d me; yet I deem’d<br/> +Already of the truth, already wish’d<br/> +To ask thee, who is in yon fire, that comes<br/> +So parted at the summit, as it seem’d<br/> +Ascending from that funeral pile, where lay<br/> +The Theban brothers?” He replied: “Within<br/> +Ulysses there and Diomede endure<br/> +Their penal tortures, thus to vengeance now<br/> +Together hasting, as erewhile to wrath.<br/> +These in the flame with ceaseless groans deplore<br/> +The ambush of the horse, that open’d wide<br/> +A portal for that goodly seed to pass,<br/> +Which sow’d imperial Rome; nor less the guile<br/> +Lament they, whence of her Achilles ’reft<br/> +Deidamia yet in death complains.<br/> +And there is rued the stratagem, that Troy<br/> +Of her Palladium spoil’d.”—“If they have power<br/> +Of utt’rance from within these sparks,” said I,<br/> +“O master! think my prayer a thousand fold<br/> +In repetition urg’d, that thou vouchsafe<br/> +To pause, till here the horned flame arrive.<br/> +See, how toward it with desire I bend.” +</p> + +<p> +He thus: “Thy prayer is worthy of much praise,<br/> +And I accept it therefore: but do thou<br/> +Thy tongue refrain: to question them be mine,<br/> +For I divine thy wish: and they perchance,<br/> +For they were Greeks, might shun discourse with thee.” +</p> + +<p> +When there the flame had come, where time and place<br/> +Seem’d fitting to my guide, he thus began:<br/> +“O ye, who dwell two spirits in one fire!<br/> +If living I of you did merit aught,<br/> +Whate’er the measure were of that desert,<br/> +When in the world my lofty strain I pour’d,<br/> +Move ye not on, till one of you unfold<br/> +In what clime death o’ertook him self-destroy’d.” +</p> + +<p> +Of the old flame forthwith the greater horn<br/> +Began to roll, murmuring, as a fire<br/> +That labours with the wind, then to and fro<br/> +Wagging the top, as a tongue uttering sounds,<br/> +Threw out its voice, and spake: “When I escap’d<br/> +From Circe, who beyond a circling year<br/> +Had held me near Caieta, by her charms,<br/> +Ere thus Aeneas yet had nam’d the shore,<br/> +Nor fondness for my son, nor reverence<br/> +Of my old father, nor return of love,<br/> +That should have crown’d Penelope with joy,<br/> +Could overcome in me the zeal I had<br/> +T’ explore the world, and search the ways of life,<br/> +Man’s evil and his virtue. Forth I sail’d<br/> +Into the deep illimitable main,<br/> +With but one bark, and the small faithful band<br/> +That yet cleav’d to me. As Iberia far,<br/> +Far as Morocco either shore I saw,<br/> +And the Sardinian and each isle beside<br/> +Which round that ocean bathes. Tardy with age<br/> +Were I and my companions, when we came<br/> +To the strait pass, where Hercules ordain’d<br/> +The bound’ries not to be o’erstepp’d by man.<br/> +The walls of Seville to my right I left,<br/> +On the’ other hand already Ceuta past. +</p> + +<p> +“O brothers!” I began, “who to the west<br/> +Through perils without number now have reach’d,<br/> +To this the short remaining watch, that yet<br/> +Our senses have to wake, refuse not proof<br/> +Of the unpeopled world, following the track<br/> +Of Phoebus. Call to mind from whence we sprang:<br/> +Ye were not form’d to live the life of brutes<br/> +But virtue to pursue and knowledge high.<br/> +With these few words I sharpen’d for the voyage<br/> +The mind of my associates, that I then<br/> +Could scarcely have withheld them. To the dawn<br/> +Our poop we turn’d, and for the witless flight<br/> +Made our oars wings, still gaining on the left.<br/> +Each star of the’ other pole night now beheld,<br/> +And ours so low, that from the ocean-floor<br/> +It rose not. Five times re-illum’d, as oft<br/> +Vanish’d the light from underneath the moon<br/> +Since the deep way we enter’d, when from far<br/> +Appear’d a mountain dim, loftiest methought<br/> +Of all I e’er beheld. Joy seiz’d us straight,<br/> +But soon to mourning changed. From the new land<br/> +A whirlwind sprung, and at her foremost side<br/> +Did strike the vessel. Thrice it whirl’d her round<br/> +With all the waves, the fourth time lifted up<br/> +The poop, and sank the prow: so fate decreed:<br/> +And over us the booming billow clos’d.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXVII"></a>CANTO XVII</h2> + +<p> +Now upward rose the flame, and still’d its light<br/> +To speak no more, and now pass’d on with leave<br/> +From the mild poet gain’d, when following came<br/> +Another, from whose top a sound confus’d,<br/> +Forth issuing, drew our eyes that way to look. +</p> + +<p> +As the Sicilian bull, that rightfully<br/> +His cries first echoed, who had shap’d its mould,<br/> +Did so rebellow, with the voice of him<br/> +Tormented, that the brazen monster seem’d<br/> +Pierc’d through with pain; thus while no way they found<br/> +Nor avenue immediate through the flame,<br/> +Into its language turn’d the dismal words:<br/> +But soon as they had won their passage forth,<br/> +Up from the point, which vibrating obey’d<br/> +Their motion at the tongue, these sounds we heard:<br/> +“O thou! to whom I now direct my voice!<br/> +That lately didst exclaim in Lombard phrase, +</p> + +<p> +“Depart thou, I solicit thee no more,<br/> +Though somewhat tardy I perchance arrive<br/> +Let it not irk thee here to pause awhile,<br/> +And with me parley: lo! it irks not me<br/> +And yet I burn. If but e’en now thou fall<br/> +into this blind world, from that pleasant land<br/> +Of Latium, whence I draw my sum of guilt,<br/> +Tell me if those, who in Romagna dwell,<br/> +Have peace or war. For of the mountains there<br/> +Was I, betwixt Urbino and the height,<br/> +Whence Tyber first unlocks his mighty flood.” +</p> + +<p> +Leaning I listen’d yet with heedful ear,<br/> +When, as he touch’d my side, the leader thus:<br/> +“Speak thou: he is a Latian.” My reply<br/> +Was ready, and I spake without delay: +</p> + +<p> +“O spirit! who art hidden here below!<br/> +Never was thy Romagna without war<br/> +In her proud tyrants’ bosoms, nor is now:<br/> +But open war there left I none. The state,<br/> +Ravenna hath maintain’d this many a year,<br/> +Is steadfast. There Polenta’s eagle broods,<br/> +And in his broad circumference of plume<br/> +O’ershadows Cervia. The green talons grasp<br/> +The land, that stood erewhile the proof so long,<br/> +And pil’d in bloody heap the host of France. +</p> + +<p> +“The’ old mastiff of Verruchio and the young,<br/> +That tore Montagna in their wrath, still make,<br/> +Where they are wont, an augre of their fangs. +</p> + +<p> +“Lamone’s city and Santerno’s range<br/> +Under the lion of the snowy lair.<br/> +Inconstant partisan! that changeth sides,<br/> +Or ever summer yields to winter’s frost.<br/> +And she, whose flank is wash’d of Savio’s wave,<br/> +As ’twixt the level and the steep she lies,<br/> +Lives so ’twixt tyrant power and liberty. +</p> + +<p> +“Now tell us, I entreat thee, who art thou?<br/> +Be not more hard than others. In the world,<br/> +So may thy name still rear its forehead high.” +</p> + +<p> +Then roar’d awhile the fire, its sharpen’d point<br/> +On either side wav’d, and thus breath’d at last:<br/> +“If I did think, my answer were to one,<br/> +Who ever could return unto the world,<br/> +This flame should rest unshaken. But since ne’er,<br/> +If true be told me, any from this depth<br/> +Has found his upward way, I answer thee,<br/> +Nor fear lest infamy record the words. +</p> + +<p> +“A man of arms at first, I cloth’d me then<br/> +In good Saint Francis’ girdle, hoping so<br/> +T’ have made amends. And certainly my hope<br/> +Had fail’d not, but that he, whom curses light on,<br/> +The’ high priest again seduc’d me into sin.