The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
Oahto VII. HELL. 27 For ever to this tourney they will bowl ; ** Those from the sepulchre will rise again With clenched fist, those with shorn heads 'neath the cowl. Our fair world vilely spent, and vilely ta*en, Has prisoned these and placed them in this fray. I use no words its horror to explaiil ; •" Now thou canst see, O son, the short-lived day Of good, committed unto Fortune's 'hest. For which the human race so strives alway.
Since all the gold beneath the moon possest. Or ever owned by those worn souls of yore, •* Could not make one of them one moment rest. " Master," said I to him, " now tell me more ; This Fortune, about whom thou speak'st to me. What is it that thus grasps all earthly store ? And he to me : " O creatures dull to see, ^* What ignorance is this that here offends ! I would that thou shouldst ponder my decree.
He whose high knowledge everything transcends. The heavens created once, and gave their guide.
So that in all parts he their splendour tends, ^'^ Distributing the light on every side ; In like way for magnificence mondane He chose a general ministrant and guide, Who should transpose at times its prizes vain From one to other, and from race to race, ^ Beyond what human wit could let or gain ; Therefore some rise to empire, some debase, According to the judgment of her pleasure. Who lieth hidden, like a snake in grass.
Tour knowledge to her wish can place no measure, ** She sees beforehand, judges and pursues Her empire like the other powers at leisure. Her permutations never know a truce. Necessity compels her to such speed. Such numerous claims her shifting laws produce. •" This one is she, who is so crucified, Even by those who ought her praise to rear. With wrongful blame and ill words vilifidd. But this in happiness she cannot hear.
With all the other primal creatures gay, •* She gladdens in her joy and turns her sphere. Henceforth to greater pity wends our way ; Now every star is fallen that arose When I went forth, forbidding more delay."
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28 HELL. Canto VIII. We cut across the circle, where there rose ^^ A fountain that boils up and poureth down Into a rivulet that from it flows. The water was thick gray and almost brown, And we, in company with the turbid wave, \ By a wild pathway there descended down. ^*^ A marsh, to which the name of Styx they gave, This wretched streamlet makes, when overflowed It sinketh at the foot of that drear grave. I, who with purpose of beholding stood. Saw muddy people standing in the mire, ^^° All naked, and with looks where anger glowed. Striking themselves, so did their rage transpire. Not hands alone they used, but head and feet. Biting themselves to pieces in their ire. My gentle master said, " O son, now greet ^^^ The souls of those whom anger overcame ; And more, I would for certain thou shouldst weet That underneath the wave are men the same, Who breathing make the water bubbling stir, The sight, where'er it turns, thy eye can claim. Fixed in the mud, they say, * Wretched we were Jn the sweet air, which by the sun rejoices, Bearing within ourselves the angry slur ; Now we are wretched in these miry places.' This hymn within the throat they gurgling chime. Since they can speak it not with perfect voices." So we past on, skirting that filthy slime, A segment 'twixt the dry bank and the deep, With eyes still turned to those that gorge the grime, And finally we reached a turret keep. ^*^
CANTO vin. Fhlegyas, the ferryman of Styx, summoned by a signal from the tower, bears Virg^ and Dante across the lake. On the way they are attacked by FhiHppo Argenti, whose pnnishment is described. They then arrive at the city of Dis, where the fallen angels prevent their entrance, closing the gate at Virgil's approach. Continuing, I say, as soon as we Of that high turret fort had reached the bourne, Up to its summit glanced our eyes to see Line 1. ''Continuing, I say, as soon as we." Boccaccio states that the first seven Cantos were written by Dante before his banishment, and being fonnd and sent to' him by a friend who nrged the completion of the Poem, be, then in banishment, commenced the 8^h Canto with this line. It is at least
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Oahto VII. HELL. 27 For ever to this tourney they will bowl ; ** Those from the sepulchre will rise again With clenched fist, those with shorn heads 'neath the cowl. Our fair world vilely spent, and vilely ta*en, Has prisoned these and placed them in this fray. I use no words its horror to explaiil ; •" Now you can see, O son, the short-lived day Of good, committed unto Fortune's 'hest. For which the human race so strives alway. Since all the gold beneath the moon possest. Or ever owned by those worn souls of yore, •* Could not make one of them one moment rest." " Master," said I to him, " now tell me more ; This Fortune, about whom you speak'st to me. What is it that thus grasps all earthly store ?" And he to me : " O creatures dull to see, ^* What ignorance is this that here offends ! I would that you should ponder my decree. He whose high knowledge everything transcends. The heavens created once, and gave their guide. So that in all parts he their splendour tends, ^'^ Distributing the light on every side ; In like way for magnificence mondane He chose a general ministrant and guide, Who should transpose at times its prizes vain From one to other, and from race to race, ^ Beyond what human wit could let or gain ; Therefore some rise to empire, some debase, According to the judgment of her pleasure. Who lies hidden, like a snake in grass. Tour knowledge to her wish can place no measure, ** She sees beforehand, judges and pursues Her empire like the other powers at leisure. Her permutations never know a truce. Necessity compels her to such speed. Such numerous claims her shifting laws produce. •" This one is she, who is so crucified, Even by those who ought her praise to rear. With wrongful blame and ill words vilifidd. But this in happiness she cannot hear. With all the other primal creatures gay, •* She gladdens in her joy and turns her sphere. Henceforth to greater pity wends our way ; Now every star is fallen that arose When I went forth, forbidding more delay."
p. 120
28 HELL. Canto VIII. We cut across the circle, where there rose ^^ A fountain that boils up and pours down Into a rivulet that from it flows. The water was thick gray and almost brown, And we, in company with the turbid wave, \ By a wild pathway there descended down. ^*^ A marsh, to which the name of Styx they gave, This wretched streamlet makes, when overflowed It sinks at the foot of that drear grave. I, who with purpose of beholding stood. Saw muddy people standing in the mire, ^^° All naked, and with looks where anger glowed. Striking themselves, so did their rage transpire. Not hands alone they used, but head and feet. Biting themselves to pieces in their ire. My gentle master said, " O son, now greet ^^^ The souls of those whom anger overcame ; And more, I would for certain you should weet That underneath the wave are men the same, Who breathing make the water bubbling stir, The sight, where'er it turns, your eye can claim. Fixed in the mud, they say, * Wretched we were Jn the sweet air, which by the sun rejoices, Bearing within ourselves the angry slur ; Now we are wretched in these miry places.' This hymn within the throat they gurgling chime. Since they can speak it not with perfect voices." So we past on, skirting that filthy slime, A segment 'twixt the dry bank and the deep, With eyes still turned to those that gorge the grime, And finally we reached a turret keep. ^*^
CANTO vin. Fhlegyas, the ferryman of Styx, summoned by a signal from the tower, bears Virg^ and Dante across the lake. On the way they are attacked by FhiHppo Argenti, whose pnnishment is described. They then arrive at the city of Dis, where the fallen angels prevent their entrance, closing the gate at Virgil's approach. Continuing, I say, as soon as we Of that high turret fort had reached the bourne, Up to its summit glanced our eyes to see Line 1. ''Continuing, I say, as soon as we." Boccaccio states that the first seven Cantos were written by Dante before his banishment, and being fonnd and sent to' him by a friend who nrged the completion of the Poem, be, then in banishment, commenced the 8^h Canto with this line. It is at least
p. 125
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