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| author | notori <188390306+n0tori@users.noreply.github.com> | 2025-08-02 18:41:23 +0100 |
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| committer | notori <188390306+n0tori@users.noreply.github.com> | 2025-08-02 18:41:23 +0100 |
| commit | 0416b7cfd8a4587247423de047afc52641db3fd5 (patch) | |
| tree | 982115d4ff95e2128e2d7d3bdf9827173372ba63 /cary.js | |
| parent | fc4af59aa052006710ce73b00fd34a3880cacd60 (diff) | |
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@@ -0,0 +1,4715 @@ +var caryData = { + "1": [ + "In the midway of this our mortal life,", + "I found me in a gloomy wood, astray", + "Gone from the path direct: and e’en to tell", + "It were no easy task, how savage wild", + "That forest, how robust and rough its growth,", + "Which to remember only, my dismay", + "Renews, in bitterness not far from death.", + "Yet to discourse of what there good befell,", + "All else will I relate discover’d there.", + "How first I enter’d it I scarce can say,", + "Such sleepy dullness in that instant weigh’d", + "My senses down, when the true path I left,", + "But when a mountain’s foot I reach’d, where clos’d", + "The valley, that had pierc’d my heart with dread,", + "I look’d aloft, and saw his shoulders broad", + "Already vested with that planet’s beam,", + "Who leads all wanderers safe through every way.", + "Then was a little respite to the fear,", + "That in my heart’s recesses deep had lain,", + "All of that night, so pitifully pass’d:", + "And as a man, with difficult short breath,", + "Forespent with toiling, ’scap’d from sea to shore,", + "Turns to the perilous wide waste, and stands", + "At gaze; e’en so my spirit, that yet fail’d", + "Struggling with terror, turn’d to view the straits,", + "That none hath pass’d and liv’d. My weary frame", + "After short pause recomforted, again", + "I journey’d on over that lonely steep,", + "The hinder foot still firmer. Scarce the ascent", + "Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light,", + "And cover’d with a speckled skin, appear’d,", + "Nor, when it saw me, vanish’d, rather strove", + "To check my onward going; that ofttimes", + "With purpose to retrace my steps I turn’d.", + "The hour was morning’s prime, and on his way", + "Aloft the sun ascended with those stars,", + "That with him rose, when Love divine first mov’d", + "Those its fair works: so that with joyous hope", + "All things conspir’d to fill me, the gay skin", + "Of that swift animal, the matin dawn", + "And the sweet season. Soon that joy was chas’d,", + "And by new dread succeeded, when in view", + "A lion came, ’gainst me, as it appear’d,", + "With his head held aloft and hunger-mad,", + "That e’en the air was fear-struck. A she-wolf", + "Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem’d", + "Full of all wants, and many a land hath made", + "Disconsolate ere now. She with such fear", + "O’erwhelmed me, at the sight of her appall’d,", + "That of the height all hope I lost. As one,", + "Who with his gain elated, sees the time", + "When all unwares is gone, he inwardly", + "Mourns with heart-griping anguish; such was I,", + "Haunted by that fell beast, never at peace,", + "Who coming o’er against me, by degrees", + "Impell’d me where the sun in silence rests.", + "While to the lower space with backward step", + "I fell, my ken discern’d the form one of one,", + "Whose voice seem’d faint through long disuse of speech.", + "When him in that great desert I espied,", + "“Have mercy on me!” cried I out aloud,", + "“Spirit! or living man! what e’er thou be!”", + "He answer’d: “Now not man, man once I was,", + "And born of Lombard parents, Mantuana both", + "By country, when the power of Julius yet", + "Was scarcely firm. At Rome my life was past", + "Beneath the mild Augustus, in the time", + "Of fabled deities and false. A bard", + "Was I, and made Anchises’ upright son", + "The subject of my song, who came from Troy,", + "When the flames prey’d on Ilium’s haughty towers.", + "But thou, say wherefore to such perils past", + "Return’st thou? wherefore not this pleasant mount", + "Ascendest, cause and source of all delight?”", + "“And art thou then that Virgil, that well-spring,", + "From which such copious floods of eloquence", + "Have issued?” I with front abash’d replied.", + "“Glory and light of all the tuneful train!", + "May it avail me that I long with zeal", + "Have sought thy volume, and with love immense", + "Have conn’d it o’er. My master thou and guide!", + "Thou he from whom alone I have deriv’d", + "That style, which for its beauty into fame", + "Exalts me. See the beast, from whom I fled.", + "O save me from her, thou illustrious sage!", + "For every vein and pulse throughout my frame", + "She hath made tremble.” He, soon as he saw", + "That I was weeping, answer’d, “Thou must needs", + "Another way pursue, if thou wouldst ’scape", + "From out that savage wilderness. This beast,", + "At whom thou criest, her way will suffer none", + "To pass, and no less hindrance makes than death:", + "So bad and so accursed in her kind,", + "That never sated is her ravenous will,", + "Still after food more craving than before.", + "To many an animal in wedlock vile", + "She fastens, and shall yet to many more,", + "Until that greyhound come, who shall destroy", + "Her with sharp pain. He will not life support", + "By earth nor its base metals, but by love,", + "Wisdom, and virtue, and his land shall be", + "The land ’twixt either Feltro. In his might", + "Shall safety to Italia’s plains arise,", + "For whose fair realm, Camilla, virgin pure,", + "Nisus, Euryalus, and Turnus fell.", + "He with incessant chase through every town", + "Shall worry, until he to hell at length", + "Restore her, thence by envy first let loose.", + "I for thy profit pond’ring now devise,", + "That thou mayst follow me, and I thy guide", + "Will lead thee hence through an eternal space,", + "Where thou shalt hear despairing shrieks, and see", + "Spirits of old tormented, who invoke", + "A second death; and those next view, who dwell", + "Content in fire, for that they hope to come,", + "Whene’er the time may be, among the blest,", + "Into whose regions if thou then desire", + "T’ ascend, a spirit worthier then I", + "Must lead thee, in whose charge, when I depart,", + "Thou shalt be left: for that Almighty King,", + "Who reigns above, a rebel to his law,", + "Adjudges me, and therefore hath decreed,", + "That to his city none through me should come.", + "He in all parts hath sway; there rules, there holds", + "His citadel and throne. O happy those,", + "Whom there he chooses!” I to him in few:", + "“Bard! by that God, whom thou didst not adore,", + "I do beseech thee (that this ill and worse", + "I may escape) to lead me, where thou saidst,", + "That I Saint Peter’s gate may view, and those", + "Who as thou tell’st, are in such dismal plight.”", + "Onward he mov’d, I close his steps pursu’d." + ], + "2": [ + "Now was the day departing, and the air,", + "Imbrown’d with shadows, from their toils releas’d", + "All animals on earth; and I alone", + "Prepar’d myself the conflict to sustain,", + "Both of sad pity, and that perilous road,", + "Which my unerring memory shall retrace.", + "O Muses! O high genius! now vouchsafe", + "Your aid! O mind! that all I saw hast kept", + "Safe in a written record, here thy worth", + "And eminent endowments come to proof.", + "I thus began: “Bard! thou who art my guide,", + "Consider well, if virtue be in me", + "Sufficient, ere to this high enterprise", + "Thou trust me. Thou hast told that Silvius’ sire,", + "Yet cloth’d in corruptible flesh, among", + "Th’ immortal tribes had entrance, and was there", + "Sensible present. Yet if heaven’s great Lord,", + "Almighty foe to ill, such favour shew’d,", + "In contemplation of the high effect,", + "Both what and who from him should issue forth,", + "It seems in reason’s judgment well deserv’d:", + "Sith he of Rome, and of Rome’s empire wide,", + "In heaven’s empyreal height was chosen sire:", + "Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain’d", + "And ’stablish’d for the holy place, where sits", + "Who to great Peter’s sacred chair succeeds.", + "He from this journey, in thy song renown’d,", + "Learn’d things, that to his victory gave rise", + "And to the papal robe. In after-times", + "The chosen vessel also travel’d there,", + "To bring us back assurance in that faith,", + "Which is the entrance to salvation’s way.", + "But I, why should I there presume? or who", + "Permits it? not, Aeneas I nor Paul.", + "Myself I deem not worthy, and none else", + "Will deem me. I, if on this voyage then", + "I venture, fear it will in folly end.", + "Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know’st,", + "Than I can speak.” As one, who unresolves", + "What he hath late resolv’d, and with new thoughts", + "Changes his purpose, from his first intent", + "Remov’d; e’en such was I on that dun coast,", + "Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first", + "So eagerly embrac’d. “If right thy words", + "I scan,” replied that shade magnanimous,", + "“Thy soul is by vile fear assail’d, which oft", + "So overcasts a man, that he recoils", + "From noblest resolution, like a beast", + "At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.", + "That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,", + "I will instruct thee why I came, and what", + "I heard in that same instant, when for thee", + "Grief touch’d me first. I was among the tribe,", + "Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest", + "And lovely, I besought her to command,", + "Call’d me; her eyes were brighter than the star", + "Of day; and she with gentle voice and soft", + "Angelically tun’d her speech address’d:", + "“O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame", + "Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!", + "A friend, not of my fortune but myself,", + "On the wide desert in his road has met", + "Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn’d.", + "Now much I dread lest he past help have stray’d,", + "And I be ris’n too late for his relief,", + "From what in heaven of him I heard. Speed now,", + "And by thy eloquent persuasive tongue,", + "And by all means for his deliverance meet,", + "Assist him. So to me will comfort spring.", + "I who now bid thee on this errand forth", + "Am Beatrice; from a place I come", + "Revisited with joy. Love brought me thence,", + "Who prompts my speech. When in my Master’s sight", + "I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell.”", + "She then was silent, and I thus began:", + "“O Lady! by whose influence alone,", + "Mankind excels whatever is contain’d", + "Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,", + "So thy command delights me, that to obey,", + "If it were done already, would seem late.", + "No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;", + "Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth", + "To leave that ample space, where to return", + "Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath.”", + "She then: “Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,", + "I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread", + "Hinders my entrance here. Those things alone", + "Are to be fear’d, whence evil may proceed,", + "None else, for none are terrible beside.", + "I am so fram’d by God, thanks to his grace!", + "That any suff’rance of your misery", + "Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire", + "Assails me. In high heaven a blessed dame", + "Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief", + "That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,", + "That God’s stern judgment to her will inclines.", + "To Lucia calling, her she thus bespake:", + "“Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid", + "And I commend him to thee.” At her word", + "Sped Lucia, of all cruelty the foe,", + "And coming to the place, where I abode", + "Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,", + "She thus address’d me: “Thou true praise of God!", + "Beatrice! why is not thy succour lent", + "To him, who so much lov’d thee, as to leave", + "For thy sake all the multitude admires?", + "Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,", + "Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,", + "Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?”", + "Ne’er among men did any with such speed", + "Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,", + "As when these words were spoken, I came here,", + "Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force", + "Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all", + "Who well have mark’d it, into honour brings.”", + "“When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes", + "Tearful she turn’d aside; whereat I felt", + "Redoubled zeal to serve thee. As she will’d,", + "Thus am I come: I sav’d thee from the beast,", + "Who thy near way across the goodly mount", + "Prevented. What is this comes o’er thee then?", + "Why, why dost thou hang back? why in thy breast", + "Harbour vile fear? why hast not courage there", + "And noble daring? Since three maids so blest", + "Thy safety plan, e’en in the court of heaven;", + "And so much certain good my words forebode.”", + "As florets, by the frosty air of night", + "Bent down and clos’d, when day has blanch’d their leaves,", + "Rise all unfolded on their spiry stems;", + "So was my fainting vigour new restor’d,", + "And to my heart such kindly courage ran,", + "That I as one undaunted soon replied:", + "“O full of pity she, who undertook", + "My succour! and thou kind who didst perform", + "So soon her true behest! With such desire", + "Thou hast dispos’d me to renew my voyage,", + "That my first purpose fully is resum’d.", + "Lead on: one only will is in us both.", + "Thou art my guide, my master thou, and lord.”", + "So spake I; and when he had onward mov’d,", + "I enter’d on the deep and woody way." + ], + "3": [ + "“Through me you pass into the city of woe:", + "Through me you pass into eternal pain:", + "Through me among the people lost for aye.", + "Justice the founder of my fabric mov’d:", + "To rear me was the task of power divine,", + "Supremest wisdom, and primeval love.", + "Before me things create were none, save things", + "Eternal, and eternal I endure.", + "All hope abandon ye who enter here.”", + "Such characters in colour dim I mark’d", + "Over a portal’s lofty arch inscrib’d:", + "Whereat I thus: “Master, these words import", + "Hard meaning.” He as one prepar’d replied:", + "“Here thou must all distrust behind thee leave;", + "Here be vile fear extinguish’d. We are come", + "Where I have told thee we shall see the souls", + "To misery doom’d, who intellectual good", + "Have lost.” And when his hand he had stretch’d forth", + "To mine, with pleasant looks, whence I was cheer’d,", + "Into that secret place he led me on.", + "Here sighs with lamentations and loud moans", + "Resounded through the air pierc’d by no star,", + "That e’en I wept at entering. Various tongues,", + "Horrible languages, outcries of woe,", + "Accents of anger, voices deep and hoarse,", + "With hands together smote that swell’d the sounds,", + "Made up a tumult, that for ever whirls", + "Round through that air with solid darkness stain’d,", + "Like to the sand that in the whirlwind flies.", + "I then, with error yet encompass’d, cried:", + "“O master! What is this I hear? What race", + "Are these, who seem so overcome with woe?”", + "He thus to me: “This miserable fate", + "Suffer the wretched souls of those, who liv’d", + "Without or praise or blame, with that ill band", + "Of angels mix’d, who nor rebellious prov’d", + "Nor yet were true to God, but for themselves", + "Were only. From his bounds Heaven drove them forth,", + "Not to impair his lustre, nor the depth", + "Of Hell receives them, lest th’ accursed tribe", + "Should glory thence with exultation vain.”", + "I then: “Master! what doth aggrieve them thus,", + "That they lament so loud?” He straight replied:", + "“That will I tell thee briefly. These of death", + "No hope may entertain: and their blind life", + "So meanly passes, that all other lots", + "They envy. Fame of them the world hath none,", + "Nor suffers; mercy and justice scorn them both.", + "Speak not of them, but look, and pass them by.”", + "And I, who straightway look’d, beheld a flag,", + "Which whirling ran around so rapidly,", + "That it no pause obtain’d: and following came", + "Such a long train of spirits, I should ne’er", + "Have thought, that death so many had despoil’d.", + "When some of these I recogniz’d, I saw", + "And knew the shade of him, who to base fear", + "Yielding, abjur’d his high estate. Forthwith", + "I understood for certain this the tribe", + "Of those ill spirits both to God displeasing", + "And to his foes. These wretches, who ne’er lived,", + "Went on in nakedness, and sorely stung", + "By wasps and hornets, which bedew’d their cheeks", + "With blood, that mix’d with tears dropp’d to their feet,", + "And by disgustful worms was gather’d there.", + "Then looking farther onwards I beheld", + "A throng upon the shore of a great stream:", + "Whereat I thus: “Sir! grant me now to know", + "Whom here we view, and whence impell’d they seem", + "So eager to pass o’er, as I discern", + "Through the blear light?” He thus to me in few:", + "“This shalt thou know, soon as our steps arrive", + "Beside the woeful tide of Acheron.”", + "Then with eyes downward cast and fill’d with shame,", + "Fearing my words offensive to his ear,", + "Till we had reach’d the river, I from speech", + "Abstain’d. And lo! toward us in a bark", + "Comes on an old man hoary white with eld,", + "Crying, “Woe to you wicked spirits! hope not", + "Ever to see the sky again. I come", + "To take you to the other shore across,", + "Into eternal darkness, there to dwell", + "In fierce heat and in ice. And thou, who there", + "Standest, live spirit! get thee hence, and leave", + "These who are dead.” But soon as he beheld", + "I left them not, “By other way,” said he,", + "“By other haven shalt thou come to shore,", + "Not by this passage; thee a nimbler boat", + "Must carry.” Then to him thus spake my guide:", + "“Charon! thyself torment not: so ’tis will’d,", + "Where will and power are one: ask thou no more.”", + "Straightway in silence fell the shaggy cheeks", + "Of him the boatman o’er the livid lake,", + "Around whose eyes glar’d wheeling flames. Meanwhile", + "Those spirits, faint and naked, color chang’d,", + "And gnash’d their teeth, soon as the cruel words", + "They heard. God and their parents they blasphem’d,", + "The human kind, the place, the time, and seed", + "That did engender them and give them birth.", + "Then all together sorely wailing drew", + "To the curs’d strand, that every man must pass", + "Who fears not God. Charon, demoniac form,", + "With eyes of burning coal, collects them all,", + "Beck’ning, and each, that lingers, with his oar", + "Strikes. As fall off the light autumnal leaves,", + "One still another following, till the bough", + "Strews all its honours on the earth beneath;", + "E’en in like manner Adam’s evil brood", + "Cast themselves one by one down from the shore,", + "Each at a beck, as falcon at his call.", + "Thus go they over through the umber’d wave,", + "And ever they on the opposing bank", + "Be landed, on this side another throng", + "Still gathers. “Son,” thus spake the courteous guide,", + "“Those, who die subject to the wrath of God,", + "All here together come from every clime,", + "And to o’erpass the river are not loth:", + "For so heaven’s justice goads them on, that fear", + "Is turn’d into desire. Hence ne’er hath past", + "Good spirit. If of thee Charon complain,", + "Now mayst thou know the import of his words.”", + "This said, the gloomy region trembling shook", + "So terribly, that yet with clammy dews", + "Fear chills my brow. The sad earth gave a blast,", + "That, lightening, shot forth a vermilion flame,", + "Which all my senses conquer’d quite, and I", + "Down dropp’d, as one with sudden slumber seiz’d." + ], + "4": [ + "Broke the deep slumber in my brain a crash", + "Of heavy thunder, that I shook myself,", + "As one by main force rous’d. Risen upright,", + "My rested eyes I mov’d around, and search’d", + "With fixed ken to know what place it was,", + "Wherein I stood. For certain on the brink", + "I found me of the lamentable vale,", + "The dread abyss, that joins a thund’rous sound", + "Of plaints innumerable. Dark and deep,", + "And thick with clouds o’erspread, mine eye in vain", + "Explor’d its bottom, nor could aught discern.", + "“Now let us to the blind world there beneath", + "Descend;” the bard began all pale of look:", + "“I go the first, and thou shalt follow next.”", + "Then I his alter’d hue perceiving, thus:", + "“How may I speed, if thou yieldest to dread,", + "Who still art wont to comfort me in doubt?”", + "He then: “The anguish of that race below", + "With pity stains my cheek, which thou for fear", + "Mistakest. Let us on. Our length of way", + "Urges to haste.” Onward, this said, he mov’d;", + "And ent’ring led me with him on the bounds", + "Of the first circle, that surrounds th’ abyss.", + "Here, as mine ear could note, no plaint was heard", + "Except of sighs, that made th’ eternal air", + "Tremble, not caus’d by tortures, but from grief", + "Felt by those multitudes, many and vast,", + "Of men, women, and infants. Then to me", + "The gentle guide: “Inquir’st thou not what spirits", + "Are these, which thou beholdest? Ere thou pass", + "Farther, I would thou know, that these of sin", + "Were blameless; and if aught they merited,", + "It profits not, since baptism was not theirs,", + "The portal to thy faith. If they before", + "The Gospel liv’d, they serv’d not God aright;", + "And among such am I. For these defects,", + "And for no other evil, we are lost;", + "Only so far afflicted, that we live", + "Desiring without hope.” So grief assail’d", + "My heart at hearing this, for well I knew", + "Suspended in that Limbo many a soul", + "Of mighty worth. “O tell me, sire rever’d!", + "Tell me, my master!” I began through wish", + "Of full assurance in that holy faith,", + "Which vanquishes all error; “say, did e’er", + "Any, or through his own or other’s merit,", + "Come forth from thence, whom afterward was blest?”", + "Piercing the secret purport of my speech,", + "He answer’d: “I was new to that estate,", + "When I beheld a puissant one arrive", + "Amongst us, with victorious trophy crown’d.", + "He forth the shade of our first parent drew,", + "Abel his child, and Noah righteous man,", + "Of Moses lawgiver for faith approv’d,", + "Of patriarch Abraham, and David king,", + "Israel with his sire and with his sons,", + "Nor without Rachel whom so hard he won,", + "And others many more, whom he to bliss", + "Exalted. Before these, be thou assur’d,", + "No spirit of human kind was ever sav’d.”", + "We, while he spake, ceas’d not our onward road,", + "Still passing through the wood; for so I name", + "Those spirits thick beset. We were not far", + "On this side from the summit, when I kenn’d", + "A flame, that o’er the darken’d hemisphere", + "Prevailing shin’d. Yet we a little space", + "Were distant, not so far but I in part", + "Discover’d, that a tribe in honour high", + "That place possess’d. “O thou, who every art", + "And science valu’st! who are these, that boast", + "Such honour, separate from all the rest?”", + "He answer’d: “The renown of their great names", + "That echoes through your world above, acquires", + "Favour in heaven, which holds them thus advanc’d.”", + "Meantime a voice I heard: “Honour the bard", + "Sublime! his shade returns that left us late!”", + "No sooner ceas’d the sound, than I beheld", + "Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps,", + "Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad.", + "When thus my master kind began: “Mark him,", + "Who in his right hand bears that falchion keen,", + "The other three preceding, as their lord.", + "This is that Homer, of all bards supreme:", + "Flaccus the next in satire’s vein excelling;", + "The third is Naso; Lucan is the last.", + "Because they all that appellation own,", + "With which the voice singly accosted me,", + "Honouring they greet me thus, and well they judge.”", + "So I beheld united the bright school", + "Of him the monarch of sublimest song,", + "That o’er the others like an eagle soars.", + "When they together short discourse had held,", + "They turn’d to me, with salutation kind", + "Beck’ning me; at the which my master smil’d:", + "Nor was this all; but greater honour still", + "They gave me, for they made me of their tribe;", + "And I was sixth amid so learn’d a band.", + "Far as the luminous beacon on we pass’d", + "Speaking of matters, then befitting well", + "To speak, now fitter left untold. At foot", + "Of a magnificent castle we arriv’d,", + "Seven times with lofty walls begirt, and round", + "Defended by a pleasant stream. O’er this", + "As o’er dry land we pass’d. Next through seven gates", + "I with those sages enter’d, and we came", + "Into a mead with lively verdure fresh.", + "There dwelt a race, who slow their eyes around", + "Majestically mov’d, and in their port", + "Bore eminent authority; they spake", + "Seldom, but all their words were tuneful sweet.", + "We to one side retir’d, into a place", + "Open and bright and lofty, whence each one", + "Stood manifest to view. Incontinent", + "There on the green enamel of the plain", + "Were shown me the great spirits, by whose sight", + "I am exalted in my own esteem.", + "Electra there I saw accompanied", + "By many, among whom Hector I knew,", + "Anchises’ pious son, and with hawk’s eye", + "Caesar all arm’d, and by Camilla there", + "Penthesilea. On the other side", + "Old King Latinus, seated by his child", + "Lavinia, and that Brutus I beheld,", + "Who Tarquin chas’d, Lucretia, Cato’s wife", + "Marcia, with Julia and Cornelia there;", + "And sole apart retir’d, the Soldan fierce.", + "Then when a little more I rais’d my brow,", + "I spied the master of the sapient throng,", + "Seated amid the philosophic train.", + "Him all admire, all pay him rev’rence due.", + "There Socrates and Plato both I mark’d,", + "Nearest to him in rank; Democritus,", + "Who sets the world at chance, Diogenes,", + "With Heraclitus, and Empedocles,", + "And Anaxagoras, and Thales sage,", + "Zeno, and Dioscorides well read", + "In nature’s secret lore. Orpheus I mark’d", + "And Linus, Tully and moral Seneca,", + "Euclid and Ptolemy, Hippocrates,", + "Galenus, Avicen, and him who made", + "That commentary vast, Averroes.", + "Of all to speak at full were vain attempt;", + "For my wide theme so urges, that ofttimes", + "My words fall short of what bechanc’d. In two", + "The six associates part. Another way", + "My sage guide leads me, from that air serene,", + "Into a climate ever vex’d with storms:", + "And to a part I come where no light shines." + ], + "5": [ + "From the first circle I descended thus", + "Down to the second, which, a lesser space", + "Embracing, so much more of grief contains", + "Provoking bitter moans. There, Minos stands", + "Grinning with ghastly feature: he, of all", + "Who enter, strict examining the crimes,", + "Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath,", + "According as he foldeth him around:", + "For when before him comes th’ ill fated soul,", + "It all confesses; and that judge severe", + "Of sins, considering what place in hell", + "Suits the transgression, with his tail so oft", + "Himself encircles, as degrees beneath", + "He dooms it to descend. Before him stand", + "Always a num’rous throng; and in his turn", + "Each one to judgment passing, speaks, and hears", + "His fate, thence downward to his dwelling hurl’d.", + "“O thou! who to this residence of woe", + "Approachest?” when he saw me coming, cried", + "Minos, relinquishing his dread employ,", + "“Look how thou enter here; beware in whom", + "Thou place thy trust; let not the entrance broad", + "Deceive thee to thy harm.” To him my guide:", + "“Wherefore exclaimest? Hinder not his way", + "By destiny appointed; so ’tis will’d", + "Where will and power are one. Ask thou no more.”", + "Now ’gin the rueful wailings to be heard.", + "Now am I come where many a plaining voice", + "Smites on mine ear. Into a place I came", + "Where light was silent all. Bellowing there groan’d", + "A noise as of a sea in tempest torn", + "By warring winds. The stormy blast of hell", + "With restless fury drives the spirits on", + "Whirl’d round and dash’d amain with sore annoy.", + "When they arrive before the ruinous sweep,", + "There shrieks are heard, there lamentations, moans,", + "And blasphemies ’gainst the good Power in heaven.", + "I understood that to this torment sad", + "The carnal sinners are condemn’d, in whom", + "Reason by lust is sway’d. As in large troops", + "And multitudinous, when winter reigns,", + "The starlings on their wings are borne abroad;", + "So bears the tyrannous gust those evil souls.", + "On this side and on that, above, below,", + "It drives them: hope of rest to solace them", + "Is none, nor e’en of milder pang. As cranes,", + "Chanting their dol’rous notes, traverse the sky,", + "Stretch’d out in long array: so I beheld", + "Spirits, who came loud wailing, hurried on", + "By their dire doom. Then I: “Instructor! who", + "Are these, by the black air so scourg’d?”