The Divine Comedy — Dante Alighieri
p. 172Cakto XI ** Ah that both clemency and justice right May soon unburden ye, your wings to rear, According to your will to rise in flight ! Show us the shortest way towards the stair ; *® And if there's more than one appointed road, Point out the one which riseth up least sheer, Since he who cometh with me, by the load Of Adam's flesh with which he still is drest, Is slow in climbing, though goodwill be showed.
The words, which they in answer then addrest, To those he spake, the whom I followed, quite From whom they issued were not manifest. They said : " Along the bank towards the right Come ye with us, a passage will be shown ^'^ Which can be mounted by a living wight. And were I not impeded by the stone, Which thus my proud neck doth weigh down and tame, Whence I am forced to keep my face bent down.
This one who liveth still, nor tells his name, ^^ I'd gaze on, if perchance to me he's known. His pity also for this load to claim. Latin was I, of a great Tuscan son, Guglielm' Aldobrandescho was my sire, I know not if his name to you has flown. ^ The ancient blood, and deeds of grace and fire Done by my ancestors, made me so proud, Not thinking of our common mother, mire. Each man I held in such contempt avowed.
That hence I died, as the Sanesi know, ^ And knows in Campagnatico the crowd. Omberto I : nor me alone I trow Has Pride thus ruined, all who with me fare Has she drawn with her to this grievous woe. And here 'tis dooomed that I this burden bear ^° For her, until I satisfy my God, In which I living failed, 'midst dead men here. Listening the words, my face I downwards bowed.
And one amongst them (not the one who spake) Twisted himself beneath his cumbering load, ^^ Line 58. Omberto, Count of Santa Flora, whose arrogance became so hateful to the inhabitants of Siena that they murdered him in Campagnatico. It was, perhaps, in allusion to this murder that in Canto YL. Dante called on the Emperor Albert to see " how Santa Fior securely groweth." **£ vedra, Santa Fior com h secura.''
Canto XI. PURGATORY. 173 And saw, and knew me, and did call me back, Fixing with great fatigue on me his eyes, Who, wholly bent, with them my course did take. " 0," said I to him, " art not Oderis ? Agobbio's pride, and honour of the art, ^^ Illuminating called, in Paris* guise? " Brother," said he, " the shapes more lifelike start Which Franco Bolognese's pencil drew. Now is the honour his, and mine in part.
I had not been so courteous, it is true, ^ While I was living, for the great desire Of excellence, which in my heart then grew. Of such a pride, here do we pay the hire ; And even here I'd be not, had I not, While scope was left to sin, sought out God nigher. •^ empty glory of our human lot, How briefly lasts the green upon the bough. Unless succeeds the fame an age of nought !
In painting, Cimabue they avow The master once, now Griotto has their cry, •^ So that the other's fame obscureth now. So the first with the latter Guide could not vie, In pride of style, and haply one is born Who'll chase them both from out their nest on high. Mundane renown is but a breath forlorn ^^ Of wind that cometh now from here, now there. Named various from the quarter whence 'tis borne.
If thou stripp'st off thy aged flesh, wilt share More fame than if thou'dst early died in grace Before thou'dst ceased thy childish prattle, ere ^^* Line 79. Oderisi was a miniature-painter, a friend of Giotto and Dante, and the master of Franco of Bologna, whose skill he extols beyond his own. Line 93. The fame of any man is immediately eclipsed by that of his successors, unless there follows an age void of excellence. Line 94.
Cimabue was the father of Italian x>ainting: the story of his discovering Giotto's talents, while the latter was tending sheep, is well known. " Yet rightly was young Giotto talked about, Whom Cimabue found among the sheep, And knew, as gods know gods, and carried home To paint the things he painted, with a deep Aud fuller insight, and so overcome His chapel Virgin with a heaveolier sweep Of light. Mrs. Browning's " Casa Guidi Windows. Line 97.
