Harvard Classics Volume 20. Golden Deer Classics

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СКАЧАТЬ them.” “Though driven 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,^[63] high as the chin,

      Leaning, methought, upon its knees upraised.

      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?^[64] 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.”^[65] 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, nor after forth appear’d he more.

      Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom

      I yet was station’d, changed not countenance stern,

      Nor moved 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^[66] shall be relumed

      Her aspect, who reigns here queen of this realm,^[67]

      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^[68] and great havoc,” I replied,

      “That color’d Arbia’s flood with crimson stain—

      To these impute, that in our hallow’d dome

      Such orisons^[69] ascend.” Sighing he shook

      The head, then thus resumed: “In that affray

      I stood not singly, nor, without just cause,

      Assuredly, should with the rest have stirr’d;

      But singly there I stood,^[70] when, by consent

      Of all, Florence had to the ground been razed,

      The one who openly forbade the deed.”

      “So may thy lineage find at last repose,”

      I thus adjured him, “as thou solve this knot,

      Which now involves my mind. If right I hear,

      Ye seem to view beforehand that which time

      Leads with him, of the present uninform’d.”

      “We view, as one who hath an evil sight,”

      He answer’d, “plainly, objects far remote;

      So much of his large splendor yet imparts

      The Almighty Ruler: but when they approach,

      Or actually exist, our intellect

      Then wholly fails; nor of your human state,

      Except what others bring us, know we aught.

      Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all

      Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,

      When on futurity the portals close.”

      Then conscious of my fault,^[71] and by remorse

      Smitten, I added thus: “Now shalt thou say

      To him there fallen, that his offspring still

      Is to the living join’d; and bid him know,

      That if from answer, silent, I abstain’d,

      ’Twas that my thought was occupied, intent

      Upon that error, which thy help hath solved.”

      But now my master summoning me back

      I heard, and with more eager haste besought

      The spirit to inform me, who with him

      Partook his lot. He answer thus return’d:

      “More than a thousand with me here are laid.

      Within is Frederick,^[72] second of that name,

      And the Lord Cardinal,^[73] and of the rest

      I speak not.” He, this said, from sight withdrew.

      But I my steps toward the ancient bard

      Reverting, ruminated on the words

      Betokening me such ill. Onward he moved,

      And thus, in going, question’d: “Whence the amaze

      That holds thy senses wrapt?” I satisfied

      The inquiry, and the sage enjoin’d me straight:

      “Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard,

      To thee importing harm; and note thou this,”

      With his raised СКАЧАТЬ