The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

Line 19. Buonagiunta of Lacca was a poet of theage jost preceding Dante. Line 22. Simon of Tours, who became Pope with the title of Martin lY. in 1281. He is said to have died of obesity from eating too many eels, and is in consequence represented as the thinnest in Purgatory.

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Canto XXIV. PURGATORY. 223 He showed me many others, one by one ; ^ As they were named, they all seemed satisfied. Not once I saw dissatisfaction shown. I saw on air their teeth by hunger plied, Ubaldin dalla Pila, and Boniface, Whose crosier luxury to such crowds supplied. ^ I saw the marquis, who spent such a space Of old in drink at Forli, when less dry, Though even there hi^ thirst could never cease. But like a gazer, whom some one does spy Chiefly, my friend of Lucca did I ckam, ^ Who seemed to see me with fJEimiliar eye. He made a murmur, and Gentucca's name, * I know not how, I heard within his throat. Where most consumes him stem justice' flame. " O soul, whose looks such eagerness denote ^ To speak with me, that I may understand Speak clear, with parley to content us both." " A maid is bom, who yet the woman's band Wears not," he said, " will make my city dear To you, although men now may reprimand. With this my prophecy right onwards steer : If through my murmuring you do error prove, Coming events will make my meaning clear. But tell me, if I see the one who wove The recent rhymes that with these words begin : You ladies who possess the lore of love," And I to him : " I am a man who when Love breathes, all its symptoms notes dear : I show to others, what it says within." " O brother, now I see," said he, " the bar ** Which kept Guitton, the notary, and me So far from your new style, so sweet to hear. How your plumed pinions clung, I clearly see, Close to the arch dictator in his flight. Which certes with our own might never be. ^ Line 30. Boniface, Archbishop of Ravenna, famed for hiB smnptnons living. Line 31. The Marquis de' Rigogliosi, who being accused of always drinking, answered that he had always thirst. Line 37. A young lady of Lucca, of whom Dante is stated to have been enamoured in 1301, after his exile ^om Florence. Line 51. The first line in one of the Canzoni in Dante's " Vita Nuova." Line 66. Guittone d'Arezzo and Jacopo du Lentino, called the notary, were amongst the earliest poets who wrote in the vernacular.

224 PURGATORY. Canto XXIV. Who would go further, hoping to delight, Sees not the gulf which separates our style." Silent he grew, as one contented quite. As troops of birds who winter towards the Nile At turns flj onwards in a serried square, Then wing with greater haste, and go in file. So all the people who were with us there, Turning their faces round, their speed increased. Active through leanness, and the will they share. And like one wearied with his trotting beast ^ Lets his companions wend, and walks slower. Until the panting of his beast has ceased : Forese so, his cofnrsbdes to pass o'er, Permitting, asked, as with me he did bide, " How long ere I shall see you here once more ?" ^* " How long my life, I know not," I replied, ** But my return can never be so soon But that my will will first have crost the tide, Because the place in which my lot is thrown From day to day destroys its fair fame. And seems to headlong ruin rushing down." " Now go," he said, " for he who's most to blame Behind a horse's tail I see him drawn. Towards the vale, where never ceases shame. The beast at every stride speeds faster on. Ever increasing, till it shakes him free, And leaves the body horribly undone. Yon wheels have not to turn for long," and he Eaised to the sky his eyes, " ere will be clear That which I cannot more declare to you. ^ Now you mayst stay, for me the time is dear In this domain, and I too much have lost Coming so slowly coupled with you here." As issues at a gallop from the host An eager knight at times, and forwards bounds To gain the honour of the earliest joust, So did he start from us, with mightier bounds : And I remained in travel with the pair Who were such marshals of our earthly rounds. And when before us he had gone so far, That my eyes grew as dim in his pursuit. As was my mind his prophecy to bare. Line 82. Coreo Donati, the leader of the Guelph faction, fell from bis horse while endeavouring to escape from the f ary of the populace in 1308, was dragged by the stirrup, and died as described in the poem.