Guido Guinicelli, of a noble family in Bologna, whom Dante introduces in the 26th Canto of the " Purgatory," where he avows that he was his father in the art of poetry. The second Guido is Cavalcanti, Dante's intimate friend, whom his father in Canto X. of the " Hell" expected to find in his company. As the second Guido eclipsed the literary fame of the first, so Dante hints that he will rise over both.
p. 174Cahto XI. A thousand years have past ? A briefer space Beside the eternal, than a glance of the eye By that star's orbit, longest whirled through space. Eesounded with his name all Tuscany Who there before me doth so slowly toil ; "® Of him in Siena now they scarcely sigh, Where he was lord, what time their arms did spoil The rage of Florence, then so proud to view, Whom now, a harlot, all defilements soil.
This your renown is like the grass's hue *'* Which comes and goes, the &un that makes it fade, The tender leaf from the earth's bosom drew. And I to him : " What thou hast truly said Teaches humility, and levels pride ; But who is he, of whom thou'st parlance made ? " Provenzan the Salvani," he replied. And he is here, because presumptuous, Beneath his hands all Siena he defied.
Thus hath he gone, and goes without repose Aye since his death, who too much dares his fate. In satisfaction such a payment owes. And I : " Since every spirit who doth wait To the brink of life, with penitence delayed. Must dwell below, nor mount unto the gate.
Unless the prayers of good men grant him aid, ^** Till time full equal to his life has past, How unto this one was admission made P" " What time," he said, " his life in pride was past, Himself he humbled in Siena's plain. And every feeling of false shame forth cast. ^^ He then, to draw his friend from out the pain The which in Charles's prison-house he bore. His proud frame bowed, to tremble in each vein.
I know I darkly speak, yet say no more : But little time will pass, ere friends of thine "® Will treat thee, that thou'lt read this riddle's core : Him did that act absolve from the hill's confine. Line 110.
Prevenzano Salvani was the general of the Siennese : he hnmbled himseU so far, for the sake of a friend who was imprisoned by Charles of Sicily, as to beseech the .people in the market-place of Siena to contribute the sum demanded for his ransom. This act of abasement saved him from the delays of the Ante-Purgatory, and Oderisi tells Dante that he wiU soon learn from experience the bitterness of having to solicit snch favours : line 141*
172 PURGATORY. Cakto XI ** Ah that both clemency and justice right May soon unburden you, your wings to rear, According to your will to rise in flight ! Show us the shortest way towards the stair ; *® And if there's more than one appointed road, Point out the one which rises up least sheer, Since he who comes with me, by the load Of Adam's flesh with which he still is drest, Is slow in climbing, though goodwill be showed." The words, which they in answer then addrest, To those he spake, the whom I followed, quite From whom they issued were not manifest. They said : " Along the bank towards the right Come you with us, a passage will be shown ^'^ Which can be mounted by a living wight. And were I not impeded by the stone, Which thus my proud neck does weigh down and tame, Whence I am forced to keep my face bent down. This one who lives still, nor tells his name, ^^ I'd gaze on, if perchance to me he's known. His pity also for this load to claim. Latin was I, of a great Tuscan son, Guglielm' Aldobrandescho was my sire, I know not if his name to you has flown. ^ The ancient blood, and deeds of grace and fire Done by my ancestors, made me so proud, Not thinking of our common mother, mire. Each man I held in such contempt avowed. That hence I died, as the Sanesi know, ^ And knows in Campagnatico the crowd. Omberto I : nor me alone I trow Has Pride thus ruined, all who with me fare Has she drawn with her to this grievous woe. And here 'tis dooomed that I this burden bear ^° For her, until I satisfy my God, In which I living failed, 'midst dead men here." Listening the words, my face I downwards bowed. And one amongst them (not the one who spake) Twisted himself beneath his cumbering load, ^^ Line 58. Omberto, Count of Santa Flora, whose arrogance became so hateful to the inhabitants of Siena that they murdered him in Campagnatico. It was, perhaps, in allusion to this murder that in Canto YL. Dante called on the Emperor Albert to see " how Santa Fior securely grows." **£ vedra, Santa Fior com h secura.''