—” The first", + "’Mong those, of whom thou question’st,” he replied,", + "“O’er many tongues was empress. She in vice", + "Of luxury was so shameless, that she made", + "Liking be lawful by promulg’d decree,", + "To clear the blame she had herself incurr’d.", + "This is Semiramis, of whom ’tis writ,", + "That she succeeded Ninus her espous’d;", + "And held the land, which now the Soldan rules.", + "The next in amorous fury slew herself,", + "And to Sicheus’ ashes broke her faith:", + "Then follows Cleopatra, lustful queen.”", + "There mark’d I Helen, for whose sake so long", + "The time was fraught with evil; there the great", + "Achilles, who with love fought to the end.", + "Paris I saw, and Tristan; and beside", + "A thousand more he show’d me, and by name", + "Pointed them out, whom love bereav’d of life.", + "When I had heard my sage instructor name", + "Those dames and knights of antique days, o’erpower’d", + "By pity, well-nigh in amaze my mind", + "Was lost; and I began: “Bard! willingly", + "I would address those two together coming,", + "Which seem so light before the wind.” He thus:", + "“Note thou, when nearer they to us approach.", + "Then by that love which carries them along,", + "Entreat; and they will come.” Soon as the wind", + "Sway’d them toward us, I thus fram’d my speech:", + "“O wearied spirits! come, and hold discourse", + "With us, if by none else restrain’d.” As doves", + "By fond desire invited, on wide wings", + "And firm, to their sweet nest returning home,", + "Cleave the air, wafted by their will along;", + "Thus issu’d from that troop, where Dido ranks,", + "They through the ill air speeding; with such force", + "My cry prevail’d by strong affection urg’d.", + "“O gracious creature and benign! who go’st", + "Visiting, through this element obscure,", + "Us, who the world with bloody stain imbru’d;", + "If for a friend the King of all we own’d,", + "Our pray’r to him should for thy peace arise,", + "Since thou hast pity on our evil plight.", + "()f whatsoe’er to hear or to discourse", + "It pleases thee, that will we hear, of that", + "Freely with thee discourse, while e’er the wind,", + "As now, is mute. The land, that gave me birth,", + "Is situate on the coast, where Po descends", + "To rest in ocean with his sequent streams.", + "“Love, that in gentle heart is quickly learnt,", + "Entangled him by that fair form, from me", + "Ta’en in such cruel sort, as grieves me still:", + "Love, that denial takes from none belov’d,", + "Caught me with pleasing him so passing well,", + "That, as thou see’st, he yet deserts me not.", + "Love brought us to one death: Caina waits", + "The soul, who spilt our life.” Such were their words;", + "At hearing which downward I bent my looks,", + "And held them there so long, that the bard cried:", + "“What art thou pond’ring?” I in answer thus:", + "“Alas! by what sweet thoughts, what fond desire", + "Must they at length to that ill pass have reach’d!”", + "Then turning, I to them my speech address’d.", + "And thus began: “Francesca! your sad fate", + "Even to tears my grief and pity moves.", + "But tell me; in the time of your sweet sighs,", + "By what, and how love granted, that ye knew", + "Your yet uncertain wishes?” She replied:", + "“No greater grief than to remember days", + "Of joy, when mis’ry is at hand! That kens", + "Thy learn’d instructor. Yet so eagerly", + "If thou art bent to know the primal root,", + "From whence our love gat being, I will do,", + "As one, who weeps and tells his tale. One day", + "For our delight we read of Lancelot,", + "How him love thrall’d. Alone we were, and no", + "Suspicion near us. Ofttimes by that reading", + "Our eyes were drawn together, and the hue", + "Fled from our alter’d cheek. But at one point", + "Alone we fell. When of that smile we read,", + "The wished smile, rapturously kiss’d", + "By one so deep in love, then he, who ne’er", + "From me shall separate, at once my lips", + "All trembling kiss’d. The book and writer both", + "Were love’s purveyors. In its leaves that day", + "We read no more.” While thus one spirit spake,", + "The other wail’d so sorely, that heartstruck", + "I through compassion fainting, seem’d not far", + "From death, and like a corpse fell to the ground." + ], + "6": [ + "My sense reviving, that erewhile had droop’d", + "With pity for the kindred shades, whence grief", + "O’ercame me wholly, straight around I see", + "New torments, new tormented souls, which way", + "Soe’er I move, or turn, or bend my sight.", + "In the third circle I arrive, of show’rs", + "Ceaseless, accursed, heavy, and cold, unchang’d", + "For ever, both in kind and in degree.", + "Large hail, discolour’d water, sleety flaw", + "Through the dun midnight air stream’d down amain:", + "Stank all the land whereon that tempest fell.", + "Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange,", + "Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog", + "Over the multitude immers’d beneath.", + "His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard,", + "His belly large, and claw’d the hands, with which", + "He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs", + "Piecemeal disparts. Howling there spread, as curs,", + "Under the rainy deluge, with one side", + "The other screening, oft they roll them round,", + "A wretched, godless crew. When that great worm", + "Descried us, savage Cerberus, he op’d", + "His jaws, and the fangs show’d us; not a limb", + "Of him but trembled. Then my guide, his palms", + "Expanding on the ground, thence filled with earth", + "Rais’d them, and cast it in his ravenous maw.", + "E’en as a dog, that yelling bays for food", + "His keeper, when the morsel comes, lets fall", + "His fury, bent alone with eager haste", + "To swallow it; so dropp’d the loathsome cheeks", + "Of demon Cerberus, who thund’ring stuns", + "The spirits, that they for deafness wish in vain.", + "We, o’er the shades thrown prostrate by the brunt", + "Of the heavy tempest passing, set our feet", + "Upon their emptiness, that substance seem’d.", + "They all along the earth extended lay", + "Save one, that sudden rais’d himself to sit,", + "Soon as that way he saw us pass. “O thou!”", + "He cried, “who through the infernal shades art led,", + "Own, if again thou know’st me. Thou wast fram’d", + "Or ere my frame was broken.” I replied:", + "“The anguish thou endur’st perchance so takes", + "Thy form from my remembrance, that it seems", + "As if I saw thee never. But inform", + "Me who thou art, that in a place so sad", + "Art set, and in such torment, that although", + "Other be greater, more disgustful none", + "Can be imagin’d.” He in answer thus:", + "“Thy city heap’d with envy to the brim,", + "Ay that the measure overflows its bounds,", + "Held me in brighter days. Ye citizens", + "Were wont to name me Ciacco. For the sin", + "Of glutt’ny, damned vice, beneath this rain,", + "E’en as thou see’st, I with fatigue am worn;", + "Nor I sole spirit in this woe: all these", + "Have by like crime incurr’d like punishment.”", + "No more he said, and I my speech resum’d:", + "“Ciacco! thy dire affliction grieves me much,", + "Even to tears. But tell me, if thou know’st,", + "What shall at length befall the citizens", + "Of the divided city; whether any just one", + "Inhabit there: and tell me of the cause,", + "Whence jarring discord hath assail’d it thus?”", + "He then: “After long striving they will come", + "To blood; and the wild party from the woods", + "Will chase the other with much injury forth.", + "Then it behoves, that this must fall, within", + "Three solar circles; and the other rise", + "By borrow’d force of one, who under shore", + "Now rests. It shall a long space hold aloof", + "Its forehead, keeping under heavy weight", + "The other oppress’d, indignant at the load,", + "And grieving sore. The just are two in number,", + "But they neglected. Av’rice, envy, pride,", + "Three fatal sparks, have set the hearts of all", + "On fire.” Here ceas’d the lamentable sound;", + "And I continu’d thus: “Still would I learn", + "More from thee, farther parley still entreat.", + "Of Farinata and Tegghiaio say,", + "They who so well deserv’d, of Giacopo,", + "Arrigo, Mosca, and the rest, who bent", + "Their minds on working good. Oh! tell me where", + "They bide, and to their knowledge let me come.", + "For I am press’d with keen desire to hear,", + "If heaven’s sweet cup or poisonous drug of hell", + "Be to their lip assign’d.” He answer’d straight:", + "“These are yet blacker spirits. Various crimes", + "Have sunk them deeper in the dark abyss.", + "If thou so far descendest, thou mayst see them.", + "But to the pleasant world when thou return’st,", + "Of me make mention, I entreat thee, there.", + "No more I tell thee, answer thee no more.”", + "This said, his fixed eyes he turn’d askance,", + "A little ey’d me, then bent down his head,", + "And ’midst his blind companions with it fell.", + "When thus my guide: “No more his bed he leaves,", + "Ere the last angel-trumpet blow. The Power", + "Adverse to these shall then in glory come,", + "Each one forthwith to his sad tomb repair,", + "Resume his fleshly vesture and his form,", + "And hear the eternal doom re-echoing rend", + "The vault.” So pass’d we through that mixture foul", + "Of spirits and rain, with tardy steps; meanwhile", + "Touching, though slightly, on the life to come.", + "For thus I question’d: “Shall these tortures, Sir!", + "When the great sentence passes, be increas’d,", + "Or mitigated, or as now severe?”", + "He then: “Consult thy knowledge; that decides", + "That as each thing to more perfection grows,", + "It feels more sensibly both good and pain.", + "Though ne’er to true perfection may arrive", + "This race accurs’d, yet nearer then than now", + "They shall approach it.” Compassing that path", + "Circuitous we journeyed, and discourse", + "Much more than I relate between us pass’d:", + "Till at the point, where the steps led below,", + "Arriv’d, there Plutus, the great foe, we found." + ], + "7": [ + "“Ah me! O Satan! Satan!” loud exclaim’d", + "Plutus, in accent hoarse of wild alarm:", + "And the kind sage, whom no event surpris’d,", + "To comfort me thus spake: “Let not thy fear", + "Harm thee, for power in him, be sure, is none", + "To hinder down this rock thy safe descent.”", + "Then to that sworn lip turning, “ Peace!” he cried,", + "“Curs’d wolf! thy fury inward on thyself", + "Prey, and consume thee! Through the dark profound", + "Not without cause he passes. So ’tis will’d", + "On high, there where the great Archangel pour’d", + "Heav’n’s vengeance on the first adulterer proud.”", + "As sails full spread and bellying with the wind", + "Drop suddenly collaps’d, if the mast split;", + "So to the ground down dropp’d the cruel fiend.", + "Thus we, descending to the fourth steep ledge,", + "Gain’d on the dismal shore, that all the woe", + "Hems in of all the universe. Ah me!", + "Almighty Justice! in what store thou heap’st", + "New pains, new troubles, as I here beheld!", + "Wherefore doth fault of ours bring us to this?", + "E’en as a billow, on Charybdis rising,", + "Against encounter’d billow dashing breaks;", + "Such is the dance this wretched race must lead,", + "Whom more than elsewhere numerous here I found,", + "From one side and the other, with loud voice,", + "Both roll’d on weights by main forge of their breasts,", + "Then smote together, and each one forthwith", + "Roll’d them back voluble, turning again,", + "Exclaiming these, “Why holdest thou so fast?”", + "Those answering, “And why castest thou away?”", + "So still repeating their despiteful song,", + "They to the opposite point on either hand", + "Travers’d the horrid circle: then arriv’d,", + "Both turn’d them round, and through the middle space", + "Conflicting met again. At sight whereof", + "I, stung with grief, thus spake: “O say, my guide!", + "What race is this? Were these, whose heads are shorn,", + "On our left hand, all sep’rate to the church?”", + "He straight replied: “In their first life these all", + "In mind were so distorted, that they made,", + "According to due measure, of their wealth,", + "No use. This clearly from their words collect,", + "Which they howl forth, at each extremity", + "Arriving of the circle, where their crime", + "Contrary’ in kind disparts them. To the church", + "Were separate those, that with no hairy cowls", + "Are crown’d, both Popes and Cardinals, o’er whom", + "Av’rice dominion absolute maintains.”", + "I then: “Mid such as these some needs must be,", + "Whom I shall recognize, that with the blot", + "Of these foul sins were stain’d.” He answering thus:", + "“Vain thought conceiv’st thou. That ignoble life,", + "Which made them vile before, now makes them dark,", + "And to all knowledge indiscernible.", + "Forever they shall meet in this rude shock:", + "These from the tomb with clenched grasp shall rise,", + "Those with close-shaven locks. That ill they gave,", + "And ill they kept, hath of the beauteous world", + "Depriv’d, and set them at this strife, which needs", + "No labour’d phrase of mine to set if off.", + "Now may’st thou see, my son! how brief, how vain,", + "The goods committed into fortune’s hands,", + "For which the human race keep such a coil!", + "Not all the gold, that is beneath the moon,", + "Or ever hath been, of these toil-worn souls", + "Might purchase rest for one.” I thus rejoin’d:", + "“My guide! of thee this also would I learn;", + "This fortune, that thou speak’st of, what it is,", + "Whose talons grasp the blessings of the world?”", + "He thus: “O beings blind! what ignorance", + "Besets you? Now my judgment hear and mark.", + "He, whose transcendent wisdom passes all,", + "The heavens creating, gave them ruling powers", + "To guide them, so that each part shines to each,", + "Their light in equal distribution pour’d.", + "By similar appointment he ordain’d", + "Over the world’s bright images to rule.", + "Superintendence of a guiding hand", + "And general minister, which at due time", + "May change the empty vantages of life", + "From race to race, from one to other’s blood,", + "Beyond prevention of man’s wisest care:", + "Wherefore one nation rises into sway,", + "Another languishes, e’en as her will", + "Decrees, from us conceal’d, as in the grass", + "The serpent train. Against her nought avails", + "Your utmost wisdom. She with foresight plans,", + "Judges, and carries on her reign, as theirs", + "The other powers divine. Her changes know", + "Nore intermission: by necessity", + "She is made swift, so frequent come who claim", + "Succession in her favours. This is she,", + "So execrated e’en by those, whose debt", + "To her is rather praise; they wrongfully", + "With blame requite her, and with evil word;", + "But she is blessed, and for that recks not:", + "Amidst the other primal beings glad", + "Rolls on her sphere, and in her bliss exults.", + "Now on our way pass we, to heavier woe", + "Descending: for each star is falling now,", + "That mounted at our entrance, and forbids", + "Too long our tarrying.” We the circle cross’d", + "To the next steep, arriving at a well,", + "That boiling pours itself down to a foss", + "Sluic’d from its source. Far murkier was the wave", + "Than sablest grain: and we in company", + "Of the’ inky waters, journeying by their side,", + "Enter’d, though by a different track, beneath.", + "Into a lake, the Stygian nam’d, expands", + "The dismal stream, when it hath reach’d the foot", + "Of the grey wither’d cliffs. Intent I stood", + "To gaze, and in the marish sunk descried", + "A miry tribe, all naked, and with looks", + "Betok’ning rage. They with their hands alone", + "Struck not, but with the head, the breast, the feet,", + "Cutting each other piecemeal with their fangs.", + "The good instructor spake; “Now seest thou, son!", + "The souls of those, whom anger overcame.", + "This too for certain know, that underneath", + "The water dwells a multitude, whose sighs", + "Into these bubbles make the surface heave,", + "As thine eye tells thee wheresoe’er it turn.", + "Fix’d in the slime they say: “Sad once were we", + "In the sweet air made gladsome by the sun,", + "Carrying a foul and lazy mist within:", + "Now in these murky settlings are we sad.”", + "Such dolorous strain they gurgle in their throats.", + "But word distinct can utter none.” Our route", + "Thus compass’d we, a segment widely stretch’d", + "Between the dry embankment, and the core", + "Of the loath’d pool, turning meanwhile our eyes", + "Downward on those who gulp’d its muddy lees;", + "Nor stopp’d, till to a tower’s low base we came." + ], + "8": [ + "My theme pursuing, I relate that ere", + "We reach’d the lofty turret’s base, our eyes", + "Its height ascended, where two cressets hung", + "We mark’d, and from afar another light", + "Return the signal, so remote, that scarce", + "The eye could catch its beam. I turning round", + "To the deep source of knowledge, thus inquir’d:", + "“Say what this means? and what that other light", + "In answer set? what agency doth this?”", + "“There on the filthy waters,” he replied,", + "“E’en now what next awaits us mayst thou see,", + "If the marsh-gender’d fog conceal it not.”", + "Never was arrow from the cord dismiss’d,", + "That ran its way so nimbly through the air,", + "As a small bark, that through the waves I spied", + "Toward us coming, under the sole sway", + "Of one that ferried it, who cried aloud:", + "“Art thou arriv’d, fell spirit?”—“Phlegyas, Phlegyas,", + "This time thou criest in vain,” my lord replied;", + "“No longer shalt thou have us, but while o’er", + "The slimy pool we pass.” As one who hears", + "Of some great wrong he hath sustain’d, whereat", + "Inly he pines; so Phlegyas inly pin’d", + "In his fierce ire. My guide descending stepp’d", + "Into the skiff, and bade me enter next", + "Close at his side; nor till my entrance seem’d", + "The vessel freighted. Soon as both embark’d,", + "Cutting the waves, goes on the ancient prow,", + "More deeply than with others it is wont.", + "While we our course o’er the dead channel held.", + "One drench’d in mire before me came, and said;", + "“Who art thou, that thou comest ere thine hour?”", + "I answer’d: “Though I come, I tarry not;", + "But who art thou, that art become so foul?”", + "“One, as thou seest, who mourn: “ he straight replied.", + "To which I thus: “ In mourning and in woe,", + "Curs’d spirit! tarry thou. I know thee well,", + "E’en thus in filth disguis’d.” Then stretch’d he forth", + "Hands to the bark; whereof my teacher sage", + "Aware, thrusting him back: “Away! down there", + "To the’ other dogs!” then, with his arms my neck", + "Encircling, kiss’d my cheek, and spake: “O soul", + "Justly disdainful! blest was she in whom", + "Thou was conceiv’d! He in the world was one", + "For arrogance noted; to his memory", + "No virtue lends its lustre; even so", + "Here is his shadow furious. There above", + "How many now hold themselves mighty kings", + "Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,", + "Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!”", + "I then: “Master! him fain would I behold", + "Whelm’d in these dregs, before we quit the lake.”", + "He thus: “Or ever to thy view the shore", + "Be offer’d, satisfied shall be that wish,", + "Which well deserves completion.” Scarce his words", + "Were ended, when I saw the miry tribes", + "Set on him with such violence, that yet", + "For that render I thanks to God and praise", + "“To Filippo Argenti:” cried they all:", + "And on himself the moody Florentine", + "Turn’d his avenging fangs. Him here we left,", + "Nor speak I of him more. But on mine ear", + "Sudden a sound of lamentation smote,", + "Whereat mine eye unbarr’d I sent abroad.", + "And thus the good instructor: “Now, my son!", + "Draws near the city, that of Dis is nam’d,", + "With its grave denizens, a mighty throng.”", + "I thus: “The minarets already, Sir!", + "There certes in the valley I descry,", + "Gleaming vermilion, as if they from fire", + "Had issu’d.” He replied: “Eternal fire,", + "That inward burns, shows them with ruddy flame", + "Illum’d; as in this nether hell thou seest.”", + "We came within the fosses deep, that moat", + "This region comfortless. The walls appear’d", + "As they were fram’d of iron. We had made", + "Wide circuit, ere a place we reach’d, where loud", + "The mariner cried vehement: “Go forth!", + "The’ entrance is here!” Upon the gates I spied", + "More than a thousand, who of old from heaven", + "Were hurl’d. With ireful gestures, “Who is this,”", + "They cried, “that without death first felt, goes through", + "The regions of the dead?” My sapient guide", + "Made sign that he for secret parley wish’d;", + "Whereat their angry scorn abating, thus", + "They spake: “Come thou alone; and let him go", + "Who hath so hardily enter’d this realm.", + "Alone return he by his witless way;", + "If well he know it, let him prove. For thee,", + "Here shalt thou tarry, who through clime so dark", + "Hast been his escort.” Now bethink thee, reader!", + "What cheer was mine at sound of those curs’d words.", + "I did believe I never should return.", + "“O my lov’d guide! who more than seven times", + "Security hast render’d me, and drawn", + "From peril deep, whereto I stood expos’d,", + "Desert me not,” I cried, “in this extreme.", + "And if our onward going be denied,", + "Together trace we back our steps with speed.”", + "My liege, who thither had conducted me,", + "Replied: “Fear not: for of our passage none", + "Hath power to disappoint us, by such high", + "Authority permitted. But do thou", + "Expect me here; meanwhile thy wearied spirit", + "Comfort, and feed with kindly hope, assur’d", + "I will not leave thee in this lower world.”", + "This said, departs the sire benevolent,", + "And quits me. Hesitating I remain", + "At war ’twixt will and will not in my thoughts.", + "I could not hear what terms he offer’d them,", + "But they conferr’d not long, for all at once", + "To trial fled within. Clos’d were the gates", + "By those our adversaries on the breast", + "Of my liege lord: excluded he return’d", + "To me with tardy steps. Upon the ground", + "His eyes were bent, and from his brow eras’d", + "All confidence, while thus with sighs he spake:", + "“Who hath denied me these abodes of woe?”", + "Then thus to me: “That I am anger’d, think", + "No ground of terror: in this trial I", + "Shall vanquish, use what arts they may within", + "For hindrance. This their insolence, not new,", + "Erewhile at gate less secret they display’d,", + "Which still is without bolt; upon its arch", + "Thou saw’st the deadly scroll: and even now", + "On this side of its entrance, down the steep,", + "Passing the circles, unescorted, comes", + "One whose strong might can open us this land.”" + ], + "9": [ + "The hue, which coward dread on my pale cheeks", + "Imprinted, when I saw my guide turn back,", + "Chas’d that from his which newly they had worn,", + "And inwardly restrain’d it. He, as one", + "Who listens, stood attentive: for his eye", + "Not far could lead him through the sable air,", + "And the thick-gath’ring cloud. “It yet behooves", + "We win this fight”—thus he began—” if not—", + "Such aid to us is offer’d.