The former hymn jn accents soft and low.
This finished-they exclaim: "Within the wood
Diana kept, and chased Callisto thence,
With Cytherea's poisonous drugs imbued."
Then to their song returning, they recite
Examples old of men and women chaste,
By virtue ruled, and sacred nuptial rite.
And they, I ween, continued in this mood
During the time the fire their forms embraced:
Such care is needed, and such sort of food
To heal the wound for which they here are placed.
The curiosity of the shades to know how Dante's body could cast a shadow -On his informing them he is really alive, Guido Guinicelli addresses him. Dante's joy to meet with him, whom he speaks of as his father in poetry. Guido points out, and acknowledges the superiority of Arnaud the Provençal.
WHILE, one before the other, thus we went
Around the margin-oft the master said,
"Look well: be not in vain my caution lent."
The sun advancing struck me on the right;
And all the west, by his fair rays o'erspread,
Was changing now its azure hue for white.
My shadow made the beams appear to glow
Brighter than wont; and at such prodigy
Came flocking many a shade the cause to know.
This first it was which to the spirits gave
Occasion thus to hold discourse of me;
"No fictious body he appears to have:"
And some of them advancing tow'rds me, came
Near as they could-with eager look intent,
Lest haply they should pass from out the flame.
"O thou who journeyest on behind the rest,
Perhaps not slower, but more reverent,
Reply to me, by thirst and fire opprest:
Not for my sake alone an answer grant;—
12. See note to Inf. xii. 13.
18. i. e. By thirst for information.
All these desire it with a thirst more keen
Than Indian who for cooling stream doth paut.
Say how thou makest of thyself a wall
Against the sun, as though thou hadst not been
Caught in the net of death, a captive thrall ?"
Thus one bespoke me. I had straight my name
Revealed, but for the wish I felt to view
Another novelty; for lo, there came
Along the middle of the burning way,
To meet the first, a second party, who
Made me draw up, their features to survey.
On either hand I saw them haste their meeting,
And kiss each one the other-pausing not,
Contented to enjoy so short a greeting.
Thus do the ants among their dingy band
Face one another, each their neighbour's lot
Haply to scan, and how their fortunes stand.
This friendly meeting over-ere they start,
Each party strives the other's voice to drown;
The one vociferating on their part—
"The cities of the plain ;" while the other cries
"That bliss her monstrous lover's flame might crown, Pasiphaë assumed a base disguise."
Then like to cranes, that some unto the sands,
And some to the Riphæan mountains fly,
These from the sun, those from the ice ;-the bands,
Dividing thus, or come, or haste away,
While weeping they renew their former cry,
And their most fitting and appropriate lay.
And, as before, they unto me drew near
The same who erst addressed to me a prayer-
Their looks betraying great desire to hear.
I, who had twice observed their eager mien,
Began; "O spirits, ye who certain are,
Some future day, a state of peace to win-
Not immature, or by old age subdued,
Are left on earth my bodily remains;
But with me I convey both flesh and blood.
To cure my blindness I ascend this stair:
A Lady high enthroned such grace obtains ;
Hence through your world my mortal frame I bear.
But may your highest hopes be shortly crowned;
And in heaven's blessed mansions may ye dwell-
That heaven where love and ampler space abound,-
As ye inform me who ye are, and who
That multitude (so that my page may tell),
Whom passing yonder in your rear I view."
Like to an inexperienced mountain clown,
Who round him throws a dull and stupid gaze,
When first he visits some well peopled town-
Such was the image that each shade expressed:
But when they had o'ercome that wild amaze,
Which soon in lofty mind is laid to rest,-
He that before inquired, began again:
"O blessed! who, to live more virtuously,
Experience of our country wouldst attain,-
The spirits whom we meet that guilt incurred,
Whence as he rode in triumph was the cry-
The opprobrious cry of Queen' by Cæsar heard.
Wherefore on parting, Weep ye,' they exclaim;
Themselves rebuking, thus to make the fire
The more intensely felt, by adding shame.
Of great enormity our crime, because,
Following like beasts our infamous desire,
We broke the bonds imposed by nature's laws.
That thus our own disgrace may be increased-
Departing, we repeat the name of her
Who took of old the figure of a beast.