<br/> +And how and wherefore listen while I tell.<br/> +Long as this spirit mov’d the bones and pulp<br/> +My mother gave me, less my deeds bespake<br/> +The nature of the lion than the fox.<br/> +All ways of winding subtlety I knew,<br/> +And with such art conducted, that the sound<br/> +Reach’d the world’s limit. Soon as to that part<br/> +Of life I found me come, when each behoves<br/> +To lower sails and gather in the lines;<br/> +That which before had pleased me then I rued,<br/> +And to repentance and confession turn’d;<br/> +Wretch that I was! and well it had bested me!<br/> +The chief of the new Pharisees meantime,<br/> +Waging his warfare near the Lateran,<br/> +Not with the Saracens or Jews (his foes<br/> +All Christians were, nor against Acre one<br/> +Had fought, nor traffic’d in the Soldan’s land),<br/> +He his great charge nor sacred ministry<br/> +In himself, rev’renc’d, nor in me that cord,<br/> +Which us’d to mark with leanness whom it girded.<br/> +As in Socrate, Constantine besought<br/> +To cure his leprosy Sylvester’s aid,<br/> +So me to cure the fever of his pride<br/> +This man besought: my counsel to that end<br/> +He ask’d: and I was silent: for his words<br/> +Seem’d drunken: but forthwith he thus resum’d:<br/> +‘From thy heart banish fear: of all offence<br/> +I hitherto absolve thee. In return,<br/> +Teach me my purpose so to execute,<br/> +That Penestrino cumber earth no more.<br/> +Heav’n, as thou knowest, I have power to shut<br/> +And open: and the keys are therefore twain,<br/> +The which my predecessor meanly priz’d.’” +</p> + +<p> +Then, yielding to the forceful arguments,<br/> +Of silence as more perilous I deem’d,<br/> +And answer’d: “Father! since thou washest me<br/> +Clear of that guilt wherein I now must fall,<br/> +Large promise with performance scant, be sure,<br/> +Shall make thee triumph in thy lofty seat.” +</p> + +<p> +“When I was number’d with the dead, then came<br/> +Saint Francis for me; but a cherub dark<br/> +He met, who cried: ‘Wrong me not; he is mine,<br/> +And must below to join the wretched crew,<br/> +For the deceitful counsel which he gave.<br/> +E’er since I watch’d him, hov’ring at his hair,<br/> +No power can the impenitent absolve;<br/> +Nor to repent and will at once consist,<br/> +By contradiction absolute forbid.’”<br/> +Oh mis’ry! how I shook myself, when he<br/> +Seiz’d me, and cried, “Thou haply thought’st me not<br/> +A disputant in logic so exact.”<br/> +To Minos down he bore me, and the judge<br/> +Twin’d eight times round his callous back the tail,<br/> +Which biting with excess of rage, he spake:<br/> +“This is a guilty soul, that in the fire<br/> +Must vanish. Hence perdition-doom’d I rove<br/> +A prey to rankling sorrow in this garb.” +</p> + +<p> +When he had thus fulfill’d his words, the flame<br/> +In dolour parted, beating to and fro,<br/> +And writhing its sharp horn. We onward went,<br/> +I and my leader, up along the rock,<br/> +Far as another arch, that overhangs<br/> +The foss, wherein the penalty is paid<br/> +Of those, who load them with committed sin. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXVIII"></a>CANTO XXVIII</h2> + +<p> +Who, e’en in words unfetter’d, might at full<br/> +Tell of the wounds and blood that now I saw,<br/> +Though he repeated oft the tale? No tongue<br/> +So vast a theme could equal, speech and thought<br/> +Both impotent alike. If in one band<br/> +Collected, stood the people all, who e’er<br/> +Pour’d on Apulia’s happy soil their blood,<br/> +Slain by the Trojans, and in that long war<br/> +When of the rings the measur’d booty made<br/> +A pile so high, as Rome’s historian writes<br/> +Who errs not, with the multitude, that felt<br/> +The grinding force of Guiscard’s Norman steel,<br/> +And those the rest, whose bones are gather’d yet<br/> +At Ceperano, there where treachery<br/> +Branded th’ Apulian name, or where beyond<br/> +Thy walls, O Tagliacozzo, without arms<br/> +The old Alardo conquer’d; and his limbs<br/> +One were to show transpierc’d, another his<br/> +Clean lopt away; a spectacle like this<br/> +Were but a thing of nought, to the’ hideous sight<br/> +Of the ninth chasm. A rundlet, that hath lost<br/> +Its middle or side stave, gapes not so wide,<br/> +As one I mark’d, torn from the chin throughout<br/> +Down to the hinder passage: ’twixt the legs<br/> +Dangling his entrails hung, the midriff lay<br/> +Open to view, and wretched ventricle,<br/> +That turns th’ englutted aliment to dross. +</p> + +<p> +Whilst eagerly I fix on him my gaze,<br/> +He ey’d me, with his hands laid his breast bare,<br/> +And cried; “Now mark how I do rip me! lo! +</p> + +<p> +“How is Mohammed mangled! before me<br/> +Walks Ali weeping, from the chin his face<br/> +Cleft to the forelock; and the others all<br/> +Whom here thou seest, while they liv’d, did sow<br/> +Scandal and schism, and therefore thus are rent.<br/> +A fiend is here behind, who with his sword<br/> +Hacks us thus cruelly, slivering again<br/> +Each of this ream, when we have compast round<br/> +The dismal way, for first our gashes close<br/> +Ere we repass before him. But say who<br/> +Art thou, that standest musing on the rock,<br/> +Haply so lingering to delay the pain<br/> +Sentenc’d upon thy crimes?”—“Him death not yet,”<br/> +My guide rejoin’d, “hath overta’en, nor sin<br/> +Conducts to torment; but, that he may make<br/> +Full trial of your state, I who am dead<br/> +Must through the depths of hell, from orb to orb,<br/> +Conduct him. Trust my words, for they are true.” +</p> + +<p> +More than a hundred spirits, when that they heard,<br/> +Stood in the foss to mark me, through amazed,<br/> +Forgetful of their pangs. “Thou, who perchance<br/> +Shalt shortly view the sun, this warning thou<br/> +Bear to Dolcino: bid him, if he wish not<br/> +Here soon to follow me, that with good store<br/> +Of food he arm him, lest impris’ning snows<br/> +Yield him a victim to Novara’s power,<br/> +No easy conquest else.” With foot uprais’d<br/> +For stepping, spake Mohammed, on the ground<br/> +Then fix’d it to depart. Another shade,<br/> +Pierc’d in the throat, his nostrils mutilate<br/> +E’en from beneath the eyebrows, and one ear<br/> +Lopt off, who with the rest through wonder stood<br/> +Gazing, before the rest advanc’d, and bar’d<br/> +His wind-pipe, that without was all o’ersmear’d<br/> +With crimson stain. “O thou!” said he, “whom sin<br/> +Condemns not, and whom erst (unless too near<br/> +Resemblance do deceive me) I aloft<br/> +Have seen on Latian ground, call thou to mind<br/> +Piero of Medicina, if again<br/> +Returning, thou behold’st the pleasant land<br/> +That from Vercelli slopes to Mercabo; +</p> + +<p> +“And there instruct the twain, whom Fano boasts<br/> +Her worthiest sons, Guido and Angelo,<br/> +That if ’t is giv’n us here to scan aright<br/> +The future, they out of life’s tenement<br/> +Shall be cast forth, and whelm’d under the waves<br/> +Near to Cattolica, through perfidy<br/> +Of a fell tyrant. ’Twixt the Cyprian isle<br/> +And Balearic, ne’er hath Neptune seen<br/> +An injury so foul, by pirates done<br/> +Or Argive crew of old. That one-ey’d traitor<br/> +(Whose realm there is a spirit here were fain<br/> +His eye had still lack’d sight of) them shall bring<br/> +To conf’rence with him, then so shape his end,<br/> +That they shall need not ’gainst Focara’s wind<br/> +Offer