And he to me: "They, after long contention, Within three suns, and rise again the other Keeping the other under heavy burdens, Howe'er it weeps thereat and is indignant. The just are two, and are not understood there, Envy and Arrogance and Avarice Are the three sparks that have an nearts enkindled." And I to him: "I wish thee still to teach me, Farinata and Tegghiaio, once so worthy, Jacopo Rusticucci, Arrigo, and Mosca, And others who on good deeds set their thoughts, Say where they are, and cause that I may know them; For great desire constraineth me to learn If Heaven doth sweeten them, or Hell envenom." A different sin downweighs them to the bottom; But when thou art again in the sweet world, I pray thee to the mind of others bring me ; No more I tell thee and no more I answer." Then his straightforward eyes he turned askance, Eyed me a little, and then bowed his head; He fell therewith prone like the other blind. And the Guide said to me: “ He wakes no more This side the sound of the angelic trumpet ; When shall approach the hostile Potentate, Each one shall find again his dismal tomb, Shall reassume his flesh and his own figure, Of shadows and of rain with footsteps slow, Which wills, that as the thing more perfect is, Albeit that this people maledict To true perfection never can attain, Hereafter more than now they look to oe." Round in a circle by that road we went, Speaking much more, which I do not repeat; We came unto the point where the descent is; There we found Plutus the great enemy. CANTO VII. "PAPE Satàn, Papë Satàn, Aleppë!" Thus Plutus with his clucking voice began; And that benignant Sage, who all things knew, Said, to encourage me: "Let not thy fear Harm thee; for any power that he may have Shall not prevent thy going down this crag." Then he turned round unto that bloated lip, And said: "Be silent, thou accursed wolf; Thus is it willed on high, where Michael wrought Involved together fall when snaps the mast. Gaining still farther on the dolesome shore New toils and sufferings as I beheld? That breaks itself on that which it encounters, Each one turned backward, rolling retrograde, Thus they returned along the lurid circle On either hand unto the opposite point, טון Then each, when he arrived there, wheeled about That there with measure they no spending made. Whene'er they reach the two points of the circle. Clerks those were who no hairy covering Have on the head, and Popes and Cardinals, I ought forsooth to recognise some few, With the fist closed, and these with tresses shorn. Ill giving and ill keeping the fair world Have ta'en from them, and placed them in this scuffte Now canst thou, Son, behold the transient farce Or ever has been, of these weary souls Could never make a single one repose." 'Master," I said to him, "now tell me also What is this Fortune which thou speakest of, What ignorance is this which doth beset you ? He whose omniscience everything transcends The heavens created, and gave who should guide them, Distributing the light in equal measure; He in like manner to the mundane splendours Ordained a general ministress and guide, That she might change at times the empty treasures Languishes, in pursuance of her judgment, Necessity makes her precipitate, So often cometh who his turn obtains. And this is she who is so crucified Even by those who ought to give her praise, But she is blissful, and she hears it not; Among the other primal creatures gladsome Let us descend now unto greater woe; Already sinks each star that was ascending itself And we, in company with the dusky waves, Made entrance downward by a path uncouth. A marsh it makes, which has the name of Styx, This tristful brooklet, when it has descended Down to the foot of the malign gray shores. And I, who stood intent upon beholding, Saw people mud-besprent in that lagoon, But with the head and with the breast and feet, Beneath the water people are who sigh And make this water bubble at the surface, In the sweet air, which by the sun is gladdened, Now we are sullen in this sable mire.' This hymn do they keep gurgling in their throats, Thus we went circling round the filthy fen A great arc 'twixt the dry bank and the swamp, With eyes turned unto those who gorge the mire ; Unto the foot of a tower we came at last. CANTO VIII. I SAY, Continuing, that long before We to the foot of that high tower had come, Our eyes went upward to the summit of it, By reason of two flamelets we saw placed there, And from afar another answer them, So far, that hardly could the eye attain it. And, to the sea of all discernment turned, I said: "What sayeth this, and what respondeth That other fire? and who are they that made it ? " And he to me: "Across the turbid waves What is expected thou canst now discern, If reek of the morass conceal it not." Cord never shot an arrow from itself That sped away athwart the air so swift, Come o'er the water tow'rds us at that moment, " Under the guidance of a single pilot, Who shouted, "Now art thou arrived, fell soul?" Phlegyas, Phlegyas, thou criest out in vain For this once," said my Lord; "thou shalt not have us As he who listens to some great deceit That has been done to him, and then resents it, My Guide descended down into the boat, And then he made me enter after him, And only when I entered seemed it laden. Soon as the Guide and I were in the boat, The antique prow goes on its way, dividing More of the water than 'tis wont with others. While we were running through the dead canal, Uprose in front of me one full of mire, And said, "Who 'rt thou that comest ere the hour?" C |