Nor to me only is thine answer needful;

For all of these have greater thirst for it Than for cold water Ethiop or Indian. Tell us how is it that thou makest thyself A wall unto the sun, as if thou hadst not Entered as yet into the net of death."

20

Thus one of them addressed me, and I straight 25
Should have revealed myself, were I not bent
On other novelty that then appeared.

For through the middle of the burning road
There came a people face to face with these,
Which held me in suspense with gazing at them. 30
There see I hastening upon either side

Each of the shades, and kissing one another Without a pause, content with brief salute. Thus in the middle of their brown battalions Muzzle to muzzle one ant meets another Perchance to spy their journey or their fortune. No sooner is the friendly greeting ended,

Or ever the first footstep passeth onward,
Each one endeavors to outcry the other;

35

The new-come people: "Sodom and Gomorrah!" 40
The rest: "Into the cow Pasiphae enters,
So that the bull unto her lust may run!"
Then as the cranes, that to Riphæan mountains
Might fly in part, and part towards the sands,
These of the frost, those of the sun avoidant, 45

One folk is going, and the other coming,

And weeping they return to their first songs,

And to the cry that most befitteth them;

And close to me approached, even as before,
The very same who had entreated me,
Attent to listen in their countenance.
I, who their inclination twice had seen,
Began: "O souls secure in the possession,
Whene'er it may be, of a state of peace,
Neither unripe nor ripened have remained

My members upon earth, but here are with me With their own blood and their articulations.

I go up here to be no longer blind;

A Lady is above, who wins this grace,

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55

Whereby the mortal through your world I bring. 60 But as your greatest longing satisfied [you May soon become, so that the Heaven may house Which full of love is, and most amply spreads, Tell me, that I again in books may write it, Who are you, and what is that multitude Which goes upon its way behind your backs?" Not otherwise with wonder is bewildered

65

70

The mountaineer, and staring round is dumb, When rough and rustic to the town he goes, Than every shade became in its appearance; But when they of their stupor were disburdened, Which in high hearts is quickly quieted, "Blessed be thou, who of our border-lands," He recommenced who first had questioned us, "Experience freightest for a better life. The folk that comes not with us have offended In that for which once Cæsar, triumphing, Heard himself called in contumely, 'Queen.'

75

Therefore they separate, exclaiming, 'Sodom!'
Themselves reproving, even as thou hast heard, ∞
And add unto their burning by their shame.
Our own transgression was hermaphrodite ;
But because we observed not human law,
Following like unto beasts our appetite,
In our opprobrium by us is read,

When we part company, the name of her
Who bestialized herself in bestial wood.

85

Now knowest thou our acts, and what our crime was ; Wouldst thou perchance by name know who we There is not time to tell, nor could I do it. [are, Thy wish to know me shall in sooth be granted; 91 I'm Guido Guinicelli, and now purge me,

Having repented ere the hour extreme."
The same that in the sadness of Lycurgus
Two sons became, their mother re-beholding, 95
Such I became, but rise not to such height,
The moment I heard name himself the father
Of me and of my betters, who had ever
Practised the sweet and gracious rhymes of love;
And without speech and hearing thoughtfully

For a long time I went, beholding him,
Nor for the fire did I approach him nearer.

When I was fed with looking, utterly

Myself I offered ready for his service,

With affirmation that compels belief.

And he to me: "Thou leavest footprints such
In me, from what I hear, and so distinct,
Lethe cannot efface them, nor make dim.

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105

But if thy words just now the truth have sworn, Tell me what is the cause why thou displayest In word and look that dear thou holdest me?" And I to him: "Those dulcet lays of yours

ΙΙΟ

Which, long as shall endure our modern fashion, Shall make forever dear their very ink!" "O brother," said he, "he whom I point out," 115 And here he pointed at a spirit in front, "Was of the mother tongue a better smith. Verses of love and proses of romance,

He mastered all; and let the foolish talk, Who think the Lemosin surpasseth him. To clamor more than truth they turn their faces, And in this way establish their opinion, Ere art or reason hath by them been heard. Thus many ancients with Guittone did,

From cry to cry still giving him applause,

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Until the truth has conquered with most persons.

Now, if thou hast such ample privilege

'T is granted thee to go unto the cloister Wherein is Christ the abbot of the college,

To him repeat for me a Paternoster,

So far as needful to us of this world, Where power of sinning is no longer ours." Then, to give place perchance to one behind, Whom he had near, he vanished in the fire As fish in water going to the bottom.

I moved a little tow'rds him pointed out,

And said that to his name my own desire
And honorable place was making ready.

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135

He of his own accord began to say:

Tan m' abellis vostre cortes deman,

Que jeu nom' puesc ni vueill a vos cobrire; Feu sui Arnaut, que plor e vai chantan;

Consiros vei la passada folor,

E vei jauzen lo jorn qu' esper denan.
Ara vus prec per aquella valor.

Que vus condus al som de la scalina,
Sovenga vus a temprar ma dolor.*

Then hid him in the fire that purifies them.

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145

CANTO XXVII.

S when he vibrates forth his earliest rays,

(The Ebro falling under lofty Libra,

blood,

And waters in the Ganges burnt with noon,)

So stood the Sun; hence was the day departing, 5 When the glad Angel of God appeared to us.

* So pleases me your courteous demand,
I cannot and I will not hide me from you.
I am Arnaut, who weep and singing go;
Contrite I see the folly of the past,
And joyous see the hoped-for day before me.
Therefore do I implore you, by that power
Which guides you to the summit of the stairs,
Be mindful to assuage my suffering!