The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
CANTO XXIV. Dante, with great difficulty, under Yirgil's gnidance climbs the broken brid|^e to the ridge that looks down into the seventh vaJley. Descending into it, he finds robbers punished there, sorrounded by midtitudes of pestiferous serpents. Amongst them the soul of Gianni Fucci, who had robbed the sacristy in Fistoia^redicts to him the evils that will shortly ensue to his own city and the Florentines. When in the season of the youthful year The sun beneath Aquarius dims his rays, And equal to the day the nights draw near ; When o'er the landscape the hoar frost displays An image of the snow, its sister white, ^ But very briefly its soft plumage stays. The peasant whose apparel is but slight, Sises and looks and sees the wide champaign Whiten, on which his person he doth smite, Eetumeth to his hut and doth complain. Like to the wretch who knows not what to do : Then turneth back and taketh hope again. Seeing the world hath changed its face to view In such a little time, and takes his wand And to their pastures drives his flocks anew ;
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90 HELL. Cahto XXIV. So did my master make me all despond, When I beheld him with such troubled brow, And so to the evil was the salve at hand. For as we reached the ruined bridge below My leader turned to me with that sweet air -^ Which at the mountain's foot I first did know. His arms he opened after thought of care Within himself, and comprehensive view Over the ruin, he embraced me there.
And like a man who works and thinketh too, ^ Who for the future seemeth aye to care. So o'er a jutting summit me he drew. While of a rock still higher he was 'ware, Saying, " To that thou afterwards must hold, But test it first if fit thy weight to bear." ^ It was no path for those in long cloaks rolled. Since scarcely we, he light and I upborne, Were able to climb up from hold to hold.
And were it not that of that precinct lorn More than the other side this hill was short, ^^ Of him I know not, I had been outworn. But since the Malebolge towards the port Of that down-sunken lake inclineth all, The site of every valley is so wrought. One side below the other aye doth fall. ^ At length, however, to that point we came Where the last fragment topples from the wall.
The breath within my lungs so spent became, When there I reached my strength no further goeth, So down I sat on the first stone that came. ^^ '' Henceforth 'tis fitting thou shouldst shake off sloth," The master cried, " since idly lapt in down 'Neath coverlets, for him Fame never groweth. Who so his life consumes without renown, Leaves such a vestige of himself on earth. As it were froth on air or water blown.
Therefore arise, thy weakness stem with worth Of soul, that of all battles wins the prime, Unless 'tis borne down by the body's dearth. Far longer stairs than these thou'lt have to climb, From these 'twill not sujfice thee to depart ; Make now my counsel with thy action chime. Then I arose, exhibiting with art More force of breath than I in truth possest, And said, " Go on, I'm strong and bold of heart." *® Line 55. The stairs ascending the hill of Purgatory.
Cakto XXIV. HELL. 91 Up o'er the precipice our way we prest, A rocky, narrow, and most hard ascent, And even steeper yet than all the rest. Not to seem weak still speaking on I went, On which from the other moat there did transpire ^ A voice that shouted words of shameless bent. I know not what it said though standing higher, Over the spanning bridge I now arrive. But he who spake appeared as moved with ire.
I gazed intent below, but eyes alive ^^ Could not pierce downwards through that gloomy hall. " Master," I therefore said, " let us arrive From the other circle and descend the wall, For as I hear from hence nor comprehend. So gazing down I cannot see at all." ^^ " No other answer," said he, " do I tend Save action, for in silence with the deed 'Tis fit to carry out a fair demand.
We then descended by the bridge's head, Where with the eighth ridge joineth on its road, ^" And there the pit before me dear I rede : There I beheld within a terrible brood Of serpents, and of species so diverse, That recollection still makes creep my blood. Libya with all its deserts boasts no worse, ^ Though there of snakes amphibious, snakes on trees, Snakes spotted, with two heads, it knows the curse.
Not ever plagues so great nor fell as these Were seen through Ethiop's land of dread alarm, Nor in the realm which o'er the Red Sea lies. ^ Amidst this cruel, miserable swarm Ean people naked all and terrified, No hope of refuge nor of counter-charm. Their hands behind them were with serpents tied ; These in their loins fixed firm their tail and head, ^ While in the front their bodies twist and glide.
