The Divine Comedy. Dante Alighieri

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СКАЧАТЬ them keeps watch." He thus in answer spake

      "They shall be closed all, what-time they here

      From Josaphat return'd shall come, and bring

      Their bodies, which above they now have left.

      The cemetery on this part obtain

      With Epicurus all his followers,

      Who with the body make the spirit die.

      Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon

      Both to the question ask'd, and to the wish,

      Which thou conceal'st in silence." I replied:

      "I keep not, guide belov'd! from thee my heart

      Secreted, but to shun vain length of words,

      A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself."

      "O Tuscan! thou who through the city of fire

      Alive art passing, so discreet of speech!

      Here please thee stay awhile. Thy utterance

      Declares the place of thy nativity

      To be that noble land, with which perchance

      I too severely dealt." Sudden that sound

      Forth issu'd from a vault, whereat in fear

      I somewhat closer to my leader's side

      Approaching, he thus spake: "What dost thou? Turn.

      Lo, Farinata, there! who hath himself

      Uplifted: from his girdle upwards all

      Expos'd behold him." On his face was mine

      Already fix'd; his breast and forehead there

      Erecting, seem'd as in high scorn he held

      E'en hell. Between the sepulchres to him

      My guide thrust me with fearless hands and prompt,

      This warning added: "See thy words be clear!"

      He, soon as there I stood at the tomb's foot,

      Ey'd me a space, then in disdainful mood

      Address'd me: "Say, what ancestors were thine?"

      I, willing to obey him, straight reveal'd

      The whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow

      Somewhat uplifting, cried: "Fiercely were they

      Adverse to me, my party, and the blood

      From whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad

      Scatter'd them." "Though driv'n out, yet they each time

      From all parts," answer'd I, "return'd; an art

      Which yours have shown, they are not skill'd to learn."

      Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw,

      Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin,

      Leaning, methought, upon its knees uprais'd.

      It look'd around, as eager to explore

      If there were other with me; but perceiving

      That fond imagination quench'd, with tears

      Thus spake: "If thou through this blind prison go'st.

      Led by thy lofty genius and profound,

      Where is my son? and wherefore not with thee?"

      I straight replied: "Not of myself I come,

      By him, who there expects me, through this clime

      Conducted, whom perchance Guido thy son

      Had in contempt." Already had his words

      And mode of punishment read me his name,

      Whence I so fully answer'd. He at once

      Exclaim'd, up starting, "How! said'st thou he HAD?

      No longer lives he? Strikes not on his eye

      The blessed daylight?" Then of some delay

      I made ere my reply aware, down fell

      Supine, not after forth appear'd he more.

      Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom

      I yet was station'd, chang'd not count'nance stern,

      Nor mov'd the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.

      "And if," continuing the first discourse,

      "They in this art," he cried, "small skill have shown,

      That doth torment me more e'en than this bed.

      But not yet fifty times shall be relum'd

      Her aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,

      Ere thou shalt know the full weight of that art.

      So to the pleasant world mayst thou return,

      As thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,

      Against my kin this people is so fell?"

      "The slaughter and great havoc," I replied,

      "That colour'd Arbia's flood with crimson stain—

      To these impute, that in our hallow'd dome

      Such orisons ascend." Sighing he shook

      The head, then thus resum'd: "In that affray

      I stood not singly, nor without just cause

      Assuredly should with the rest have stirr'd;

      But singly there I stood, when by consent

      Of all, Florence had to the ground been raz'd,

      The one who openly forbad the deed."

      "So may thy lineage find at last repose,"

      I thus adjur'd him, "as thou solve this knot,

      Which now involves my mind. If right I hear,

      Ye seem to view beforehand, that which time

      Leads СКАЧАТЬ