The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri

CANTO XXVI. While the poets advance along the brink of the cornice, the spirits are astonished at the shadow cast on the flames by Dante's body. Ere he can satisfy their cnriosityi another troop of spirits advance in the fire from the opposite direction, and the two bands embrace and pass on their way, reprobating their earthly sins. On their departure Dante tells the shadows beside him that he is still alive, and he is then addressed by Gnido Gninicelli, the Italian poet, who afterwards points ont to him Amaolt Daniel, the Provencal. The whilst that thus along the brink we wend In single file, my master often said, " See that my cautions to your profit tend." On my right shoulder the sun's rays were sped The which already filling all the west * On the sky's azure a white splendour shed : And I, upon the flame, with shadow cast A ruddier hue, and on that sign alone I saw the spirits ponder as they past. This was the reason which then led them on ^® To speak of me, and they began to say, "He seems not a fictitious frame to own." Towards me, to grow as certain as they may, They bent them then, regarding evermo' Never to sally from the burning way. " O you who go, not because more slow. Perchance behind yon pair, in reverent heed. Answer me, burnt in thirst and fiery glow. Nor I alone for your reply have need. These with me, for it are more thirsting all, Than for cold water Ind or Ethiop's seed. Tell us, how is't that you do make a wall Unto the sun, as if not yet had you Down fallen in the net which Death does haul." So one of these spake to me, and ere now ^ I had declared myself, had I not been Intent on something new the place did show. For midway through the burning path I ween A troop, with faces coming towards them, hied, Which made me gaze once more, suspended keen. ^ There saw I hurrying forward from each side The shadows kiss each other tenderly, Nor pause for stay, with brief feast satisfied.

Canto XXVI. PURGATORY. 231 Just SO, within their dusky company, One with the other do the ants embrace, ^ Perchance their fortune or their road to spy. As soon as these their friendly greeting cease, Before a single forward step can follow, Each louder than the rest to cry does press : The new troop shouts, " Sodom and Gomorrah ;" *" The other, " In the cow Pasiphee went To bring the bull unto her lustful horror." Then like two flocks of cranes, in passage bent Towards the Eiphoean hills and Lybian sands, To fly the frost, or the sun's heat intent ; So go in opposite ways the spirit bands, And turn with weeping to their former strain. And to the cries which most their zeal demands : And as before there prest by me again The selfsame spirits, who had me besought. With faces all intent to hear me fain. I, who had twice beheld their yearning thought, Began : *' O spirits, certain at some time To a state of peace, all perfect, to be brought. Neither in tender youth nor in their prime Eemain my limbs on earth, but borne with me. With their own blood and sinews from yon clime : Upwards I go, no longer blind to be, A lady there acquires for me this grace, Whence through your world I bear mortality. But that more speedily you may embrace Your chief desire, and reach Heaven's Infinite Replete with love, that whirls through widest space. Tell me, that I may yet their story write, Who are you, and who go in yonder crowd, ^* That straight behind your backs, speeds opposite ?" Not otherwise his wonder is avowed In silent gazing by the mountaineer All wild amid the city's turmoil loud, Than grew each shadow in his semblance here : '* But when from that surprise once free again. The which in high hearts soon does disappear ; " Ah happy you, who thus through our domain," Began the one who first had questioned me, " Experience freight'st, a better life to gain. Line 62. The Empyrean, or outermost sphere of Heaven.

232 PURGATORY. Cakto XXVI. The troop, who going from us you do see, Did CsBsar's sin, who in his triumph day Heard 'gainst himself Queen cried in infamy. Therefore they shout out Sodom on their way. As you now heardest in their own despite, ^ And help the burning with their shame alway. Our own offence has been hermaphrodite : But since the human laws we did not hold, Following, like animals, our appetite, In blame of our own selves, by us is told ^ What times we onwards start, the name of her Who worked her bestial end, in bestial fold. You knoVst our acts, and how we guilty were : If haply you desirest to know our names, Time would be wanting, nor am I aware. Of me I'll tell you what your longing claims : I'm Guinicelli, since without dehiy Bepentant, I already purge my shames." As following on Lycurgus' sorrowful day, The sons, their mother found once more, embraced, ** So I, though not so far did I give way, When I heard name himself my father graced. Father to me, and to my betters, who Have rhymes of love and fancy ever traced : And without speech or hearing, on I drew ^®® In thought awhile, aye gazing on him still, Kor dared approach to him that furnace through. After of gazing I had ta'en my fill MyseH in service offered I to him. With oath that gains belief from other's will. ^^ And he to me : '* Such sign of love do limn In what I hear, towards me, and so clear. That Lethe cannot take away, nor dim. Line 77* A soandal related against the yonth of Jnlios Gessar, when in the Court of Nicomedee, King of Bithynia. Snetoniaa gives the pasquinade indulged in by his soldiers, at Caesar's triumph, which is alluded to in the text— Csesar nunc triumphat, qui subegit Gallias. Nicomedeanontriumphat, qui subegit Csesarem. Line 92. Guido Guinicelli, already mentioned in Canto XI. as the elder Guido, so &mous in his time, yet superseded by the younger Guido, Dante's friend Cavalcanti. A timely repentance saved him from all delay in the Ante-Furgatory. Line 94. The story of Hypsipyle, already alluded to in Canto XXII. When she was about to be put to death by Lycurgus, because his son, her infant charge, was killed by a serpent, while she showed the stream Langia to the Argive army, she was recognised by her sons Thoas and Euneus, and Dante compares their joy on recovering her after her pardon to his own delight at recognising his father in art.