The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
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116 HELL. Casio XXXI. Thou hast a burning and an aching front, And but to lick Narcissus' mirror bright Thou wouldst not many invitations want." In listening to them I was centered quite, When said my master to me, " Now behold, Little remains to make me vexed outright." When I had heard his words in anger told, With such deep shame towards him did I turn. That still in memoiy is o'er me rolled. And like one dreaming who doth loss discern. Who dreaming, hopeth that he doth but dream, And hopes it may not be what seems so stem, Unable e'en to speak, so did I seem. Who longed for pardon, and the pardon won, Which all the while I did not dare to claim. " Less shame a greater error would atone Than this of thine has been," my master cried, " Now from all sadness clear thy heart, my son. And think that I am always by thy side, Should Fortune e'er again conduct thee nigher, Where people in a like contention bide. Since wishing such to hear is low desire."
CANTO XXXI. The poets, turning from the last valley of Malebolge, advance towards the ninth circle of Hell, the lowest and central pit. Aronnd that pit, standing within it, but rising above it from their middle upwards, stand vast giants. Of these Dante sees Nimrod, Fialte, and Antrons. The last places the poets in safety at the bottom of the pit. At first it stung me that rebuke so keen, So that the blush on either cheek I feel.
And after cured me the same medicine. So have I heard Achilles' lance of steel Left to him by his father had the gift At first to wound, and afterwards to heal. We turned our back upon that wretched rift. Up by the bank with which it is embraced, O'er which without another word we drift.
Less than or night or day a light was cast, ^"* So that my sight but little way could press ; But there I heard resound a horn's shrill blast So loud that thunder would have sounded less, Which 'gainst itself, following its passage, drew My eyesight forward wholly to one place ; ^*
Canto XXXI. HELL. 117 After the dolorous rout which overthrew Of Charlemagne the sacred enterprise, Not half so terribly Orlando blew. A little upwards, when I raised my eyes. It seemed that many lofty towers I saw ; ^^ Whence I : " master, say what land is this ? And he to me : " Since thou too far dost draw Thy eyesight through the shadows, it may be That after what thou deem'st may prove a flaw.
If thou dost thither reach, thou clear wilt see ^* How much the senses are deceived afar ; Therefore bestir thyself more speedily. Then did he take my hand with tender care And said to me, " Before we further reach, In order that the fact less strange appear, '^ Know that these are not towerc«, but giants, stretch Their forms around the pit's circumference here, Hid from the navel downwards, all and each. As when a cloud doth dissipate and clear.
Little by little doth the sight perceive ^•'* What erst was hid by vapour, dimmed by air ; So, as that dark and thickened air we cleave, More and more near approaching towards the shore, Awaketh fear, as my mistake I leave ; For as around its circular yard there tower *^ Turrets round Montereggion*s keep encrowned, So round the brink which o'er the pit doth lower With half their persons, turreted around The horrible giants, whom Jove's threats yet chase.
When from the heavens there peals the thunder sound, ** Already I perceived of one the face, Shoulders, and breast, and of his belly part, And both his arms adown his sides I trace. Nature most surely when she left the art Of making animals like that did well, ^" From Mars such executioners to part ; And if of elephants, and whales as well, She yet repents not, who would keen reflect More just and more discreet will hold her still. Line 16.
" When Charlemagne with all his peerage fell At Fontarabia. On this occasion Orlando, surrounded by the Paynim, blew so loud a blast upon his miraculous horn that it was heard by the king at the distance of eight leagnes, who, with all his ardour, could not return in time to the rcicue of his favourite knight. Line 41. Montercggion, a castle between Sicua and Florence.
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116 HELL. Casio XXXI. You have a burning and an aching front, And but to lick Narcissus' mirror bright You would not many invitations want." In listening to them I was centered quite, When said my master to me, " Now behold, Little remains to make me vexed outright." When I had heard his words in anger told, With such deep shame towards him did I turn. That still in memoiy is o'er me rolled. And like one dreaming who does loss discern. Who dreaming, hopes that he does but dream, And hopes it may not be what seems so stem, Unable e'en to speak, so did I seem. Who longed for pardon, and the pardon won, Which all the while I did not dare to claim. " Less shame a greater error would atone Than this of your has been," my master cried, " Now from all sadness clear your heart, my son. And think that I am always by your side, Should Fortune e'er again conduct you nigher, Where people in a like contention bide. Since wishing such to hear is low desire."
CANTO XXXI. The poets, turning from the last valley of Malebolge, advance towards the ninth circle of Hell, the lowest and central pit. Aronnd that pit, standing within it, but rising above it from their middle upwards, stand vast giants. Of these Dante sees Nimrod, Fialte, and Antrons. The last places the poets in safety at the bottom of the pit. At first it stung me that rebuke so keen, So that the blush on either cheek I feel.
And after cured me the same medicine. So have I heard Achilles' lance of steel Left to him by his father had the gift At first to wound, and afterwards to heal. We turned our back upon that wretched rift. Up by the bank with which it is embraced, O'er which without another word we drift.
Less than or night or day a light was cast, ^"* So that my sight but little way could press ; But there I heard resound a horn's shrill blast So loud that thunder would have sounded less, Which 'gainst itself, following its passage, drew My eyesight forward wholly to one place ; ^*
Canto XXXI. HELL. 117 After the dolorous rout which overthrew Of Charlemagne the sacred enterprise, Not half so terribly Orlando blew. A little upwards, when I raised my eyes. It seemed that many lofty towers I saw ; ^^ Whence I : " master, say what land is this ?" And he to me : " Since you too far do draw Your eyesight through the shadows, it may be That after what you deem'st may prove a flaw. If you do thither reach, you clear will see ^* How much the senses are deceived afar ; Therefore bestir yourself more speedily." Then did he take my hand with tender care And said to me, " Before we further reach, In order that the fact less strange appear, '^ Know that these are not towerc«, but giants, stretch Their forms around the pit's circumference here, Hid from the navel downwards, all and each." As when a cloud does dissipate and clear. Little by little does the sight perceive ^•'* What erst was hid by vapour, dimmed by air ; So, as that dark and thickened air we cleave, More and more near approaching towards the shore, Awaks fear, as my mistake I leave ; For as around its circular yard there tower *^ Turrets round Montereggion*s keep encrowned, So round the brink which o'er the pit does lower With half their persons, turreted around The horrible giants, whom Jove's threats yet chase. When from the heavens there peals the thunder sound, ** Already I perceived of one the face, Shoulders, and breast, and of his belly part, And both his arms adown his sides I trace. Nature most surely when she left the art Of making animals like that did well, ^" From Mars such executioners to part ; And if of elephants, and whales as well, She yet repents not, who would keen reflect More just and more discreet will hold her still. Line 16. " When Charlemagne with all his peerage fell At Fontarabia." On this occasion Orlando, surrounded by the Paynim, blew so loud a blast upon his miraculous horn that it was heard by the king at the distance of eight leagnes, who, with all his ardour, could not return in time to the rcicue of his favourite knight. Line 41. Montercggion, a castle between Sicua and Florence.
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