up vow nor pray’r.” I answering thus: +</p> + +<p> +“Declare, as thou dost wish that I above<br/> +May carry tidings of thee, who is he,<br/> +In whom that sight doth wake such sad remembrance?” +</p> + +<p> +Forthwith he laid his hand on the cheek-bone<br/> +Of one, his fellow-spirit, and his jaws<br/> +Expanding, cried: “Lo! this is he I wot of;<br/> +He speaks not for himself: the outcast this<br/> +Who overwhelm’d the doubt in Caesar’s mind,<br/> +Affirming that delay to men prepar’d<br/> +Was ever harmful.” Oh how terrified<br/> +Methought was Curio, from whose throat was cut<br/> +The tongue, which spake that hardy word. Then one<br/> +Maim’d of each hand, uplifted in the gloom<br/> +The bleeding stumps, that they with gory spots<br/> +Sullied his face, and cried: “‘Remember thee<br/> +Of Mosca, too, I who, alas! exclaim’d,<br/> +‘The deed once done there is an end,’ that prov’d<br/> +A seed of sorrow to the Tuscan race.” +</p> + +<p> +I added: “Ay, and death to thine own tribe.” +</p> + +<p> +Whence heaping woe on woe he hurried off,<br/> +As one grief stung to madness. But I there<br/> +Still linger’d to behold the troop, and saw<br/> +Things, such as I may fear without more proof<br/> +To tell of, but that conscience makes me firm,<br/> +The boon companion, who her strong breast-plate<br/> +Buckles on him, that feels no guilt within<br/> +And bids him on and fear not. Without doubt<br/> +I saw, and yet it seems to pass before me,<br/> +A headless trunk, that even as the rest<br/> +Of the sad flock pac’d onward. By the hair<br/> +It bore the sever’d member, lantern-wise<br/> +Pendent in hand, which look’d at us and said, +</p> + +<p> +“Woe’s me!” The spirit lighted thus himself,<br/> +And two there were in one, and one in two.<br/> +How that may be he knows who ordereth so. +</p> + +<p> +When at the bridge’s foot direct he stood,<br/> +His arm aloft he rear’d, thrusting the head<br/> +Full in our view, that nearer we might hear<br/> +The words, which thus it utter’d: “Now behold<br/> +This grievous torment, thou, who breathing go’st<br/> +To spy the dead; behold if any else<br/> +Be terrible as this. And that on earth<br/> +Thou mayst bear tidings of me, know that I<br/> +Am Bertrand, he of Born, who gave King John<br/> +The counsel mischievous. Father and son<br/> +I set at mutual war. For Absalom<br/> +And David more did not Ahitophel,<br/> +Spurring them on maliciously to strife.<br/> +For parting those so closely knit, my brain<br/> +Parted, alas! I carry from its source,<br/> +That in this trunk inhabits. Thus the law<br/> +Of retribution fiercely works in me.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXIX"></a>CANTO XXIX</h2> + +<p> +So were mine eyes inebriate with view<br/> +Of the vast multitude, whom various wounds<br/> +Disfigur’d, that they long’d to stay and weep. +</p> + +<p> +But Virgil rous’d me: “What yet gazest on?<br/> +Wherefore doth fasten yet thy sight below<br/> +Among the maim’d and miserable shades?<br/> +Thou hast not shewn in any chasm beside<br/> +This weakness. Know, if thou wouldst number them<br/> +That two and twenty miles the valley winds<br/> +Its circuit, and already is the moon<br/> +Beneath our feet: the time permitted now<br/> +Is short, and more not seen remains to see.” +</p> + +<p> +“If thou,” I straight replied, “hadst weigh’d the cause<br/> +For which I look’d, thou hadst perchance excus’d<br/> +The tarrying still.” My leader part pursu’d<br/> +His way, the while I follow’d, answering him,<br/> +And adding thus: “Within that cave I deem,<br/> +Whereon so fixedly I held my ken,<br/> +There is a spirit dwells, one of my blood,<br/> +Wailing the crime that costs him now so dear.” +</p> + +<p> +Then spake my master: “Let thy soul no more<br/> +Afflict itself for him. Direct elsewhere<br/> +Its thought, and leave him. At the bridge’s foot<br/> +I mark’d how he did point with menacing look<br/> +At thee, and heard him by the others nam’d<br/> +Geri of Bello. Thou so wholly then<br/> +Wert busied with his spirit, who once rul’d<br/> +The towers of Hautefort, that thou lookedst not<br/> +That way, ere he was gone.”—“O guide belov’d!<br/> +His violent death yet unaveng’d,” said I,<br/> +“By any, who are partners in his shame,<br/> +Made him contemptuous: therefore, as I think,<br/> +He pass’d me speechless by; and doing so<br/> +Hath made me more compassionate his fate.” +</p> + +<p> +So we discours’d to where the rock first show’d<br/> +The other valley, had more light been there,<br/> +E’en to the lowest depth. Soon as we came<br/> +O’er the last cloister in the dismal rounds<br/> +Of Malebolge, and the brotherhood<br/> +Were to our view expos’d, then many a dart<br/> +Of sore lament assail’d me, headed all<br/> +With points of thrilling pity, that I clos’d<br/> +Both ears against the volley with mine hands. +</p> + +<p> +As were the torment, if each lazar-house<br/> +Of Valdichiana, in the sultry time<br/> +’Twixt July and September, with the isle<br/> +Sardinia and Maremma’s pestilent fen,<br/> +Had heap’d their maladies all in one foss<br/> +Together; such was here the torment: dire<br/> +The stench, as issuing steams from fester’d limbs. +</p> + +<p> +We on the utmost shore of the long rock<br/> +Descended still to leftward. Then my sight<br/> +Was livelier to explore the depth, wherein<br/> +The minister of the most mighty Lord,<br/> +All-searching Justice, dooms to punishment<br/> +The forgers noted on her dread record. +</p> + +<p> +More rueful was it not methinks to see<br/> +The nation in Aegina droop, what time<br/> +Each living thing, e’en to the little worm,<br/> +All fell, so full of malice was the air<br/> +(And afterward, as bards of yore have told,<br/> +The ancient people were restor’d anew<br/> +From seed of emmets) than was here to see<br/> +The spirits, that languish’d through the murky vale<br/> +Up-pil’d on many a stack. Confus’d they lay,<br/> +One o’er the belly, o’er the shoulders one<br/> +Roll’d of another; sideling crawl’d a third<br/> +Along the dismal pathway. Step by step<br/> +We journey’d on, in silence looking round<br/> +And list’ning those diseas’d, who strove in vain<br/> +To lift their forms. Then two I mark’d, that sat<br/> +Propp’d ’gainst each other, as two brazen pans<br/> +Set to retain the heat. From head to foot,<br/> +A tetter bark’d them round. Nor saw I e’er<br/> +Groom currying so fast, for whom his lord<br/> +Impatient waited, or himself perchance<br/> +Tir’d with long watching, as of these each one<br/> +Plied quickly his keen nails, through furiousness<br/> +Of ne’er abated pruriency. The crust<br/> +Came drawn from underneath in flakes, like scales<br/> +Scrap’d from the bream or fish of broader mail. +</p> + +<p> +“O thou, who with thy fingers rendest off<br/> +Thy coat of proof,” thus spake my guide to one,<br/> +“And sometimes makest tearing pincers of them,<br/> +Tell me if any born of Latian land<br/> +Be among these within: so may thy nails<br/> +Serve thee for everlasting to this toil.” +</p> + +<p> +“Both are of Latium,” weeping he replied,<br/> +“Whom tortur’d thus thou seest: but who art thou<br/> +That hast inquir’d of us?” To whom my guide:<br/> +“One that descend with this man, who yet lives,<br/> +From rock to rock, and show him hell’s abyss.” +</p> + +<p> +Then started they asunder, and each turn’d<br/> +Trembling toward us, with the rest, whose ear<br/> +Those words redounding struck. To me my liege<br/> +Address’d him: “Speak to them whate’er thou list.” +</p> + +<p> +And I therewith began: “So may no time<br/> +Filch your remembrance from the thoughts of men<br/> +In th’ upper world, but after many suns<br/> +Survive it, as ye tell me, who ye are,<br/> +And of what race ye come. Your punishment,<br/> +Unseemly and disgustful in its kind,<br/> +Deter you not from opening thus much to me.” +</p> + +<p> +“Arezzo was my dwelling,” answer’d one,<br/> +“And me Albero of Sienna brought<br/> +To die by fire; but that, for which I died,<br/> +Leads me not here. True is in sport I told him,<br/> +That I had learn’d to wing my flight in air.