Classic Poem

CANTO VI.

Argument.

Third Circle; the gluttonous. Discourse upon the discords of Florence.
A ND when my mind to me return'd again,
Which closed before my pity for that pair
Whence all my soul was 'wilder'd with sad pain,
New torments and tormented ones were there,
On every side; as all around, I wis,
My glances wander'd in the gloomy air.
Now we had come unto the third abyss
Of rain eternally accurst and chill;
And never is its rule or measure less.
Great hail, and snow, and blackest sleet doth fill
The cloudy air with its thick-falling shower;
The earth gives out a stench more fearful still.
There Cerberus, strange beast of cruel power,
With his three throats doth ever fiercely howl,
As those submerged within he would devour.
His eyes are red, his beard is black and foul,
His belly large, his hands are arm'd with claws;
He clutches, tears, and skins each wretched soul.
The rain from them a dog-like whining draws;
And for themselves, themselves would make a screen,
Still as they turn without or rest or pause.
And, soon as we by Cerberus are seen,
He shows his tusks, his hideous mouths expands,
And shakes with rage, in every limb I ween.
Then my wise Leader, stretching forth his hands,
Fills them with earth, and flings it, to allay
The greed of him who thus our course withstands,
And like to hungry dogs that loudly bay,
And then are still while they their prey devour,
Since but on food they are intent alway;
In such a manner did these faces sour
Of Cerberus, who so affrights the souls,
That they to hear would gladly have no power.
We pass'd above the Shades on whom there rolls
Such heavy sleet; and on their semblance vain,
Which mocks the human form, our footstep falls
Low on the earth they lay, beneath that rain,
All but one Shade, who suddenly arose,
As though our passing steps he would detain.
" O thou who walkest through this place of woes, "
He said, " recall to mind the name I bore;
Thy morn had dawn'd before my evening's close. "
Thus I replied to him: " Thine anguish sore,
Perchance, doth so my memory beguile,
It seems I ne'er had look'd on thee before.
But tell me who thou art, condemn'd to dwell
Within this place, where sorrow is so rife?
Though greater grief there be, yet none so vile. "
And he to me: " Thy city, full of strife,
So that already doth the sack o'erflow,
Was erst my home, in the old pleasant life.
Thy citizens my name as Ciacco know;
I by the sin of gluttony was led,
Thus, as ye see, to the eternal snow.
And not alone, within this darkness dread,
Am I; those others to an equal pain
Are doom'd, for equal sin " No more he said;
I answer'd: " Ciacco, for thy grief I fain
Would weep; but tell me if to thee is known
Unto what fate shall come, of weal or bane,
The citizens of the divided town;
If any, there, be just; and name the cause
Why upon them such discord hath come down. "
He said: " They will dispute a while, and pause,
And then will come to blood; the part who bore
The sylvan name, with harsh injurious laws
Will chase their foes; three years shall last their power;
The others then shall have triumphant sway,
Aided by him who coasts along the shore.
High they will hold their heads for many a day;
Their enemies shall sorely be opprest,
Although they fret, and fain would strive alway.
But two are just, neglected by the rest;
For envy, pride, and avarice are found,
Three sparks that have set fire to every breast. "
Here became hush'd the lamentable sound;
I said: " Now, pray thee, tell me somewhat more
Of those who lie within this dreary bound.
Say where those souls who nobly strove of yore,
Tegghiaio, Rusticucci, Mosca, dwell;
Arrigo; Farinata, he who bore
A fame which he had merited so well.
I would that what their fate hath been I knew;
If they rejoice in Heaven, or grieve in Hell. "
" They are among the souls of blacker hue, "
He said: " for other sins they are brought low;
Descending, thou their suffering shalt view.
When thou again to the fair world dost go,
I pray thee, my sad memory recall
In life; from me no further mayst thou know. "
The eyes which look'd on me began to roll
Askance; he bent, and on the dreary shore,
Amid the other blind ones, did he fall.
My Leader said: " Now he will wake no more,
Till the last trumpet sound; and then shall come
Their enemy, that dread and awful Power,
And each shall find again his mournful tomb,
Again the form he wore on earth shall take,
The while resoundeth his eternal doom. "
Thus we pass'd onward through the filthy lake
Of mingled Shades and rain, with paces slow,
And somewhat of the future life we spake.
Wherefore I said: " My Master, I would know,
After the final sentence if or more,
Or less, or still the same, shall be this woe. "
And he to me: " Return unto thy lore
Which says, that ever the most perfect thing
Hath joy most keen and suffering most sore.
This people, cursed beneath the shadowing
Of God's great wrath, in truth can ne'er attain
Perfection; yet the final day will bring
To them a fuller life and sharper pain. "
We went, discoursing more than now I tell:
We came to where the way descends again;
And found the spot where doth the Arch-fiend Pluto dwell.