Canto XI. PURGATORY. 173 And saw, and knew me, and did call me back, Fixing with great fatigue on me his eyes, Who, wholly bent, with them my course did take. " 0," said I to him, " art not Oderis ? Agobbio's pride, and honour of the art, ^^ Illuminating called, in Paris* guise?" " Brother," said he, " the shapes more lifelike start Which Franco Bolognese's pencil drew. Now is the honour his, and mine in part. I had not been so courteous, it is true, ^ While I was living, for the great desire Of excellence, which in my heart then grew. Of such a pride, here do we pay the hire ; And even here I'd be not, had I not, While scope was left to sin, sought out God nigher. •^ empty glory of our human lot, How briefly lasts the green upon the bough. Unless succeeds the fame an age of nought ! In painting, Cimabue they avow The master once, now Griotto has their cry, •^ So that the other's fame obscures now. So the first with the latter Guide could not vie, In pride of style, and haply one is born Who'll chase them both from out their nest on high. Mundane renown is but a breath forlorn ^^ Of wind that comes now from here, now there. Named various from the quarter whence 'tis borne. If you stripp'st off your aged flesh, will share More fame than if you'dst early died in grace Before you'dst ceased your childish prattle, ere ^^* Line 79. Oderisi was a miniature-painter, a friend of Giotto and Dante, and the master of Franco of Bologna, whose skill he extols beyond his own. Line 93. The fame of any man is immediately eclipsed by that of his successors, unless there follows an age void of excellence. Line 94. Cimabue was the father of Italian x>ainting: the story of his discovering Giotto's talents, while the latter was tending sheep, is well known. " Yet rightly was young Giotto talked about, Whom Cimabue found among the sheep, And knew, as gods know gods, and carried home To paint the things he painted, with a deep Aud fuller insight, and so overcome His chapel Virgin with a heaveolier sweep Of light." Mrs. Browning's " Casa Guidi Windows." Line 97. Guido Guinicelli, of a noble family in Bologna, whom Dante introduces in the 26th Canto of the " Purgatory," where he avows that he was his father in the art of poetry. The second Guido is Cavalcanti, Dante's intimate friend, whom his father in Canto X. of the " Hell" expected to find in his company. As the second Guido eclipsed the literary fame of the first, so Dante hints that he will rise over both.
174 PURGATORY. Cahto XI. A thousand years have past ? A briefer space Beside the eternal, than a glance of the eye By that star's orbit, longest whirled through space. Eesounded with his name all Tuscany Who there before me does so slowly toil ; "® Of him in Siena now they scarcely sigh, Where he was lord, what time their arms did spoil The rage of Florence, then so proud to view, Whom now, a harlot, all defilements soil. This your renown is like the grass's hue *'* Which comes and goes, the &un that makes it fade, The tender leaf from the earth's bosom drew." And I to him : " What you have truly said Teaches humility, and levels pride ; But who is he, of whom you'st parlance made ?" " Provenzan the Salvani," he replied. And he is here, because presumptuous, Beneath his hands all Siena he defied. Thus has he gone, and goes without repose Aye since his death, who too much dares his fate. In satisfaction such a payment owes. And I : " Since every spirit who does wait To the brink of life, with penitence delayed. Must dwell below, nor mount unto the gate. Unless the prayers of good men grant him aid, ^** Till time full equal to his life has past, How unto this one was admission made P" " What time," he said, " his life in pride was past, Himself he humbled in Siena's plain. And every feeling of false shame forth cast. ^^ He then, to draw his friend from out the pain The which in Charles's prison-house he bore. His proud frame bowed, to tremble in each vein. I know I darkly speak, yet say no more : But little time will pass, ere friends of your "® Will treat you, that you'lt read this riddle's core : Him did that act absolve from the hill's confine." Line 110. Prevenzano Salvani was the general of the Siennese : he hnmbled himseU so far, for the sake of a friend who was imprisoned by Charles of Sicily, as to beseech the .people in the market-place of Siena to contribute the sum demanded for his ransom. This act of abasement saved him from the delays of the Ante-Purgatory, and Oderisi tells Dante that he wiU soon learn from experience the bitterness of having to solicit snch favours : line 141*
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