And lo ! one wretch that to our side had sped A serpent singled out and pierced him through. There where the shoulders and the neck are wed. One could not write so quickly I or O ^^ As this one kindled and burnt up amain, And in a mass of ashes fell below. Then when he lay on earth destroyed, not slain, The ashes re-collect and upwards rear. Suddenly changed to his own form again. ^^^
CANTO XXIV. Dante, with great difficulty, under Yirgil's gnidance climbs the broken brid|^e to the ridge that looks down into the seventh vaJley. Descending into it, he finds robbers punished there, sorrounded by midtitudes of pestiferous serpents. Amongst them the soul of Gianni Fucci, who had robbed the sacristy in Fistoia^redicts to him the evils that will shortly ensue to his own city and the Florentines. When in the season of the youthful year The sun beneath Aquarius dims his rays, And equal to the day the nights draw near ; When o'er the landscape the hoar frost displays An image of the snow, its sister white, ^ But very briefly its soft plumage stays. The peasant whose apparel is but slight, Sises and looks and sees the wide champaign Whiten, on which his person he does smite, Eetums to his hut and does complain. Like to the wretch who knows not what to do : Then turns back and takes hope again. Seeing the world has changed its face to view In such a little time, and takes his wand And to their pastures drives his flocks anew ;
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90 HELL. Cahto XXIV. So did my master make me all despond, When I beheld him with such troubled brow, And so to the evil was the salve at hand. For as we reached the ruined bridge below My leader turned to me with that sweet air -^ Which at the mountain's foot I first did know. His arms he opened after thought of care Within himself, and comprehensive view Over the ruin, he embraced me there. And like a man who works and thinks too, ^ Who for the future seems aye to care. So o'er a jutting summit me he drew. While of a rock still higher he was 'ware, Saying, " To that you afterwards must hold, But test it first if fit your weight to bear." ^ It was no path for those in long cloaks rolled. Since scarcely we, he light and I upborne, Were able to climb up from hold to hold. And were it not that of that precinct lorn More than the other side this hill was short, ^^ Of him I know not, I had been outworn. But since the Malebolge towards the port Of that down-sunken lake inclines all, The site of every valley is so wrought. One side below the other aye does fall. ^ At length, however, to that point we came Where the last fragment topples from the wall. The breath within my lungs so spent became, When there I reached my strength no further goes, So down I sat on the first stone that came. ^^ '' Henceforth 'tis fitting you should shake off sloth," The master cried, " since idly lapt in down 'Neath coverlets, for him Fame never grows. Who so his life consumes without renown, Leaves such a vestige of himself on earth. As it were froth on air or water blown. Therefore arise, your weakness stem with worth Of soul, that of all battles wins the prime, Unless 'tis borne down by the body's dearth. Far longer stairs than these you'lt have to climb, From these 'twill not sujfice you to depart ; Make now my counsel with your action chime." Then I arose, exhibiting with art More force of breath than I in truth possest, And said, " Go on, I'm strong and bold of heart." *® Line 55. The stairs ascending the hill of Purgatory.
Cakto XXIV. HELL. 91 Up o'er the precipice our way we prest, A rocky, narrow, and most hard ascent, And even steeper yet than all the rest. Not to seem weak still speaking on I went, On which from the other moat there did transpire ^ A voice that shouted words of shameless bent. I know not what it said though standing higher, Over the spanning bridge I now arrive. But he who spake appeared as moved with ire. I gazed intent below, but eyes alive ^^ Could not pierce downwards through that gloomy hall. " Master," I therefore said, " let us arrive From the other circle and descend the wall, For as I hear from hence nor comprehend. So gazing down I cannot see at all." ^^ " No other answer," said he, " do I tend Save action, for in silence with the deed 'Tis fit to carry out a fair demand." We then descended by the bridge's head, Where with the eighth ridge joins on its road, ^" And there the pit before me dear I rede : There I beheld within a terrible brood Of serpents, and of species so diverse, That recollection still makes creep my blood. Libya with all its deserts boasts no worse, ^ Though there of snakes amphibious, snakes on trees, Snakes spotted, with two heads, it knows the curse. Not ever plagues so great nor fell as these Were seen through Ethiop's land of dread alarm, Nor in the realm which o'er the Red Sea lies. ^ Amidst this cruel, miserable swarm Ean people naked all and terrified, No hope of refuge nor of counter-charm. Their hands behind them were with serpents tied ; These in their loins fixed firm their tail and head, ^ While in the front their bodies twist and glide. And lo ! one wretch that to our side had sped A serpent singled out and pierced him through. There where the shoulders and the neck are wed. One could not write so quickly I or O ^^ As this one kindled and burnt up amain, And in a mass of ashes fell below. Then when he lay on earth destroyed, not slain, The ashes re-collect and upwards rear. Suddenly changed to his own form again. ^^^
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