Whence I, who speak alone before the others, That 'twixt Romagna lies and that of Charles, 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. 70 From thence was I; but the deep wounds, through which Issued the blood wherein I had my seat, Were dealt me in bosom of the Antenori, There where I thought to be the most secure; "T was he of Este had it done, who held me In hatred far beyond what justice willed. 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." 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; 75 80 85 Hence among these I go with downcast front." 90 And I to him: "What violence or what chance Led thee astray so far from Campaldino, A river crosses named Archiano, born There where the name thereof becometh void 95 Did I arrive, pierced through and through the throat, There my sight lost I, and my utterance Did in the name of Mary end, and there I fell, and tenantless my flesh remained. Truth will I speak, repeat it to the living; 100 God's Angel took me up, and he of hell For one poor little tear, that takes him from me; Well knowest thou how in the air is gathered That humid vapor which to water turns, Soon as it rises where the cold doth grasp it. He joined that evil will, which aye seeks evil, 106 110 Thereafter, when the day was spent, the valley From Pratomagno to the great yoke covered Down fell the rain, and to the gullies came And as it mingled with the mighty torrents, It headlong rushed, that nothing held it back. My frozen body near unto its outlet The robust Archian found, and into Arno Thrust it, and loosened from my breast the cross I made of me, when It rolled me on the banks and on the bottom; Then with its booty covered and begirt me." "Ah, when thou hast returned unto the world, And rested thee from thy long journeying," After the second followed the third spirit, "Do thou remember me who am the Pia; Siena made me, unmade me Maremma; He knoweth it, who had encircled first, Espousing me, my finger with his gem." 115 120 125 130 135 CANTO VI. WHENE'ER is broken up the game of Zara, He who has lost remains behind despondent, The throws repeating, and in sadness learns; The people with the other all depart; One goes in front, and one behind doth pluck him, s And at his side one brings himself to mind; 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, And, promising, I freed myself therefrom. There was the Aretine, who from the arms Untamed of Ghin di Tacco had his death, And he who fleeing from pursuit was drowned. There was imploring with his hands outstretched Frederick Novello, and that one of Pisa Who made the good Marzucco seem so strong. 10 15 I saw Count Orso; and the soul divided By hatred and by envy from its body, As it declared, and not for crime.committed, Pierre de la Brosse I say; and here provide While still on earth the Lady of Brabant, So that for this she be of no worse flock! As soon as I was free from all those shades Who only prayed that some one else may pray, Began I: "It appears that thou deniest, O light of mine, expressly in some text, That orison can bend decree of Heaven; And ne'ertheless these people pray for this. Might then their expectation bootless be? Or is to me thy saying not quite clear?" And he to me: "My writing is explicit, And not fallacious is the hope of these, If with sane intellect 't is well regarded; For top of judgment doth not vail itself, Because the fire of love fulfils at once What he must satisfy who here installs him. And there, where I affirmed that proposition, Defect was not amended by a prayer, Because the prayer from God was separate. 20 25 30 35 40 |