<br/> +And he admiring much, as he was void<br/> +Of wisdom, will’d me to declare to him<br/> +The secret of mine art: and only hence,<br/> +Because I made him not a Daedalus,<br/> +Prevail’d on one suppos’d his sire to burn me.<br/> +But Minos to this chasm last of the ten,<br/> +For that I practis’d alchemy on earth,<br/> +Has doom’d me. Him no subterfuge eludes.” +</p> + +<p> +Then to the bard I spake: “Was ever race<br/> +Light as Sienna’s? Sure not France herself<br/> +Can show a tribe so frivolous and vain.” +</p> + +<p> +The other leprous spirit heard my words,<br/> +And thus return’d: “Be Stricca from this charge<br/> +Exempted, he who knew so temp’rately<br/> +To lay out fortune’s gifts; and Niccolo<br/> +Who first the spice’s costly luxury<br/> +Discover’d in that garden, where such seed<br/> +Roots deepest in the soil: and be that troop<br/> +Exempted, with whom Caccia of Asciano<br/> +Lavish’d his vineyards and wide-spreading woods,<br/> +And his rare wisdom Abbagliato show’d<br/> +A spectacle for all. That thou mayst know<br/> +Who seconds thee against the Siennese<br/> +Thus gladly, bend this way thy sharpen’d sight,<br/> +That well my face may answer to thy ken;<br/> +So shalt thou see I am Capocchio’s ghost,<br/> +Who forg’d transmuted metals by the power<br/> +Of alchemy; and if I scan thee right,<br/> +Thus needs must well remember how I aped<br/> +Creative nature by my subtle art.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXX"></a>CANTO XXX</h2> + +<p> +What time resentment burn’d in Juno’s breast<br/> +For Semele against the Theban blood,<br/> +As more than once in dire mischance was rued,<br/> +Such fatal frenzy seiz’d on Athamas,<br/> +That he his spouse beholding with a babe<br/> +Laden on either arm, “Spread out,” he cried,<br/> +“The meshes, that I take the lioness<br/> +And the young lions at the pass:” then forth<br/> +Stretch’d he his merciless talons, grasping one,<br/> +One helpless innocent, Learchus nam’d,<br/> +Whom swinging down he dash’d upon a rock,<br/> +And with her other burden self-destroy’d<br/> +The hapless mother plung’d: and when the pride<br/> +Of all-presuming Troy fell from its height,<br/> +By fortune overwhelm’d, and the old king<br/> +With his realm perish’d, then did Hecuba,<br/> +A wretch forlorn and captive, when she saw<br/> +Polyxena first slaughter’d, and her son,<br/> +Her Polydorus, on the wild sea-beach<br/> +Next met the mourner’s view, then reft of sense<br/> +Did she run barking even as a dog;<br/> +Such mighty power had grief to wrench her soul.<br/> +Bet ne’er the Furies or of Thebes or Troy<br/> +With such fell cruelty were seen, their goads<br/> +Infixing in the limbs of man or beast,<br/> +As now two pale and naked ghost I saw<br/> +That gnarling wildly scamper’d, like the swine<br/> +Excluded from his stye. One reach’d Capocchio,<br/> +And in the neck-joint sticking deep his fangs,<br/> +Dragg’d him, that o’er the solid pavement rubb’d<br/> +His belly stretch’d out prone. The other shape,<br/> +He of Arezzo, there left trembling, spake;<br/> +“That sprite of air is Schicchi; in like mood<br/> +Of random mischief vent he still his spite.” +</p> + +<p> +To whom I answ’ring: “Oh! as thou dost hope,<br/> +The other may not flesh its jaws on thee,<br/> +Be patient to inform us, who it is,<br/> +Ere it speed hence.”—“That is the ancient soul<br/> +Of wretched Myrrha,” he replied, “who burn’d<br/> +With most unholy flame for her own sire, +</p> + +<p> +“And a false shape assuming, so perform’d<br/> +The deed of sin; e’en as the other there,<br/> +That onward passes, dar’d to counterfeit<br/> +Donati’s features, to feign’d testament<br/> +The seal affixing, that himself might gain,<br/> +For his own share, the lady of the herd.” +</p> + +<p> +When vanish’d the two furious shades, on whom<br/> +Mine eye was held, I turn’d it back to view<br/> +The other cursed spirits. One I saw<br/> +In fashion like a lute, had but the groin<br/> +Been sever’d, where it meets the forked part.<br/> +Swoln dropsy, disproportioning the limbs<br/> +With ill-converted moisture, that the paunch<br/> +Suits not the visage, open’d wide his lips<br/> +Gasping as in the hectic man for drought,<br/> +One towards the chin, the other upward curl’d. +</p> + +<p> +“O ye, who in this world of misery,<br/> +Wherefore I know not, are exempt from pain,”<br/> +Thus he began, “attentively regard<br/> +Adamo’s woe. When living, full supply<br/> +Ne’er lack’d me of what most I coveted;<br/> +One drop of water now, alas! I crave.<br/> +The rills, that glitter down the grassy slopes<br/> +Of Casentino, making fresh and soft<br/> +The banks whereby they glide to Arno’s stream,<br/> +Stand ever in my view; and not in vain;<br/> +For more the pictur’d semblance dries me up,<br/> +Much more than the disease, which makes the flesh<br/> +Desert these shrivel’d cheeks. So from the place,<br/> +Where I transgress’d, stern justice urging me,<br/> +Takes means to quicken more my lab’ring sighs.<br/> +There is Romena, where I falsified<br/> +The metal with the Baptist’s form imprest,<br/> +For which on earth I left my body burnt.<br/> +But if I here might see the sorrowing soul<br/> +Of Guido, Alessandro, or their brother,<br/> +For Branda’s limpid spring I would not change<br/> +The welcome sight. One is e’en now within,<br/> +If truly the mad spirits tell, that round<br/> +Are wand’ring. But wherein besteads me that?<br/> +My limbs are fetter’d. Were I but so light,<br/> +That I each hundred years might move one inch,<br/> +I had set forth already on this path,<br/> +Seeking him out amidst the shapeless crew,<br/> +Although eleven miles it wind, not more<br/> +Than half of one across. They brought me down<br/> +Among this tribe; induc’d by them I stamp’d<br/> +The florens with three carats of alloy.” +</p> + +<p> +“Who are that abject pair,” I next inquir’d,<br/> +“That closely bounding thee upon thy right<br/> +Lie smoking, like a band in winter steep’d<br/> +In the chill stream?”—“When to this gulf I dropt,”<br/> +He answer’d, “here I found them; since that hour<br/> +They have not turn’d, nor ever shall, I ween,<br/> +Till time hath run his course. One is that dame<br/> +The false accuser of the Hebrew youth;<br/> +Sinon the other, that false Greek from Troy.<br/> +Sharp fever drains the reeky moistness out,<br/> +In such a cloud upsteam’d.” When that he heard,<br/> +One, gall’d perchance to be so darkly nam’d,<br/> +With clench’d hand smote him on the braced paunch,<br/> +That like a drum resounded: but forthwith<br/> +Adamo smote him on the face, the blow<br/> +Returning with his arm, that seem’d as hard. +</p> + +<p> +“Though my o’erweighty limbs have ta’en from me<br/> +The power to move,” said he, “I have an arm<br/> +At liberty for such employ.” To whom<br/> +Was answer’d: “When thou wentest to the fire,<br/> +Thou hadst it not so ready at command,<br/> +Then readier when it coin’d th’ impostor gold.” +</p> + +<p> +And thus the dropsied: “Ay, now speak’st thou true.