Classic Poem

CANTO XVI.

Argument.

Dante meets other Shades in the same place, with whom he discourses of the state of Florence.
Now had we come unto a place where we
The sound of falling waters well might hear,
As in the hive the humming of the bee,
When with swift pace three shadowy forms drew near,
Leaving a multitude who pass'd along,
Beneath the rain of this sharp torment drear.
Approaching us, they cried in accents strong:
" Stay thou, who by thy garment seemst as though
Unto our wicked land thou didst belong. "
Ah me! what ghastly wounds their limbs did show,
Both old and recent, by the fierce flame burnt!
E'en yet, that memory doth work me woe.
Then, at their cry, my Leader stopp'd and turn'd
His face toward me: " Wait them here, " he said;
" Unto those shades must courtesy be learnt,
And, wer't not for the fiery arrows shed
On all around, I'd say that it were best
For thee, and not for them, to make such speed. "
Once more, as they beheld us thus at rest,
The wail arose; and when they had drawn nigh,
Together like a wheel they circled fast.
Even as the wrestlers measure with their eye
Each other, and their vantage-ground would pace,
Ere in the combat they their prowess try;
Thus, whirling round, each one did turn his face
Towards me, so that still his looks were borne
In diverse manner from his footsteps' trace.
One spake: " If thou our prayers dost hold in scorn
For the sad misery of this region fell,
And the dark hue which on our brows is worn,
Yet let our fame prevail on thee to tell
What thou mayst be, whose living feet do tread
Securely thus amid the depths of Hell.
This Shade, by whom my footsteps here are led,
Although all naked and forlorn he be,
More than thou think'st was of a lofty grade,
The grandson of the good Gualdrada he;
His name was Guidoguerra: both with hand
And head, on earth he did right valiantly.
The other, who behind me treads the sand,
Was erst Tegghiaio Aldobrandi hight:
Still in esteem his voice on earth should stand.
And I, who with them bear the fiery might,
Was Jacopo Rusticucci: in good sooth,
My haughty wife hath done me most despite. "
Had I been shelter'd from the flame, in truth
I then had flung myself amid their throng:
I think my Leader, in his gentle ruth,
My wish had granted. But in me so strong
The dread of the fierce burning, that the will
It quench'd which to embrace them made me long.
Thus I began: " Not scorn, but grief, doth fill
My soul with such compassion for your sake,
That to express it scarcely have I skill.
As soon as this my much-loved Master spake
Words whence I deem'd some mighty one drew nigh,
Within me deepest pity did awake.
For of your land a denizen am I;
And in my heart, as memory of a friend,
Your works and honour'd names shall ever lie.
Leaving the bitter herbs, my way I wend,
To seek the fruits of which my guide doth tell;
But to the centre I must first descend. "
" Say, as thou wouldst that long thy soul should dwell
Within thy limbs, " the other then replied,
" And that thy fame on earth be durable,
Do courtesy and valour still abide
Within our city, as in days of yore,
Or are they now by all men thrown aside?
For Borsieri, who to this sad shore
Hath lately come, and wendeth with yon train,
Doth grieve our hearts with his discourse full sore. "
" New-risen men, and suddenness of gain
Have measureless extravagance and pride,
Florence, in thee engender'd; thence sharp pain
Already makes thee weep, " I thus replied;
And those who heard the answer which I made
Look'd even as though some certain truth they spied.
" If, sooth, so little be the cost, " they said,
" In future times, to answer each demand,
'Tis well for thee, who dost not seem afraid
To speak. But if thou from this darksome land
Dost e'er return to see each beauteous star
When thou shalt say, " I journey'd to that strand,"
Tell thou of us unto our friends who are
On earth. " Then, as the circling wheel they stay,
Their feet seem'd wings to carry them afar.
The little word Amen thou couldst not say
So fast as they from out our sight had fled;
Then Virgil deem'd we now should go our way.
I follow'd; and but little had we sped,
When the deep sound of waters did I hear
So nigh, each knew not what the other said.
Even as the river which doth first appear
From Monte Viso flowing towards the flame
Shower'd from the eastern sky; its waters bear,
On the left side of Apennine, the name
Of Acquacheta, till anear Forli,
With appellation now no more the same,
Above San Benedetto doth it flee,
Springing with thunder-crash from one fierce leap
Unto a thousand more: even so did we
Perceive that dusky water 'neath the steep,
Resounding ever with a sullen roar,
Whence soon the vexid ear dull pain doth reap.
A twisted cord I for a girdle wore,
With which erewhile to take the lynx I sought,
The beast whose skin such beauteous colours bore.
When from my limbs I loosed the girdles knot,
(As my good Master did command) it thus
All roll'd together unto him I brought.
Then to the right he turn'd himself, I wis,
And drawing back from where the verge did lie,
He cast it downwards in the deep abyss.
" Now there must needs some novelty reply, "
I said within myself, " to this new deed,
Which thus my Master follows with his eye. "
Ah me! how cautiously should man give heed,
When near to them who see not works alone,
But with the spirit in our thoughts do read!
For Virgil spake: " Soon shall to thee be shown
What I await; 'tis well that by thine eye
The thing whereof thou dreamest should be known. "
Ever each truth which doth appear a lie
Should mortal man keep silent, if he may;
For there, though guiltless, hath he obloquy.
But here I needs must speak; and by this lay
I swear that as I would my words should 'dure
Within men's minds unto a distant day,
I saw through the gross atmosphere obscure
A living thing, which slowly upwards rose,
Most fearful e'en unto a heart secure;
Moving as one who in the ocean goes
To loose an anchor tangled in some dim,
Deep grotto which the heaving waves enclose,
With arms upraised on high, compress'd each lower limb.