The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
Canto XXIII. HKLL. 87 But scarcely were his feet securely prest Against the bottom, ere they joined above - The summit, but no longer could molest ; Since the high Providence which made them rove Of that fifth ditch the ministers devised, Deprived them of all power from thence to move. Below we found a people all disguised. Who wandered ever round with footsteps slow, Wailing, with semblance wearied, and despised.
Long cloaks they wore^ with hooded cowls sunk low Before their eyes^ and fashioned in the mould Which in Cologne the monks are wont to show. They glittered outwardly, all bright with gold^ But inwardly were lead, and of such weight Mere straw by those were cloaks by Frederic rolled. weary garb to wear for endless Fate ! With these together to the left we strayed Once more intent upon their dolorous state. But wearied by the poise upon them laid.
That people came so slowly, we found new Companions at each onward stride we made. Whence to my leader I : " Find for my view One known by deed or name amidst the throng. And walking on my eyes around I threw. Then one who understood the Tuscan tongue Behind us cried aloud : " Your footsteps stay, Who through this dark air speed so fast along : Perchance thou'lt find in me what thou dost piuy.
My leader then turned round and told me : " Wait, And afterwards to his thy pace delay. 1 stayed and saw a couple show their great Mental desire to join me in their face, But stayed them still the crowded path, and weight. With envious eye, when they had reached the place, ^ They gazed upon me, but they spake no word, Then 'mid themselves they talked a little space. " He seems alive, by his throat with breathing stirred.
And if they're dead, by what peculiar knowledge To escape this heavy garb are they preferred ?" ^ Then said they to me, ** Tuscan, to the college Of wretched hypocrites, who thus are led, Be not too proud thy person to acknowledge. Line 63. The monks in Cologne appear to have worn cowls larger than ordinary. Line 66. Frederic II. was said to have punished those guilty of high treason by wrapping them in lead and then casting them into the fire.
88 HELL. Cahto XXUI. And I to them : " I was both bom and bred In the great town above fair Amo's wave, ^^ And bear the body which I always had. But who are ye whose cheeks so sadly lave The tears of anguish which so great I view. And what, that thus bursts forth, thy pain so grave ? And one replied, " The cloaks of orange hue ^^ Are made of lead so heavy, that to groan Beneath their weight is forced the balance too.
Eejoicing Friars were we from Bologne, I Catalan and he Loderingo hight, Both chosen by thy country as on one ^®* From faction free the choice is wont to light. Peace to preserve, and what we were, the blaze Around Gardingo bringeth still to sight. " friars !*' I began, " your evil ways " But said no more, because one crucified "° With three stakes fixed to earth drew all my gaze.
When he beheld me all his form he writhed, Breathing within his beard a heavy sigh, And Friar Catalan, who this descried. Told me ; " The man impaled, whom thou dost eye, Counselled the Pharisees iliat it was meet That one man for the populace should die. Impaled and stark he lies across the street, As thou dost see, and his the doom, to rede Of every one that passeth o'er, the weight.
So stretched out is his father-in-law decreed, Within this ditch, and of the council each, Who for the Jews were such an evil seed. Then saw I Virgil marvel at that speech 0*er him upon the crucifix impaled, ^^* So vilely exiled on the eternal beach. The friar then with such request he hailed ; " Displease ye not, if lawful, now to say. If the right hand will any passage yield. Line 103.
Some gentlemen of Lombardy were permitted by Pope Urban IV . to found an order of knighthood withtlie title of '^ Brothers of St. Mary/' bnt as the members were chiefly amongst the rich, and led a life of splendour, they obtained the nickname of Bejoicing Friars. Line 104. The Bejoicing Friars, Catalan and Loderingo— one Gnelph, the other Ghibeline — were chosen as joint judges to heal the factions of the city.
Bought over by the Gnelphs they soon chased the Ghibelines from their homes, and, amongst other actions, burnt the street named Grardingo, in which the Uberti, a leading Ghibeline family, resided. Line 116. Caiaphas, with his father-in-law Annas, mentioned afterwards.
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Canto XXIV. HELL. 89 Bj which we both may issue on our way, ^^ And those black angels manage to avoid, Who came but now to drive us from their bay." " Far nearer than thou hopest," he replied, " Exists a ridge that from the outer round Stretches and crosseth all these valleys wide. "* Though here the broken bridge is not all sound, Still climbing o'er its ruin ye can go, Which riseth upwards, sloping from the ground." My leader stood a space, with head bent low, Then said, " He taught us badly our emprise ^*® To carry out, who hooks those sinners so." The friar : " In Bologna they apprise Of the devil many faults, 'mongst them I've heard A tattler he and father of all lies." My leader swift departed at that word, ^** And in his face some anger did appear, Whence I too from those laden spirits stirred, Behind the footsteps of those feet so dear.
