The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
p. 152Canto VI. When there breaks up at last a gambling bout, The one who loses, vext remains behind, Repeating his lost throws in gloomy doubt, With him who wins go all the servile kind, One goes before, and one behind him nears, * One at his side his presence calls to mind. He does not stay, but this and that one hears. He who has shared his coin, takes no more heed, So, through the pressure, by his gifts he steers.
Just so was I in that thick crowd of greed. Turning towards them here and there my face, The while with promises my way I find. Here was the Aretine, who from the base Strong arms of Ghin di Tacco death received, And he who drowned, while urging on the chase. Here with his outstretcht arms beseechings weaved Frederic Novello, and here Pisa's son Who proved the worth of his good sire bereaved.
I saw Count Orso, and that spirit won From out his frame, by spite and envy rare, ^ As it was said, and not for ill deeds done. Pierre de la Broche I say; and here beware That lady of Brabant, while still alive Lest a worse company she some day share. When I had freed myself from all that hive Of shadows, who' for others' prayers did vie. To advance the moment their poor souls to shrive. Line 8.
" A oni porge la roan, piu non fa pressa." — This has hitherto been translated^ " He, against whom he has thrash his hand, stands aside," but I think it will fairly bear the meaniug given in the text, and which, makes the comparison so far more suitable to Dante's position amongst the spirits, none of whom does he thrust aside.
Gary alludes to a scene in one of Cervantes' novels, from which it appears, as he says, that it was usual for money to be given to bystanders at play, by winners, and thus bearing out my interpretation. Line 13. The Aretine is Benincasa, judge in Siena, who was murdered openly in his hall by Ghino di Tacco, because he had sentenced to death the brother of the latter for a robbery.
Ghino di Tacco was a celebrated marauder of those days, and is the hero of one of Boccaccio's novels. The 2nd of the 10th day of the " Decameron. Line 15. Ciacco Tarlati, who was drowned while swimming his horse across the Amo, in pursuit of his enemies the Bostoli. Line 17- Frederic Novello, slain by one of the above family of the Bostoli.
Pisa's son was Farinata, son of Marzucco, who, having entered the order of Frati Minori, pardoned the slayer of his -son, kissed his hand, and at the funeral exhorted his relatives to reconciliation. Line 22. Pierre de la Broche was secretary of Philip the Fair of France, and was slain, according to Italian commentators, on account of a false charge brought against him by Queen Mary of Brabant, of having attempted her person.
Canto VI. PURGATORY. I thus began : /'It seems thou dost deny, light of mine, expressly in one test, That prayer can alter aught decreed on high : ^ And yet for that those prayers are all annext : Will then this hope of theirs be all in vain ? Or that thy saying is it not perplext ?
And he to me : " That verse of mine is plain, Nor will these in the hope they nourish fail, ** If one views clearly with perception sane : The Top of Judgment cannot seek the vale, Because the fire of love at once would do That which would satisfy these souls in bale. And there, where I laid down my saying true, *^ The lack could not amended be by prayer, Because such prayer God was not joined unto.
But truly in such lofty doubt, beware Of certainty, till she the secret break. Of truth and intellect the glory rare. ** Thou mayst not know, of Beatrix I speak. Thou wilt behold her with a happy smile, Upon this mountain, on its highest peak. And I : " Good leader, let us haste erewhile, 1 am not now so wearied as before ; ^ And see now towards us casts its shade the hill.
" With what remaineth of the daylight's store We'll go as far," he answered, " as we may, But differs from thy thought the truth galore. Before thou gain'st the height, return thou'lt see ** The sun now covered by the mountain side. So that no longer thou dost break his ray. But see a spirit there, who stands aside.
And towards us all alone his gaze doth throw, To us the shortest passage he will guide." ^ We came to him : Lombard spirit how Thou standedst there, with high and haughty crest, Moving thy eyes with gesture proud and slow ! He not a syllable to us addrest ; But let us near approach, the while he eyed ^ Just like a lion when he takes his rest. Line 30. Referriag to the linp, Book VI., "^neid" :— '' Dpsine fata Ueum flecti sperare precando.
