THE DIVINE COMEDY: Inferno, Purgatorio & Paradiso (3 Classic Translations in One Edition). Dante Alighieri
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СКАЧАТЬ on the mount

       Th' obedient shadow fails not to present

       Whatever varying passion moves within us.

       And this the cause of what thou marvel'st at."

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       Now the last flexure of our way we reach'd,

       And to the right hand turning, other care

       Awaits us. Here the rocky precipice

       Hurls forth redundant flames, and from the rim

       A blast upblown, with forcible rebuff

       Driveth them back, sequester'd from its bound.

       Behoov'd us, one by one, along the side,

       That border'd on the void, to pass; and I

       Fear'd on one hand the fire, on th' other fear'd

       Headlong to fall: when thus th' instructor warn'd:

       "Strict rein must in this place direct the eyes.

       A little swerving and the way is lost."

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       Then from the bosom of the burning mass,

       "O God of mercy!" heard I sung; and felt

       No less desire to turn. And when I saw

       Spirits along the flame proceeding, I

       Between their footsteps and mine own was fain

       To share by turns my view. At the hymn's close

       They shouted loud, "I do not know a man;"

       Then in low voice again took up the strain,

       Which once more ended, "To the wood," they cried,

       "Ran Dian, and drave forth Callisto, stung

       With Cytherea's poison:" then return'd

       Unto their song; then marry a pair extoll'd,

       Who liv'd in virtue chastely, and the bands

       Of wedded love. Nor from that task, I ween,

       Surcease they; whilesoe'er the scorching fire

       Enclasps them. Of such skill appliance needs

       To medicine the wound, that healeth last.

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       While singly thus along the rim we walk'd,

       Oft the good master warn'd me: "Look thou well.

       Avail it that I caution thee." The sun

       Now all the western clime irradiate chang'd

       From azure tinct to white; and, as I pass'd,

       My passing shadow made the umber'd flame

       Burn ruddier. At so strange a sight I mark'd

       That many a spirit marvel'd on his way.

       This bred occasion first to speak of me,

       "He seems," said they, "no insubstantial frame:"

       Then to obtain what certainty they might,

       Stretch'd towards me, careful not to overpass

       The burning pale. "O thou, who followest

       The others, haply not more slow than they,

       But mov'd by rev'rence, answer me, who burn

       In thirst and fire: nor I alone, but these

       All for thine answer do more thirst, than doth

       Indian or Aethiop for the cooling stream.

       Tell us, how is it that thou mak'st thyself

       A wall against the sun, as thou not yet

       Into th' inextricable toils of death

       Hadst enter'd?" Thus spake one, and I had straight

       Declar'd me, if attention had not turn'd

       To new appearance. Meeting these, there came,

       Midway the burning path, a crowd, on whom

       Earnestly gazing, from each part I view

       The shadows all press forward, sev'rally

       Each snatch a hasty kiss, and then away.

       E'en so the emmets, 'mid their dusky troops,

       Peer closely one at other, to spy out

       Their mutual road perchance, and how they thrive.

       That friendly greeting parted, ere dispatch

       Of the first onward step, from either tribe

       Loud clamour rises: those, who newly come,

       Shout "Sodom and Gomorrah!" these, "The cow

       Pasiphae enter'd, that the beast she woo'd

       Might rush unto her luxury." Then as cranes,

       That part towards the Riphaean mountains fly,

       Part towards the Lybic sands, these to avoid

       The ice, and those the sun; so hasteth off

       One crowd, advances th' other; and resume

       Their first song weeping, and their several shout.

       Again drew near my side the very same,

       Who had erewhile besought me, and their looks

       Mark'd eagerness to listen. I, who twice

       Their will had noted, spake: "O spirits secure,

       Whene'er the time may be, of peaceful end!

       My limbs, nor СКАЧАТЬ