—Oh, how long", + "Me seems it, ere the promis’d help arrive!”", + "I noted, how the sequel of his words", + "Clok’d their beginning; for the last he spake", + "Agreed not with the first. But not the less", + "My fear was at his saying; sith I drew", + "To import worse perchance, than that he held,", + "His mutilated speech. “Doth ever any", + "Into this rueful concave’s extreme depth", + "Descend, out of the first degree, whose pain", + "Is deprivation merely of sweet hope?”", + "Thus I inquiring. “Rarely,” he replied,", + "“It chances, that among us any makes", + "This journey, which I wend. Erewhile ’tis true", + "Once came I here beneath, conjur’d by fell", + "Erictho, sorceress, who compell’d the shades", + "Back to their bodies. No long space my flesh", + "Was naked of me, when within these walls", + "She made me enter, to draw forth a spirit", + "From out of Judas’ circle. Lowest place", + "Is that of all, obscurest, and remov’d", + "Farthest from heav’n’s all-circling orb. The road", + "Full well I know: thou therefore rest secure.", + "That lake, the noisome stench exhaling, round", + "The city’ of grief encompasses, which now", + "We may not enter without rage.” Yet more", + "He added: but I hold it not in mind,", + "For that mine eye toward the lofty tower", + "Had drawn me wholly, to its burning top.", + "Where in an instant I beheld uprisen", + "At once three hellish furies stain’d with blood:", + "In limb and motion feminine they seem’d;", + "Around them greenest hydras twisting roll’d", + "Their volumes; adders and cerastes crept", + "Instead of hair, and their fierce temples bound.", + "He knowing well the miserable hags", + "Who tend the queen of endless woe, thus spake:", + "“Mark thou each dire Erinnys. To the left", + "This is Megaera; on the right hand she,", + "Who wails, Alecto; and Tisiphone", + "I’ th’ midst.” This said, in silence he remain’d", + "Their breast they each one clawing tore; themselves", + "Smote with their palms, and such shrill clamour rais’d,", + "That to the bard I clung, suspicion-bound.", + "“Hasten Medusa: so to adamant", + "Him shall we change;” all looking down exclaim’d.", + "“E’en when by Theseus’ might assail’d, we took", + "No ill revenge.” “Turn thyself round, and keep", + "Thy count’nance hid; for if the Gorgon dire", + "Be shown, and thou shouldst view it, thy return", + "Upwards would be for ever lost.” This said,", + "Himself my gentle master turn’d me round,", + "Nor trusted he my hands, but with his own", + "He also hid me. Ye of intellect", + "Sound and entire, mark well the lore conceal’d", + "Under close texture of the mystic strain!", + "And now there came o’er the perturbed waves", + "Loud-crashing, terrible, a sound that made", + "Either shore tremble, as if of a wind", + "Impetuous, from conflicting vapours sprung,", + "That ’gainst some forest driving all its might,", + "Plucks off the branches, beats them down and hurls", + "Afar; then onward passing proudly sweeps", + "Its whirlwind rage, while beasts and shepherds fly.", + "Mine eyes he loos’d, and spake: “And now direct", + "Thy visual nerve along that ancient foam,", + "There, thickest where the smoke ascends.” As frogs", + "Before their foe the serpent, through the wave", + "Ply swiftly all, till at the ground each one", + "Lies on a heap; more than a thousand spirits", + "Destroy’d, so saw I fleeing before one", + "Who pass’d with unwet feet the Stygian sound.", + "He, from his face removing the gross air,", + "Oft his left hand forth stretch’d, and seem’d alone", + "By that annoyance wearied. I perceiv’d", + "That he was sent from heav’n, and to my guide", + "Turn’d me, who signal made that I should stand", + "Quiet, and bend to him. Ah me! how full", + "Of noble anger seem’d he! To the gate", + "He came, and with his wand touch’d it, whereat", + "Open without impediment it flew.", + "“Outcasts of heav’n! O abject race and scorn’d!”", + "Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,", + "“Whence doth this wild excess of insolence", + "Lodge in you? wherefore kick you ’gainst that will", + "Ne’er frustrate of its end, and which so oft", + "Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?", + "What profits at the fays to but the horn?", + "Your Cerberus, if ye remember, hence", + "Bears still, peel’d of their hair, his throat and maw.”", + "This said, he turn’d back o’er the filthy way,", + "And syllable to us spake none, but wore", + "The semblance of a man by other care", + "Beset, and keenly press’d, than thought of him", + "Who in his presence stands. Then we our steps", + "Toward that territory mov’d, secure", + "After the hallow’d words. We unoppos’d", + "There enter’d; and my mind eager to learn", + "What state a fortress like to that might hold,", + "I soon as enter’d throw mine eye around,", + "And see on every part wide-stretching space", + "Replete with bitter pain and torment ill.", + "As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,", + "Or as at Pola, near Quarnaro’s gulf,", + "That closes Italy and laves her bounds,", + "The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;", + "So was it here, save what in horror here", + "Excell’d: for ’midst the graves were scattered flames,", + "Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn’d,", + "That iron for no craft there hotter needs.", + "Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath", + "From them forth issu’d lamentable moans,", + "Such as the sad and tortur’d well might raise.", + "I thus: “Master! say who are these, interr’d", + "Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear", + "The dolorous sighs?” He answer thus return’d:", + "“The arch-heretics are here, accompanied", + "By every sect their followers; and much more,", + "Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like", + "With like is buried; and the monuments", + "Are different in degrees of heat. “This said,", + "He to the right hand turning, on we pass’d", + "Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high." + ], + "10": [ + "Now by a secret pathway we proceed,", + "Between the walls, that hem the region round,", + "And the tormented souls: my master first,", + "I close behind his steps. “Virtue supreme!”", + "I thus began; “who through these ample orbs", + "In circuit lead’st me, even as thou will’st,", + "Speak thou, and satisfy my wish. May those,", + "Who lie within these sepulchres, be seen?", + "Already all the lids are rais’d, and none", + "O’er them keeps watch.” He thus in answer spake", + "“They shall be closed all, what-time they here", + "From Josaphat return’d shall come, and bring", + "Their bodies, which above they now have left.", + "The cemetery on this part obtain", + "With Epicurus all his followers,", + "Who with the body make the spirit die.", + "Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon", + "Both to the question ask’d, and to the wish,", + "Which thou conceal’st in silence.” I replied:", + "“I keep not, guide belov’d! from thee my heart", + "Secreted, but to shun vain length of words,", + "A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself.”", + "“O Tuscan! thou who through the city of fire", + "Alive art passing, so discreet of speech!", + "Here please thee stay awhile. Thy utterance", + "Declares the place of thy nativity", + "To be that noble land, with which perchance", + "I too severely dealt.” Sudden that sound", + "Forth issu’d from a vault, whereat in fear", + "I somewhat closer to my leader’s side", + "Approaching, he thus spake: “What dost thou? Turn.", + "Lo, Farinata, there! who hath himself", + "Uplifted: from his girdle upwards all", + "Expos’d behold him.” On his face was mine", + "Already fix’d; his breast and forehead there", + "Erecting, seem’d as in high scorn he held", + "E’en hell. Between the sepulchres to him", + "My guide thrust me with fearless hands and prompt,", + "This warning added: “See thy words be clear!”", + "He, soon as there I stood at the tomb’s foot,", + "Ey’d me a space, then in disdainful mood", + "Address’d me: “Say, what ancestors were thine?”", + "I, willing to obey him, straight reveal’d", + "The whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow", + "Somewhat uplifting, cried: “Fiercely were they", + "Adverse to me, my party, and the blood", + "From whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad", + "Scatter’d them.” “Though driv’n out, yet they each time", + "From all parts,” answer’d I, “return’d; an art", + "Which yours have shown, they are not skill’d to learn.”", + "Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw,", + "Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin,", + "Leaning, methought, upon its knees uprais’d.", + "It look’d around, as eager to explore", + "If there were other with me; but perceiving", + "That fond imagination quench’d, with tears", + "Thus spake: “If thou through this blind prison go’st.", + "Led by thy lofty genius and profound,", + "Where is my son? and wherefore not with thee?”", + "I straight replied: “Not of myself I come,", + "By him, who there expects me, through this clime", + "Conducted, whom perchance Guido thy son", + "Had in contempt.” Already had his words", + "And mode of punishment read me his name,", + "Whence I so fully answer’d. He at once", + "Exclaim’d, up starting, “How! said’st thou he HAD?", + "No longer lives he? Strikes not on his eye", + "The blessed daylight?” Then of some delay", + "I made ere my reply aware, down fell", + "Supine, not after forth appear’d he more.", + "Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom", + "I yet was station’d, chang’d not count’nance stern,", + "Nor mov’d the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.", + "“And if,” continuing the first discourse,", + "“They in this art,” he cried, “small skill have shown,", + "That doth torment me more e’en than this bed.", + "But not yet fifty times shall be relum’d", + "Her aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,", + "Ere thou shalt know the full weight of that art.", + "So to the pleasant world mayst thou return,", + "As thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,", + "Against my kin this people is so fell?”", + "“The slaughter and great havoc,” I replied,", + "“That colour’d Arbia’s flood with crimson stain—", + "To these impute, that in our hallow’d dome", + "Such orisons ascend.” Sighing he shook", + "The head, then thus resum’d: “In that affray", + "I stood not singly, nor without just cause", + "Assuredly should with the rest have stirr’d;", + "But singly there I stood, when by consent", + "Of all, Florence had to the ground been raz’d,", + "The one who openly forbad the deed.”", + "“So may thy lineage find at last repose,”", + "I thus adjur’d him, “as thou solve this knot,", + "Which now involves my mind. If right I hear,", + "Ye seem to view beforehand, that which time", + "Leads with him, of the present uninform’d.”", + "“We view, as one who hath an evil sight,”", + "He answer’d, “plainly, objects far remote:", + "So much of his large spendour yet imparts", + "The’ Almighty Ruler; but when they approach", + "Or actually exist, our intellect", + "Then wholly fails, nor of your human state", + "Except what others bring us know we aught.", + "Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all", + "Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,", + "When on futurity the portals close.”", + "Then conscious of my fault, and by remorse", + "Smitten, I added thus: “Now shalt thou say", + "To him there fallen, that his offspring still", + "Is to the living join’d; and bid him know,", + "That if from answer silent I abstain’d,", + "’Twas that my thought was occupied intent", + "Upon that error, which thy help hath solv’d.”", + "But now my master summoning me back", + "I heard, and with more eager haste besought", + "The spirit to inform me, who with him", + "Partook his lot. He answer thus return’d:", + "“More than a thousand with me here are laid", + "Within is Frederick, second of that name,", + "And the Lord Cardinal, and of the rest", + "I speak not.” He, this said, from sight withdrew.", + "But I my steps towards the ancient bard", + "Reverting, ruminated on the words", + "Betokening me such ill. Onward he mov’d,", + "And thus in going question’d: “Whence the’ amaze", + "That holds thy senses wrapt?” I satisfied", + "The’ inquiry, and the sage enjoin’d me straight:", + "“Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard", + "To thee importing harm; and note thou this,”", + "With his rais’d finger bidding me take heed,", + "“When thou shalt stand before her gracious beam,", + "Whose bright eye all surveys, she of thy life", + "The future tenour will to thee unfold.”", + "Forthwith he to the left hand turn’d his feet:", + "We left the wall, and tow’rds the middle space", + "Went by a path, that to a valley strikes;", + "Which e’en thus high exhal’d its noisome steam." + ], + "11": [ + "Upon the utmost verge of a high bank,", + "By craggy rocks environ’d round, we came,", + "Where woes beneath more cruel yet were stow’d:", + "And here to shun the horrible excess", + "Of fetid exhalation, upward cast", + "From the profound abyss, behind the lid", + "Of a great monument we stood retir’d,", + "Whereon this scroll I mark’d: “I have in charge", + "Pope Anastasius, whom Photinus drew", + "From the right path.—Ere our descent behooves", + "We make delay, that somewhat first the sense,", + "To the dire breath accustom’d, afterward", + "Regard it not.” My master thus; to whom", + "Answering I spake: “Some compensation find", + "That the time past not wholly lost.” He then:", + "“Lo! how my thoughts e’en to thy wishes tend!", + "My son! within these rocks,” he thus began,", + "“Are three close circles in gradation plac’d,", + "As these which now thou leav’st. Each one is full", + "Of spirits accurs’d; but that the sight alone", + "Hereafter may suffice thee, listen how", + "And for what cause in durance they abide.", + "“Of all malicious act abhorr’d in heaven,", + "The end is injury; and all such end", + "Either by force or fraud works other’s woe", + "But fraud, because of man peculiar evil,", + "To God is more displeasing; and beneath", + "The fraudulent are therefore doom’d to’ endure", + "Severer pang. The violent occupy", + "All the first circle; and because to force", + "Three persons are obnoxious, in three rounds", + "Hach within other sep’rate is it fram’d.", + "To God, his neighbour, and himself, by man", + "Force may be offer’d; to himself I say", + "And his possessions, as thou soon shalt hear", + "At full. Death, violent death, and painful wounds", + "Upon his neighbour he inflicts; and wastes", + "By devastation, pillage, and the flames,", + "His substance. Slayers, and each one that smites", + "In malice, plund’rers, and all robbers, hence", + "The torment undergo of the first round", + "In different herds. Man can do violence", + "To himself and his own blessings: and for this", + "He in the second round must aye deplore", + "With unavailing penitence his crime,", + "Whoe’er deprives himself of life and light,", + "In reckless lavishment his talent wastes,", + "And sorrows there where he should dwell in joy.", + "To God may force be offer’d, in the heart", + "Denying and blaspheming his high power,", + "And nature with her kindly law contemning.", + "And thence the inmost round marks with its seal", + "Sodom and Cahors, and all such as speak", + "Contemptuously’ of the Godhead in their hearts.", + "“Fraud, that in every conscience leaves a sting,", + "May be by man employ’d on one, whose trust", + "He wins, or on another who withholds", + "Strict confidence. Seems as the latter way", + "Broke but the bond of love which Nature makes.", + "Whence in the second circle have their nest", + "Dissimulation, witchcraft, flatteries,", + "Theft, falsehood, simony, all who seduce", + "To lust, or set their honesty at pawn,", + "With such vile scum as these. The other way", + "Forgets both Nature’s general love, and that", + "Which thereto added afterwards gives birth", + "To special faith. Whence in the lesser circle,", + "Point of the universe, dread seat of Dis,", + "The traitor is eternally consum’d.”", + "I thus: “Instructor, clearly thy discourse", + "Proceeds, distinguishing the hideous chasm", + "And its inhabitants with skill exact.", + "But tell me this: they of the dull, fat pool,", + "Whom the rain beats, or whom the tempest drives,", + "Or who with tongues so fierce conflicting meet,", + "Wherefore within the city fire-illum’d", + "Are not these punish’d, if God’s wrath be on them?", + "And if it be not, wherefore in such guise", + "Are they condemned?” He answer thus return’d:", + "“Wherefore in dotage wanders thus thy mind,", + "Not so accustom’d? or what other thoughts", + "Possess it? Dwell not in thy memory", + "The words, wherein thy ethic page describes", + "Three dispositions adverse to Heav’n’s will,", + "Incont’nence, malice, and mad brutishness,", + "And how incontinence the least offends", + "God, and least guilt incurs? If well thou note", + "This judgment, and remember who they are,", + "Without these walls to vain repentance doom’d,", + "Thou shalt discern why they apart are plac’d", + "From these fell spirits, and less wreakful pours", + "Justice divine on them its vengeance down.”", + "“O Sun! who healest all imperfect sight,", + "Thou so content’st me, when thou solv’st my doubt,", + "That ignorance not less than knowledge charms.", + "Yet somewhat turn thee back,” I in these words", + "Continu’d, “where thou saidst, that usury", + "Offends celestial Goodness; and this knot", + "Perplex’d unravel.” He thus made reply:", + "“Philosophy, to an attentive ear,", + "Clearly points out, not in one part alone,", + "How imitative nature takes her course", + "From the celestial mind and from its art:", + "And where her laws the Stagyrite unfolds,", + "Not many leaves scann’d o’er, observing well", + "Thou shalt discover, that your art on her", + "Obsequious follows, as the learner treads", + "In his instructor’s step, so that your art", + "Deserves the name of second in descent", + "From God. These two, if thou recall to mind", + "Creation’s holy book, from the beginning", + "Were the right source of life and excellence", + "To human kind. But in another path", + "The usurer walks; and Nature in herself", + "And in her follower thus he sets at nought,", + "Placing elsewhere his hope. But follow now", + "My steps on forward journey bent; for now", + "The Pisces play with undulating glance", + "Along the’ horizon, and the Wain lies all", + "O’er the north-west; and onward there a space", + "Is our steep passage down the rocky height.”" + ], + "12": [ + "The place where to descend the precipice", + "We came, was rough as Alp, and on its verge", + "Such object lay, as every eye would shun.", + "As is that ruin, which Adice’s stream", + "On this side Trento struck, should’ring the wave,", + "Or loos’d by earthquake or for lack of prop;", + "For from the mountain’s summit, whence it mov’d", + "To the low level, so the headlong rock", + "Is shiver’d, that some passage it might give", + "To him who from above would pass; e’en such", + "Into the chasm was that descent: and there", + "At point of the disparted ridge lay stretch’d", + "The infamy of Crete, detested brood", + "Of the feign’d heifer: and at sight of us", + "It gnaw’d itself, as one with rage distract.", + "To him my guide exclaim’d: “Perchance thou deem’st", + "The King of Athens here, who, in the world", + "Above, thy death contriv’d. Monster! avaunt!", + "He comes not tutor’d by thy sister’s art,", + "But to behold your torments is he come.”", + "Like to a bull, that with impetuous spring", + "Darts, at the moment when the fatal blow", + "Hath struck him, but unable to proceed", + "Plunges on either side; so saw I plunge", + "The Minotaur; whereat the sage exclaim’d:", + "“Run to the passage! while he storms, ’tis well", + "That thou descend.” Thus down our road we took", + "Through those dilapidated crags, that oft", + "Mov’d underneath my feet, to weight like theirs", + "Unus’d. I pond’ring went, and thus he spake:", + "“Perhaps thy thoughts are of this ruin’d steep,", + "Guarded by the brute violence, which I", + "Have vanquish’d now. Know then, that when I erst", + "Hither descended to the nether hell,", + "This rock was not yet fallen. But past doubt", + "(If well I mark) not long ere He arrived,", + "Who carried off from Dis the mighty spoil", + "Of the highest circle, then through all its bounds", + "Such trembling seiz’d the deep concave and foul,", + "I thought the universe was thrill’d with love,", + "Whereby, there are who deem, the world hath oft", + "Been into chaos turn’d: and in that point,", + "Here, and elsewhere, that old rock toppled down.", + "But fix thine eyes beneath: the river of blood", + "Approaches, in the which all those are steep’d,", + "Who have by violence injur’d.” O blind lust!", + "O foolish wrath! who so dost goad us on", + "In the brief life, and in the eternal then", + "Thus miserably o’erwhelm us. I beheld", + "An ample foss, that in a bow was bent,", + "As circling all the plain; for so my guide", + "Had told. Between it and the rampart’s base", + "On trail ran Centaurs, with keen arrows arm’d,", + "As to the chase they on the earth were wont.", + "At seeing us descend they each one stood;", + "And issuing from the troop, three sped with bows", + "And missile weapons chosen first; of whom", + "One cried from far: “Say to what pain ye come", + "Condemn’d, who down this steep have journied? Speak", + "From whence ye stand, or else the bow I draw.”", + "To whom my guide: “Our answer shall be made", + "To Chiron, there, when nearer him we come.", + "Ill was thy mind, thus ever quick and rash.”", + "Then me he touch’d, and spake: “Nessus is this,", + "Who for the fair Deianira died,", + "And wrought himself revenge for his own fate.", + "He in the midst, that on his breast looks down,", + "Is the great Chiron who Achilles nurs’d;", + "That other Pholus, prone to wrath.” Around", + "The foss these go by thousands, aiming shafts", + "At whatsoever spirit dares emerge", + "From out the blood, more than his guilt allows.", + "We to those beasts, that rapid strode along,", + "Drew near, when Chiron took an arrow forth,", + "And with the notch push’d back his shaggy beard", + "To the cheek-bone, then his great mouth to view", + "Exposing, to his fellows thus exclaim’d:", + "“Are ye aware, that he who comes behind", + "Moves what he touches? The feet of the dead", + "Are not so wont.” My trusty guide, who now", + "Stood near his breast, where the two natures join,", + "Thus made reply: “He is indeed alive,", + "And solitary so must needs by me", + "Be shown the gloomy vale, thereto induc’d", + "By strict necessity, not by delight.", + "She left her joyful harpings in the sky,", + "Who this new office to my care consign’d.", + "He is no robber, no dark spirit I.", + "But by that virtue, which empowers my step", + "To treat so wild a path, grant us, I pray,", + "One of thy band, whom we may trust secure,", + "Who to the ford may lead us, and convey", + "Across, him mounted on his back; for he", + "Is not a spirit that may walk the air.”", + "Then on his right breast turning, Chiron thus", + "To Nessus spake: “Return, and be their guide.", + "And if ye chance to cross another troop,", + "Command them keep aloof.” Onward we mov’d,", + "The faithful escort by our side, along", + "The border of the crimson-seething flood,", + "Whence from those steep’d within loud shrieks arose.", + "Some there I mark’d, as high as to their brow", + "Immers’d, of whom the mighty Centaur thus:", + "“These are the souls of tyrants, who were given", + "To blood and rapine. Here they wail aloud", + "Their merciless wrongs. Here Alexander dwells,", + "And Dionysius fell, who many a year", + "Of woe wrought for fair Sicily. That brow", + "Whereon the hair so jetty clust’ring hangs,", + "Is Azzolino; that with flaxen locks", + "Obizzo’ of Este, in the world destroy’d", + "By his foul step-son.” To the bard rever’d", + "I turned me round, and thus he spake; “Let him", + "Be to thee now first leader, me but next", + "To him in rank.” Then farther on a space", + "The Centaur paus’d, near some, who at the throat", + "Were extant from the wave; and showing us", + "A spirit by itself apart retir’d,", + "Exclaim’d: “He in God’s bosom smote the heart,", + "Which yet is honour’d on the bank of Thames.”", + "A race I next espied, who held the head,", + "And even all the bust above the stream.", + "’Midst these I many a face remember’d well.", + "Thus shallow more and more the blood became,", + "So that at last it but imbru’d the feet;", + "And there our passage lay athwart the foss.", + "“As ever on this side the boiling wave", + "Thou seest diminishing,” the Centaur said,", + "“So on the other, be thou well assur’d,", + "It lower still and lower sinks its bed,", + "Till in that part it reuniting join,", + "Where ’tis the lot of tyranny to mourn.", + "There Heav’n’s stern justice lays chastising hand", + "On Attila, who was the scourge of earth,", + "On Sextus, and on Pyrrhus, and extracts", + "Tears ever by the seething flood unlock’d", + "From the Rinieri, of Corneto this,", + "Pazzo the other nam’d, who fill’d the ways", + "With violence and war.” This said, he turn’d,", + "And quitting us, alone repass’d the ford." + ], + "13": [ + "Ere Nessus yet had reach’d the other bank,", + "We enter’d on a forest, where no track", + "Of steps had worn a way. Not verdant there", + "The foliage, but of dusky hue; not light", + "The boughs and tapering, but with knares deform’d", + "And matted thick: fruits there were none, but thorns", + "Instead, with venom fill’d. Less sharp than these,", + "Less intricate the brakes, wherein abide", + "Those animals, that hate the cultur’d fields,", + "Betwixt Corneto and Cecina’s stream.", + "Here the brute Harpies make their nest, the same", + "Who from the Strophades the Trojan band", + "Drove with dire boding of their future woe.", + "Broad are their pennons, of the human form", + "Their neck and count’nance, arm’d with talons keen", + "The feet, and the huge belly fledge with wings", + "These sit and wail on the drear mystic wood.", + "The kind instructor in these words began:", + "“Ere farther thou proceed, know thou art now", + "I’ th’ second round, and shalt be, till thou come", + "Upon the horrid sand: look therefore well", + "Around thee, and such things thou shalt behold,", + "As would my speech discredit.” On all sides", + "I heard sad plainings breathe, and none could see", + "From whom they might have issu’d. In amaze", + "Fast bound I stood. He, as it seem’d, believ’d,", + "That I had thought so many voices came", + "From some amid those thickets close conceal’d,", + "And thus his speech resum’d: “If thou lop off", + "A single twig from one of those ill plants,", + "The thought thou hast conceiv’d shall vanish quite.”", + "Thereat a little stretching forth my hand,", + "From a great wilding gather’d I a branch,", + "And straight the trunk exclaim’d: “Why pluck’st thou me?”", + "Then as the dark blood trickled down its side,", + "These words it added: “Wherefore tear’st me thus?", + "Is there no touch of mercy in thy breast?", + "Men once were we, that now are rooted here.", + "Thy hand might well have spar’d us, had we been", + "The souls of serpents.” As a brand yet green,", + "That burning at one end from the’ other sends", + "A groaning sound, and hisses with the wind", + "That forces out its way, so burst at once,", + "Forth from the broken splinter words and blood.", + "I, letting fall the bough, remain’d as one", + "Assail’d by terror, and the sage replied:", + "“If he, O injur’d spirit! could have believ’d", + "What he hath seen but in my verse describ’d,", + "He never against thee had stretch’d his hand.", + "But I, because the thing surpass’d belief,", + "Prompted him to this deed, which even now", + "Myself I rue. But tell me, who thou wast;", + "That, for this wrong to do thee some amends,", + "In the upper world (for thither to return", + "Is granted him) thy fame he may revive.”", + "“That pleasant word of thine,” the trunk replied", + "“Hath so inveigled me, that I from speech", + "Cannot refrain, wherein if I indulge", + "A little longer, in the snare detain’d,", + "Count it not grievous. I it was, who held", + "Both keys to Frederick’s heart, and turn’d the wards,", + "Opening and shutting, with a skill so sweet,", + "That besides me, into his inmost breast", + "Scarce any other could admittance find.", + "The faith I bore to my high charge was such,", + "It cost me the life-blood that warm’d my veins.", + "The harlot, who ne’er turn’d her gloating eyes", + "From Caesar’s household, common vice and pest", + "Of courts, ’gainst me inflam’d the minds of all;", + "And to Augustus they so spread the flame,", + "That my glad honours chang’d to bitter woes.", + "My soul, disdainful and disgusted, sought", + "Refuge in death from scorn, and I became,", + "Just as I was, unjust toward myself.", + "By the new roots, which fix this stem, I swear,", + "That never faith I broke to my liege lord,", + "Who merited such honour; and of you,", + "If any to the world indeed return,", + "Clear he from wrong my memory, that lies", + "Yet prostrate under envy’s cruel blow.”", + "First somewhat pausing, till the mournful words", + "Were ended, then to me the bard began:", + "“Lose not the time; but speak and of him ask,", + "If more thou wish to learn.” Whence I replied:", + "“Question thou him again of whatsoe’er", + "Will, as thou think’st, content me; for no power", + "Have I to ask, such pity’ is at my heart.”", + "He thus resum’d; “So may he do for thee", + "Freely what thou entreatest, as thou yet", + "Be pleas’d, imprison’d Spirit! to declare,", + "How in these gnarled joints the soul is tied;", + "And whether any ever from such frame", + "Be loosen’d, if thou canst, that also tell.”", + "Thereat the trunk breath’d hard, and the wind soon", + "Chang’d into sounds articulate like these;", + "Briefly ye shall be answer’d. When departs", + "The fierce soul from the body, by itself", + "Thence torn asunder, to the seventh gulf", + "By Minos doom’d, into the wood it falls,", + "No place assign’d, but wheresoever chance", + "Hurls it, there sprouting, as a grain of spelt,", + "It rises to a sapling, growing thence", + "A savage plant. The Harpies, on its leaves", + "Then feeding, cause both pain and for the pain", + "A vent to grief. We, as the rest, shall come", + "For our own spoils, yet not so that with them", + "We may again be clad; for what a man", + "Takes from himself it is not just he have.", + "Here we perforce shall drag them; and throughout", + "The dismal glade our bodies shall be hung,", + "Each on the wild thorn of his wretched shade.”", + "Attentive yet to listen to the trunk", + "We stood, expecting farther speech, when us", + "A noise surpris’d, as when a man perceives", + "The wild boar and the hunt approach his place", + "Of station’d watch, who of the beasts and boughs", + "Loud rustling round him hears. And lo! there came", + "Two naked, torn with briers, in headlong flight,", + "That they before them broke each fan o’ th’ wood.", + "“Haste now,” the foremost cried, “now haste thee death!”", + "The’ other, as seem’d, impatient of delay", + "Exclaiming, “Lano! not so bent for speed", + "Thy sinews, in the lists of Toppo’s field.”", + "And then, for that perchance no longer breath", + "Suffic’d him, of himself and of a bush", + "One group he made. Behind them was the wood", + "Full of black female mastiffs, gaunt and fleet,", + "As greyhounds that have newly slipp’d the leash.", + "On him, who squatted