Canto XXIII. HKLL. 87 But scarcely were his feet securely prest Against the bottom, ere they joined above - The summit, but no longer could molest ; Since the high Providence which made them rove Of that fifth ditch the ministers devised, Deprived them of all power from thence to move. Below we found a people all disguised. Who wandered ever round with footsteps slow, Wailing, with semblance wearied, and despised. Long cloaks they wore^ with hooded cowls sunk low Before their eyes^ and fashioned in the mould Which in Cologne the monks are wont to show. They glittered outwardly, all bright with gold^ But inwardly were lead, and of such weight Mere straw by those were cloaks by Frederic rolled. weary garb to wear for endless Fate ! With these together to the left we strayed Once more intent upon their dolorous state. But wearied by the poise upon them laid. That people came so slowly, we found new Companions at each onward stride we made. Whence to my leader I : " Find for my view One known by deed or name amidst the throng." And walking on my eyes around I threw. Then one who understood the Tuscan tongue Behind us cried aloud : " Your footsteps stay, Who through this dark air speed so fast along : Perchance you'lt find in me what you do piuy." My leader then turned round and told me : " Wait, And afterwards to his your pace delay." 1 stayed and saw a couple show their great Mental desire to join me in their face, But stayed them still the crowded path, and weight. With envious eye, when they had reached the place, ^ They gazed upon me, but they spake no word, Then 'mid themselves they talked a little space. " He seems alive, by his throat with breathing stirred. And if they're dead, by what peculiar knowledge To escape this heavy garb are they preferred ?" ^ Then said they to me, ** Tuscan, to the college Of wretched hypocrites, who thus are led, Be not too proud your person to acknowledge." Line 63. The monks in Cologne appear to have worn cowls larger than ordinary. Line 66. Frederic II. was said to have punished those guilty of high treason by wrapping them in lead and then casting them into the fire.
88 HELL. Cahto XXUI. And I to them : " I was both bom and bred In the great town above fair Amo's wave, ^^ And bear the body which I always had. But who are you whose cheeks so sadly lave The tears of anguish which so great I view. And what, that thus bursts forth, your pain so grave ?" And one replied, " The cloaks of orange hue ^^ Are made of lead so heavy, that to groan Beneath their weight is forced the balance too. Eejoicing Friars were we from Bologne, I Catalan and he Loderingo hight, Both chosen by your country as on one ^®* From faction free the choice is wont to light. Peace to preserve, and what we were, the blaze Around Gardingo brings still to sight." " friars !*' I began, " your evil ways " But said no more, because one crucified "° With three stakes fixed to earth drew all my gaze. When he beheld me all his form he writhed, Breathing within his beard a heavy sigh, And Friar Catalan, who this descried. Told me ; " The man impaled, whom you do eye, Counselled the Pharisees iliat it was meet That one man for the populace should die. Impaled and stark he lies across the street, As you do see, and his the doom, to rede Of every one that passes o'er, the weight. So stretched out is his father-in-law decreed, Within this ditch, and of the council each, Who for the Jews were such an evil seed." Then saw I Virgil marvel at that speech 0*er him upon the crucifix impaled, ^^* So vilely exiled on the eternal beach. The friar then with such request he hailed ; " Displease you not, if lawful, now to say. If the right hand will any passage yield. Line 103. Some gentlemen of Lombardy were permitted by Pope Urban IV . to found an order of knighthood withtlie title of '^ Brothers of St. Mary/' bnt as the members were chiefly amongst the rich, and led a life of splendour, they obtained the nickname of Bejoicing Friars. Line 104. The Bejoicing Friars, Catalan and Loderingo— one Gnelph, the other Ghibeline — were chosen as joint judges to heal the factions of the city. Bought over by the Gnelphs they soon chased the Ghibelines from their homes, and, amongst other actions, burnt the street named Grardingo, in which the Uberti, a leading Ghibeline family, resided. Line 116. Caiaphas, with his father-in-law Annas, mentioned afterwards.
p. 130
Canto XXIV. HELL. 89 Bj which we both may issue on our way, ^^ And those black angels manage to avoid, Who came but now to drive us from their bay." " Far nearer than you hopest," he replied, " Exists a ridge that from the outer round Stretches and crosses all these valleys wide. "* Though here the broken bridge is not all sound, Still climbing o'er its ruin you can go, Which rises upwards, sloping from the ground." My leader stood a space, with head bent low, Then said, " He taught us badly our emprise ^*® To carry out, who hooks those sinners so." The friar : " In Bologna they apprise Of the devil many faults, 'mongst them I've heard A tattler he and father of all lies." My leader swift departed at that word, ^** And in his face some anger did appear, Whence I too from those laden spirits stirred, Behind the footsteps of those feet so dear.
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