And as he finished uttering these words, A voice close by us sounded: "Peradventure Thou wilt have need of sitting down ere that." At sound thereof each one of us turned round, And saw upon the left hand a great rock, Was sitting down, and both his knees embraced, Then knew I who he was; and the distress, That still a little did my breathing quicken, I came to him he hardly raised his head, Saying: "Hast thou seen clearly how the sun His sluggish attitude and his curt words A little unto laughter moved my lips; 66 For thee henceforth; but tell me, wherefore seated Since the good sighs I to the end postponed, Unless, e'er that, some prayer may bring me aid Which rises from a heart that lives in grace; 135 Meanwhile the Poet was before me mounting, And saying: "Come now; see the sun has touched Covers already with her foot Morocco." CANTO V. I HAD already from those shades departed, The sunshine on the left of him below, 66 And saw them watching with astonishment The Master said, "that thou thy pace dost slacken ? Come after me, and let the people talk ; Stand like a steadfast tower, that never wags For evermore the man in whom is springing Thought upon thought, removes from him the mark, What could I say in answer but "I come"? I said it somewhat with that colour tinged Came people in advance of us a little, When they became aware I gave no place For passage of the sunshine through my body, And two of them, in form of messengers, Ran forth to meet us, and demanded of us, At early nightfall cleave the air serene, But upward they returned in briefer time, And, on arriving, with the others wheeled "This folk that presses unto us is great, 40 And cometh to implore thee," said the Poet; 45 With the same members wherewith thou wast born," "O soul that goest to beatitude Look, if thou e'er hast any of us seen, So that o'er yonder thou bear news of him ; From life we issued reconciled to God, 50 55 No one I recognize; but if may please you 60 Speak ye, and I will do it, by that peace Which, following the feet of such a Guide, From world to world makes itself sought by me." And one began: "Each one has confidence Thou be so courteous to me of thy prayers In Fano, that they pray for me devoutly, That I may purge away my grave offences. From thence was I; but the deep wounds, through which There where I thought to be the most secure ; But if towards the Mira I had fled, When I was overtaken at Oriaco, I still should be o'er yonder where men breathe. I ran to the lagoon, and reeds and mire Did so entangle me I fell, and saw there A lake made from my veins upon the ground." T Then said another: "Ah, be that desire Fulfilled that draws thee to the lofty mountain, I was of Montefeltro, and am Buonconte; Giovanna, nor none other cares for me; Led thee astray so far from Campaldino, That never has thy sepulture been known ?" "Oh," he replied, "at Casentino's foot A river crosses named Archiano, born There where the name thereof becometh void Did I arrive, pierced through and through the throat, There my sight lost I, and my utterance Ceased in the name of Mary, and thereat I fell, and tenantless my flesh remained. Truth will I speak, repeat it to the living; God's Angel took me up, and he of hell 85 مو 95 100 Shouted: O thou from heaven, why dost thou rob me? 105 Thou bearest away the eternal part of him, For one poor little tear, that takes him from me ; Well knowest thou how in the air is gathered That humid vapour which to water turns, To intellect, and moved the mist and wind From Pratomagno to the great yoke covered Down fell the rain, and to the gullies came And as it mingled with the mighty torrents, Towards the royal river with such speed My frozen body near unto its outlet The robust Archian found, and into Arno I made of me, when agony o'ercame me; It rolled me on the banks and on the bottom; 110 115 120 125 'Ah, when thou hast returned unto the world, Siena made me, unmade me Maremma; 130 135 CANTO VI. WHENE'ER is broken up the game of Zara, The people with the other all depart ; One goes in front, and one behind doth pluck him, 5 He pauses not, and this and that one hears; They crowd no more to whom his hand he stretches, Even such was I in that dense multitude, Turning to them this way and that my face, There was the Aretine, who from the arms Untamed of Ghin di Tacco had his death, By hatred and by envy from its body, While still on earth the Lady of Brabant, Who only prayed that some one else may pray, Began IIt appears that thou deniest, O light of mine, expressly in some text, Might then their expectation bootless be? |