down, they stuck their fangs,", + "And having rent him piecemeal bore away", + "The tortur’d limbs. My guide then seiz’d my hand,", + "And led me to the thicket, which in vain", + "Mourn’d through its bleeding wounds: “O Giacomo", + "Of Sant’ Andrea! what avails it thee,”", + "It cried, “that of me thou hast made thy screen?", + "For thy ill life what blame on me recoils?”", + "When o’er it he had paus’d, my master spake:", + "“Say who wast thou, that at so many points", + "Breath’st out with blood thy lamentable speech?”", + "He answer’d: “Oh, ye spirits: arriv’d in time", + "To spy the shameful havoc, that from me", + "My leaves hath sever’d thus, gather them up,", + "And at the foot of their sad parent-tree", + "Carefully lay them. In that city’ I dwelt,", + "Who for the Baptist her first patron chang’d,", + "Whence he for this shall cease not with his art", + "To work her woe: and if there still remain’d not", + "On Arno’s passage some faint glimpse of him,", + "Those citizens, who rear’d once more her walls", + "Upon the ashes left by Attila,", + "Had labour’d without profit of their toil.", + "I slung the fatal noose from my own roof.”" + ], + "14": [ + "Soon as the charity of native land", + "Wrought in my bosom, I the scatter’d leaves", + "Collected, and to him restor’d, who now", + "Was hoarse with utt’rance. To the limit thence", + "We came, which from the third the second round", + "Divides, and where of justice is display’d", + "Contrivance horrible. Things then first seen", + "Clearlier to manifest, I tell how next", + "A plain we reach’d, that from its sterile bed", + "Each plant repell’d. The mournful wood waves round", + "Its garland on all sides, as round the wood", + "Spreads the sad foss. There, on the very edge,", + "Our steps we stay’d. It was an area wide", + "Of arid sand and thick, resembling most", + "The soil that erst by Cato’s foot was trod.", + "Vengeance of Heav’n! Oh ! how shouldst thou be fear’d", + "By all, who read what here my eyes beheld!", + "Of naked spirits many a flock I saw,", + "All weeping piteously, to different laws", + "Subjected: for on the’ earth some lay supine,", + "Some crouching close were seated, others pac’d", + "Incessantly around; the latter tribe,", + "More numerous, those fewer who beneath", + "The torment lay, but louder in their grief.", + "O’er all the sand fell slowly wafting down", + "Dilated flakes of fire, as flakes of snow", + "On Alpine summit, when the wind is hush’d.", + "As in the torrid Indian clime, the son", + "Of Ammon saw upon his warrior band", + "Descending, solid flames, that to the ground", + "Came down: whence he bethought him with his troop", + "To trample on the soil; for easier thus", + "The vapour was extinguish’d, while alone;", + "So fell the eternal fiery flood, wherewith", + "The marble glow’d underneath, as under stove", + "The viands, doubly to augment the pain.", + "Unceasing was the play of wretched hands,", + "Now this, now that way glancing, to shake off", + "The heat, still falling fresh. I thus began:", + "“Instructor! thou who all things overcom’st,", + "Except the hardy demons, that rush’d forth", + "To stop our entrance at the gate, say who", + "Is yon huge spirit, that, as seems, heeds not", + "The burning, but lies writhen in proud scorn,", + "As by the sultry tempest immatur’d?”", + "Straight he himself, who was aware I ask’d", + "My guide of him, exclaim’d: “Such as I was", + "When living, dead such now I am. If Jove", + "Weary his workman out, from whom in ire", + "He snatch’d the lightnings, that at my last day", + "Transfix’d me, if the rest be weary out", + "At their black smithy labouring by turns", + "In Mongibello, while he cries aloud;", + "“Help, help, good Mulciber!” as erst he cried", + "In the Phlegraean warfare, and the bolts", + "Launch he full aim’d at me with all his might,", + "He never should enjoy a sweet revenge.”", + "Then thus my guide, in accent higher rais’d", + "Than I before had heard him: “Capaneus!", + "Thou art more punish’d, in that this thy pride", + "Lives yet unquench’d: no torrent, save thy rage,", + "Were to thy fury pain proportion’d full.”", + "Next turning round to me with milder lip", + "He spake: “This of the seven kings was one,", + "Who girt the Theban walls with siege, and held,", + "As still he seems to hold, God in disdain,", + "And sets his high omnipotence at nought.", + "But, as I told him, his despiteful mood", + "Is ornament well suits the breast that wears it.", + "Follow me now; and look thou set not yet", + "Thy foot in the hot sand, but to the wood", + "Keep ever close.” Silently on we pass’d", + "To where there gushes from the forest’s bound", + "A little brook, whose crimson’d wave yet lifts", + "My hair with horror. As the rill, that runs", + "From Bulicame, to be portion’d out", + "Among the sinful women; so ran this", + "Down through the sand, its bottom and each bank", + "Stone-built, and either margin at its side,", + "Whereon I straight perceiv’d our passage lay.", + "“Of all that I have shown thee, since that gate", + "We enter’d first, whose threshold is to none", + "Denied, nought else so worthy of regard,", + "As is this river, has thine eye discern’d,", + "O’er which the flaming volley all is quench’d.”", + "So spake my guide; and I him thence besought,", + "That having giv’n me appetite to know,", + "The food he too would give, that hunger crav’d.", + "“In midst of ocean,” forthwith he began,", + "“A desolate country lies, which Crete is nam’d,", + "Under whose monarch in old times the world", + "Liv’d pure and chaste. A mountain rises there,", + "Call’d Ida, joyous once with leaves and streams,", + "Deserted now like a forbidden thing.", + "It was the spot which Rhea, Saturn’s spouse,", + "Chose for the secret cradle of her son;", + "And better to conceal him, drown’d in shouts", + "His infant cries. Within the mount, upright", + "An ancient form there stands and huge, that turns", + "His shoulders towards Damiata, and at Rome", + "As in his mirror looks. Of finest gold", + "His head is shap’d, pure silver are the breast", + "And arms; thence to the middle is of brass.", + "And downward all beneath well-temper’d steel,", + "Save the right foot of potter’s clay, on which", + "Than on the other more erect he stands,", + "Each part except the gold, is rent throughout;", + "And from the fissure tears distil, which join’d", + "Penetrate to that cave. They in their course", + "Thus far precipitated down the rock", + "Form Acheron, and Styx, and Phlegethon;", + "Then by this straiten’d channel passing hence", + "Beneath, e’en to the lowest depth of all,", + "Form there Cocytus, of whose lake (thyself", + "Shall see it) I here give thee no account.”", + "Then I to him: “If from our world this sluice", + "Be thus deriv’d; wherefore to us but now", + "Appears it at this edge?” He straight replied:", + "“The place, thou know’st, is round; and though great part", + "Thou have already pass’d, still to the left", + "Descending to the nethermost, not yet", + "Hast thou the circuit made of the whole orb.", + "Wherefore if aught of new to us appear,", + "It needs not bring up wonder in thy looks.”", + "Then I again inquir’d: “Where flow the streams", + "Of Phlegethon and Lethe? for of one", + "Thou tell’st not, and the other of that shower,", + "Thou say’st, is form’d.” He answer thus return’d:", + "“Doubtless thy questions all well pleas’d I hear.", + "Yet the red seething wave might have resolv’d", + "One thou proposest. Lethe thou shalt see,", + "But not within this hollow, in the place,", + "Whither to lave themselves the spirits go,", + "Whose blame hath been by penitence remov’d.”", + "He added: “Time is now we quit the wood.", + "Look thou my steps pursue: the margins give", + "Safe passage, unimpeded by the flames;", + "For over them all vapour is extinct.”" + ], + "15": [ + "One of the solid margins bears us now", + "Envelop’d in the mist, that from the stream", + "Arising, hovers o’er, and saves from fire", + "Both piers and water. As the Flemings rear", + "Their mound, ’twixt Ghent and Bruges, to chase back", + "The ocean, fearing his tumultuous tide", + "That drives toward them, or the Paduans theirs", + "Along the Brenta, to defend their towns", + "And castles, ere the genial warmth be felt", + "On Chiarentana’s top; such were the mounds,", + "So fram’d, though not in height or bulk to these", + "Made equal, by the master, whosoe’er", + "He was, that rais’d them here. We from the wood", + "Were not so far remov’d, that turning round", + "I might not have discern’d it, when we met", + "A troop of spirits, who came beside the pier.", + "They each one ey’d us, as at eventide", + "One eyes another under a new moon,", + "And toward us sharpen’d their sight as keen,", + "As an old tailor at his needle’s eye.", + "Thus narrowly explor’d by all the tribe,", + "I was agniz’d of one, who by the skirt", + "Caught me, and cried, “What wonder have we here!”", + "And I, when he to me outstretch’d his arm,", + "Intently fix’d my ken on his parch’d looks,", + "That although smirch’d with fire, they hinder’d not", + "But I remember’d him; and towards his face", + "My hand inclining, answer’d: “Sir! Brunetto!", + "And art thou here?” He thus to me: “My son!", + "Oh let it not displease thee, if Brunetto", + "Latini but a little space with thee", + "Turn back, and leave his fellows to proceed.”", + "I thus to him replied: “Much as I can,", + "I thereto pray thee; and if thou be willing,", + "That I here seat me with thee, I consent;", + "His leave, with whom I journey, first obtain’d.”", + "“O son!” said he, “ whoever of this throng", + "One instant stops, lies then a hundred years,", + "No fan to ventilate him, when the fire", + "Smites sorest. Pass thou therefore on. I close", + "Will at thy garments walk, and then rejoin", + "My troop, who go mourning their endless doom.”", + "I dar’d not from the path descend to tread", + "On equal ground with him, but held my head", + "Bent down, as one who walks in reverent guise.", + "“What chance or destiny,” thus be began,", + "“Ere the last day conducts thee here below?", + "And who is this, that shows to thee the way?”", + "“There up aloft,” I answer’d, “in the life", + "Serene, I wander’d in a valley lost,", + "Before mine age had to its fullness reach’d.", + "But yester-morn I left it: then once more", + "Into that vale returning, him I met;", + "And by this path homeward he leads me back.”", + "“If thou,” he answer’d, “follow but thy star,", + "Thou canst not miss at last a glorious haven:", + "Unless in fairer days my judgment err’d.", + "And if my fate so early had not chanc’d,", + "Seeing the heav’ns thus bounteous to thee, I", + "Had gladly giv’n thee comfort in thy work.", + "But that ungrateful and malignant race,", + "Who in old times came down from Fesole,", + "Ay and still smack of their rough mountain-flint,", + "Will for thy good deeds shew thee enmity.", + "Nor wonder; for amongst ill-savour’d crabs", + "It suits not the sweet fig-tree lay her fruit.", + "Old fame reports them in the world for blind,", + "Covetous, envious, proud. Look to it well:", + "Take heed thou cleanse thee of their ways. For thee", + "Thy fortune hath such honour in reserve,", + "That thou by either party shalt be crav’d", + "With hunger keen: but be the fresh herb far", + "From the goat’s tooth. The herd of Fesole", + "May of themselves make litter, not touch the plant,", + "If any such yet spring on their rank bed,", + "In which the holy seed revives, transmitted", + "From those true Romans, who still there remain’d,", + "When it was made the nest of so much ill.”", + "“Were all my wish fulfill’d,” I straight replied,", + "“Thou from the confines of man’s nature yet", + "Hadst not been driven forth; for in my mind", + "Is fix’d, and now strikes full upon my heart", + "The dear, benign, paternal image, such", + "As thine was, when so lately thou didst teach me", + "The way for man to win eternity;", + "And how I priz’d the lesson, it behooves,", + "That, long as life endures, my tongue should speak,", + "What of my fate thou tell’st, that write I down:", + "And with another text to comment on", + "For her I keep it, the celestial dame,", + "Who will know all, if I to her arrive.", + "This only would I have thee clearly note:", + "That so my conscience have no plea against me;", + "Do fortune as she list, I stand prepar’d.", + "Not new or strange such earnest to mine ear.", + "Speed fortune then her wheel, as likes her best,", + "The clown his mattock; all things have their course.”", + "Thereat my sapient guide upon his right", + "Turn’d himself back, then look’d at me and spake:", + "“He listens to good purpose who takes note.”", + "I not the less still on my way proceed,", + "Discoursing with Brunetto, and inquire", + "Who are most known and chief among his tribe.", + "“To know of some is well;” thus he replied,", + "“But of the rest silence may best beseem.", + "Time would not serve us for report so long.", + "In brief I tell thee, that all these were clerks,", + "Men of great learning and no less renown,", + "By one same sin polluted in the world.", + "With them is Priscian, and Accorso’s son", + "Francesco herds among that wretched throng:", + "And, if the wish of so impure a blotch", + "Possess’d thee, him thou also might’st have seen,", + "Who by the servants’ servant was transferr’d", + "From Arno’s seat to Bacchiglione, where", + "His ill-strain’d nerves he left. I more would add,", + "But must from farther speech and onward way", + "Alike desist, for yonder I behold", + "A mist new-risen on the sandy plain.", + "A company, with whom I may not sort,", + "Approaches. I commend my TREASURE to thee,", + "Wherein I yet survive; my sole request.”", + "This said he turn’d, and seem’d as one of those,", + "Who o’er Verona’s champain try their speed", + "For the green mantle, and of them he seem’d,", + "Not he who loses but who gains the prize." + ], + "16": [ + "Now came I where the water’s din was heard,", + "As down it fell into the other round,", + "Resounding like the hum of swarming bees:", + "When forth together issu’d from a troop,", + "That pass’d beneath the fierce tormenting storm,", + "Three spirits, running swift. They towards us came,", + "And each one cried aloud, “Oh do thou stay!", + "Whom by the fashion of thy garb we deem", + "To be some inmate of our evil land.”", + "Ah me! what wounds I mark’d upon their limbs,", + "Recent and old, inflicted by the flames!", + "E’en the remembrance of them grieves me yet.", + "Attentive to their cry my teacher paus’d,", + "And turn’d to me his visage, and then spake;", + "“Wait now! our courtesy these merit well:", + "And were ’t not for the nature of the place,", + "Whence glide the fiery darts, I should have said,", + "That haste had better suited thee than them.”", + "They, when we stopp’d, resum’d their ancient wail,", + "And soon as they had reach’d us, all the three", + "Whirl’d round together in one restless wheel.", + "As naked champions, smear’d with slippery oil,", + "Are wont intent to watch their place of hold", + "And vantage, ere in closer strife they meet;", + "Thus each one, as he wheel’d, his countenance", + "At me directed, so that opposite", + "The neck mov’d ever to the twinkling feet.", + "“If misery of this drear wilderness,”", + "Thus one began, “added to our sad cheer", + "And destitute, do call forth scorn on us", + "And our entreaties, let our great renown", + "Incline thee to inform us who thou art,", + "That dost imprint with living feet unharm’d", + "The soil of Hell. He, in whose track thou see’st", + "My steps pursuing, naked though he be", + "And reft of all, was of more high estate", + "Than thou believest; grandchild of the chaste", + "Gualdrada, him they Guidoguerra call’d,", + "Who in his lifetime many a noble act", + "Achiev’d, both by his wisdom and his sword.", + "The other, next to me that beats the sand,", + "Is Aldobrandi, name deserving well,", + "In the’ upper world, of honour; and myself", + "Who in this torment do partake with them,", + "Am Rusticucci, whom, past doubt, my wife", + "Of savage temper, more than aught beside", + "Hath to this evil brought.” If from the fire", + "I had been shelter’d, down amidst them straight", + "I then had cast me, nor my guide, I deem,", + "Would have restrain’d my going; but that fear", + "Of the dire burning vanquish’d the desire,", + "Which made me eager of their wish’d embrace.", + "I then began: “Not scorn, but grief much more,", + "Such as long time alone can cure, your doom", + "Fix’d deep within me, soon as this my lord", + "Spake words, whose tenour taught me to expect", + "That such a race, as ye are, was at hand.", + "I am a countryman of yours, who still", + "Affectionate have utter’d, and have heard", + "Your deeds and names renown’d. Leaving the gall", + "For the sweet fruit I go, that a sure guide", + "Hath promis’d to me. But behooves, that far", + "As to the centre first I downward tend.”", + "“So may long space thy spirit guide thy limbs,”", + "He answer straight return’d; “and so thy fame", + "Shine bright, when thou art gone; as thou shalt tell,", + "If courtesy and valour, as they wont,", + "Dwell in our city, or have vanish’d clean?", + "For one amidst us late condemn’d to wail,", + "Borsiere, yonder walking with his peers,", + "Grieves us no little by the news he brings.”", + "“An upstart multitude and sudden gains,", + "Pride and excess, O Florence! have in thee", + "Engender’d, so that now in tears thou mourn’st!”", + "Thus cried I with my face uprais’d, and they", + "All three, who for an answer took my words,", + "Look’d at each other, as men look when truth", + "Comes to their ear. “If thou at other times,”", + "They all at once rejoin’d, “so easily", + "Satisfy those, who question, happy thou,", + "Gifted with words, so apt to speak thy thought!", + "Wherefore if thou escape this darksome clime,", + "Returning to behold the radiant stars,", + "When thou with pleasure shalt retrace the past,", + "See that of us thou speak among mankind.”", + "This said, they broke the circle, and so swift", + "Fled, that as pinions seem’d their nimble feet.", + "Not in so short a time might one have said", + "“Amen,” as they had vanish’d. Straight my guide", + "Pursu’d his track. I follow’d; and small space", + "Had we pass’d onward, when the water’s sound", + "Was now so near at hand, that we had scarce", + "Heard one another’s speech for the loud din.", + "E’en as the river, that holds on its course", + "Unmingled, from the mount of Vesulo,", + "On the left side of Apennine, toward", + "The east, which Acquacheta higher up", + "They call, ere it descend into the vale,", + "At Forli by that name no longer known,", + "Rebellows o’er Saint Benedict, roll’d on", + "From the’ Alpine summit down a precipice,", + "Where space enough to lodge a thousand spreads;", + "Thus downward from a craggy steep we found,", + "That this dark wave resounded, roaring loud,", + "So that the ear its clamour soon had stunn’d.", + "I had a cord that brac’d my girdle round,", + "Wherewith I erst had thought fast bound to take", + "The painted leopard. This when I had all", + "Unloosen’d from me (so my master bade)", + "I gather’d up, and stretch’d it forth to him.", + "Then to the right he turn’d, and from the brink", + "Standing few paces distant, cast it down", + "Into the deep abyss. “And somewhat strange,”", + "Thus to myself I spake, “signal so strange", + "Betokens, which my guide with earnest eye", + "Thus follows.” Ah! what caution must men use", + "With those who look not at the deed alone,", + "But spy into the thoughts with subtle skill!", + "“Quickly shall come,” he said, “what I expect,", + "Thine eye discover quickly, that whereof", + "Thy thought is dreaming.” Ever to that truth,", + "Which but the semblance of a falsehood wears,", + "A man, if possible, should bar his lip;", + "Since, although blameless, he incurs reproach.", + "But silence here were vain; and by these notes", + "Which now I sing, reader! I swear to thee,", + "So may they favour find to latest times!", + "That through the gross and murky air I spied", + "A shape come swimming up, that might have quell’d", + "The stoutest heart with wonder, in such guise", + "As one returns, who hath been down to loose", + "An anchor grappled fast against some rock,", + "Or to aught else that in the salt wave lies,", + "Who upward springing close draws in his feet." + ], + "17": [ + "“Lo! the fell monster with the deadly sting!", + "Who passes mountains, breaks through fenced walls", + "And firm embattled spears, and with his filth", + "Taints all the world!” Thus me my guide address’d,", + "And beckon’d him, that he should come to shore,", + "Near to the stony causeway’s utmost edge.", + "Forthwith that image vile of fraud appear’d,", + "His head and upper part expos’d on land,", + "But laid not on the shore his bestial train.", + "His face the semblance of a just man’s wore,", + "So kind and gracious was its outward cheer;", + "The rest was serpent all: two shaggy claws", + "Reach’d to the armpits, and the back and breast,", + "And either side, were painted o’er with nodes", + "And orbits. Colours variegated more", + "Nor Turks nor Tartars e’er on cloth of state", + "With interchangeable embroidery wove,", + "Nor spread Arachne o’er her curious loom.", + "As ofttimes a light skiff, moor’d to the shore,", + "Stands part in water, part upon the land;", + "Or, as where dwells the greedy German boor,", + "The beaver settles watching for his prey;", + "So on the rim, that fenc’d the sand with rock,", + "Sat perch’d the fiend of evil. In the void", + "Glancing, his tail upturn’d its venomous fork,", + "With sting like scorpion’s arm’d. Then thus my guide:", + "“Now need our way must turn few steps apart,", + "Far as to that ill beast, who couches there.”", + "Thereat toward the right our downward course", + "We shap’d, and, better to escape the flame", + "And burning marle, ten paces on the verge", + "Proceeded. Soon as we to him arrive,", + "A little further on mine eye beholds", + "A tribe of spirits, seated on the sand", + "Near the wide chasm. Forthwith my master spake:", + "“That to the full thy knowledge may extend", + "Of all this round contains, go now, and mark", + "The mien these wear: but hold not long discourse.", + "Till thou returnest, I with him meantime", + "Will parley, that to us he may vouchsafe", + "The aid of his strong shoulders.” Thus alone", + "Yet forward on the’ extremity I pac’d", + "Of that seventh circle, where the mournful tribe", + "Were seated. At the eyes forth gush’d their pangs.", + "Against the vapours and the torrid soil", + "Alternately their shifting hands they plied.", + "Thus use the dogs in summer still to ply", + "Their jaws and feet by turns, when bitten sore", + "By gnats, or flies, or gadflies swarming round.", + "Noting the visages of some, who lay", + "Beneath the pelting of that dolorous fire,", + "One of them all I knew not; but perceiv’d,", + "That pendent from his neck each bore a pouch", + "With colours and with emblems various mark’d,", + "On which it seem’d as if their eye did feed.", + "And when amongst them looking round I came,", + "A yellow purse I saw with azure wrought,", + "That wore a lion’s countenance and port.", + "Then still my sight pursuing its career,", + "Another I beheld, than blood more red.", + "A goose display of whiter wing than curd.", + "And one, who bore a fat and azure swine", + "Pictur’d on his white scrip, addressed me thus:", + "“What dost thou in this deep? Go now and know,", + "Since yet thou livest, that my neighbour here", + "Vitaliano on my left shall sit.", + "A Paduan with these Florentines am I.", + "Ofttimes they thunder in mine ears, exclaiming", + "“O haste that noble knight! he who the pouch", + "With the three beaks will bring!” This said, he writh’d", + "The mouth, and loll’d the tongue out, like an ox", + "That licks his nostrils. I, lest longer stay", + "He ill might brook, who bade me stay not long,", + "Backward my steps from those sad spirits turn’d.", + "My guide already seated on the haunch", + "Of the fierce animal I found; and thus", + "He me encourag’d. “Be thou stout; be bold.", + "Down such a steep flight must we now descend!", + "Mount thou before: for that no power the tail", + "May have to harm thee, I will be i’ th’ midst.”", + "As one, who hath an ague fit so near,", + "His nails already are turn’d blue, and he", + "Quivers all o’er, if he but eye the shade;", + "Such was my cheer at hearing of his words.", + "But shame soon interpos’d her threat, who makes", + "The servant bold in presence of his lord.", + "I settled me upon those shoulders huge,", + "And would have said, but that the words to aid", + "My purpose came not, “Look thou clasp me firm!”", + "But he whose succour then not first I prov’d,", + "Soon as I mounted, in his arms aloft,", + "Embracing, held me up, and thus he spake:", + "“Geryon! now move thee! be thy wheeling gyres", + "Of ample circuit, easy thy descent.", + "Think on th’ unusual burden thou sustain’st.”", + "As a small vessel, back’ning out from land,", + "Her station quits; so thence the monster loos’d,", + "And when he felt himself at large, turn’d round", + "There where the breast had been, his forked tail.", + "Thus, like an eel, outstretch’d at length he steer’d,", + "Gath’ring the air up with retractile claws.", + "Not greater was the dread when Phaeton", + "The reins let drop at random, whence high heaven,", + "Whereof signs yet appear, was wrapt in flames;", + "Nor when ill-fated Icarus perceiv’d,", + "By liquefaction of the scalded wax,", + "The trusted pennons loosen’d from his loins,", + "His sire exclaiming loud, “Ill way thou keep’st!”", + "Than was my dread, when round me on each part", + "The air I view’d, and other object none", + "Save the fell beast. He slowly sailing, wheels", + "His downward motion, unobserv’d of me,", + "But that the wind, arising to my face,", + "Breathes on me from below. Now on our right", + "I heard the cataract beneath us leap", + "With hideous crash; whence bending down to’ explore,", + "New terror I conceiv’d at the steep plunge:", + "For flames I saw, and wailings smote mine ear:", + "So that all trembling close I crouch’d my limbs,", + "And then distinguish’d, unperceiv’d before,", + "By the dread torments that on every side", + "Drew nearer, how our downward course we wound.", + "As falcon, that hath long been on the wing,", + "But lure nor bird hath seen, while in despair", + "The falconer cries, “Ah me! thou stoop’st to earth!”", + "Wearied descends, and swiftly down the sky", + "In many an orbit wheels, then lighting sits", + "At distance from his lord in angry mood;", + "So Geryon lighting places us on foot", + "Low down at base of the deep-furrow’d rock,", + "And, of his burden there discharg’d, forthwith", + "Sprang forward, like an arrow from the string." + ], + "18": [ + "There is a place within the depths of hell", + "Call’d Malebolge, all of rock dark-stain’d", + "With hue ferruginous, e’en as the steep", + "That round it circling winds. Right in the midst", + "Of that abominable region, yawns", + "A spacious gulf profound, whereof the frame", + "Due time shall tell. The circle, that remains,", + "Throughout its round, between the gulf and base", + "Of the high craggy banks, successive forms", + "Ten trenches, in its hollow bottom sunk.", + "As where to guard the walls, full many a foss", + "Begirds some stately castle, sure defence", + "Affording to the space within, so here", + "Were model’d these; and as like fortresses", + "E’en from their threshold to the brink without,", + "Are flank’d with bridges; from the rock’s low base", + "Thus flinty paths advanc’d, that ’cross the moles", + "And dikes, struck onward far as to the gulf,", + "That in one bound collected cuts them off.", + "Such was the place, wherein we found ourselves", + "From Geryon’s back dislodg’d. The bard to left", + "Held on his way, and I behind him mov’d.", + "On our right hand new misery I saw,", + "New pains, new executioners of wrath,", + "That swarming peopled the first chasm. Below", + "Were naked sinners. Hitherward they