Our actions now thou knowest and our crime;
Each wouldst thou know by name, and who we were,
I could not tell thee, neither have I time:
But of myself, be fuily satisfied;
Guido am I, allowed such early grace, Because I deeply sorrowed ere I died." Like to Lycurgus' sons, when in his sadness
74. The improvement of himself, Dante tells us, was the object of his imaginary journey. 78.Gallias Carsar subegit, Nicomedes Cæsarem." Suetonius, Life of Julius Cæsar, cap. 49. 92. Guido Guinicelli.-See note, xi. 97.-Penitence before death enabled him, he says, to enter Purgatory thus early. 94. Lycurgus, exasperated with Hypsipile for deserting his infant son Ofeltes, killed by a serpent while she went to show the Argive my the river Langiù (canto xxii.
They joyed to see again their mother's face,—
So great, though not so manifest, my gladness,
When uttered by himself, my father's name
I heard the father too of those, who e'er
By their sweet love-songs gained them higher fame.
Speechless, and hearing nought, I pensive went
Long time-stiil looking on his features dear;
Though close approach the burning flames prevent.
And when with gazing I mine eyes had fed,
I offered me all prompt to do his will,
With words that might not be discredited.
Then he "Thy loving speech hath left such trace
Within my breast, that ne'er can Lethe's rill
Obscure the impression, or its stamp efface.
But, if thy solemn vows believed may be,
Say why thy every look and accent bear
Tokens of love and kindness unto me?"
"The cause," I said, " is in your pleasant strains,
Which shall their very characters endear,
Long as the language now in use remains."
"Yonder is one, O brother," he exclaimed,
(And with his finger pointed out a shade)
"In the maternal tongue more justly famed.
In lays of love and stories of romance
He both excelled, nor cared for what fools said,
Who wished the bard of Limoges to advance.
To sound, more than to truth, they lend their ear;
Thus confirmation to their judgment giving,
Ere art or reason they consent to hear.
Many of yore Guittonë thus upheld
To elevate his reputation striving,
And if thy ample privilege permits
Till with the multitude the truth prevailed.
That to the cloister thou mayest now proceed,
Where Christ the Abbot of the college sits,
112), was about to slay her, when hers Thoas and Eumenius had the delight of finding her, and saving her from the king's resentment. See Statius, Theb. iv. and v. 97. Dante calls him "father" as his predecessor and instructor in poetry. 116. Arnaud, the celebrated Provençal poet. (See line 142.) He was considered by Dante superior to Guido, and Gerault di Berneil, "the bard of Limoges." 129. Paradise. Abbot is here used in its original sense of Abba. Father.
One paternoster say to Him for me,
As far as we, in this world dwelling, need,
Where from the power of sinning we are free."
Then haply anxious to make room for one
Who near him stood, he vanished 'mid the flame,
As dives a fish in water, and is gone.
Straight, to the shade. he pointed out, some space
I nearer drew, and begged to learn that name,
For which my wish reserved a gracious place.
"Such pleasure in thy courtesy I feel,"
With open heart he then began to say,
"I neither can nor will my name conceal.
Arnaud am I, who pass this ford of fire
Mourning my follies, and behold the day
In prospect, which hath kindled my desire.
Now by that worth which guideth thee on high,
Soon as the fitting time is come, I pray
That thou assist me in my misery."
Then through the cleansing fire he sped away.
In the hope of obtaining a sight of Beatrice, Dante follows Virgil into the flame. He passes through it unhurt-reposes during night on the steps of a lofty stair-and in a dreani sees Leah and Rachel. Reaching the summit of the stair, Dante is informed by Virgil that Beatrice must be his guide in future.
THE sun was darting now his earliest beam,
There where his great Creator's blood was shed,
(High Libra sinking under Ebro's stream,
And noontide fervour scorching Ganges' flood)
So that where then I was, day 'gan to fade,
When in our presence God's glad Angel stood.
Upon the brink he stood beyond the flame;
And, "Blessed are the pure in heart," he chaunted,
In voice that mortal clearness overcame ;
Then:-" Pass not on until the fire hath stung,
131. i. e. As far as "lead us not into temptation." See canto xi. 22.
1. "It was sunrise at Jerusalem, mid-day in India, midnight in Portugal, and sunset where the poets now were."-Boyd.
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