I see the modern Pilate so relentless, This does not sate him, but without decretal By looking on the vengeance which, concealed, Of the Holy Ghost, and which occasioned thee So long has been ordained to all our prayers As the day lasts; but when the night comes on, At that time we repeat Pygmalion, Of whom a traitor, thief, and parricide Made his insatiable desire of gold; And the misery of avaricious Midas, That followed his inordinate demand, At which forevermore one needs must laugh. The foolish Achan each one then records, And how he stole the spoils; so that the wrath Polymnestor who murdered Polydorus. Here finally is cried: O Crassus, tell us, According to desire of speech, that spurs us And made endeavor to o'ercome the road When I perceived, like something that is falling, 115 120 125 The mountain tremble, whence a chill seized on me, As seizes him who to his death is going. Certes so violently shook not Delos, Then Before Latona made her nest therein To give birth to the two eyes of the heaven. Such that the Master drew himself towards me, Saying, "Fear not, while I am guiding thee." "Gloria in excelsis Deo," all Were saying, from what near I comprehended, 130 135 We paused immovable and in suspense, Even as the shepherds who first heard that song, Watching the shades that lay upon the ground, No ignorance ever with so great a strife Neither from haste to question did I dare, Nor of myself I there could aught perceive; So I went onward timorous and thoughtful. 140 145 150 CANTO XXI. HE natural thirst, that ne'er is satisfied THE Excepting with the water for whose grace Put me in travail, and haste goaded me Along the encumbered path behind my Leader, From the sepulchral cave already risen, way A shade appeared to us, and came behind us, Thee may the court veracious place in peace, That me doth banish in eternal exile!" 5 IO 15 } "How," said he, and the while we went with speed, If ye are shades whom God deigns not on high, Which this one bears, and which the Angel traces, 20 But because she who spinneth day and night 25 For him had not yet drawn the distaff off, His soul, which is thy sister and my own, In coming upwards could not come alone, By reason that it sees not in our fashion. Whence I was drawn from out the ample throat Of Hell to be his guide, and I shall guide him As far on as my school has power to lead. But tell us, if thou knowest, why such a shudder All seemed to cry, as far as its moist feet?" In asking he so hit the very eye Of my desire, that merely with the hope My thirst became the less unsatisfied. "Naught is there," he began, "that without order May the religion of the mountain feel, Nor aught that may be foreign to its custom. 30 35 40 |