came,", + "Meeting our faces from the middle point,", + "With us beyond but with a larger stride.", + "E’en thus the Romans, when the year returns", + "Of Jubilee, with better speed to rid", + "The thronging multitudes, their means devise", + "For such as pass the bridge; that on one side", + "All front toward the castle, and approach", + "Saint Peter’s fane, on th’ other towards the mount.", + "Each divers way along the grisly rock,", + "Horn’d demons I beheld, with lashes huge,", + "That on their back unmercifully smote.", + "Ah! how they made them bound at the first stripe!", + "None for the second waited nor the third.", + "Meantime as on I pass’d, one met my sight", + "Whom soon as view’d; “Of him,” cried I, “not yet", + "Mine eye hath had his fill.” With fixed gaze", + "I therefore scann’d him. Straight the teacher kind", + "Paus’d with me, and consented I should walk", + "Backward a space, and the tormented spirit,", + "Who thought to hide him, bent his visage down.", + "But it avail’d him nought; for I exclaim’d:", + "“Thou who dost cast thy eye upon the ground,", + "Unless thy features do belie thee much,", + "Venedico art thou. But what brings thee", + "Into this bitter seas’ning? “ He replied:", + "“Unwillingly I answer to thy words.", + "But thy clear speech, that to my mind recalls", + "The world I once inhabited, constrains me.", + "Know then ’twas I who led fair Ghisola", + "To do the Marquis’ will, however fame", + "The shameful tale have bruited. Nor alone", + "Bologna hither sendeth me to mourn", + "Rather with us the place is so o’erthrong’d", + "That not so many tongues this day are taught,", + "Betwixt the Reno and Savena’s stream,", + "To answer SIPA in their country’s phrase.", + "And if of that securer proof thou need,", + "Remember but our craving thirst for gold.”", + "Him speaking thus, a demon with his thong", + "Struck, and exclaim’d, “Away! corrupter! here", + "Women are none for sale.” Forthwith I join’d", + "My escort, and few paces thence we came", + "To where a rock forth issued from the bank.", + "That easily ascended, to the right", + "Upon its splinter turning, we depart", + "From those eternal barriers. When arriv’d,", + "Where underneath the gaping arch lets pass", + "The scourged souls: “Pause here,” the teacher said,", + "“And let these others miserable, now", + "Strike on thy ken, faces not yet beheld,", + "For that together they with us have walk’d.”", + "From the old bridge we ey’d the pack, who came", + "From th’ other side towards us, like the rest,", + "Excoriate from the lash. My gentle guide,", + "By me unquestion’d, thus his speech resum’d:", + "“Behold that lofty shade, who this way tends,", + "And seems too woe-begone to drop a tear.", + "How yet the regal aspect he retains!", + "Jason is he, whose skill and prowess won", + "The ram from Colchos. To the Lemnian isle", + "His passage thither led him, when those bold", + "And pitiless women had slain all their males.", + "There he with tokens and fair witching words", + "Hypsipyle beguil’d, a virgin young,", + "Who first had all the rest herself beguil’d.", + "Impregnated he left her there forlorn.", + "Such is the guilt condemns him to this pain.", + "Here too Medea’s inj’ries are avenged.", + "All bear him company, who like deceit", + "To his have practis’d. And thus much to know", + "Of the first vale suffice thee, and of those", + "Whom its keen torments urge.” Now had we come", + "Where, crossing the next pier, the straighten’d path", + "Bestrides its shoulders to another arch.", + "Hence in the second chasm we heard the ghosts,", + "Who jibber in low melancholy sounds,", + "With wide-stretch’d nostrils snort, and on themselves", + "Smite with their palms. Upon the banks a scurf", + "From the foul steam condens’d, encrusting hung,", + "That held sharp combat with the sight and smell.", + "So hollow is the depth, that from no part,", + "Save on the summit of the rocky span,", + "Could I distinguish aught. Thus far we came;", + "And thence I saw, within the foss below,", + "A crowd immers’d in ordure, that appear’d", + "Draff of the human body. There beneath", + "Searching with eye inquisitive, I mark’d", + "One with his head so grim’d, ’twere hard to deem,", + "If he were clerk or layman. Loud he cried:", + "“Why greedily thus bendest more on me,", + "Than on these other filthy ones, thy ken?”", + "“Because if true my mem’ry,” I replied,", + "“I heretofore have seen thee with dry locks,", + "And thou Alessio art of Lucca sprung.", + "Therefore than all the rest I scan thee more.”", + "Then beating on his brain these words he spake:", + "“Me thus low down my flatteries have sunk,", + "Wherewith I ne’er enough could glut my tongue.”", + "My leader thus: “A little further stretch", + "Thy face, that thou the visage well mayst note", + "Of that besotted, sluttish courtezan,", + "Who there doth rend her with defiled nails,", + "Now crouching down, now risen on her feet.", + "Thais is this, the harlot, whose false lip", + "Answer’d her doting paramour that ask’d,", + "‘Thankest me much!’—‘Say rather wondrously,’", + "And seeing this here satiate be our view.”" + ], + "19": [ + "Woe to thee, Simon Magus! woe to you,", + "His wretched followers! who the things of God,", + "Which should be wedded unto goodness, them,", + "Rapacious as ye are, do prostitute", + "For gold and silver in adultery! ", + "Now must the trumpet sound for you, since yours", + "Is the third chasm. Upon the following vault", + "We now had mounted, where the rock impends", + "Directly o’er the centre of the foss.", + "Wisdom Supreme! how wonderful the art,", + "Which thou dost manifest in heaven, in earth,", + "And in the evil world, how just a meed", + "Allotting by thy virtue unto all!", + "I saw the livid stone, throughout the sides", + "And in its bottom full of apertures,", + "All equal in their width, and circular each,", + "Nor ample less nor larger they appear’d", + "Than in Saint John’s fair dome of me belov’d", + "Those fram’d to hold the pure baptismal streams,", + "One of the which I brake, some few years past,", + "To save a whelming infant; and be this", + "A seal to undeceive whoever doubts", + "The motive of my deed. From out the mouth", + "Of every one, emerg’d a sinner’s feet", + "And of the legs high upward as the calf", + "The rest beneath was hid. On either foot", + "The soles were burning, whence the flexile joints", + "Glanc’d with such violent motion, as had snapt", + "Asunder cords or twisted withs. As flame,", + "Feeding on unctuous matter, glides along", + "The surface, scarcely touching where it moves;", + "So here, from heel to point, glided the flames.", + "“Master! say who is he, than all the rest", + "Glancing in fiercer agony, on whom", + "A ruddier flame doth prey?” I thus inquir’d.", + "“If thou be willing,” he replied, “that I", + "Carry thee down, where least the slope bank falls,", + "He of himself shall tell thee and his wrongs.”", + "I then: “As pleases thee to me is best.", + "Thou art my lord; and know’st that ne’er I quit", + "Thy will: what silence hides that knowest thou.”", + "Thereat on the fourth pier we came, we turn’d,", + "And on our left descended to the depth,", + "A narrow strait and perforated close.", + "Nor from his side my leader set me down,", + "Till to his orifice he brought, whose limb", + "Quiv’ring express’d his pang. “Whoe’er thou art,", + "Sad spirit! thus revers’d, and as a stake", + "Driv’n in the soil!” I in these words began,", + "“If thou be able, utter forth thy voice.”", + "There stood I like the friar, that doth shrive", + "A wretch for murder doom’d, who e’en when fix’d,", + "Calleth him back, whence death awhile delays.", + "He shouted: “Ha! already standest there?", + "Already standest there, O Boniface!", + "By many a year the writing play’d me false.", + "So early dost thou surfeit with the wealth,", + "For which thou fearedst not in guile to take", + "The lovely lady, and then mangle her?”", + "I felt as those who, piercing not the drift", + "Of answer made them, stand as if expos’d", + "In mockery, nor know what to reply,", + "When Virgil thus admonish’d: “Tell him quick,", + "I am not he, not he, whom thou believ’st.”", + "And I, as was enjoin’d me, straight replied.", + "That heard, the spirit all did wrench his feet,", + "And sighing next in woeful accent spake:", + "“What then of me requirest?” If to know", + "So much imports thee, who I am, that thou", + "Hast therefore down the bank descended, learn", + "That in the mighty mantle I was rob’d,", + "And of a she-bear was indeed the son,", + "So eager to advance my whelps, that there", + "My having in my purse above I stow’d,", + "And here myself. Under my head are dragg’d", + "The rest, my predecessors in the guilt", + "Of simony. Stretch’d at their length they lie", + "Along an opening in the rock. ’Midst them", + "I also low shall fall, soon as he comes,", + "For whom I took thee, when so hastily", + "I question’d. But already longer time", + "Hath pass’d, since my souls kindled, and I thus", + "Upturn’d have stood, than is his doom to stand", + "Planted with fiery feet. For after him,", + "One yet of deeds more ugly shall arrive,", + "From forth the west, a shepherd without law,", + "Fated to cover both his form and mine.", + "He a new Jason shall be call’d, of whom", + "In Maccabees we read; and favour such", + "As to that priest his king indulgent show’d,", + "Shall be of France’s monarch shown to him.”", + "I know not if I here too far presum’d,", + "But in this strain I answer’d: “Tell me now,", + "What treasures from St. Peter at the first", + "Our Lord demanded, when he put the keys", + "Into his charge? Surely he ask’d no more", + "But, Follow me! Nor Peter nor the rest", + "Or gold or silver of Matthias took,", + "When lots were cast upon the forfeit place", + "Of the condemned soul. Abide thou then;", + "Thy punishment of right is merited:", + "And look thou well to that ill-gotten coin,", + "Which against Charles thy hardihood inspir’d.", + "If reverence of the keys restrain’d me not,", + "Which thou in happier time didst hold, I yet", + "Severer speech might use. Your avarice", + "O’ercasts the world with mourning, under foot", + "Treading the good, and raising bad men up.", + "Of shepherds, like to you, th’ Evangelist", + "Was ware, when her, who sits upon the waves,", + "With kings in filthy whoredom he beheld,", + "She who with seven heads tower’d at her birth,", + "And from ten horns her proof of glory drew,", + "Long as her spouse in virtue took delight.", + "Of gold and silver ye have made your god,", + "Diff’ring wherein from the idolater,", + "But he that worships one, a hundred ye?", + "Ah, Constantine! to how much ill gave birth,", + "Not thy conversion, but that plenteous dower,", + "Which the first wealthy Father gain’d from thee!”", + "Meanwhile, as thus I sung, he, whether wrath", + "Or conscience smote him, violent upsprang", + "Spinning on either sole. I do believe", + "My teacher well was pleas’d, with so compos’d", + "A lip, he listen’d ever to the sound", + "Of the true words I utter’d. In both arms", + "He caught, and to his bosom lifting me", + "Upward retrac’d the way of his descent.", + "Nor weary of his weight he press’d me close,", + "Till to the summit of the rock we came,", + "Our passage from the fourth to the fifth pier.", + "His cherish’d burden there gently he plac’d", + "Upon the rugged rock and steep, a path", + "Not easy for the clamb’ring goat to mount.", + "Thence to my view another vale appear’d" + ], + "20": [ + "And now the verse proceeds to torments new,", + "Fit argument of this the twentieth strain", + "Of the first song, whose awful theme records", + "The spirits whelm’d in woe. Earnest I look’d", + "Into the depth, that open’d to my view,", + "Moisten’d with tears of anguish, and beheld", + "A tribe, that came along the hollow vale,", + "In silence weeping: such their step as walk", + "Quires chanting solemn litanies on earth.", + "As on them more direct mine eye descends,", + "Each wondrously seem’d to be revers’d", + "At the neck-bone, so that the countenance", + "Was from the reins averted: and because", + "None might before him look, they were compell’d", + "To’ advance with backward gait. Thus one perhaps", + "Hath been by force of palsy clean transpos’d,", + "But I ne’er saw it nor believe it so.", + "Now, reader! think within thyself, so God", + "Fruit of thy reading give thee! how I long", + "Could keep my visage dry, when I beheld", + "Near me our form distorted in such guise,", + "That on the hinder parts fall’n from the face", + "The tears down-streaming roll’d. Against a rock", + "I leant and wept, so that my guide exclaim’d:", + "“What, and art thou too witless as the rest?", + "Here pity most doth show herself alive,", + "When she is dead. What guilt exceedeth his,", + "Who with Heaven’s judgment in his passion strives?", + "Raise up thy head, raise up, and see the man,", + "Before whose eyes earth gap’d in Thebes, when all", + "Cried out, ‘Amphiaraus, whither rushest?", + "‘Why leavest thou the war?’ He not the less", + "Fell ruining far as to Minos down,", + "Whose grapple none eludes. Lo! how he makes", + "The breast his shoulders, and who once too far", + "Before him wish’d to see, now backward looks,", + "And treads reverse his path. Tiresias note,", + "Who semblance chang’d, when woman he became", + "Of male, through every limb transform’d, and then", + "Once more behov’d him with his rod to strike", + "The two entwining serpents, ere the plumes,", + "That mark’d the better sex, might shoot again.", + "“Aruns, with rere his belly facing, comes.", + "On Luni’s mountains ’midst the marbles white,", + "Where delves Carrara’s hind, who wons beneath,", + "A cavern was his dwelling, whence the stars", + "And main-sea wide in boundless view he held.", + "“The next, whose loosen’d tresses overspread", + "Her bosom, which thou seest not (for each hair", + "On that side grows) was Manto, she who search’d", + "Through many regions, and at length her seat", + "Fix’d in my native land, whence a short space", + "My words detain thy audience. When her sire", + "From life departed, and in servitude", + "The city dedicate to Bacchus mourn’d,", + "Long time she went a wand’rer through the world.", + "Aloft in Italy’s delightful land", + "A lake there lies, at foot of that proud Alp,", + "That o’er the Tyrol locks Germania in,", + "Its name Benacus, which a thousand rills,", + "Methinks, and more, water between the vale", + "Camonica and Garda and the height", + "Of Apennine remote. There is a spot", + "At midway of that lake, where he who bears", + "Of Trento’s flock the past’ral staff, with him", + "Of Brescia, and the Veronese, might each", + "Passing that way his benediction give.", + "A garrison of goodly site and strong", + "Peschiera stands, to awe with front oppos’d", + "The Bergamese and Brescian, whence the shore", + "More slope each way descends. There, whatsoev’er", + "Benacus’ bosom holds not, tumbling o’er", + "Down falls, and winds a river flood beneath", + "Through the green pastures. Soon as in his course", + "The steam makes head, Benacus then no more", + "They call the name, but Mincius, till at last", + "Reaching Governo into Po he falls.", + "Not far his course hath run, when a wide flat", + "It finds, which overstretchmg as a marsh", + "It covers, pestilent in summer oft.", + "Hence journeying, the savage maiden saw", + "’Midst of the fen a territory waste", + "And naked of inhabitants. To shun", + "All human converse, here she with her slaves", + "Plying her arts remained, and liv’d, and left", + "Her body tenantless. Thenceforth the tribes,", + "Who round were scatter’d, gath’ring to that place", + "Assembled; for its strength was great, enclos’d", + "On all parts by the fen. On those dead bones", + "They rear’d themselves a city, for her sake,", + "Calling it Mantua, who first chose the spot,", + "Nor ask’d another omen for the name,", + "Wherein more numerous the people dwelt,", + "Ere Casalodi’s madness by deceit", + "Was wrong’d of Pinamonte. If thou hear", + "Henceforth another origin assign’d", + "Of that my country, I forewarn thee now,", + "That falsehood none beguile thee of the truth.”", + "I answer’d: “Teacher, I conclude thy words", + "So certain, that all else shall be to me", + "As embers lacking life. But now of these,", + "Who here proceed, instruct me, if thou see", + "Any that merit more especial note.", + "For thereon is my mind alone intent.”", + "He straight replied: “That spirit, from whose cheek", + "The beard sweeps o’er his shoulders brown, what time", + "Graecia was emptied of her males, that scarce", + "The cradles were supplied, the seer was he", + "In Aulis, who with Calchas gave the sign", + "When first to cut the cable. Him they nam’d", + "Eurypilus: so sings my tragic strain,", + "In which majestic measure well thou know’st,", + "Who know’st it all. That other, round the loins", + "So slender of his shape, was Michael Scot,", + "Practis’d in ev’ry slight of magic wile.", + "“Guido Bonatti see: Asdente mark,", + "Who now were willing, he had tended still", + "The thread and cordwain; and too late repents.", + "“See next the wretches, who the needle left,", + "The shuttle and the spindle, and became", + "Diviners: baneful witcheries they wrought", + "With images and herbs. But onward now:", + "For now doth Cain with fork of thorns confine", + "On either hemisphere, touching the wave", + "Beneath the towers of Seville. Yesternight", + "The moon was round. Thou mayst remember well:", + "For she good service did thee in the gloom", + "Of the deep wood.” This said, both onward mov’d." + ], + "21": [ + "Thus we from bridge to bridge, with other talk,", + "The which my drama cares not to rehearse,", + "Pass’d on; and to the summit reaching, stood", + "To view another gap, within the round", + "Of Malebolge, other bootless pangs.", + "Marvelous darkness shadow’d o’er the place.", + "In the Venetians’ arsenal as boils", + "Through wintry months tenacious pitch, to smear", + "Their unsound vessels; for th’ inclement time", + "Sea-faring men restrains, and in that while", + "His bark one builds anew, another stops", + "The ribs of his, that hath made many a voyage;", + "One hammers at the prow, one at the poop;", + "This shapeth oars, that other cables twirls,", + "The mizen one repairs and main-sail rent", + "So not by force of fire but art divine", + "Boil’d here a glutinous thick mass, that round", + "Lim’d all the shore beneath. I that beheld,", + "But therein nought distinguish’d, save the surge,", + "Rais’d by the boiling, in one mighty swell", + "Heave, and by turns subsiding and fall. While there", + "I fix’d my ken below, “Mark! mark!” my guide", + "Exclaiming, drew me towards him from the place,", + "Wherein I stood. I turn’d myself as one,", + "Impatient to behold that which beheld", + "He needs must shun, whom sudden fear unmans,", + "That he his flight delays not for the view.", + "Behind me I discern’d a devil black,", + "That running, up advanc’d along the rock.", + "Ah! what fierce cruelty his look bespake!", + "In act how bitter did he seem, with wings", + "Buoyant outstretch’d and feet of nimblest tread!", + "His shoulder proudly eminent and sharp", + "Was with a sinner charg’d; by either haunch", + "He held him, the foot’s sinew griping fast.", + "“Ye of our bridge!” he cried, “keen-talon’d fiends!", + "Lo! one of Santa Zita’s elders! Him", + "Whelm ye beneath, while I return for more.", + "That land hath store of such. All men are there,", + "Except Bonturo, barterers: of ‘no’", + "For lucre there an ‘aye’ is quickly made.”", + "Him dashing down, o’er the rough rock he turn’d,", + "Nor ever after thief a mastiff loos’d", + "Sped with like eager haste. That other sank", + "And forthwith writing to the surface rose.", + "But those dark demons, shrouded by the bridge,", + "Cried “Here the hallow’d visage saves not: here", + "Is other swimming than in Serchio’s wave.", + "Wherefore if thou desire we rend thee not,", + "Take heed thou mount not o’er the pitch.” This said,", + "They grappled him with more than hundred hooks,", + "And shouted: “Cover’d thou must sport thee here;", + "So, if thou canst, in secret mayst thou filch.”", + "E’en thus the cook bestirs him, with his grooms,", + "To thrust the flesh into the caldron down", + "With flesh-hooks, that it float not on the top.", + "Me then my guide bespake: “Lest they descry,", + "That thou art here, behind a craggy rock", + "Bend low and screen thee; and whate’er of force", + "Be offer’d me, or insult, fear thou not:", + "For I am well advis’d, who have been erst", + "In the like fray.” Beyond the bridge’s head", + "Therewith he pass’d, and reaching the sixth pier,", + "Behov’d him then a forehead terror-proof.", + "With storm and fury, as when dogs rush forth", + "Upon the poor man’s back, who suddenly", + "From whence he standeth makes his suit; so rush’d", + "Those from beneath the arch, and against him", + "Their weapons all they pointed. He aloud:", + "“Be none of you outrageous: ere your time", + "Dare seize me, come forth from amongst you one,", + "Who having heard my words, decide he then", + "If he shall tear these limbs.” They shouted loud,", + "“Go, Malacoda!” Whereat one advanc’d,", + "The others standing firm, and as he came,", + "“What may this turn avail him?” he exclaim’d.", + "“Believ’st thou, Malacoda! I had come", + "Thus far from all your skirmishing secure,”", + "My teacher answered, “without will divine", + "And destiny propitious? Pass we then", + "For so Heaven’s pleasure is, that I should lead", + "Another through this savage wilderness.”", + "Forthwith so fell his pride, that he let drop", + "The instrument of torture at his feet,", + "And to the rest exclaim’d: “We have no power", + "To strike him.” Then to me my guide: “O thou!", + "Who on the bridge among the crags dost sit", + "Low crouching, safely now to me return.”", + "I rose, and towards him moved with speed: the fiends", + "Meantime all forward drew: me terror seiz’d", + "Lest they should break the compact they had made.", + "Thus issuing from Caprona, once I saw", + "Th’ infantry dreading, lest his covenant", + "The foe should break; so close he hemm’d them round.", + "I to my leader’s side adher’d, mine eyes", + "With fixt and motionless observance bent", + "On their unkindly visage. They their hooks", + "Protruding, one the other thus bespake:", + "“Wilt thou I touch him on the hip?” To whom", + "Was answer’d: “Even so; nor miss thy aim.”", + "But he, who was in conf’rence with my guide,", + "Turn’d rapid round, and thus the demon spake:", + "“Stay, stay thee, Scarmiglione!” Then to us", + "He added: “Further footing to your step", + "This rock affords not, shiver’d to the base", + "Of the sixth arch. But would you still proceed,", + "Up by this cavern go: not distant far,", + "Another rock will yield you passage safe.", + "Yesterday, later by five hours than now,", + "Twelve hundred threescore years and six had fill’d", + "The circuit of their course, since here the way", + "Was broken. Thitherward I straight dispatch", + "Certain of these my scouts, who shall espy", + "If any on the surface bask. With them", + "Go ye: for ye shall find them nothing fell.", + "Come Alichino forth,” with that he cried,", + "“And Calcabrina, and Cagnazzo thou!", + "The troop of ten let Barbariccia lead.", + "With Libicocco Draghinazzo haste,", + "Fang’d Ciriatto, Grafflacane fierce,", + "And Farfarello, and mad Rubicant.", + "Search ye around the bubbling tar. For these,", + "In safety lead them, where the other crag", + "Uninterrupted traverses the dens.”", + "I then: “O master! what a sight is there!", + "Ah! without escort, journey we alone,", + "Which, if thou know the way, I covet not.", + "Unless thy prudence fail thee, dost not mark", + "How they do gnarl upon us, and their scowl", + "Threatens us present tortures?” He replied:", + "“I charge thee fear not: let them, as they will,", + "Gnarl on: ’tis but in token of their spite", + "Against the souls, who mourn in torment steep’d.”", + "To leftward o’er the pier they turn’d; but each", + "Had first between his teeth prest close the tongue,", + "Toward their leader for a signal looking,", + "Which he with sound obscene triumphant gave." + ], + "22": [ + "It hath been heretofore my chance to see", + "Horsemen with martial order shifting camp,", + "To onset sallying, or in muster rang’d,", + "Or in retreat sometimes outstretch’d for flight;", + "Light-armed squadrons and fleet foragers", + "Scouring thy plains, Arezzo! have I seen,", + "And clashing tournaments, and tilting jousts,", + "Now with the sound of trumpets, now of bells,", + "Tabors, or signals made from castled heights,", + "And with inventions multiform, our own,", + "Or introduc’d from foreign land; but ne’er", + "To such a strange recorder I beheld,", + "In evolution moving, horse nor foot,", + "Nor ship, that tack’d by sign from land or star.", + "With the ten demons on our way we went;", + "Ah fearful company! but in the church", + "With saints, with gluttons at the tavern’s mess.", + "Still earnest on the pitch I gaz’d, to mark", + "All things whate’er the chasm contain’d, and those", + "Who burn’d within. As dolphins, that, in sign", + "To mariners, heave high their arched backs,", + "That thence forewarn’d they may advise to save", + "Their threaten’d vessels; so, at intervals,", + "To ease the pain his back some sinner show’d,", + "Then hid more nimbly than the lightning glance.", + "E’en as the frogs, that of a wat’ry moat", + "Stand at the brink, with the jaws only out,", + "Their feet and of the trunk all else concealed,", + "Thus on each part the sinners stood, but soon", + "As Barbariccia was at hand, so they", + "Drew back under the wave. I saw, and yet", + "My heart doth stagger, one, that waited thus,", + "As it befalls that oft one frog remains,", + "While the next springs away: and Graffiacan,", + "Who of the fiends was nearest, grappling seiz’d", + "His clotted locks, and dragg’d him sprawling up,", + "That he appear’d to me an otter. Each", + "Already by their names I knew, so well", + "When they were chosen, I observ’d, and mark’d", + "How one the other call’d. “O Rubicant!", + "See that his hide thou with thy talons flay,”", + "Shouted together all the cursed crew.", + "Then I: “Inform thee, master! if thou may,", + "What wretched soul is this, on whom their hand", + "His foes have laid.” My leader to his side", + "Approach’d, and whence he came inquir’d, to whom", + "Was answer’d thus: “Born in Navarre’s domain", + "My mother plac’d me in a lord’s retinue,", + "For she had borne me to a losel vile,", + "A spendthrift of his substance and himself.", + "The good king Thibault after that I serv’d,", + "To peculating here my thoughts were turn’d,", + "Whereof I give account in this dire heat.”", + "Straight Ciriatto, from whose mouth a tusk", + "Issued on either side, as from a boar,", + "Ript him with one of these. ’Twixt evil claws", + "The mouse had fall’n: but Barbariccia cried,", + "Seizing him with both arms: “Stand thou apart,", + "While I do fix him on my prong transpierc’d.”", + "Then added, turning to my guide his face,", + "“Inquire of him, if more thou wish to learn,", + "Ere he again be rent.” My leader thus:", + "“Then tell us of the partners in thy guilt;", + "Knowest thou any sprung of Latian land", + "Under the tar?”—“I parted,” he replied,", + "“But now from one, who sojourn’d not far thence;", + "So were I under shelter now with him!", + "Nor hook nor talon then should scare me more.”—.", + "“Too long we suffer,” Libicocco cried,", + "Then, darting forth a prong, seiz’d on his arm,", + "And mangled bore away the sinewy part.", + "Him Draghinazzo by his thighs beneath", + "Would next have caught, whence angrily their chief,", + "Turning on all sides round, with threat’ning brow", + "Restrain’d them. When their strife a little ceas’d,", + "Of him, who yet was gazing on his wound,", + "My teacher thus without delay inquir’d:", + "“Who was the spirit, from whom by evil hap", + "Parting, as thou has told, thou cam’st to shore?”