<br/> +But there thou gav’st not such true testimony,<br/> +When thou wast question’d of the truth, at Troy.” +</p> + +<p> +“If I spake false, thou falsely stamp’dst the coin,”<br/> +Said Sinon; “I am here but for one fault,<br/> +And thou for more than any imp beside.” +</p> + +<p> +“Remember,” he replied, “O perjur’d one,<br/> +The horse remember, that did teem with death,<br/> +And all the world be witness to thy guilt.” +</p> + +<p> +“To thine,” return’d the Greek, “witness the thirst<br/> +Whence thy tongue cracks, witness the fluid mound,<br/> +Rear’d by thy belly up before thine eyes,<br/> +A mass corrupt.” To whom the coiner thus:<br/> +“Thy mouth gapes wide as ever to let pass<br/> +Its evil saying. Me if thirst assails,<br/> +Yet I am stuff’d with moisture. Thou art parch’d,<br/> +Pains rack thy head, no urging would’st thou need<br/> +To make thee lap Narcissus’ mirror up.” +</p> + +<p> +I was all fix’d to listen, when my guide<br/> +Admonish’d: “Now beware: a little more.<br/> +And I do quarrel with thee.” I perceiv’d<br/> +How angrily he spake, and towards him turn’d<br/> +With shame so poignant, as remember’d yet<br/> +Confounds me. As a man that dreams of harm<br/> +Befall’n him, dreaming wishes it a dream,<br/> +And that which is, desires as if it were not,<br/> +Such then was I, who wanting power to speak<br/> +Wish’d to excuse myself, and all the while<br/> +Excus’d me, though unweeting that I did. +</p> + +<p> +“More grievous fault than thine has been, less shame,”<br/> +My master cried, “might expiate. Therefore cast<br/> +All sorrow from thy soul; and if again<br/> +Chance bring thee, where like conference is held,<br/> +Think I am ever at thy side. To hear<br/> +Such wrangling is a joy for vulgar minds.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXXI"></a>CANTO XXXI</h2> + +<p> +The very tongue, whose keen reproof before<br/> +Had wounded me, that either cheek was stain’d,<br/> +Now minister’d my cure. So have I heard,<br/> +Achilles and his father’s javelin caus’d<br/> +Pain first, and then the boon of health restor’d. +</p> + +<p> +Turning our back upon the vale of woe,<br/> +W cross’d th’ encircled mound in silence. There<br/> +Was twilight dim, that far long the gloom<br/> +Mine eye advanc’d not: but I heard a horn<br/> +Sounded aloud. The peal it blew had made<br/> +The thunder feeble. Following its course<br/> +The adverse way, my strained eyes were bent<br/> +On that one spot. So terrible a blast<br/> +Orlando blew not, when that dismal rout<br/> +O’erthrew the host of Charlemagne, and quench’d<br/> +His saintly warfare. Thitherward not long<br/> +My head was rais’d, when many lofty towers<br/> +Methought I spied. “Master,” said I, “what land<br/> +Is this?” He answer’d straight: “Too long a space<br/> +Of intervening darkness has thine eye<br/> +To traverse: thou hast therefore widely err’d<br/> +In thy imagining. Thither arriv’d<br/> +Thou well shalt see, how distance can delude<br/> +The sense. A little therefore urge thee on.” +</p> + +<p> +Then tenderly he caught me by the hand;<br/> +“Yet know,” said he, “ere farther we advance,<br/> +That it less strange may seem, these are not towers,<br/> +But giants. In the pit they stand immers’d,<br/> +Each from his navel downward, round the bank.” +</p> + +<p> +As when a fog disperseth gradually,<br/> +Our vision traces what the mist involves<br/> +Condens’d in air; so piercing through the gross<br/> +And gloomy atmosphere, as more and more<br/> +We near’d toward the brink, mine error fled,<br/> +And fear came o’er me. As with circling round<br/> +Of turrets, Montereggion crowns his walls,<br/> +E’en thus the shore, encompassing th’ abyss,<br/> +Was turreted with giants, half their length<br/> +Uprearing, horrible, whom Jove from heav’n<br/> +Yet threatens, when his mutt’ring thunder rolls. +</p> + +<p> +Of one already I descried the face,<br/> +Shoulders, and breast, and of the belly huge<br/> +Great part, and both arms down along his ribs. +</p> + +<p> +All-teeming nature, when her plastic hand<br/> +Left framing of these monsters, did display<br/> +Past doubt her wisdom, taking from mad War<br/> +Such slaves to do his bidding; and if she<br/> +Repent her not of th’ elephant and whale,<br/> +Who ponders well confesses her therein<br/> +Wiser and more discreet; for when brute force<br/> +And evil will are back’d with subtlety,<br/> +Resistance none avails. His visage seem’d<br/> +In length and bulk, as doth the pine, that tops<br/> +Saint Peter’s Roman fane; and th’ other bones<br/> +Of like proportion, so that from above<br/> +The bank, which girdled him below, such height<br/> +Arose his stature, that three Friezelanders<br/> +Had striv’n in vain to reach but to his hair.<br/> +Full thirty ample palms was he expos’d<br/> +Downward from whence a man his garments loops.<br/> +“Raphel bai ameth sabi almi,”<br/> +So shouted his fierce lips, which sweeter hymns<br/> +Became not; and my guide address’d him thus: +</p> + +<p> +“O senseless spirit! let thy horn for thee<br/> +Interpret: therewith vent thy rage, if rage<br/> +Or other passion wring thee. Search thy neck,<br/> +There shalt thou find the belt that binds it on.<br/> +Wild spirit! lo, upon thy mighty breast<br/> +Where hangs the baldrick!” Then to me he spake:<br/> +“He doth accuse himself. Nimrod is this,<br/> +Through whose ill counsel in the world no more<br/> +One tongue prevails. But pass we on, nor waste<br/> +Our words; for so each language is to him,<br/> +As his to others, understood by none.” +</p> + +<p> +Then to the leftward turning sped we forth,<br/> +And at a sling’s throw found another shade<br/> +Far fiercer and more huge. I cannot say<br/> +What master hand had girt him; but he held<br/> +Behind the right arm fetter’d, and before<br/> +The other with a chain, that fasten’d him<br/> +From the neck down, and five times round his form<br/> +Apparent met the wreathed links. “This proud one<br/> +Would of his strength against almighty Jove<br/> +Make trial,” said my guide; “whence he is thus<br/> +Requited: Ephialtes him they call. +</p> + +<p> +“Great was his prowess, when the giants brought<br/> +Fear on the gods: those arms, which then he piled,<br/> +Now moves he never.” Forthwith I return’d:<br/> +“Fain would I, if ’t were possible, mine eyes<br/> +Of Briareus immeasurable gain’d<br/> +Experience next.” He answer’d: “Thou shalt see<br/> +Not far from hence Antaeus, who both speaks<br/> +And is unfetter’d, who shall place us there<br/> +Where guilt is at its depth. Far onward stands<br/> +Whom thou wouldst fain behold, in chains, and made<br/> +Like to this spirit, save that in his looks<br/> +More fell he seems.” By violent earthquake rock’d<br/> +Ne’er shook a tow’r, so reeling to its base,<br/> +As Ephialtes. More than ever then<br/> +I dreaded death, nor than the terror more<br/> +Had needed, if I had not seen the cords<br/> +That held him fast. We, straightway journeying on,<br/> +Came to Antaeus, who five ells complete<br/> +Without the head, forth issued from the cave. +</p> + +<p> +“O thou, who in the fortunate vale, that made<br/> +Great Scipio heir of glory, when his sword<br/> +Drove back the troop of Hannibal in flight,<br/> +Who thence of old didst carry for thy spoil<br/> +An hundred lions; and if thou hadst fought<br/> +In the high conflict on thy brethren’s side,<br/> +Seems as men yet believ’d, that through thine arm<br/> +The sons of earth had conquer’d, now vouchsafe<br/> +To place us down beneath, where numbing cold<br/> +Locks up Cocytus. Force not that we crave<br/> +Or Tityus’ help or Typhon’s. Here is one<br/> +Can give what in this realm ye covet. Stoop<br/> +Therefore, nor scornfully distort thy lip.