Thereon ourselves we seated both of us Turned to the East, from which we had ascended, Then to the sun uplifted them, and wondered Bewildered at the chariot of the light, That up and down conducteth with its light, Together with this mount on earth to stand, So that they both one sole horizon have, And hemispheres diverse; whereby the road Which Phaeton, alas! knew not to drive, Thou'lt see how of necessity must pass This on one side, when that upon the other, Saw I so clearly as I now discern, That the mid-circle of supernal motion, Which in some art is the Equator called, For reason which thou sayest, departeth hence Tow'rds the Septentrion, what time the Hebrews How far we have to go; for the hill rises At the beginning down below 'tis tiresome, There to repose thy panting breath expect; No more I answer; and this I know for true." And as he finished uttering these words, A voice close by us sounded: "Peradventure Thou wilt have need of sitting down ere that." At sound thereof each one of us turned round, And saw upon the left hand a great rock, Was sitting down, and both his knees embraced, Then knew I who he was; and the distress, That still a little did my breathing quicken, I came to him he hardly raised his head, Saying: "Hast thou seen clearly how the sun His sluggish attitude and his curt words A little unto laughter moved my lips; In this place art thou? Waitest thou an escort ? Since to my torment would not let me go Since the good sighs I to the end postponed, Which rises from a heart that lives in grace; Meanwhile the Poet was before me mounting, And saying: Come now; see the sun has touched CANTO V. I HAD already from those shades departed, And like one living seems he to conduct him And saw them watching with astonishment But me, but me, and the light which was broken! "Why doth thy mind so occupy itself," The Master said, "that thou thy pace dost slacken? Stand like a steadfast tower, that never wags For evermore the man in whom is springing Thought upon thought, removes from him the mark, What could I say in answer but "I come "? I said it somewhat with that colour tinged Came people in advance of us a little, For passage of the sunshine through my body, And two of them, in form of messengers, Ran forth to meet us, and demanded of us, If they stood still because they saw his shadow, At early nightfall cleave the air serene, But upward they returned in briefer time, And, on arriving, with the others wheeled "This folk that presses unto us is great, And cometh to implore thee," said the Poet; "O soul that goest to beatitude With the same members wherewith thou wast born," Look, if thou e'er hast any of us seen, So that o'er yonder thou bear news of him ; From life we issued reconciled to God, Who with desire to see Him stirs our hearts." And I "Although I gaze into your faces, : No one I recognize; but if may please you Aught I have power to do, ye well-born spirits, Speak ye, and I will do it, by that peace Which, following the feet of such a Guide, From world to world makes itself sought by me." And one began: "Each one has confidence Thou be so courteous to me of thy prayers In Fano, that they pray for me devoutly, That I may purge away my grave offences. Issued the blood wherein I had my seat, From thence was I; but the deep wounds, through which Were dealt me in bosom of the Antenori, There where I thought to be the most secure ; But if towards the Mira I had fled, When I was overtaken at Oriaco, I still should be o'er yonder where men breathe. I ran to the lagoon, and reeds and mire Did so entangle me I fell, and saw there A lake made from my veins upon the ground." Then said another: "Ah, be that desire I was of Montefeltro, and am Buonconte; Giovanna, nor none other cares for me; A river crosses named Archiano, born There where the name thereof becometh void Did I arrive, pierced through and through the throat, There my sight lost I, and my utterance Ceased in the name of Mary, and thereat I fell, and tenantless my flesh remained. Truth will I speak, repeat it to the living; God's Angel took me up, and he of hell Shouted: O thou from heaven, why dost thou rob me? 105 Thou bearest away the eternal part of him, For one poor little tear, that takes him from me; Well knowest thou how in the air is gathered To intellect, and moved the mist and wind From Pratomagno to the great yoke covered Down fell the rain, and to the gullies came And as it mingled with the mighty torrents, Towards the royal river with such speed My frozen body near unto its outlet The robust Archian found, and into Arno I made of me, when agony o'ercame me; It rolled me on the banks and on the bottom; 115 120 193 |