—", + "“It was the friar Gomita,” he rejoin’d,", + "“He of Gallura, vessel of all guile,", + "Who had his master’s enemies in hand,", + "And us’d them so that they commend him well.", + "Money he took, and them at large dismiss’d.", + "So he reports: and in each other charge", + "Committed to his keeping, play’d the part", + "Of barterer to the height: with him doth herd", + "The chief of Logodoro, Michel Zanche.", + "Sardinia is a theme, whereof their tongue", + "Is never weary. Out! alas! behold", + "That other, how he grins! More would I say,", + "But tremble lest he mean to maul me sore.”", + "Their captain then to Farfarello turning,", + "Who roll’d his moony eyes in act to strike,", + "Rebuk’d him thus: “Off! cursed bird! Avaunt!”—", + "“If ye desire to see or hear,” he thus", + "Quaking with dread resum’d, “or Tuscan spirits", + "Or Lombard, I will cause them to appear.", + "Meantime let these ill talons bate their fury,", + "So that no vengeance they may fear from them,", + "And I, remaining in this self-same place,", + "Will for myself but one, make sev’n appear,", + "When my shrill whistle shall be heard; for so", + "Our custom is to call each other up.”", + "Cagnazzo at that word deriding grinn’d,", + "Then wagg’d the head and spake: “Hear his device,", + "Mischievous as he is, to plunge him down.”", + "Whereto he thus, who fail’d not in rich store", + "Of nice-wove toils; “ Mischief forsooth extreme,", + "Meant only to procure myself more woe!”", + "No longer Alichino then refrain’d,", + "But thus, the rest gainsaying, him bespake:", + "“If thou do cast thee down, I not on foot", + "Will chase thee, but above the pitch will beat", + "My plumes. Quit we the vantage ground, and let", + "The bank be as a shield, that we may see", + "If singly thou prevail against us all.”", + "Now, reader, of new sport expect to hear!", + "They each one turn’d his eyes to the’ other shore,", + "He first, who was the hardest to persuade.", + "The spirit of Navarre chose well his time,", + "Planted his feet on land, and at one leap", + "Escaping disappointed their resolve.", + "Them quick resentment stung, but him the most,", + "Who was the cause of failure; in pursuit", + "He therefore sped, exclaiming; “Thou art caught.”", + "But little it avail’d: terror outstripp’d", + "His following flight: the other plung’d beneath,", + "And he with upward pinion rais’d his breast:", + "E’en thus the water-fowl, when she perceives", + "The falcon near, dives instant down, while he", + "Enrag’d and spent retires. That mockery", + "In Calcabrina fury stirr’d, who flew", + "After him, with desire of strife inflam’d;", + "And, for the barterer had ’scap’d, so turn’d", + "His talons on his comrade. O’er the dyke", + "In grapple close they join’d; but the’ other prov’d", + "A goshawk able to rend well his foe;", + "And in the boiling lake both fell. The heat", + "Was umpire soon between them, but in vain", + "To lift themselves they strove, so fast were glued", + "Their pennons. Barbariccia, as the rest,", + "That chance lamenting, four in flight dispatch’d", + "From the’ other coast, with all their weapons arm’d.", + "They, to their post on each side speedily", + "Descending, stretch’d their hooks toward the fiends,", + "Who flounder’d, inly burning from their scars:", + "And we departing left them to that broil." + ], + "23": [ + "In silence and in solitude we went,", + "One first, the other following his steps,", + "As minor friars journeying on their road.", + "The present fray had turn’d my thoughts to muse", + "Upon old Aesop’s fable, where he told", + "What fate unto the mouse and frog befell.", + "For language hath not sounds more like in sense,", + "Than are these chances, if the origin", + "And end of each be heedfully compar’d.", + "And as one thought bursts from another forth,", + "So afterward from that another sprang,", + "Which added doubly to my former fear.", + "For thus I reason’d: “These through us have been", + "So foil’d, with loss and mock’ry so complete,", + "As needs must sting them sore. If anger then", + "Be to their evil will conjoin’d, more fell", + "They shall pursue us, than the savage hound", + "Snatches the leveret, panting ’twixt his jaws.”", + "Already I perceiv’d my hair stand all", + "On end with terror, and look’d eager back.", + "“Teacher,” I thus began, “if speedily", + "Thyself and me thou hide not, much I dread", + "Those evil talons. Even now behind", + "They urge us: quick imagination works", + "So forcibly, that I already feel them.”", + "He answer’d: “Were I form’d of leaded glass,", + "I should not sooner draw unto myself", + "Thy outward image, than I now imprint", + "That from within. This moment came thy thoughts", + "Presented before mine, with similar act", + "And count’nance similar, so that from both", + "I one design have fram’d. If the right coast", + "Incline so much, that we may thence descend", + "Into the other chasm, we shall escape", + "Secure from this imagined pursuit.”", + "He had not spoke his purpose to the end,", + "When I from far beheld them with spread wings", + "Approach to take us. Suddenly my guide", + "Caught me, ev’n as a mother that from sleep", + "Is by the noise arous’d, and near her sees", + "The climbing fires, who snatches up her babe", + "And flies ne’er pausing, careful more of him", + "Than of herself, that but a single vest", + "Clings round her limbs. Down from the jutting beach", + "Supine he cast him, to that pendent rock,", + "Which closes on one part the other chasm.", + "Never ran water with such hurrying pace", + "Adown the tube to turn a landmill’s wheel,", + "When nearest it approaches to the spokes,", + "As then along that edge my master ran,", + "Carrying me in his bosom, as a child,", + "Not a companion. Scarcely had his feet", + "Reach’d to the lowest of the bed beneath,", + "When over us the steep they reach’d; but fear", + "In him was none; for that high Providence,", + "Which plac’d them ministers of the fifth foss,", + "Power of departing thence took from them all.", + "There in the depth we saw a painted tribe,", + "Who pac’d with tardy steps around, and wept,", + "Faint in appearance and o’ercome with toil.", + "Caps had they on, with hoods, that fell low down", + "Before their eyes, in fashion like to those", + "Worn by the monks in Cologne. Their outside", + "Was overlaid with gold, dazzling to view,", + "But leaden all within, and of such weight,", + "That Frederick’s compar’d to these were straw.", + "Oh, everlasting wearisome attire!", + "We yet once more with them together turn’d", + "To leftward, on their dismal moan intent.", + "But by the weight oppress’d, so slowly came", + "The fainting people, that our company", + "Was chang’d at every movement of the step.", + "Whence I my guide address’d: “See that thou find", + "Some spirit, whose name may by his deeds be known,", + "And to that end look round thee as thou go’st.”", + "Then one, who understood the Tuscan voice,", + "Cried after us aloud: “Hold in your feet,", + "Ye who so swiftly speed through the dusk air.", + "Perchance from me thou shalt obtain thy wish.”", + "Whereat my leader, turning, me bespake:", + "“Pause, and then onward at their pace proceed.”", + "I staid, and saw two Spirits in whose look", + "Impatient eagerness of mind was mark’d", + "To overtake me; but the load they bare", + "And narrow path retarded their approach.", + "Soon as arriv’d, they with an eye askance", + "Perus’d me, but spake not: then turning each", + "To other thus conferring said: “This one", + "Seems, by the action of his throat, alive.", + "And, be they dead, what privilege allows", + "They walk unmantled by the cumbrous stole?”", + "Then thus to me: “Tuscan, who visitest", + "The college of the mourning hypocrites,", + "Disdain not to instruct us who thou art.”", + "“By Arno’s pleasant stream,” I thus replied,", + "“In the great city I was bred and grew,", + "And wear the body I have ever worn.", + "but who are ye, from whom such mighty grief,", + "As now I witness, courseth down your cheeks?", + "What torment breaks forth in this bitter woe?”", + "“Our bonnets gleaming bright with orange hue,”", + "One of them answer’d, “are so leaden gross,", + "That with their weight they make the balances", + "To crack beneath them. Joyous friars we were,", + "Bologna’s natives, Catalano I,", + "He Loderingo nam’d, and by thy land", + "Together taken, as men used to take", + "A single and indifferent arbiter,", + "To reconcile their strifes. How there we sped,", + "Gardingo’s vicinage can best declare.”", + "“O friars!” I began, “your miseries—” But there brake off, for one had caught my eye,", + "Fix’d to a cross with three stakes on the ground:", + "He, when he saw me, writh’d himself, throughout", + "Distorted, ruffling with deep sighs his beard.", + "And Catalano, who thereof was ’ware,", + "Thus spake: “That pierced spirit, whom intent", + "Thou view’st, was he who gave the Pharisees", + "Counsel, that it were fitting for one man", + "To suffer for the people. He doth lie", + "Transverse; nor any passes, but him first", + "Behoves make feeling trial how each weighs.", + "In straits like this along the foss are plac’d", + "The father of his consort, and the rest", + "Partakers in that council, seed of ill", + "And sorrow to the Jews.” I noted then,", + "How Virgil gaz’d with wonder upon him,", + "Thus abjectly extended on the cross", + "In banishment eternal. To the friar", + "He next his words address’d: “We pray ye tell,", + "If so be lawful, whether on our right", + "Lies any opening in the rock, whereby", + "We both may issue hence, without constraint", + "On the dark angels, that compell’d they come", + "To lead us from this depth.” He thus replied:", + "“Nearer than thou dost hope, there is a rock", + "From the next circle moving, which o’ersteps", + "Each vale of horror, save that here his cope", + "Is shatter’d. By the ruin ye may mount:", + "For on the side it slants, and most the height", + "Rises below.” With head bent down awhile", + "My leader stood, then spake: “He warn’d us ill,", + "Who yonder hangs the sinners on his hook.”", + "To whom the friar: At Bologna erst", + "I many vices of the devil heard,", + "Among the rest was said, ‘He is a liar,", + "And the father of lies!’” When he had spoke,", + "My leader with large strides proceeded on,", + "Somewhat disturb’d with anger in his look.", + "I therefore left the spirits heavy laden,", + "And following, his beloved footsteps mark’d." + ], + "24": [ + "In the year’s early nonage, when the sun", + "Tempers his tresses in Aquarius’ urn,", + "And now towards equal day the nights recede,", + "When as the rime upon the earth puts on", + "Her dazzling sister’s image, but not long", + "Her milder sway endures, then riseth up", + "The village hind, whom fails his wintry store,", + "And looking out beholds the plain around", + "All whiten’d, whence impatiently he smites", + "His thighs, and to his hut returning in,", + "There paces to and fro, wailing his lot,", + "As a discomfited and helpless man;", + "Then comes he forth again, and feels new hope", + "Spring in his bosom, finding e’en thus soon", + "The world hath chang’d its count’nance, grasps his crook,", + "And forth to pasture drives his little flock:", + "So me my guide dishearten’d when I saw", + "His troubled forehead, and so speedily", + "That ill was cur’d; for at the fallen bridge", + "Arriving, towards me with a look as sweet,", + "He turn’d him back, as that I first beheld", + "At the steep mountain’s foot. Regarding well", + "The ruin, and some counsel first maintain’d", + "With his own thought, he open’d wide his arm", + "And took me up. As one, who, while he works,", + "Computes his labour’s issue, that he seems", + "Still to foresee the’ effect, so lifting me", + "Up to the summit of one peak, he fix’d", + "His eye upon another. “Grapple that,”", + "Said he, “but first make proof, if it be such", + "As will sustain thee.” For one capp’d with lead", + "This were no journey. Scarcely he, though light,", + "And I, though onward push’d from crag to crag,", + "Could mount. And if the precinct of this coast", + "Were not less ample than the last, for him", + "I know not, but my strength had surely fail’d.", + "But Malebolge all toward the mouth", + "Inclining of the nethermost abyss,", + "The site of every valley hence requires,", + "That one side upward slope, the other fall.", + "At length the point of our descent we reach’d", + "From the last flag: soon as to that arriv’d,", + "So was the breath exhausted from my lungs,", + "I could no further, but did seat me there.", + "“Now needs thy best of man;” so spake my guide:", + "“For not on downy plumes, nor under shade", + "Of canopy reposing, fame is won,", + "Without which whosoe’er consumes his days", + "Leaveth such vestige of himself on earth,", + "As smoke in air or foam upon the wave.", + "Thou therefore rise: vanish thy weariness", + "By the mind’s effort, in each struggle form’d", + "To vanquish, if she suffer not the weight", + "Of her corporeal frame to crush her down.", + "A longer ladder yet remains to scale.", + "From these to have escap’d sufficeth not.", + "If well thou note me, profit by my words.”", + "I straightway rose, and show’d myself less spent", + "Than I in truth did feel me. “On,” I cried,", + "“For I am stout and fearless.” Up the rock", + "Our way we held, more rugged than before,", + "Narrower and steeper far to climb. From talk", + "I ceas’d not, as we journey’d, so to seem", + "Least faint; whereat a voice from the other foss", + "Did issue forth, for utt’rance suited ill.", + "Though on the arch that crosses there I stood,", + "What were the words I knew not, but who spake", + "Seem’d mov’d in anger. Down I stoop’d to look,", + "But my quick eye might reach not to the depth", + "For shrouding darkness; wherefore thus I spake:", + "“To the next circle, Teacher, bend thy steps,", + "And from the wall dismount we; for as hence", + "I hear and understand not, so I see", + "Beneath, and naught discern.”—“I answer not,”", + "Said he, “but by the deed. To fair request", + "Silent performance maketh best return.”", + "We from the bridge’s head descended, where", + "To the eighth mound it joins, and then the chasm", + "Opening to view, I saw a crowd within", + "Of serpents terrible, so strange of shape", + "And hideous, that remembrance in my veins", + "Yet shrinks the vital current. Of her sands", + "Let Lybia vaunt no more: if Jaculus,", + "Pareas and Chelyder be her brood,", + "Cenchris and Amphisboena, plagues so dire", + "Or in such numbers swarming ne’er she shew’d,", + "Not with all Ethiopia, and whate’er", + "Above the Erythraean sea is spawn’d.", + "Amid this dread exuberance of woe", + "Ran naked spirits wing’d with horrid fear,", + "Nor hope had they of crevice where to hide,", + "Or heliotrope to charm them out of view.", + "With serpents were their hands behind them bound,", + "Which through their reins infix’d the tail and head", + "Twisted in folds before. And lo! on one", + "Near to our side, darted an adder up,", + "And, where the neck is on the shoulders tied,", + "Transpierc’d him. Far more quickly than e’er pen", + "Wrote O or I, he kindled, burn’d, and chang’d", + "To ashes, all pour’d out upon the earth.", + "When there dissolv’d he lay, the dust again", + "Uproll’d spontaneous, and the self-same form", + "Instant resumed. So mighty sages tell,", + "The’ Arabian Phoenix, when five hundred years", + "Have well nigh circled, dies, and springs forthwith", + "Renascent. Blade nor herb throughout his life", + "He tastes, but tears of frankincense alone", + "And odorous amomum: swaths of nard", + "And myrrh his funeral shroud. As one that falls,", + "He knows not how, by force demoniac dragg’d", + "To earth, or through obstruction fettering up", + "In chains invisible the powers of man,", + "Who, risen from his trance, gazeth around,", + "Bewilder’d with the monstrous agony", + "He hath endur’d, and wildly staring sighs;", + "So stood aghast the sinner when he rose.", + "Oh! how severe God’s judgment, that deals out", + "Such blows in stormy vengeance! Who he was", + "My teacher next inquir’d, and thus in few", + "He answer’d: “Vanni Fucci am I call’d,", + "Not long since rained down from Tuscany", + "To this dire gullet. Me the beastial life", + "And not the human pleas’d, mule that I was,", + "Who in Pistoia found my worthy den.”", + "I then to Virgil: “Bid him stir not hence,", + "And ask what crime did thrust him hither: once", + "A man I knew him choleric and bloody.”", + "The sinner heard and feign’d not, but towards me", + "His mind directing and his face, wherein", + "Was dismal shame depictur’d, thus he spake:", + "“It grieves me more to have been caught by thee", + "In this sad plight, which thou beholdest, than", + "When I was taken from the other life.", + "I have no power permitted to deny", + "What thou inquirest.” I am doom’d thus low", + "To dwell, for that the sacristy by me", + "Was rifled of its goodly ornaments,", + "And with the guilt another falsely charged.", + "But that thou mayst not joy to see me thus,", + "So as thou e’er shalt ’scape this darksome realm", + "Open thine ears and hear what I forebode.", + "Reft of the Neri first Pistoia pines,", + "Then Florence changeth citizens and laws.", + "From Valdimagra, drawn by wrathful Mars,", + "A vapour rises, wrapt in turbid mists,", + "And sharp and eager driveth on the storm", + "With arrowy hurtling o’er Piceno’s field,", + "Whence suddenly the cloud shall burst, and strike", + "Each helpless Bianco prostrate to the ground.", + "This have I told, that grief may rend thy heart.”" + ], + "25": [ + "When he had spoke, the sinner rais’d his hands", + "Pointed in mockery, and cried: “Take them, God!", + "I level them at thee!” From that day forth", + "The serpents were my friends; for round his neck", + "One of then rolling twisted, as it said,", + "“Be silent, tongue!” Another to his arms", + "Upgliding, tied them, riveting itself", + "So close, it took from them the power to move.", + "Pistoia! Ah Pistoia! why dost doubt", + "To turn thee into ashes, cumb’ring earth", + "No longer, since in evil act so far", + "Thou hast outdone thy seed? I did not mark,", + "Through all the gloomy circles of the’ abyss,", + "Spirit, that swell’d so proudly ’gainst his God,", + "Not him, who headlong fell from Thebes. He fled,", + "Nor utter’d more; and after him there came", + "A centaur full of fury, shouting, “Where", + "Where is the caitiff?” On Maremma’s marsh", + "Swarm not the serpent tribe, as on his haunch", + "They swarm’d, to where the human face begins.", + "Behind his head upon the shoulders lay,", + "With open wings, a dragon breathing fire", + "On whomsoe’er he met. To me my guide:", + "“Cacus is this, who underneath the rock", + "Of Aventine spread oft a lake of blood.", + "He, from his brethren parted, here must tread", + "A different journey, for his fraudful theft", + "Of the great herd, that near him stall’d; whence found", + "His felon deeds their end, beneath the mace", + "Of stout Alcides, that perchance laid on", + "A hundred blows, and not the tenth was felt.”", + "While yet he spake, the centaur sped away:", + "And under us three spirits came, of whom", + "Nor I nor he was ware, till they exclaim’d;", + "“Say who are ye?” We then brake off discourse,", + "Intent on these alone. I knew them not;", + "But, as it chanceth oft, befell, that one", + "Had need to name another. “Where,” said he,", + "“Doth Cianfa lurk?” I, for a sign my guide", + "Should stand attentive, plac’d against my lips", + "The finger lifted. If, O reader! now", + "Thou be not apt to credit what I tell,", + "No marvel; for myself do scarce allow", + "The witness of mine eyes. But as I looked", + "Toward them, lo! a serpent with six feet", + "Springs forth on one, and fastens full upon him:", + "His midmost grasp’d the belly, a forefoot", + "Seiz’d on each arm (while deep in either cheek", + "He flesh’d his fangs); the hinder on the thighs", + "Were spread, ’twixt which the tail inserted curl’d", + "Upon the reins behind. Ivy ne’er clasp’d", + "A dodder’d oak, as round the other’s limbs", + "The hideous monster intertwin’d his own.", + "Then, as they both had been of burning wax,", + "Each melted into other, mingling hues,", + "That which was either now was seen no more.", + "Thus up the shrinking paper, ere it burns,", + "A brown tint glides, not turning yet to black,", + "And the clean white expires. The other two", + "Look’d on exclaiming: “Ah, how dost thou change,", + "Agnello! See! Thou art nor double now,", + "Nor only one.” The two heads now became", + "One, and two figures blended in one form", + "Appear’d, where both were lost. Of the four lengths", + "Two arms were made: the belly and the chest", + "The thighs and legs into such members chang’d,", + "As never eye hath seen. Of former shape", + "All trace was vanish’d. Two yet neither seem’d", + "That image miscreate, and so pass’d on", + "With tardy steps. As underneath the scourge", + "Of the fierce dog-star, that lays bare the fields,", + "Shifting from brake to brake, the lizard seems", + "A flash of lightning, if he thwart the road,", + "So toward th’ entrails of the other two", + "Approaching seem’d, an adder all on fire,", + "As the dark pepper-grain, livid and swart.", + "In that part, whence our life is nourish’d first,", + "One he transpierc’d; then down before him fell", + "Stretch’d out. The pierced spirit look’d on him", + "But spake not; yea stood motionless and yawn’d,", + "As if by sleep or fev’rous fit assail’d.", + "He ey’d the serpent, and the serpent him.", + "One from the wound, the other from the mouth", + "Breath’d a thick smoke, whose vap’ry columns join’d.", + "Lucan in mute attention now may hear,", + "Nor thy disastrous fate, Sabellus! tell,", + "Nor shine, Nasidius! Ovid now be mute.", + "What if in warbling fiction he record", + "Cadmus and Arethusa, to a snake", + "Him chang’d, and her into a fountain clear,", + "I envy not; for never face to face", + "Two natures thus transmuted did he sing,", + "Wherein both shapes were ready to assume", + "The other’s substance. They in mutual guise", + "So answer’d, that the serpent split his train", + "Divided to a fork, and the pierc’d spirit", + "Drew close his steps together, legs and thighs", + "Compacted, that no sign of juncture soon", + "Was visible: the tail disparted took", + "The figure which the spirit lost, its skin", + "Soft’ning, his indurated to a rind.", + "The shoulders next I mark’d, that ent’ring join’d", + "The monster’s arm-pits, whose two shorter feet", + "So lengthen’d, as the other’s dwindling shrunk.", + "The feet behind then twisting up became", + "That part that man conceals, which in the wretch", + "Was cleft in twain. While both the shadowy smoke", + "With a new colour veils, and generates", + "Th’ excrescent pile on one, peeling it off", + "From th’ other body, lo! upon his feet", + "One upright rose, and prone the other fell.", + "Not yet their glaring and malignant lamps", + "Were shifted, though each feature chang’d beneath.", + "Of him who stood erect, the mounting face", + "Retreated towards the temples, and what there", + "Superfluous matter came, shot out in ears", + "From the smooth cheeks, the rest, not backward dragg’d,", + "Of its excess did shape the nose; and swell’d", + "Into due size protuberant the lips.", + "He, on the earth who lay, meanwhile extends", + "His sharpen’d visage, and draws down the ears", + "Into the head, as doth the slug his horns.", + "His tongue continuous before and apt", + "For utt’rance, severs; and the other’s fork", + "Closing unites. That done the smoke was laid.", + "The soul, transform’d into the brute, glides off,", + "Hissing along the vale, and after him", + "The other talking sputters; but soon turn’d", + "His new-grown shoulders on him, and in few", + "Thus to another spake: “Along this path", + "Crawling, as I have done, speed Buoso now!”", + "So saw I fluctuate in successive change", + "Th’ unsteady ballast of the seventh hold:", + "And here if aught my tongue have swerv’d, events", + "So strange may be its warrant. O’er mine eyes", + "Confusion hung, and on my thoughts amaze.", + "Yet ’scap’d they not so covertly, but well", + "I mark’d Sciancato: he alone it was", + "Of the three first that came, who chang’d not: thou,", + "The other’s fate, Gaville, still dost rue." + ], + "26": [ + "Florence exult! for thou so mightily", + "Hast thriven, that o’er land and sea thy wings", + "Thou beatest, and thy name spreads over hell!", + "Among the plund’rers such the three I found", + "Thy citizens, whence shame to me thy son,", + "And no proud honour to thyself redounds.", + "But if our minds, when dreaming near the dawn,", + "Are of the truth presageful, thou ere long", + "Shalt feel what Prato, (not to say the rest)", + "Would fain might come upon thee; and that chance", + "Were in good time, if it befell thee now.", + "Would so it were, since it must needs befall!", + "For as time wears me, I shall grieve the more.", + "We from the depth departed; and my guide", + "Remounting scal’d the flinty steps, which late", + "We downward trac’d, and drew me up the steep.", + "Pursuing thus our solitary way", + "Among the crags and splinters of the rock,", + "Sped not our feet without the help of hands.", + "Then sorrow seiz’d me, which e’en now revives,", + "As my thought turns again to what I saw,", + "And, more than I am wont, I rein and curb", + "The powers of nature in me, lest they run", + "Where Virtue guides not; that if aught of good", + "My gentle star, or something better gave me,", + "I envy not myself the precious boon.", + "As in that season, when the sun least veils", + "His face that lightens all, what time the fly", + "Gives way to the shrill gnat, the peasant then", + "Upon some cliff reclin’d, beneath him sees", + "Fire-flies innumerous spangling o’er the vale,", + "Vineyard or tilth, where his day-labour lies:", + "With flames so numberless throughout its space", + "Shone the eighth chasm, apparent, when the depth", + "Was to my view expos’d. As he, whose wrongs", + "The bears aveng’d, at its departure saw", + "Elijah’s chariot, when the steeds erect", + "Rais’d their steep flight for heav’n; his eyes meanwhile,", + "Straining pursu’d them, till the flame alone", + "Upsoaring like a misty speck he kenn’d;", + "E’en thus along the gulf moves every flame,", + "A sinner so enfolded close in each,", + "That none exhibits token of the theft.", + "Upon the bridge I forward bent to look,", + "And grasp’d a flinty mass, or else had fall’n,", + "Though push’d not from the height. The guide, who mark’d", + "How I did gaze attentive, thus began:", + "“Within these ardours are the spirits, each", + "Swath’d in confining fire.”—“Master, thy word,”", + "I answer’d, “hath assur’d me; yet I deem’d", + "Already of the truth, already wish’d", + "To ask thee, who is in yon fire, that comes", + "So parted at the summit, as it seem’d", + "Ascending from that funeral pile, where lay", + "The Theban brothers?” He replied: “Within", + "Ulysses there and Diomede endure", + "Their penal tortures, thus to vengeance now", + "Together hasting, as erewhile to wrath.", + "These in the flame with ceaseless groans deplore", + "The ambush of the horse, that open’d wide", + "A portal for that goodly seed to pass,", + "Which sow’d imperial Rome; nor less the guile", + "Lament they, whence of her Achilles ’reft", + "Deidamia yet in death complains.", + "And there is rued the stratagem, that Troy", + "Of her Palladium spoil’d.”