<br/> +He in the upper world can yet bestow<br/> +Renown on thee, for he doth live, and looks<br/> +For life yet longer, if before the time<br/> +Grace call him not unto herself.” Thus spake<br/> +The teacher. He in haste forth stretch’d his hands,<br/> +And caught my guide. Alcides whilom felt<br/> +That grapple straighten’d score. Soon as my guide<br/> +Had felt it, he bespake me thus: “This way<br/> +That I may clasp thee;” then so caught me up,<br/> +That we were both one burden. As appears<br/> +The tower of Carisenda, from beneath<br/> +Where it doth lean, if chance a passing cloud<br/> +So sail across, that opposite it hangs,<br/> +Such then Antaeus seem’d, as at mine ease<br/> +I mark’d him stooping. I were fain at times<br/> +T’ have pass’d another way. Yet in th’ abyss,<br/> +That Lucifer with Judas low ingulfs,<br/> +Lightly he plac’d us; nor there leaning stay’d,<br/> +But rose as in a bark the stately mast. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXXII"></a>CANTO XXXII</h2> + +<p> +Could I command rough rhimes and hoarse, to suit<br/> +That hole of sorrow, o’er which ev’ry rock<br/> +His firm abutment rears, then might the vein<br/> +Of fancy rise full springing: but not mine<br/> +Such measures, and with falt’ring awe I touch<br/> +The mighty theme; for to describe the depth<br/> +Of all the universe, is no emprize<br/> +To jest with, and demands a tongue not us’d<br/> +To infant babbling. But let them assist<br/> +My song, the tuneful maidens, by whose aid<br/> +Amphion wall’d in Thebes, so with the truth<br/> +My speech shall best accord. Oh ill-starr’d folk,<br/> +Beyond all others wretched! who abide<br/> +In such a mansion, as scarce thought finds words<br/> +To speak of, better had ye here on earth<br/> +Been flocks or mountain goats. As down we stood<br/> +In the dark pit beneath the giants’ feet,<br/> +But lower far than they, and I did gaze<br/> +Still on the lofty battlement, a voice<br/> +Bespoke me thus: “Look how thou walkest. Take<br/> +Good heed, thy soles do tread not on the heads<br/> +Of thy poor brethren.” Thereupon I turn’d,<br/> +And saw before and underneath my feet<br/> +A lake, whose frozen surface liker seem’d<br/> +To glass than water. Not so thick a veil<br/> +In winter e’er hath Austrian Danube spread<br/> +O’er his still course, nor Tanais far remote<br/> +Under the chilling sky. Roll’d o’er that mass<br/> +Had Tabernich or Pietrapana fall’n, +</p> + +<p> +Not e’en its rim had creak’d. As peeps the frog<br/> +Croaking above the wave, what time in dreams<br/> +The village gleaner oft pursues her toil,<br/> +So, to where modest shame appears, thus low<br/> +Blue pinch’d and shrin’d in ice the spirits stood,<br/> +Moving their teeth in shrill note like the stork.<br/> +His face each downward held; their mouth the cold,<br/> +Their eyes express’d the dolour of their heart. +</p> + +<p> +A space I look’d around, then at my feet<br/> +Saw two so strictly join’d, that of their head<br/> +The very hairs were mingled. “Tell me ye,<br/> +Whose bosoms thus together press,” said I,<br/> +“Who are ye?” At that sound their necks they bent,<br/> +And when their looks were lifted up to me,<br/> +Straightway their eyes, before all moist within,<br/> +Distill’d upon their lips, and the frost bound<br/> +The tears betwixt those orbs and held them there.<br/> +Plank unto plank hath never cramp clos’d up<br/> +So stoutly. Whence like two enraged goats<br/> +They clash’d together; them such fury seiz’d. +</p> + +<p> +And one, from whom the cold both ears had reft,<br/> +Exclaim’d, still looking downward: “Why on us<br/> +Dost speculate so long? If thou wouldst know<br/> +Who are these two, the valley, whence his wave<br/> +Bisenzio slopes, did for its master own<br/> +Their sire Alberto, and next him themselves.<br/> +They from one body issued; and throughout<br/> +Caina thou mayst search, nor find a shade<br/> +More worthy in congealment to be fix’d,<br/> +Not him, whose breast and shadow Arthur’s land<br/> +At that one blow dissever’d, not Focaccia,<br/> +No not this spirit, whose o’erjutting head<br/> +Obstructs my onward view: he bore the name<br/> +Of Mascheroni: Tuscan if thou be,<br/> +Well knowest who he was: and to cut short<br/> +All further question, in my form behold<br/> +What once was Camiccione. I await<br/> +Carlino here my kinsman, whose deep guilt<br/> +Shall wash out mine.” A thousand visages<br/> +Then mark’d I, which the keen and eager cold<br/> +Had shap’d into a doggish grin; whence creeps<br/> +A shiv’ring horror o’er me, at the thought<br/> +Of those frore shallows. While we journey’d on<br/> +Toward the middle, at whose point unites<br/> +All heavy substance, and I trembling went<br/> +Through that eternal chillness, I know not<br/> +If will it were or destiny, or chance,<br/> +But, passing ’midst the heads, my foot did strike<br/> +With violent blow against the face of one. +</p> + +<p> +“Wherefore dost bruise me?” weeping, he exclaim’d,<br/> +“Unless thy errand be some fresh revenge<br/> +For Montaperto, wherefore troublest me?” +</p> + +<p> +I thus: “Instructor, now await me here,<br/> +That I through him may rid me of my doubt.<br/> +Thenceforth what haste thou wilt.” The teacher paus’d,<br/> +And to that shade I spake, who bitterly<br/> +Still curs’d me in his wrath. “What art thou, speak,<br/> +That railest thus on others?” He replied:<br/> +“Now who art thou, that smiting others’ cheeks<br/> +Through Antenora roamest, with such force<br/> +As were past suff’rance, wert thou living still?” +</p> + +<p> +“And I am living, to thy joy perchance,”<br/> +Was my reply, “if fame be dear to thee,<br/> +That with the rest I may thy name enrol.” +</p> + +<p> +“The contrary of what I covet most,”<br/> +Said he, “thou tender’st: hence; nor vex me more.<br/> +Ill knowest thou to flatter in this vale.” +</p> + +<p> +Then seizing on his hinder scalp, I cried:<br/> +“Name thee, or not a hair shall tarry here.” +</p> + +<p> +“Rend all away,” he answer’d, “yet for that<br/> +I will not tell nor show thee who I am,<br/> +Though at my head thou pluck a thousand times.” +</p> + +<p> +Now I had grasp’d his tresses, and stript off<br/> +More than one tuft, he barking, with his eyes<br/> +Drawn in and downward, when another cried,<br/> +“What ails thee, Bocca? Sound not loud enough<br/> +Thy chatt’ring teeth, but thou must bark outright?<br/> +What devil wrings thee?”—“Now,” said I, “be dumb,<br/> +Accursed traitor! to thy shame of thee<br/> +True tidings will I bear.”—“Off,” he replied,<br/> +“Tell what thou list; but as thou escape from hence<br/> +To speak of him whose tongue hath been so glib,<br/> +Forget not: here he wails the Frenchman’s gold.<br/> +‘Him of Duera,’ thou canst say, ‘I mark’d,<br/> +Where the starv’d sinners pine.’ If thou be ask’d<br/> +What other shade was with them, at thy side<br/> +Is Beccaria, whose red gorge distain’d<br/> +The biting axe of Florence. Farther on,<br/> +If I misdeem not, Soldanieri bides,<br/> +With Ganellon, and Tribaldello, him<br/> +Who op’d Faenza when the people slept.” +</p> + +<p> +We now had left him, passing on our way,<br/> +When I beheld two spirits by the ice<br/> +Pent in one hollow, that the head of one<br/> +Was cowl unto the other; and as bread<br/> +Is raven’d up through hunger, th’ uppermost<br/> +Did so apply his fangs to th’ other’s brain,<br/> +Where the spine joins it. Not more furiously<br/> +On Menalippus’ temples Tydeus gnaw’d,<br/> +Than on that skull and on its garbage he. +</p> + +<p> +“O thou who show’st so beastly sign of hate<br/> +’Gainst him thou prey’st on, let me hear,” said I<br/> +“The cause, on such condition, that if right<br/> +Warrant thy grievance, knowing who ye are,<br/> +And what the colour of his sinning was,<br/> +I may repay thee in the world above,<br/> +If that, wherewith I speak be moist so long.” +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXXIII"></a>CANTO XXXIII</h2> + +<p> +His jaws uplifting from their fell repast,<br/> +That sinner wip’d them on the hairs o’ th’ head,<br/> +Which he behind had mangled, then began:<br/> +“Thy will obeying, I call up afresh<br/> +Sorrow past cure, which but to think of wrings<br/> +My heart, or ere I tell on’t. But if words,<br/> +That I may utter, shall prove seed to bear<br/> +Fruit of eternal infamy to him,<br/> +The traitor whom I gnaw at, thou at once<br/> +Shalt see me speak and weep. Who thou mayst be<br/> +I know not, nor how here below art come:<br/> +But Florentine thou seemest of a truth,<br/> +When I do hear thee. Know I was on earth<br/> +Count Ugolino, and th’ Archbishop he<br/> +Ruggieri. Why I neighbour him so close,<br/> +Now list. That through effect of his ill thoughts<br/> +In him my trust reposing, I was ta’en<br/> +And after murder’d, need is not I tell.<br/> +What therefore thou canst not have heard, that is,<br/> +How cruel was the murder, shalt thou hear,<br/> +And know if he have wrong’d me. A small grate<br/> +Within that mew, which for my sake the name<br/> +Of famine bears, where others yet must pine,<br/> +Already through its opening sev’ral moons<br/> +Had shown me, when I slept the evil sleep,<br/> +That from the future tore the curtain off.<br/> +This one, methought, as master of the sport,<br/> +Rode forth to chase the gaunt wolf and his whelps<br/> +Unto the mountain, which forbids the sight<br/> +Of Lucca to the Pisan. With lean brachs<br/> +Inquisitive and keen, before him rang’d<br/> +Lanfranchi with Sismondi and Gualandi.<br/> +After short course the father and the sons<br/> +Seem’d tir’d and lagging, and methought I saw<br/> +The sharp tusks gore their sides. When I awoke<br/> +Before the dawn, amid their sleep I heard<br/> +My sons (for they were with me) weep and ask<br/> +For bread. Right cruel art thou, if no pang<br/> +Thou feel at thinking what my heart foretold;<br/> +And if not now, why use thy tears to flow?<br/> +Now had they waken’d; and the hour drew near<br/> +When they were wont to bring us food; the mind<br/> +Of each misgave him through his dream, and I<br/> +Heard, at its outlet underneath lock’d up<br/> +The’ horrible tower: whence uttering not a word<br/> +I look’d upon the visage of my sons.<br/> +I wept not: so all stone I felt within.<br/> +They wept: and one, my little Anslem, cried:<br/> +“Thou lookest so! Father what ails thee?” Yet<br/> +I shed no tear, nor answer’d all that day<br/> +Nor the next night, until another sun<br/> +Came out upon the world. When a faint beam<br/> +Had to our doleful prison made its way,<br/> +And in four countenances I descry’d<br/> +The image of my own, on either hand<br/> +Through agony I bit, and they who thought<br/> +I did it through desire of feeding, rose<br/> +O’ th’ sudden, and cried, ‘Father, we should grieve<br/> +Far less, if thou wouldst eat of us: thou gav’st<br/> +These weeds of miserable flesh we wear, +</p> + +<p> +‘And do thou strip them off from us again.’<br/> +Then, not to make them sadder, I kept down<br/> +My spirit in stillness. That day and the next<br/> +We all were silent. Ah, obdurate earth!<br/> +Why open’dst not upon us? When we came<br/> +To the fourth day, then Geddo at my feet<br/> +Outstretch’d did fling him, crying, ‘Hast no help<br/> +For me, my father!’ There he died, and e’en<br/> +Plainly as thou seest me, saw I the three<br/> +Fall one by one ’twixt the fifth day and sixth: +</p> + +<p> +“Whence I betook me now grown blind to grope<br/> +Over them all, and for three days aloud<br/> +Call’d on them who were dead. Then fasting got<br/> +The mastery of grief.” Thus having spoke, +</p> + +<p> +Once more upon the wretched skull his teeth<br/> +He fasten’d, like a mastiff’s ’gainst the bone<br/> +Firm and unyielding. Oh thou Pisa! shame<br/> +Of all the people, who their dwelling make<br/> +In that fair region, where th’ Italian voice<br/> +Is heard, since that thy neighbours are so slack<br/> +To punish, from their deep foundations rise<br/> +Capraia and Gorgona, and dam up<br/> +The mouth of Arno, that each soul in thee<br/> +May perish in the waters! What if fame<br/> +Reported that thy castles were betray’d<br/> +By Ugolino, yet no right hadst thou<br/> +To stretch his children on the rack. For them,<br/> +Brigata, Ugaccione, and the pair<br/> +Of gentle ones, of whom my song hath told,<br/> +Their tender years, thou modern Thebes! did make<br/> +Uncapable of guilt. Onward we pass’d,<br/> +Where others skarf’d in rugged folds of ice<br/> +Not on their feet were turn’d, but each revers’d. +</p> + +<p> +There very weeping suffers not to weep;<br/> +For at their eyes grief seeking passage finds<br/> +Impediment, and rolling inward turns<br/> +For increase of sharp anguish: the first tears<br/> +Hang cluster’d, and like crystal vizors show,<br/> +Under the socket brimming all the cup. +</p> + +<p> +Now though the cold had from my face dislodg’d<br/> +Each feeling, as ’t were callous, yet me seem’d<br/> +Some breath of wind I felt. “Whence cometh this,”<br/> +Said I, “my master? Is not here below<br/> +All vapour quench’d?”—“‘Thou shalt be speedily,”<br/> +He answer’d, “where thine eye shall tell thee whence<br/> +The cause descrying of this airy shower.” +</p> + +<p> +Then cried out one in the chill crust who mourn’d:<br/> +“O souls so cruel! that the farthest post<br/> +Hath been assign’d you, from this face remove<br/> +The harden’d veil, that I may vent the grief<br/> +Impregnate at my heart, some little space<br/> +Ere it congeal again!” I thus replied:<br/> +“Say who thou wast, if thou wouldst have mine aid;<br/> +And if I extricate thee not, far down<br/> +As to the lowest ice may I descend!” +</p> + +<p> +“The friar Alberigo,” answered he,<br/> +“Am I, who from the evil garden pluck’d<br/> +Its fruitage, and am here repaid, the date<br/> +More luscious for my fig.”—“Hah!” I exclaim’d,<br/> +“Art thou too dead!”—“How in the world aloft<br/> +It fareth with my body,” answer’d he,<br/> +“I am right ignorant. Such privilege<br/> +Hath Ptolomea, that ofttimes the soul<br/> +Drops hither, ere by Atropos divorc’d.<br/> +And that thou mayst wipe out more willingly<br/> +The glazed tear-drops that o’erlay mine eyes,<br/> +Know that the soul, that moment she betrays,<br/> +As I did, yields her body to a fiend<br/> +Who after moves and governs it at will,<br/> +Till all its time be rounded; headlong she<br/> +Falls to this cistern. And perchance above<br/> +Doth yet appear the body of a ghost,<br/> +Who here behind me winters. Him thou know’st,<br/> +If thou but newly art arriv’d below.<br/> +The years are many that have pass’d away,<br/> +Since to this fastness Branca Doria came.” +</p> + +<p> +“Now,” answer’d I, “methinks thou mockest me,<br/> +For Branca Doria never yet hath died,<br/> +But doth all natural functions of a man,<br/> +Eats, drinks, and sleeps, and putteth raiment on.” +</p> + +<p> +He thus: “Not yet unto that upper foss<br/> +By th’ evil talons guarded, where the pitch<br/> +Tenacious boils, had Michael Zanche reach’d,<br/> +When this one left a demon in his stead<br/> +In his own body, and of one his kin,<br/> +Who with him treachery wrought. But now put forth<br/> +Thy hand, and ope mine eyes.” I op’d them not.