Line 37. The Top of Judj?raeat — cima di judicio^aa expression also applied to the Deity by Shakspeare in " Measure for Measure :" — " How would you be, If He, which is the Top of Judgment, should But judge you as you are P" I believe this extraordinary parallel passage was first noticed by Mr. Douce.
p. 154Ca*to VI. Yii^il drew near him then, and praying, cried, That he the best ascent to us would show : To that request no answer he replied. But of our country and our life to know '® He asked us ; and my leader sweet began, '^ Mantua," the shadow in a trembling glow From the place where he had stood towards him ran.
Saying, " O Mantuan, of thy land am I, Sordello," and they Hssed each other fain. ^^ Household of grief, ah, slavish Italy ! Ship without pilot in the tempest fear. No landed lady, but a harlot's sty : That gentle spirit was so ready there. But at the sweet sound of his natal land, ^ To give a citizen such festal cheer. And now in thee thy living sons ne'er stand Except at strife, and one the other gores, Men whom one moat and rampart comprehend.
Seek, seek, wretched one around the shores '* Of thy seaboard, and then gaze in thy breast. If any part of thee but peace ignores. What boots it that Justinian had redrest Thy bridle, if thy saddle now is free ? The bridle makes thy shame stand more confest. ^ Woe on thy people, who devout shouldst be. And leave thy Csesar seated in the selle, If thou knew'st well what God commandeth thee.
See how the beast has grown unruly, fell, Because it has not felt the chiding spur, '^ The instant on the reins the fingers dwell. O German Albert, who abandoned her Now savage and unconquerable grown.
Whose saddle-bows thou shouldst have strided sure : May from the stars just judgment £eiI1 adown ^^ Upon thy blood, and that it cause the dread Of thy successor, be it new and known : Thou and thy father, how have ye been led Chained by your lustings after Germany, The garden of the Empire to have fled. ^•^ Line 75. Sordello, a FroYenQal poet of the thirteenth century. Line 97.
Albert I., who became emperor in 1298, and was murdered ten years later. He and his father Bodolph both neglected Italy for their German possessions. His successor is Henry YII. of Luxembourg, from whom Dante mainly expected the regeneration of his country xmder firm imperial rule.
152 PURGATORY. Canto VI. When there breaks up at last a gambling bout, The one who loses, vext remains behind, Repeating his lost throws in gloomy doubt, With him who wins go all the servile kind, One goes before, and one behind him nears, * One at his side his presence calls to mind. He does not stay, but this and that one hears. He who has shared his coin, takes no more heed, So, through the pressure, by his gifts he steers.
Just so was I in that thick crowd of greed. Turning towards them here and there my face, The while with promises my way I find. Here was the Aretine, who from the base Strong arms of Ghin di Tacco death received, And he who drowned, while urging on the chase. Here with his outstretcht arms beseechings weaved Frederic Novello, and here Pisa's son Who proved the worth of his good sire bereaved.
I saw Count Orso, and that spirit won From out his frame, by spite and envy rare, ^ As it was said, and not for ill deeds done. Pierre de la Broche I say; and here beware That lady of Brabant, while still alive Lest a worse company she some day share. When I had freed myself from all that hive Of shadows, who' for others' prayers did vie. To advance the moment their poor souls to shrive. Line 8.
" A oni porge la roan, piu non fa pressa." — This has hitherto been translated^ " He, against whom he has thrash his hand, stands aside," but I think it will fairly bear the meaniug given in the text, and which, makes the comparison so far more suitable to Dante's position amongst the spirits, none of whom does he thrust aside.
Gary alludes to a scene in one of Cervantes' novels, from which it appears, as he says, that it was usual for money to be given to bystanders at play, by winners, and thus bearing out my interpretation. Line 13. The Aretine is Benincasa, judge in Siena, who was murdered openly in his hall by Ghino di Tacco, because he had sentenced to death the brother of the latter for a robbery.
Ghino di Tacco was a celebrated marauder of those days, and is the hero of one of Boccaccio's novels. The 2nd of the 10th day of the " Decameron. Line 15. Ciacco Tarlati, who was drowned while swimming his horse across the Amo, in pursuit of his enemies the Bostoli. Line 17- Frederic Novello, slain by one of the above family of the Bostoli.