—“If they have power", + "Of utt’rance from within these sparks,” said I,", + "“O master! think my prayer a thousand fold", + "In repetition urg’d, that thou vouchsafe", + "To pause, till here the horned flame arrive.", + "See, how toward it with desire I bend.”", + "He thus: “Thy prayer is worthy of much praise,", + "And I accept it therefore: but do thou", + "Thy tongue refrain: to question them be mine,", + "For I divine thy wish: and they perchance,", + "For they were Greeks, might shun discourse with thee.”", + "When there the flame had come, where time and place", + "Seem’d fitting to my guide, he thus began:", + "“O ye, who dwell two spirits in one fire!", + "If living I of you did merit aught,", + "Whate’er the measure were of that desert,", + "When in the world my lofty strain I pour’d,", + "Move ye not on, till one of you unfold", + "In what clime death o’ertook him self-destroy’d.”", + "Of the old flame forthwith the greater horn", + "Began to roll, murmuring, as a fire", + "That labours with the wind, then to and fro", + "Wagging the top, as a tongue uttering sounds,", + "Threw out its voice, and spake: “When I escap’d", + "From Circe, who beyond a circling year", + "Had held me near Caieta, by her charms,", + "Ere thus Aeneas yet had nam’d the shore,", + "Nor fondness for my son, nor reverence", + "Of my old father, nor return of love,", + "That should have crown’d Penelope with joy,", + "Could overcome in me the zeal I had", + "T’ explore the world, and search the ways of life,", + "Man’s evil and his virtue. Forth I sail’d", + "Into the deep illimitable main,", + "With but one bark, and the small faithful band", + "That yet cleav’d to me. As Iberia far,", + "Far as Morocco either shore I saw,", + "And the Sardinian and each isle beside", + "Which round that ocean bathes. Tardy with age", + "Were I and my companions, when we came", + "To the strait pass, where Hercules ordain’d", + "The bound’ries not to be o’erstepp’d by man.", + "The walls of Seville to my right I left,", + "On the’ other hand already Ceuta past.", + "“O brothers!” I began, “who to the west", + "Through perils without number now have reach’d,", + "To this the short remaining watch, that yet", + "Our senses have to wake, refuse not proof", + "Of the unpeopled world, following the track", + "Of Phoebus. Call to mind from whence we sprang:", + "Ye were not form’d to live the life of brutes", + "But virtue to pursue and knowledge high.", + "With these few words I sharpen’d for the voyage", + "The mind of my associates, that I then", + "Could scarcely have withheld them. To the dawn", + "Our poop we turn’d, and for the witless flight", + "Made our oars wings, still gaining on the left.", + "Each star of the’ other pole night now beheld,", + "And ours so low, that from the ocean-floor", + "It rose not. Five times re-illum’d, as oft", + "Vanish’d the light from underneath the moon", + "Since the deep way we enter’d, when from far", + "Appear’d a mountain dim, loftiest methought", + "Of all I e’er beheld. Joy seiz’d us straight,", + "But soon to mourning changed. From the new land", + "A whirlwind sprung, and at her foremost side", + "Did strike the vessel. Thrice it whirl’d her round", + "With all the waves, the fourth time lifted up", + "The poop, and sank the prow: so fate decreed:", + "And over us the booming billow clos’d.”" + ], + "27": [ + "Now upward rose the flame, and still’d its light", + "To speak no more, and now pass’d on with leave", + "From the mild poet gain’d, when following came", + "Another, from whose top a sound confus’d,", + "Forth issuing, drew our eyes that way to look.", + "As the Sicilian bull, that rightfully", + "His cries first echoed, who had shap’d its mould,", + "Did so rebellow, with the voice of him", + "Tormented, that the brazen monster seem’d", + "Pierc’d through with pain; thus while no way they found", + "Nor avenue immediate through the flame,", + "Into its language turn’d the dismal words:", + "But soon as they had won their passage forth,", + "Up from the point, which vibrating obey’d", + "Their motion at the tongue, these sounds we heard:", + "“O thou! to whom I now direct my voice!", + "That lately didst exclaim in Lombard phrase,", + "Depart thou, I solicit thee no more,’", + "Though somewhat tardy I perchance arrive", + "Let it not irk thee here to pause awhile,", + "And with me parley: lo! it irks not me", + "And yet I burn. If but e’en now thou fall", + "into this blind world, from that pleasant land", + "Of Latium, whence I draw my sum of guilt,", + "Tell me if those, who in Romagna dwell,", + "Have peace or war. For of the mountains there", + "Was I, betwixt Urbino and the height,", + "Whence Tyber first unlocks his mighty flood.”", + "Leaning I listen’d yet with heedful ear,", + "When, as he touch’d my side, the leader thus:", + "“Speak thou: he is a Latian.” My reply", + "Was ready, and I spake without delay:", + "“O spirit! who art hidden here below!", + "Never was thy Romagna without war", + "In her proud tyrants’ bosoms, nor is now:", + "But open war there left I none. The state,", + "Ravenna hath maintain’d this many a year,", + "Is steadfast. There Polenta’s eagle broods,", + "And in his broad circumference of plume", + "O’ershadows Cervia. The green talons grasp", + "The land, that stood erewhile the proof so long,", + "And pil’d in bloody heap the host of France.", + "“The’ old mastiff of Verruchio and the young,", + "That tore Montagna in their wrath, still make,", + "Where they are wont, an augre of their fangs.", + "“Lamone’s city and Santerno’s range", + "Under the lion of the snowy lair.", + "Inconstant partisan! that changeth sides,", + "Or ever summer yields to winter’s frost.", + "And she, whose flank is wash’d of Savio’s wave,", + "As ’twixt the level and the steep she lies,", + "Lives so ’twixt tyrant power and liberty.", + "“Now tell us, I entreat thee, who art thou?", + "Be not more hard than others. In the world,", + "So may thy name still rear its forehead high.”", + "Then roar’d awhile the fire, its sharpen’d point", + "On either side wav’d, and thus breath’d at last:", + "“If I did think, my answer were to one,", + "Who ever could return unto the world,", + "This flame should rest unshaken. But since ne’er,", + "If true be told me, any from this depth", + "Has found his upward way, I answer thee,", + "Nor fear lest infamy record the words.", + "“A man of arms at first, I cloth’d me then", + "In good Saint Francis’ girdle, hoping so", + "T’ have made amends. And certainly my hope", + "Had fail’d not, but that he, whom curses light on,", + "The’ high priest again seduc’d me into sin.", + "And how and wherefore listen while I tell. ", + "Long as this spirit mov’d the bones and pulp", + "My mother gave me, less my deeds bespake", + "The nature of the lion than the fox.", + "All ways of winding subtlety I knew,", + "And with such art conducted, that the sound", + "Reach’d the world’s limit. Soon as to that part", + "Of life I found me come, when each behoves", + "To lower sails and gather in the lines;", + "That which before had pleased me then I rued,", + "And to repentance and confession turn’d;", + "Wretch that I was! and well it had bested me!", + "The chief of the new Pharisees meantime,", + "Waging his warfare near the Lateran,", + "Not with the Saracens or Jews (his foes", + "All Christians were, nor against Acre one", + "Had fought, nor traffic’d in the Soldan’s land),", + "He his great charge nor sacred ministry", + "In himself, rev’renc’d, nor in me that cord,", + "Which us’d to mark with leanness whom it girded.", + "As in Socrate, Constantine besought", + "To cure his leprosy Sylvester’s aid,", + "So me to cure the fever of his pride", + "This man besought: my counsel to that end", + "He ask’d: and I was silent: for his words", + "Seem’d drunken: but forthwith he thus resum’d:", + "“From thy heart banish fear: of all offence", + "I hitherto absolve thee. In return,", + "Teach me my purpose so to execute,", + "That Penestrino cumber earth no more.", + "Heav’n, as thou knowest, I have power to shut", + "And open: and the keys are therefore twain,", + "The which my predecessor meanly priz’d.”", + "Then, yielding to the forceful arguments,", + "Of silence as more perilous I deem’d,", + "And answer’d: “Father! since thou washest me", + "Clear of that guilt wherein I now must fall,", + "Large promise with performance scant, be sure,", + "Shall make thee triumph in thy lofty seat.”", + "“When I was number’d with the dead, then came", + "Saint Francis for me; but a cherub dark", + "He met, who cried: “‘Wrong me not; he is mine,", + "And must below to join the wretched crew,", + "For the deceitful counsel which he gave.", + "E’er since I watch’d him, hov’ring at his hair,", + "No power can the impenitent absolve;", + "Nor to repent and will at once consist,", + "By contradiction absolute forbid.”", + "Oh mis’ry! how I shook myself, when he", + "Seiz’d me, and cried, “Thou haply thought’st me not", + "A disputant in logic so exact.”", + "To Minos down he bore me, and the judge", + "Twin’d eight times round his callous back the tail,", + "Which biting with excess of rage, he spake:", + "“This is a guilty soul, that in the fire", + "Must vanish.’ Hence perdition-doom’d I rove", + "A prey to rankling sorrow in this garb.”", + "When he had thus fulfill’d his words, the flame", + "In dolour parted, beating to and fro,", + "And writhing its sharp horn. We onward went,", + "I and my leader, up along the rock,", + "Far as another arch, that overhangs", + "The foss, wherein the penalty is paid", + "Of those, who load them with committed sin." + ], + "28": [ + "Who, e’en in words unfetter’d, might at full", + "Tell of the wounds and blood that now I saw,", + "Though he repeated oft the tale? No tongue", + "So vast a theme could equal, speech and thought", + "Both impotent alike. If in one band", + "Collected, stood the people all, who e’er", + "Pour’d on Apulia’s happy soil their blood,", + "Slain by the Trojans, and in that long war", + "When of the rings the measur’d booty made", + "A pile so high, as Rome’s historian writes", + "Who errs not, with the multitude, that felt", + "The grinding force of Guiscard’s Norman steel,", + "And those the rest, whose bones are gather’d yet", + "At Ceperano, there where treachery", + "Branded th’ Apulian name, or where beyond", + "Thy walls, O Tagliacozzo, without arms", + "The old Alardo conquer’d; and his limbs", + "One were to show transpierc’d, another his", + "Clean lopt away; a spectacle like this", + "Were but a thing of nought, to the’ hideous sight", + "Of the ninth chasm. A rundlet, that hath lost", + "Its middle or side stave, gapes not so wide,", + "As one I mark’d, torn from the chin throughout", + "Down to the hinder passage: ’twixt the legs", + "Dangling his entrails hung, the midriff lay", + "Open to view, and wretched ventricle,", + "That turns th’ englutted aliment to dross.", + "Whilst eagerly I fix on him my gaze,", + "He ey’d me, with his hands laid his breast bare,", + "And cried; “Now mark how I do rip me! lo!", + "How is Mohammed mangled! before me", + "Walks Ali weeping, from the chin his face", + "Cleft to the forelock; and the others all", + "Whom here thou seest, while they liv’d, did sow", + "Scandal and schism, and therefore thus are rent.", + "A fiend is here behind, who with his sword", + "Hacks us thus cruelly, slivering again", + "Each of this ream, when we have compast round", + "The dismal way, for first our gashes close", + "Ere we repass before him. But say who", + "Art thou, that standest musing on the rock,", + "Haply so lingering to delay the pain", + "Sentenc’d upon thy crimes?”—“Him death not yet,”", + "My guide rejoin’d, “hath overta’en, nor sin", + "Conducts to torment; but, that he may make", + "Full trial of your state, I who am dead", + "Must through the depths of hell, from orb to orb,", + "Conduct him. Trust my words, for they are true.”", + "More than a hundred spirits, when that they heard,", + "Stood in the foss to mark me, through amazed,", + "Forgetful of their pangs. “Thou, who perchance", + "Shalt shortly view the sun, this warning thou", + "Bear to Dolcino: bid him, if he wish not", + "Here soon to follow me, that with good store", + "Of food he arm him, lest impris’ning snows", + "Yield him a victim to Novara’s power,", + "No easy conquest else.” With foot uprais’d", + "For stepping, spake Mohammed, on the ground", + "Then fix’d it to depart. Another shade,", + "Pierc’d in the throat, his nostrils mutilate", + "E’en from beneath the eyebrows, and one ear", + "Lopt off, who with the rest through wonder stood", + "Gazing, before the rest advanc’d, and bar’d", + "His wind-pipe, that without was all o’ersmear’d", + "With crimson stain. “O thou!” said ‘he, “whom sin", + "Condemns not, and whom erst (unless too near", + "Resemblance do deceive me) I aloft", + "Have seen on Latian ground, call thou to mind", + "Piero of Medicina, if again", + "Returning, thou behold’st the pleasant land", + "That from Vercelli slopes to Mercabo;", + "And there instruct the twain, whom Fano boasts", + "Her worthiest sons, Guido and Angelo,", + "That if ’tis giv’n us here to scan aright", + "The future, they out of life’s tenement", + "Shall be cast forth, and whelm’d under the waves", + "Near to Cattolica, through perfidy", + "Of a fell tyrant. ’Twixt the Cyprian isle", + "And Balearic, ne’er hath Neptune seen", + "An injury so foul, by pirates done", + "Or Argive crew of old. That one-ey’d traitor", + "(Whose realm there is a spirit here were fain", + "His eye had still lack’d sight of) them shall bring", + "To conf’rence with him, then so shape his end,", + "That they shall need not ’gainst Focara’s wind", + "Offer up vow nor pray’r.” I answering thus:", + "“Declare, as thou dost wish that I above", + "May carry tidings of thee, who is he,", + "In whom that sight doth wake such sad remembrance?”", + "Forthwith he laid his hand on the cheek-bone", + "Of one, his fellow-spirit, and his jaws", + "Expanding, cried: “Lo! this is he I wot of;", + "He speaks not for himself: the outcast this", + "Who overwhelm’d the doubt in Caesar’s mind,", + "Affirming that delay to men prepar’d", + "Was ever harmful. “Oh how terrified", + "Methought was Curio, from whose throat was cut", + "The tongue, which spake that hardy word. Then one", + "Maim’d of each hand, uplifted in the gloom", + "The bleeding stumps, that they with gory spots", + "Sullied his face, and cried: “‘Remember thee", + "Of Mosca, too, I who, alas! exclaim’d,", + "‘The deed once done there is an end,’ that prov’d", + "A seed of sorrow to the Tuscan race.”", + "I added: “Ay, and death to thine own tribe.”", + "Whence heaping woe on woe he hurried off,", + "As one grief stung to madness. But I there", + "Still linger’d to behold the troop, and saw", + "Things, such as I may fear without more proof", + "To tell of, but that conscience makes me firm,", + "The boon companion, who her strong breast-plate", + "Buckles on him, that feels no guilt within", + "And bids him on and fear not. Without doubt", + "I saw, and yet it seems to pass before me,", + "A headless trunk, that even as the rest", + "Of the sad flock pac’d onward. By the hair", + "It bore the sever’d member, lantern-wise", + "Pendent in hand, which look’d at us and said,", + "“Woe’s me!” The spirit lighted thus himself,", + "And two there were in one, and one in two.", + "How that may be he knows who ordereth so.", + "When at the bridge’s foot direct he stood,", + "His arm aloft he rear’d, thrusting the head", + "Full in our view, that nearer we might hear", + "The words, which thus it utter’d: “Now behold", + "This grievous torment, thou, who breathing go’st", + "To spy the dead; behold if any else", + "Be terrible as this. And that on earth", + "Thou mayst bear tidings of me, know that I", + "Am Bertrand, he of Born, who gave King John", + "The counsel mischievous. Father and son", + "I set at mutual war. For Absalom", + "And David more did not Ahitophel,", + "Spurring them on maliciously to strife.", + "For parting those so closely knit, my brain", + "Parted, alas! I carry from its source,", + "That in this trunk inhabits. Thus the law", + "Of retribution fiercely works in me.”" + ], + "29": [ + "So were mine eyes inebriate with view", + "Of the vast multitude, whom various wounds", + "Disfigur’d, that they long’d to stay and weep.", + "But Virgil rous’d me: “What yet gazest on?", + "Wherefore doth fasten yet thy sight below", + "Among the maim’d and miserable shades?", + "Thou hast not shewn in any chasm beside", + "This weakness. Know, if thou wouldst number them", + "That two and twenty miles the valley winds", + "Its circuit, and already is the moon", + "Beneath our feet: the time permitted now", + "Is short, and more not seen remains to see.”", + "“If thou,” I straight replied, “hadst weigh’d the cause", + "For which I look’d, thou hadst perchance excus’d", + "The tarrying still.” My leader part pursu’d", + "His way, the while I follow’d, answering him,", + "And adding thus: “Within that cave I deem,", + "Whereon so fixedly I held my ken,", + "There is a spirit dwells, one of my blood,", + "Wailing the crime that costs him now so dear.”", + "Then spake my master: “Let thy soul no more", + "Afflict itself for him. Direct elsewhere", + "Its thought, and leave him. At the bridge’s foot", + "I mark’d how he did point with menacing look", + "At thee, and heard him by the others nam’d", + "Geri of Bello. Thou so wholly then", + "Wert busied with his spirit, who once rul’d", + "The towers of Hautefort, that thou lookedst not", + "That way, ere he was gone.”—“O guide belov’d!", + "His violent death yet unaveng’d,” said I,", + "“By any, who are partners in his shame,", + "Made him contemptuous: therefore, as I think,", + "He pass’d me speechless by; and doing so", + "Hath made me more compassionate his fate.”", + "So we discours’d to where the rock first show’d", + "The other valley, had more light been there,", + "E’en to the lowest depth. Soon as we came", + "O’er the last cloister in the dismal rounds", + "Of Malebolge, and the brotherhood", + "Were to our view expos’d, then many a dart", + "Of sore lament assail’d me, headed all", + "With points of thrilling pity, that I clos’d", + "Both ears against the volley with mine hands.", + "As were the torment, if each lazar-house", + "Of Valdichiana, in the sultry time", + "’Twixt July and September, with the isle", + "Sardinia and Maremma’s pestilent fen,", + "Had heap’d their maladies all in one foss", + "Together; such was here the torment: dire", + "The stench, as issuing steams from fester’d limbs.", + "We on the utmost shore of the long rock", + "Descended still to leftward. Then my sight", + "Was livelier to explore the depth, wherein", + "The minister of the most mighty Lord,", + "All-searching Justice, dooms to punishment", + "The forgers noted on her dread record.", + "More rueful was it not methinks to see", + "The nation in Aegina droop, what time", + "Each living thing, e’en to the little worm,", + "All fell, so full of malice was the air", + "(And afterward, as bards of yore have told,", + "The ancient people were restor’d anew", + "From seed of emmets) than was here to see", + "The spirits, that languish’d through the murky vale", + "Up-pil’d on many a stack. Confus’d they lay,", + "One o’er the belly, o’er the shoulders one", + "Roll’d of another; sideling crawl’d a third", + "Along the dismal pathway. Step by step", + "We journey’d on, in silence looking round", + "And list’ning those diseas’d, who strove in vain", + "To lift their forms. Then two I mark’d, that sat", + "Propp’d ’gainst each other, as two brazen pans", + "Set to retain the heat. From head to foot,", + "A tetter bark’d them round. Nor saw I e’er", + "Groom currying so fast, for whom his lord", + "Impatient waited, or himself perchance", + "Tir’d with long watching, as of these each one", + "Plied quickly his keen nails, through furiousness", + "Of ne’er abated pruriency. The crust", + "Came drawn from underneath in flakes, like scales", + "Scrap’d from the bream or fish of broader mail.", + "“O thou, who with thy fingers rendest off", + "Thy coat of proof,” thus spake my guide to one,", + "“And sometimes makest tearing pincers of them,", + "Tell me if any born of Latian land", + "Be among these within: so may thy nails", + "Serve thee for everlasting to this toil.”", + "“Both are of Latium,” weeping he replied,", + "“Whom tortur’d thus thou seest: but who art thou", + "That hast inquir’d of us?” To whom my guide:", + "“One that descend with this man, who yet lives,", + "From rock to rock, and show him hell’s abyss.”", + "Then started they asunder, and each turn’d", + "Trembling toward us, with the rest, whose ear", + "Those words redounding struck. To me my liege", + "Address’d him: “Speak to them whate’er thou list.”", + "And I therewith began: “So may no time", + "Filch your remembrance from the thoughts of men", + "In th’ upper world, but after many suns", + "Survive it, as ye tell me, who ye are,", + "And of what race ye come. Your punishment,", + "Unseemly and disgustful in its kind,", + "Deter you not from opening thus much to me.”", + "“Arezzo was my dwelling,” answer’d one,", + "“And me Albero of Sienna brought", + "To die by fire; but that, for which I died,", + "Leads me not here. True is in sport I told him,", + "That I had learn’d to wing my flight in air.", + "And he admiring much, as he was void", + "Of wisdom, will’d me to declare to him", + "The secret of mine art: and only hence,", + "Because I made him not a Daedalus,", + "Prevail’d on one suppos’d his sire to burn me.", + "But Minos to this chasm last of the ten,", + "For that I practis’d alchemy on earth,", + "Has doom’d me. Him no subterfuge eludes.”", + "Then to the bard I spake: “Was ever race", + "Light as Sienna’s? Sure not France herself", + "Can show a tribe so frivolous and vain.”", + "The other leprous spirit heard my words,", + "And thus return’d: “Be Stricca from this charge", + "Exempted, he who knew so temp’rately", + "To lay out fortune’s gifts; and Niccolo", + "Who first the spice’s costly luxury", + "Discover’d in that garden, where such seed", + "Roots deepest in the soil: and be that troop", + "Exempted, with whom Caccia of Asciano", + "Lavish’d his vineyards and wide-spreading woods,", + "And his rare wisdom Abbagliato show’d", + "A spectacle for all. That thou mayst know", + "Who seconds thee against the Siennese", + "Thus gladly, bend this way thy sharpen’d sight,", + "That well my face may answer to thy ken;", + "So shalt thou see I am Capocchio’s ghost,", + "Who forg’d transmuted metals by the power", + "Of alchemy; and if I scan thee right,", + "Thus needs must well remember how I aped", + "Creative nature by my subtle art.”" + ], + "30": [ + "What time resentment burn’d in Juno’s breast", + "For Semele against the Theban blood,", + "As more than once in dire mischance was rued,", + "Such fatal frenzy seiz’d on Athamas,", + "That he his spouse beholding with a babe", + "Laden on either arm, “Spread out,” he cried,", + "“The meshes, that I take the lioness", + "And the young lions at the pass: “then forth", + "Stretch’d he his merciless talons, grasping one,", + "One helpless innocent, Learchus nam’d,", + "Whom swinging down he dash’d upon a rock,", + "And with her other burden self-destroy’d", + "The hapless mother plung’d: and when the pride", + "Of all-presuming Troy fell from its height,", + "By fortune overwhelm’d, and the old king", + "With his realm perish’d, then did Hecuba,", + "A wretch forlorn and captive, when she saw", + "Polyxena first slaughter’d, and her son,", + "Her Polydorus, on the wild sea-beach", + "Next met the mourner’s view, then reft of sense", + "Did she run barking even as a dog;", + "Such mighty power had grief to wrench her soul.", + "Bet ne’er the Furies or of Thebes or Troy", + "With such fell cruelty were seen, their goads", + "Infixing in the limbs of man or beast,", + "As now two pale and naked ghost I saw", + "That gnarling wildly scamper’d, like the swine", + "Excluded from his stye. One reach’d Capocchio,", + "And in the neck-joint sticking deep his fangs,", + "Dragg’d him, that o’er the solid pavement rubb’d", + "His belly stretch’d out prone. The other shape,", + "He of Arezzo, there left trembling, spake;", + "“That sprite of air is Schicchi; in like mood", + "Of random mischief vent he still his spite.”", + "To whom I answ’ring: “Oh! as thou dost hope,", + "The other may not flesh its jaws on thee,", + "Be patient to inform us, who it is,", + "Ere it speed hence.”—” That is the ancient soul", + "Of wretched Myrrha,” he replied, “who burn’d", + "With most unholy flame for her own sire,", + "And a false shape assuming, so perform’d", + "The deed of sin; e’en as the other there,", + "That onward passes, dar’d to counterfeit", + "Donati’s features, to feign’d testament", + "The seal affixing, that himself might gain,", + "For his own share, the lady of the herd.”", + "When vanish’d the two furious shades, on whom", + "Mine eye was held, I turn’d it back to view", + "The other cursed spirits. One I saw", + "In fashion like a lute, had but the groin", + "Been sever’d, where it meets the forked part.", + "Swoln dropsy, disproportioning the limbs", + "With ill-converted moisture, that the paunch", + "Suits not the visage, open’d wide his lips", + "Gasping as in the hectic man for drought,", + "One towards the chin, the other upward curl’d.", + "“O ye, who in this world of misery,", + "Wherefore I know not, are exempt from pain,”", + "Thus he began, “attentively regard", + "Adamo’s woe. When living, full supply", + "Ne’er lack’d me of what most I coveted;", + "One drop of water now, alas! I crave.", + "The rills, that glitter down the grassy slopes", + "Of Casentino, making fresh and soft", + "The banks whereby they glide to Arno’s stream,", + "Stand ever in my view; and not in vain;", + "For more the pictur’d semblance dries me up,", + "Much more than the disease, which makes the flesh", + "Desert these shrivel’d cheeks. So from the place,", + "Where I transgress’d, stern justice urging me,", + "Takes means to quicken more my lab’ring sighs.", + "There is Romena, where I falsified", + "The metal with the Baptist’s form imprest,", + "For which on earth I left my body burnt.", + "But if I here might see the sorrowing soul", + "Of Guido, Alessandro, or their brother,", + "For Branda’s limpid spring I would not change", + "The welcome sight. One is e’en now within,", + "If truly the mad spirits tell, that round", + "Are wand’ring. But wherein besteads me that?", + "My limbs are fetter’d. Were I but so light,", + "That I each hundred years might move one inch,", + "I had set forth already on this path,", + "Seeking him out amidst the shapeless crew,", + "Although eleven miles it wind, not more", + "Than half of one across. They brought me down", + "Among this tribe; induc’d by them I stamp’d", + "The florens with three carats of alloy.”", + "“Who are that abject pair,” I next inquir’d,", + "“That closely bounding thee upon thy right", + "Lie smoking, like a band in winter steep’d", + "In the chill stream?”—“When to this gulf I dropt,”", + "He answer’d, “here I found them; since that hour", + "They have not turn’d, nor ever shall, I ween,", + "Till time hath run his course. One is that dame", + "The false accuser of the Hebrew youth;", + "Sinon the other, that false Greek from Troy.", + "Sharp fever drains the reeky moistness out,", + "In such a cloud upsteam’d.” When that he heard,", + "One, gall’d perchance to be so darkly nam’d,", + "With clench’d hand smote him on the braced paunch,", + "That like a drum resounded: but forthwith", + "Adamo smote him on the face, the blow", + "Returning with his arm, that seem’d as hard.", + "“Though my o’erweighty limbs have ta’en from me", + "The power to move,” said he, “I have an arm", + "At liberty for such employ.” To whom", + "Was answer’d: “When thou wentest to the fire,", + "Thou hadst it not so ready at command,", + "Then readier when it coin’d th’ impostor gold.”", + "And thus the dropsied: “Ay, now speak’st thou true.", + "But there thou gav’st not such true testimony,", + "When thou wast question’d of the truth, at Troy.”", + "“If I spake false, thou falsely stamp’dst the coin,”", + "Said Sinon; “I am here but for one fault,", + "And thou for more than any imp beside.”", + "“Remember,” he replied, “O perjur’d one,", + "The horse remember, that did teem with death,", + "And all the world be witness to thy guilt.”", + "“To thine,” return’d the Greek, “witness the thirst", + "Whence thy tongue cracks, witness the fluid mound,", + "Rear’d by thy belly up before thine eyes,", + "A mass corrupt.” To whom the coiner thus:", + "“Thy mouth gapes wide as ever to let pass", + "Its evil saying. Me if thirst assails,", + "Yet I am stuff’d with moisture. Thou art parch’d,", + "Pains rack thy head, no urging would’st thou need", + "To make thee lap Narcissus’ mirror up.”", + "I was all fix’d to listen, when my guide", + "Admonish’d: “Now beware: a little more.", + "And I do quarrel with thee.” I perceiv’d", + "How angrily he spake, and towards him turn’d", + "With shame so poignant, as remember’d yet", + "Confounds me. As a man that dreams of harm", + "Befall’n him, dreaming wishes it a dream,", + "And that which is, desires as if it were not,", + "Such then was I, who wanting power to speak", + "Wish’d to excuse myself, and all the while", + "Excus’d me, though unweeting that I did.", + "“More grievous fault than thine has been, less shame,”", + "My master cried, “might expiate. Therefore cast", + "All sorrow from thy soul; and if again", + "Chance bring thee, where like conference is held,", + "Think I am ever at thy side. To hear", + "Such wrangling is a joy for vulgar minds.”" + ], + "31": [ + "The very tongue, whose keen reproof before", + "Had wounded me, that either cheek was stain’d,", + "Now minister’d my cure. So have I heard,", + "Achilles and his father’s javelin caus’d", + "Pain first, and then the boon of health restor’d.", + "Turning our back upon the vale of woe,", + "W cross’d th’ encircled mound in silence. There", + "Was twilight dim, that far long the gloom", + "Mine eye advanc’d not: but I heard a horn", + "Sounded aloud. The peal it blew had made", + "The thunder feeble. Following its course", + "The adverse way, my strained eyes were bent", + "On that one spot. So terrible a blast", + "Orlando blew not, when that dismal rout", + "O’erthrew the host of Charlemagne, and quench’d", + "His saintly warfare. Thitherward not long", + "My head was rais’d, when many lofty towers", + "Methought I spied. “Master,” said I, “what land", + "Is this?” He answer’d straight: “Too long a space", + "Of intervening darkness has thine eye", + "To traverse: thou hast therefore widely err’d", + "In thy imagining. Thither arriv’d", + "Thou well shalt see, how distance can delude", + "The sense. A little therefore urge thee on.”", + "Then tenderly he caught me by the hand;", + "“Yet know,” said he, “ere farther we advance,", + "That it less strange may seem, these are not towers,", + "But giants. In the pit they stand immers’d,", + "Each from his navel downward, round the bank.”", + "As when a fog disperseth gradually,", + "Our vision traces what the mist involves", + "Condens’d in air; so piercing through the gross", + "And gloomy atmosphere, as more and more", + "We near’d toward the brink, mine error fled,", + "And fear came o’er me. As with circling round", + "Of turrets, Montereggion crowns his walls,", + "E’en thus the shore, encompassing th’ abyss,", + "Was turreted with giants, half their length", + "Uprearing, horrible, whom Jove from heav’n", + "Yet threatens, when his mutt’ring thunder rolls.", + "Of one already I descried the face,", + "Shoulders, and breast, and of the belly huge", + "Great part, and both arms down along his ribs.", + "All-teeming nature, when her plastic hand", + "Left framing of these monsters, did display", + "Past doubt her wisdom, taking from mad War", + "Such slaves to do his bidding; and if she", + "Repent her not of th’ elephant and whale,", + "Who ponders well confesses her therein", + "Wiser and more discreet; for when brute force", + "And evil will are back’d with subtlety,", + "Resistance none avails. His visage seem’d", + "In length and bulk, as doth the pine, that tops", + "Saint Peter’s Roman fane; and th’ other bones", + "Of like proportion, so that from above", + "The bank, which girdled him below, such height", + "Arose his stature, that three Friezelanders", + "Had striv’n in vain to reach but to his hair.", + "Full thirty ample palms was he expos’d", + "Downward from whence a man his garments loops.", + "“Raphel bai ameth sabi almi,”", + "So shouted his fierce lips, which sweeter hymns", + "Became not; and my guide address’d him thus:", + "“O senseless spirit! let thy horn for thee", + "Interpret: therewith vent thy rage, if rage", + "Or other passion wring thee. Search thy neck,", + "There shalt thou find the belt that binds it on.", + "Wild spirit! lo, upon thy mighty breast", + "Where hangs the baldrick!” Then to me he spake:", + "“He doth accuse himself. Nimrod is this,", + "Through whose ill counsel in the world no more", + "One tongue prevails. But pass we on, nor waste", + "Our words; for so each language is to him,", + "As his to others, understood by none.”", + "Then to the leftward turning sped we forth,", + "And at a sling’s throw found another shade", + "Far fiercer and more huge. I cannot say", + "What master hand had girt him; but he held", + "Behind the right arm fetter’d, and before", + "The other with a chain, that fasten’d him", + "From the neck down, and five times round his form", + "Apparent met the wreathed links. “This proud one", + "Would of his strength against almighty Jove", + "Make trial,” said my guide; “whence he is thus", + "Requited: Ephialtes him they call.", + "Great was his prowess, when the giants brought", + "Fear on the gods: those arms, which then he piled,", + "Now moves he never.” Forthwith I return’d:", + "“Fain would I, if ’twere possible, mine eyes", + "Of Briareus immeasurable gain’d", + "Experience next.” He answer’d: “Thou shalt see", + "Not far from hence Antaeus, who both speaks", + "And is unfetter’d, who shall place us there", + "Where guilt is at its depth. Far onward stands", + "Whom thou wouldst fain behold, in chains, and made", + "Like to this spirit, save that in his looks", + "More fell he seems.” By violent earthquake rock’d", + "Ne’er shook a tow’r, so reeling to its base,", + "As Ephialtes. More than ever then", + "I dreaded death, nor than the terror more", + "Had needed, if I had not seen the cords", + "That held him fast. We, straightway journeying on,", + "Came to Antaeus, who five ells complete", + "Without the head, forth issued from the cave.", + "“O thou, who in the fortunate vale, that made", + "Great Scipio heir of glory, when his sword", + "Drove back the troop of Hannibal in flight,", + "Who thence of old didst carry for thy spoil", + "An hundred lions; and if thou hadst fought", + "In the high conflict on thy brethren’s side,", + "Seems as men yet believ’d, that through thine arm", + "The sons of earth had conquer’d, now vouchsafe", + "To place us down beneath, where numbing cold", + "Locks up Cocytus. Force not that we crave", + "Or Tityus’ help or Typhon’s. Here is one", + "Can give what in this realm ye covet. Stoop", + "Therefore, nor scornfully distort thy lip.", + "He in the upper world can yet bestow", + "Renown on thee, for he doth live, and looks", + "For life yet longer, if before the time", + "Grace call him not unto herself.” Thus spake", + "The teacher. He in haste forth stretch’d his hands,", + "And caught my guide. Alcides whilom felt", + "That grapple straighten’d score. Soon as my guide", + "Had felt it, he bespake me thus: “This way", + "That I may clasp thee;” then so caught me up,", + "That we were both one burden. As appears", + "The tower of Carisenda, from beneath", + "Where it doth lean, if chance a passing cloud", + "So sail across, that opposite it hangs,", + "Such then Antaeus seem’d, as at mine ease", + "I mark’d him stooping. I were fain at times", + "T’ have pass’d another way. Yet in th’ abyss,", + "That Lucifer with Judas low ingulfs,", + "I,ightly he plac’d us; nor there leaning stay’d,", + "But rose as in a bark the stately mast." + ], + "32": [ + "Could I command rough rhimes and hoarse, to suit", + "That hole of sorrow, o’er which ev’ry rock", + "His firm abutment rears, then might the vein", + "Of fancy rise full springing: but not mine", + "Such measures, and with falt’ring awe I touch", + "The mighty theme; for to describe the depth", + "Of all the universe, is no emprize", + "To jest with, and demands a tongue not us’d", + "To infant babbling. But let them assist", + "My song, the tuneful maidens, by whose aid", + "Amphion wall’d in Thebes, so with the truth", + "My speech shall best accord. Oh ill-starr’d folk,", + "Beyond all others wretched! who abide", + "In such a mansion, as scarce thought finds words", + "To speak of, better had ye here on earth", + "Been flocks or mountain goats. As down we stood", + "In the dark pit beneath the giants’ feet,", + "But lower far than they, and I did gaze", + "Still on the lofty battlement, a voice", + "Bespoke me thus: “Look how thou walkest. Take", + "Good heed, thy soles do tread not on the heads", + "Of thy poor brethren.” Thereupon I turn’d,", + "And saw before and underneath my feet", + "A lake, whose frozen surface liker seem’d", + "To glass than water. Not so thick a veil", + "In winter e’er hath Austrian Danube spread", + "O’er his still course, nor Tanais far remote", + "Under the chilling sky. Roll’d o’er that mass", + "Had Tabernich or Pietrapana fall’n,", + "Not e’en its rim had creak’d. As peeps the frog", + "Croaking above the wave, what time in dreams", + "The village gleaner oft pursues her toil,", + "So, to where modest shame appears, thus low", + "Blue pinch’d and shrin’d in ice the spirits stood,", + "Moving their teeth in shrill note like the stork.", + "His face each downward held; their mouth the cold,", + "Their eyes express’d the dolour of their heart.", + "A space I look’d around, then at my feet", + "Saw two so strictly join’d, that of their head", + "The very hairs were mingled. “Tell me ye,", + "Whose bosoms thus together press,” said I,", + "“Who are ye?” At that sound their necks they bent,", + "And when their looks were lifted up to me,", + "Straightway their eyes, before all moist within,", + "Distill’d upon their lips, and the frost bound", + "The tears betwixt those orbs and held them there.", + "Plank unto plank hath never cramp clos’d up", + "So stoutly. Whence like two enraged goats", + "They clash’d together; them such fury seiz’d.", + "And one, from whom the cold both ears had reft,", + "Exclaim’d, still looking downward: “Why on us", + "Dost speculate so long? If thou wouldst know", + "Who are these two, the valley, whence his wave", + "Bisenzio slopes, did for its master own", + "Their sire Alberto, and next him themselves.", + "They from one body issued; and throughout", + "Caina thou mayst search, nor find a shade", + "More worthy in congealment to be fix’d,", + "Not him, whose breast and shadow Arthur’s land", + "At that one blow dissever’d, not Focaccia,", + "No not this spirit, whose o’erjutting head", + "Obstructs my onward view: he bore the name", + "Of Mascheroni: Tuscan if thou be,", + "Well knowest who he was: and to cut short", + "All further question, in my form behold", + "What once was Camiccione. I await", + "Carlino here my kinsman, whose deep guilt", + "Shall wash out mine.” A thousand visages", + "Then mark’d I, which the keen and eager cold", + "Had shap’d into a doggish grin; whence creeps", + "A shiv’ring horror o’er me, at the thought", + "Of those frore shallows. While we journey’d on", + "Toward the middle, at whose point unites", + "All heavy substance, and I trembling went", + "Through that eternal chillness, I know not", + "If will it were or destiny, or chance,", + "But, passing ’midst the heads, my foot did strike", + "With violent blow against the face of one.", + "“Wherefore dost bruise me?” weeping, he exclaim’d,", + "“Unless thy errand be some fresh revenge", + "For Montaperto, wherefore troublest me?”", + "I thus: “Instructor, now await me here,", + "That I through him may rid me of my doubt.", + "Thenceforth what haste thou wilt.” The teacher paus’d,", + "And to that shade I spake, who bitterly", + "Still curs’d me in his wrath. “What art thou, speak,", + "That railest thus on others?” He replied:", + "“Now who art thou, that smiting others’ cheeks", + "Through Antenora roamest, with such force", + "As were past suff’rance, wert thou living still?”", + "“And I am living, to thy joy perchance,”", + "Was my reply, “if fame be dear to thee,", + "That with the rest I may thy name enrol.”", + "“The contrary of what I covet most,”", + "Said he, “thou tender’st: hence; nor vex me more.", + "Ill knowest thou to flatter in this vale.”", + "Then seizing on his hinder scalp, I cried:", + "“Name thee, or not a hair shall tarry here.”", + "“Rend all away,” he answer’d, “yet for that", + "I will not tell nor show thee who I am,", + "Though at my head thou pluck a thousand times.”", + "Now I had grasp’d his tresses, and stript off", + "More than one tuft, he barking, with his eyes", + "Drawn in and downward, when another cried,", + "“What ails thee, Bocca? Sound not loud enough", + "Thy chatt’ring teeth, but thou must bark outright?", + "What devil wrings thee?”—” Now,” said I, “be dumb,", + "Accursed traitor! to thy shame of thee", + "True tidings will I bear.”—” Off,” he replied,", + "“Tell what thou list; but as thou escape from hence", + "To speak of him whose tongue hath been so glib,", + "Forget not: here he wails the Frenchman’s gold.", + "‘Him of Duera,’ thou canst say, ‘I mark’d,", + "Where the starv’d sinners pine.’ If thou be ask’d", + "What other shade was with them, at thy side", + "Is Beccaria, whose red gorge distain’d", + "The biting axe of Florence. Farther on,", + "If I misdeem not, Soldanieri bides,", + "With Ganellon, and Tribaldello, him", + "Who op’d Faenza when the people slept.”", + "We now had left him, passing on our way,", + "When I beheld two spirits by the ice", + "Pent in one hollow, that the head of one", + "Was cowl unto the other; and as bread", + "Is raven’d up through hunger, th’ uppermost", + "Did so apply his fangs to th’ other’s brain,", + "Where the spine joins it. Not more furiously", + "On Menalippus’ temples Tydeus gnaw’d,", + "Than on that skull and on its garbage he.", + "“O thou who show’st so beastly sign of hate", + "’Gainst him thou prey’st on, let me hear,” said I", + "“The cause, on such condition, that if right", + "Warrant thy grievance, knowing who ye are,", + "And what the colour of his sinning was,", + "I may repay thee in the world above,", + "If that, wherewith I speak be moist so long.”" + ], + "33": [ + "His jaws uplifting from their fell repast,", + "That sinner wip’d them on the hairs o’ th’ head,", + "Which he behind had mangled, then began:", + "“Thy will obeying, I call up afresh", + "Sorrow past cure, which but to think of wrings", + "My heart, or ere I tell on’t. But if words,", + "That I may utter, shall prove seed to bear", + "Fruit of eternal infamy to him,", + "The traitor whom I gnaw at, thou at once", + "Shalt see me speak and weep. Who thou mayst be", + "I know not, nor how here below art come:", + "But Florentine thou seemest of a truth,", + "When I do hear thee. Know I was on earth", + "Count Ugolino, and th’ Archbishop he", + "Ruggieri. Why I neighbour him so close,", + "Now list. That through effect of his ill thoughts", + "In him my trust reposing, I was ta’en", + "And after murder’d, need is not I tell.", + "What therefore thou canst not have heard, that is,", + "How cruel was the murder, shalt thou hear,", + "And know if he have wrong’d me. A small grate", + "Within that mew, which for my sake the name", + "Of famine bears, where others yet must pine,", + "Already through its opening sev’ral moons", + "Had shown me, when I slept the evil sleep,", + "That from the future tore the curtain off.", + "This one, methought, as master of the sport,", + "Rode forth to chase the gaunt wolf and his whelps", + "Unto the mountain, which forbids the sight", + "Of Lucca to the Pisan. With lean brachs", + "Inquisitive and keen, before him rang’d", + "Lanfranchi with Sismondi and Gualandi.", + "After short course the father and the sons", + "Seem’d tir’d and lagging, and methought I saw", + "The sharp tusks gore their sides. When I awoke", + "Before the dawn, amid their sleep I heard", + "My sons (for they were with me) weep and ask", + "For bread. Right cruel art thou, if no pang", + "Thou feel at thinking what my heart foretold;", + "And if not now, why use thy tears to flow?", + "Now had they waken’d; and the hour drew near", + "When they were wont to bring us food; the mind", + "Of each misgave him through his dream, and I", + "Heard, at its outlet underneath lock’d up", + "The’ horrible tower: whence uttering not a word", + "I look’d upon the visage of my sons.", + "I wept not: so all stone I felt within.", + "They wept: and one, my little Anslem, cried:", + "“Thou lookest so! Father what ails thee?” Yet", + "I shed no tear, nor answer’d all that day", + "Nor the next night, until another sun", + "Came out upon the world. When a faint beam", + "Had to our doleful prison made its way,", + "And in four countenances I descry’d", + "The image of my own, on either hand", + "Through agony I bit, and they who thought", + "I did it through desire of feeding, rose", + "O’ th’ sudden, and cried, ‘Father, we should grieve", + "Far less, if thou wouldst eat of us: thou gav’st", + "These weeds of miserable flesh we wear,", + "And do thou strip them off from us again.’", + "Then, not to make them sadder, I kept down", + "My spirit in stillness. That day and the next", + "We all were silent. Ah, obdurate earth!", + "Why open’dst not upon us? When we came", + "To the fourth day, then Geddo at my feet", + "Outstretch’d did fling him, crying, ‘Hast no help", + "For me, my father!’ “There he died, and e’en", + "Plainly as thou seest me, saw I the three", + "Fall one by one ’twixt the fifth day and sixth:", + "Whence I betook me now grown blind to grope", + "Over them all, and for three days aloud", + "Call’d on them who were dead. Then fasting got", + "The mastery of grief.” Thus having spoke,", + "Once more upon the wretched skull his teeth", + "He fasten’d, like a mastiff’s ’gainst the bone", + "Firm and unyielding. Oh thou Pisa! shame", + "Of all the people, who their dwelling make", + "In that fair region, where th’ Italian voice", + "Is heard, since that thy neighbours are so slack", + "To punish, from their deep foundations rise", + "Capraia and Gorgona, and dam up", + "The mouth of Arno, that each soul in thee", + "May perish in the waters! What if fame", + "Reported that thy castles were betray’d", + "By Ugolino, yet no right hadst thou", + "To stretch his children on the rack. For them,", + "Brigata, Ugaccione, and the pair", + "Of gentle ones, of whom my song hath told,", + "Their tender years, thou modern Thebes! did make", + "Uncapable of guilt. Onward we pass’d,", + "Where others skarf’d in rugged folds of ice", + "Not on their feet were turn’d, but each revers’d", + "There very weeping suffers not to weep;", + "For at their eyes grief seeking passage finds", + "Impediment, and rolling inward turns", + "For increase of sharp anguish: the first tears", + "Hang cluster’d, and like crystal vizors show,", + "Under the socket brimming all the cup.", + "Now though the cold had from my face dislodg’d", + "Each feeling, as ’twere callous, yet me seem’d", + "Some breath of wind I felt. “Whence cometh this,”", + "Said I, “my master? Is not here below", + "All vapour quench’d?”—“‘Thou shalt be speedily,”", + "He answer’d, “where thine eye shall tell thee whence", + "The cause descrying of this airy shower.”", + "Then cried out one in the chill crust who mourn’d:", + "“O souls so cruel! that the farthest post", + "Hath been assign’d you, from this face remove", + "The harden’d veil, that I may vent the grief", + "Impregnate at my heart, some little space", + "Ere it congeal again!” I thus replied:", + "“Say who thou wast, if thou wouldst have mine aid;", + "And if I extricate thee not, far down", + "As to the lowest ice may I descend!”", + "“The friar Alberigo,” answered he,", + "“Am I, who from the evil garden pluck’d", + "Its fruitage, and am here repaid, the date", + "More luscious for my fig.”—“Hah!” I exclaim’d,", + "“Art thou too dead!”—“How in the world aloft", + "It fareth with my body,” answer’d he,", + "“I am right ignorant. Such privilege", + "Hath Ptolomea, that ofttimes the soul", + "Drops hither, ere by Atropos divorc’d.", + "And that thou mayst wipe out more willingly", + "The glazed tear-drops that o’erlay mine eyes,", + "Know that the soul, that moment she betrays,", + "As I did, yields her body to a fiend", + "Who after moves and governs it at will,", + "Till all its time be rounded; headlong she", + "Falls to this cistern. And perchance above", + "Doth yet appear the body of a ghost,", + "Who here behind me winters. Him thou know’st,", + "If thou but newly art arriv’d below.", + "The years are many that have pass’d away,", + "Since to this fastness Branca Doria came.”", + "“Now,” answer’d I, “methinks thou mockest me,", + "For Branca Doria never yet hath died,", + "But doth all natural functions of a man,", + "Eats, drinks, and sleeps, and putteth raiment on.”", + "He thus: “Not yet unto that upper foss", + "By th’ evil talons guarded, where the pitch", + "Tenacious boils, had Michael Zanche reach’d,", + "When this one left a demon in his stead", + "In his own body, and of one his kin,", + "Who with him treachery wrought. But now put forth", + "Thy hand, and ope mine eyes.” I op’d them not.", + "Ill manners were best courtesy to him.", + "Ah Genoese! men perverse in every way,", + "With every foulness stain’d, why from the earth", + "Are ye not cancel’d? Such an one of yours", + "I with Romagna’s darkest spirit found,", + "As for his doings even now in soul", + "Is in Cocytus plung’d, and yet doth seem", + "In body still alive upon the earth." + ], + "34": [ + "“The banners of Hell’s Monarch do come forth", + "Towards us; therefore look,” so spake my guide,", + "“If thou discern him.” As, when breathes a cloud", + "Heavy and dense, or when the shades of night", + "Fall on our hemisphere, seems view’d from far", + "A windmill, which the blast stirs briskly round,", + "Such was the fabric then methought I saw,", + "To shield me from the wind, forthwith I drew", + "Behind my guide: no covert else was there.", + "Now came I (and with fear I bid my strain", + "Record the marvel) where the souls were all", + "Whelm’d underneath, transparent, as through glass", + "Pellucid the frail stem. Some prone were laid,", + "Others stood upright, this upon the soles,", + "That on his head, a third with face to feet", + "Arch’d like a bow. When to the point we came,", + "Whereat my guide was pleas’d that I should see", + "The creature eminent in beauty once,", + "He from before me stepp’d and made me pause.", + "“Lo!” he exclaim’d, “lo Dis! and lo the place,", + "Where thou hast need to arm thy heart with strength.”", + "How frozen and how faint I then became,", + "Ask me not, reader! for I write it not,", + "Since words would fail to tell thee of my state.", + "I was not dead nor living. Think thyself", + "If quick conception work in thee at all,", + "How I did feel. That emperor, who sways", + "The realm of sorrow, at mid breast from th’ ice", + "Stood forth; and I in stature am more like", + "A giant, than the giants are in his arms.", + "Mark now how great that whole must be, which suits", + "With such a part. If he were beautiful", + "As he is hideous now, and yet did dare", + "To scowl upon his Maker, well from him", + "May all our mis’ry flow. Oh what a sight!", + "How passing strange it seem’d, when I did spy", + "Upon his head three faces: one in front", + "Of hue vermilion, th’ other two with this", + "Midway each shoulder join’d and at the crest;", + "The right ’twixt wan and yellow seem’d: the left", + "To look on, such as come from whence old Nile", + "Stoops to the lowlands. Under each shot forth", + "Two mighty wings, enormous as became", + "A bird so vast. Sails never such I saw", + "Outstretch’d on the wide sea. No plumes had they,", + "But were in texture like a bat, and these", + "He flapp’d i’ th’ air, that from him issued still", + "Three winds, wherewith Cocytus to its depth", + "Was frozen. At six eyes he wept: the tears", + "Adown three chins distill’d with bloody foam.", + "At every mouth his teeth a sinner champ’d", + "Bruis’d as with pond’rous engine, so that three", + "Were in this guise tormented. But far more", + "Than from that gnawing, was the foremost pang’d", + "By the fierce rending, whence ofttimes the back", + "Was stript of all its skin. “That upper spirit,", + "Who hath worse punishment,” so spake my guide,", + "“Is Judas, he that hath his head within", + "And plies the feet without. Of th’ other two,", + "Whose heads are under, from the murky jaw", + "Who hangs, is Brutus: lo! how he doth writhe", + "And speaks not! Th’ other Cassius, that appears", + "So large of limb. But night now re-ascends,", + "And it is time for parting. All is seen.”", + "I clipp’d him round the neck, for so he bade;", + "And noting time and place, he, when the wings", + "Enough were op’d, caught fast the shaggy sides,", + "And down from pile to pile descending stepp’d", + "Between the thick fell and the jagged ice.", + "Soon as he reach’d the point, whereat the thigh", + "Upon the swelling of the haunches turns,", + "My leader there with pain and struggling hard", + "Turn’d round his head, where his feet stood before,", + "And grappled at the fell, as one who mounts,", + "That into hell methought we turn’d again.", + "“Expect that by such stairs as these,” thus spake", + "The teacher, panting like a man forespent,", + "“We must depart from evil so extreme.”", + "Then at a rocky opening issued forth,", + "And plac’d me on a brink to sit, next join’d", + "With wary step my side. I rais’d mine eyes,", + "Believing that I Lucifer should see", + "Where he was lately left, but saw him now", + "With legs held upward. Let the grosser sort,", + "Who see not what the point was I had pass’d,", + "Bethink them if sore toil oppress’d me then.", + "“Arise,” my master cried, “upon thy feet.", + "“The way is long, and much uncouth the road;", + "And now within one hour and half of noon", + "The sun returns.” It was no palace-hall", + "Lofty and luminous wherein we stood,", + "But natural dungeon where ill footing was", + "And scant supply of light. “Ere from th’ abyss", + "I sep’rate,” thus when risen I began,", + "“My guide! vouchsafe few words to set me free", + "From error’s thralldom. Where is now the ice?", + "How standeth he in posture thus revers’d?", + "And how from eve to morn in space so brief", + "Hath the sun made his transit?” He in few", + "Thus answering spake: “Thou deemest thou art still", + "On th’ other side the centre, where I grasp’d", + "Th’ abhorred worm, that boreth through the world.", + "Thou wast on th’ other side, so long as I", + "Descended; when I turn’d, thou didst o’erpass", + "That point, to which from ev’ry part is dragg’d", + "All heavy substance. Thou art now arriv’d", + "Under the hemisphere opposed to that,", + "Which the great continent doth overspread,", + "And underneath whose canopy expir’d", + "The Man, that was born sinless, and so liv’d.", + "Thy feet are planted on the smallest sphere,", + "Whose other aspect is Judecca. Morn", + "Here rises, when there evening sets: and he,", + "Whose shaggy pile was scal’d, yet standeth fix’d,", + "As at the first. On this part he fell down", + "From heav’n; and th’ earth, here prominent before,", + "Through fear of him did veil her with the sea,", + "And to our hemisphere retir’d. Perchance", + "To shun him was the vacant space left here", + "By what of firm land on this side appears,", + "That sprang aloof.” There is a place beneath,", + "From Belzebub as distant, as extends", + "The vaulted tomb, discover’d not by sight,", + "But by the sound of brooklet, that descends", + "This way along the hollow of a rock,", + "Which, as it winds with no precipitous course,", + "The wave hath eaten. By that hidden way", + "My guide and I did enter, to return", + "To the fair world: and heedless of repose", + "We climbed, he first, I following his steps,", + "Till on our view the beautiful lights of heav’n", + "Dawn, through a circular opening in the cave:", + "Thus issuing we again beheld the stars." + ] +};
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