<br/> +Ill manners were best courtesy to him. +</p> + +<p> +Ah Genoese! men perverse in every way,<br/> +With every foulness stain’d, why from the earth<br/> +Are ye not cancel’d? Such an one of yours<br/> +I with Romagna’s darkest spirit found,<br/> +As for his doings even now in soul<br/> +Is in Cocytus plung’d, and yet doth seem<br/> +In body still alive upon the earth. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="cantoI.XXXIV"></a>CANTO XXXIV</h2> + +<p> +“The banners of Hell’s Monarch do come forth<br/> +Towards us; therefore look,” so spake my guide,<br/> +“If thou discern him.” As, when breathes a cloud<br/> +Heavy and dense, or when the shades of night<br/> +Fall on our hemisphere, seems view’d from far<br/> +A windmill, which the blast stirs briskly round,<br/> +Such was the fabric then methought I saw, +</p> + +<p> +To shield me from the wind, forthwith I drew<br/> +Behind my guide: no covert else was there. +</p> + +<p> +Now came I (and with fear I bid my strain<br/> +Record the marvel) where the souls were all<br/> +Whelm’d underneath, transparent, as through glass<br/> +Pellucid the frail stem. Some prone were laid,<br/> +Others stood upright, this upon the soles,<br/> +That on his head, a third with face to feet<br/> +Arch’d like a bow. When to the point we came,<br/> +Whereat my guide was pleas’d that I should see<br/> +The creature eminent in beauty once,<br/> +He from before me stepp’d and made me pause. +</p> + +<p> +“Lo!” he exclaim’d, “lo Dis! and lo the place,<br/> +Where thou hast need to arm thy heart with strength.” +</p> + +<p> +How frozen and how faint I then became,<br/> +Ask me not, reader! for I write it not,<br/> +Since words would fail to tell thee of my state.<br/> +I was not dead nor living. Think thyself<br/> +If quick conception work in thee at all,<br/> +How I did feel. That emperor, who sways<br/> +The realm of sorrow, at mid breast from th’ ice<br/> +Stood forth; and I in stature am more like<br/> +A giant, than the giants are in his arms.<br/> +Mark now how great that whole must be, which suits<br/> +With such a part. If he were beautiful<br/> +As he is hideous now, and yet did dare<br/> +To scowl upon his Maker, well from him<br/> +May all our mis’ry flow. Oh what a sight!<br/> +How passing strange it seem’d, when I did spy<br/> +Upon his head three faces: one in front<br/> +Of hue vermilion, th’ other two with this<br/> +Midway each shoulder join’d and at the crest;<br/> +The right ’twixt wan and yellow seem’d: the left<br/> +To look on, such as come from whence old Nile<br/> +Stoops to the lowlands. Under each shot forth<br/> +Two mighty wings, enormous as became<br/> +A bird so vast. Sails never such I saw<br/> +Outstretch’d on the wide sea. No plumes had they,<br/> +But were in texture like a bat, and these<br/> +He flapp’d i’ th’ air, that from him issued still<br/> +Three winds, wherewith Cocytus to its depth<br/> +Was frozen. At six eyes he wept: the tears<br/> +Adown three chins distill’d with bloody foam.<br/> +At every mouth his teeth a sinner champ’d<br/> +Bruis’d as with pond’rous engine, so that three<br/> +Were in this guise tormented. But far more<br/> +Than from that gnawing, was the foremost pang’d<br/> +By the fierce rending, whence ofttimes the back<br/> +Was stript of all its skin. “That upper spirit,<br/> +Who hath worse punishment,” so spake my guide,<br/> +“Is Judas, he that hath his head within<br/> +And plies the feet without. Of th’ other two,<br/> +Whose heads are under, from the murky jaw<br/> +Who hangs, is Brutus: lo! how he doth writhe<br/> +And speaks not! Th’ other Cassius, that appears<br/> +So large of limb. But night now re-ascends,<br/> +And it is time for parting. All is seen.” +</p> + +<p> +I clipp’d him round the neck, for so he bade;<br/> +And noting time and place, he, when the wings<br/> +Enough were op’d, caught fast the shaggy sides,<br/> +And down from pile to pile descending stepp’d<br/> +Between the thick fell and the jagged ice. +</p> + +<p> +Soon as he reach’d the point, whereat the thigh<br/> +Upon the swelling of the haunches turns,<br/> +My leader there with pain and struggling hard<br/> +Turn’d round his head, where his feet stood before,<br/> +And grappled at the fell, as one who mounts,<br/> +That into hell methought we turn’d again. +</p> + +<p> +“Expect that by such stairs as these,” thus spake<br/> +The teacher, panting like a man forespent,<br/> +“We must depart from evil so extreme.”<br/> +Then at a rocky opening issued forth,<br/> +And plac’d me on a brink to sit, next join’d<br/> +With wary step my side. I rais’d mine eyes,<br/> +Believing that I Lucifer should see<br/> +Where he was lately left, but saw him now<br/> +With legs held upward. Let the grosser sort,<br/> +Who see not what the point was I had pass’d,<br/> +Bethink them if sore toil oppress’d me then. +</p> + +<p> +“Arise,” my master cried, “upon thy feet.<br/> +The way is long, and much uncouth the road;<br/> +And now within one hour and half of noon<br/> +The sun returns.” It was no palace-hall<br/> +Lofty and luminous wherein we stood,<br/> +But natural dungeon where ill footing was<br/> +And scant supply of light. “Ere from th’ abyss<br/> +I sep’rate,” thus when risen I began,<br/> +“My guide! vouchsafe few words to set me free<br/> +From error’s thralldom. Where is now the ice?<br/> +How standeth he in posture thus revers’d?<br/> +And how from eve to morn in space so brief<br/> +Hath the sun made his transit?” He in few<br/> +Thus answering spake: “Thou deemest thou art still<br/> +On th’ other side the centre, where I grasp’d<br/> +Th’ abhorred worm, that boreth through the world.<br/> +Thou wast on th’ other side, so long as I<br/> +Descended; when I turn’d, thou didst o’erpass<br/> +That point, to which from ev’ry part is dragg’d<br/> +All heavy substance. Thou art now arriv’d<br/> +Under the hemisphere opposed to that,<br/> +Which the great continent doth overspread,<br/> +And underneath whose canopy expir’d<br/> +The Man, that was born sinless, and so liv’d.<br/> +Thy feet are planted on the smallest sphere,<br/> +Whose other aspect is Judecca. Morn<br/> +Here rises, when there evening sets: and he,<br/> +Whose shaggy pile was scal’d, yet standeth fix’d,<br/> +As at the first. On this part he fell down<br/> +From heav’n; and th’ earth, here prominent before,<br/> +Through fear of him did veil her with the sea,<br/> +And to our hemisphere retir’d. Perchance<br/> +To shun him was the vacant space left here<br/> +By what of firm land on this side appears,<br/> +That sprang aloof.” There is a place beneath,<br/> +From Belzebub as distant, as extends<br/> +The vaulted tomb, discover’d not by sight,<br/> +But by the sound of brooklet, that descends<br/> +This way along the hollow of a rock,<br/> +Which, as it winds with no precipitous course,<br/> +The wave hath eaten. By that hidden way<br/> +My guide and I did enter, to return<br/> +To the fair world: and heedless of repose<br/> +We climbed, he first, I following his steps,<br/> +Till on our view the beautiful lights of heav’n<br/> +Dawn’d through a circular opening in the cave:<br/> +Thus issuing we again beheld the stars. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 1005 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + + |