CANTO VII. AFTER the gracious and glad salutations Had three and four times been reiterated, Sordello backward drew and said, "Who are you?" "Or ever to this mountain were directed The souls deserving to ascend to God, My bones were buried by Octavian. I am Virgilius; and for no crime else Did I lose heaven, than for not having faith"; Something whereat he marvels, who believes "O glory of the Latians, thou," he said, 5 15 "Through whom our language showed what it could O pride eternal of the place I came from, [do, What merit or what grace to me reveals thee? If I to hear thy words be worthy, tell me 20 If thou dost come from Hell, and from what cloister." "Through all the circles of the doleful realm," Responded he, "have I come hitherward; Heaven's power impelled me, and with that I come. I by not doing, not by doing, lost The sight of that high sun which thou desirest, A place there is below not sad with torments, Snatched by the teeth of Death, or ever they But if thou know and can, some indication Give us by which we may the sooner come He answered: "No fixed place has been assigned us; So far as I can go, as guide I join thee. 25 30 35 40 But see already how the day declines, And to go up by night we are not able; Therefore 't is well to think of some fair sojourn. 45 Souls are there on the right hand here withdrawn ; If thou permit me I will lead thee to them, And thou shalt know them not without delight." "How is this?" was the answer; "should one wish To mount by night would he prevented be By others? or mayhap would not have power?" And on the ground the good Sordello drew His finger, saying, "See, this line alone Thou couldst not pass after the sun is gone; And, wandering, walk the hill-side round about, Thereon my Lord, as if in wonder, said: "Do thou conduct us thither, where thou sayest Little had we withdrawn us from that place, When I perceived the mount was hollowed out 50 55 60 65 66 Thitherward," said that shade, "will we repair, And there for the new day will we await." away. By herbage and by flowers within that hollow Planted, each one in color would be vanquished, As by its greater vanquished is the less. Nor in that place had nature painted only, But of the sweetness of a thousand odors "Salve Regina," on the green and flowers There seated, singing, spirits I beheld, Which were not visible outside the valley. "Before the scanty sun now seeks his nest," Began the Mantuan who had led us thither, "Among them do not wish me to conduct you. Better from off this ledge the acts and faces Of all of them will you discriminate, Than in the plain below received among them. 70 75 80 85 90 He who sits highest, and the semblance bears Of having what he should have done neglected, And to the others' song moves not his lips, Rudolph the Emperor was, who had the power To heal the wounds that Italy have slain, So that through others slowly she revives. The other, who in look doth comfort him, Governed the region where the water springs, The Moldau bears the Elbe, and Elbe the sea. His name was Ottocar; and in swaddling-clothes Far better he than bearded Winceslaus His son, who feeds in luxury and ease. And the small-nosed, who close in council seems Behold the other one, who for his cheek Sighing has made of his own palm a bed; Father and father-in-law of France's Pest Are they, and know his vicious life and lewd, He who appears so stalwart, and chimes in, Singing, with that one of the manly nose, The cord of every valor wore begirt; |