Pisa's son was Farinata, son of Marzucco, who, having entered the order of Frati Minori, pardoned the slayer of his -son, kissed his hand, and at the funeral exhorted his relatives to reconciliation. Line 22. Pierre de la Broche was secretary of Philip the Fair of France, and was slain, according to Italian commentators, on account of a false charge brought against him by Queen Mary of Brabant, of having attempted her person.
Canto VI. PURGATORY. I thus began : /'It seems you do deny, light of mine, expressly in one test, That prayer can alter aught decreed on high : ^ And yet for that those prayers are all annext : Will then this hope of theirs be all in vain ? Or that your saying is it not perplext ?" And he to me : " That verse of mine is plain, Nor will these in the hope they nourish fail, ** If one views clearly with perception sane : The Top of Judgment cannot seek the vale, Because the fire of love at once would do That which would satisfy these souls in bale. And there, where I laid down my saying true, *^ The lack could not amended be by prayer, Because such prayer God was not joined unto. But truly in such lofty doubt, beware Of certainty, till she the secret break. Of truth and intellect the glory rare. ** You mayst not know, of Beatrix I speak. You will behold her with a happy smile, Upon this mountain, on its highest peak." And I : " Good leader, let us haste erewhile, 1 am not now so wearied as before ; ^ And see now towards us casts its shade the hill." " With what remains of the daylight's store We'll go as far," he answered, " as we may, But differs from your thought the truth galore. Before you gain'st the height, return you'lt see ** The sun now covered by the mountain side. So that no longer you do break his ray. But see a spirit there, who stands aside. And towards us all alone his gaze does throw, To us the shortest passage he will guide." ^ We came to him : Lombard spirit how You standedst there, with high and haughty crest, Moving your eyes with gesture proud and slow ! He not a syllable to us addrest ; But let us near approach, the while he eyed ^ Just like a lion when he takes his rest. Line 30. Referriag to the linp, Book VI., "^neid" :— '' Dpsine fata Ueum flecti sperare precando." Line 37. The Top of Judj?raeat — cima di judicio^aa expression also applied to the Deity by Shakspeare in " Measure for Measure :" — " How would you be, If He, which is the Top of Judgment, should But judge you as you are P" I believe this extraordinary parallel passage was first noticed by Mr. Douce.
154 PURGATORY. Ca*to VI. Yii^il drew near him then, and praying, cried, That he the best ascent to us would show : To that request no answer he replied. But of our country and our life to know '® He asked us ; and my leader sweet began, '^ Mantua," the shadow in a trembling glow From the place where he had stood towards him ran. Saying, " O Mantuan, of your land am I, Sordello," and they Hssed each other fain. ^^ Household of grief, ah, slavish Italy ! Ship without pilot in the tempest fear. No landed lady, but a harlot's sty : That gentle spirit was so ready there. But at the sweet sound of his natal land, ^ To give a citizen such festal cheer. And now in you your living sons ne'er stand Except at strife, and one the other gores, Men whom one moat and rampart comprehend. Seek, seek, wretched one around the shores '* Of your seaboard, and then gaze in your breast. If any part of you but peace ignores. What boots it that Justinian had redrest Your bridle, if your saddle now is free ? The bridle makes your shame stand more confest. ^ Woe on your people, who devout should be. And leave your Csesar seated in the selle, If you knew'st well what God commands you. See how the beast has grown unruly, fell, Because it has not felt the chiding spur, '^ The instant on the reins the fingers dwell. O German Albert, who abandoned her Now savage and unconquerable grown. Whose saddle-bows you should have strided sure : May from the stars just judgment £eiI1 adown ^^ Upon your blood, and that it cause the dread Of your successor, be it new and known : You and your father, how have you been led Chained by your lustings after Germany, The garden of the Empire to have fled. ^•^ Line 75. Sordello, a FroYenQal poet of the thirteenth century. Line 97. Albert I., who became emperor in 1298, and was murdered ten years later. He and his father Bodolph both neglected Italy for their German possessions. His successor is Henry YII. of Luxembourg, from whom Dante mainly expected the regeneration of his country xmder firm imperial rule.
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