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Home , Alichino (devil), Aloeus, Barbariccia, Brunetto Latini, Ciampolo, Dis (Divine Comedy)

THE

DIVINE COMEDY

OF

DANTE ALIGHIERI

TRANSLATED BY

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

I follow here the footing of thy feete That with thy meaning so I may the rather meete S p e n s e r .

VOL. I.

BOSTON FIELDS, OSGOOD, & CO.

SUCCESSORS TO TICKNOR AND FIELDS I 869 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1867, by

HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW,, in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts.

University Press : W elch, Bigelow, & Co., C a m b r id g e . CONTENTS

OF VOL. I.

INFERNO.

CANTO I. Page The Dark Forest. — The Hill of Difficulty. — The Panther, the Lion, and the Wolf.— ...... 1

CANTO II.

Dante’s Protest and Virgil’s Appeal. — The Intercession of the Three Ladies B e n e d i g h t ...... 7

CANTO III.

The Gate of . — The Inefficient or Indifferent. — Pope Celestine V. — The Shores of . — . — The Earthquake and the Swoon . 14

CANTO IV.

The First Circle. — Limbo, or the Border Land of the Unbaptized. — The Four Poets, , , Ovid, and Lucan. — The Noble Castle of Philosophy ...... 2 0

CANTO V.

The Second Circle. — . — The Wanton. — The Infernal Hurricane. — — ...... 27

CANTO VI. - * V ..' The Third Circle. — Cerberus. — The Gluttonous. — The Eternal . — Ciacco ...... 34 IV Contents

CANTO VII. |

The Fourth Circle. — Plutus. — The Avaricious and the Prodigal. — Fortune and her Wheel. — The Fifth Circle. — . — The Irascible and the S u l l e n ...... 39

CANTO VIII.

Phlegyas. — Philippo Argenti. — The Gate of the City of ...... 4 5

CANTO IX.

The Furies. — The Angel. — The City of Dis. — The Sixth Circle. — Here- s ia r c h s ...... 51

CANTO X.

Farinata and Cavalcante de’ C a v a l c a n t i ...... 57

CANTO XI.

Pope Anastasius. — General Description of the and its Divisions . 63

CANTO XII.

The Minotaur. — The Seventh prcle. — The Violent. — . — The Violent against their Neighbors. — The . — Tyrants . . .6 8

CANTO XIII.

The Wood of Thorns. — The Harpies. — The Violent against themselves. — Suicides. — Pier della Vigna. — Lano and Jacopo da Sant’ Andrea ... . 74

CANTO XIV.

The Sand Waste. — The Violent against God. — Capaneus. — The Statue of Time, and the Four Infernal R i v e r s ...... 81

CANTO XV.

The Violent against Nature. — ...... 88

CANTO XVI.

Guidoguerra, Aldobrandi, and Rusticucci. — Cataract of the River of Blood ...... 94 Contents v

CANTO XVII.

Geryon. — The Violent against Art. — Usurers. — Descent into the Abyss of ...... 100

CANTO XVIII.

The Eighth Circle: Malebolge. — The Fraudulent. — The First Bolgia : Sedu­ cers and Panders. — Venedico Caccianimico. — Jason. — The Second Bolgia: Flatterers. — Allessio Interminelli. — Thais...... 106

CANTO XIX.

The Third Bolgia: tile Simoniacs. — Pope Nicholas III...... 112

CANTO X X .

The Fourth Bolgia: Soothsayers. — Amphiaraiis, Tiresias, Aruns, Manto, Eryphylus, Michael Scott, Guido Bonatti, and Asdente . . . .118

CANTO XXI.

The Fifth Bolgia: Peculators. — The Elder of Santa Zita. — Malebranche . 124

CANTO XXII.

Ciampolo, Friar Gomita, and Michael Z a n c h e ...... 130

CANTO XXIII.

The Sixth Bolgia: Hypocrites. — Catalano and Loderingo. — . 137

CANTO XXIV.

The Seventh Bolgia: Thieves. — Vanni F u c c i ...... 144

CANTO XXV.

Agnello Brunelleschi, Buoso degli Abati, Puccio Sciancato, Cianfa de’ Donati, and Guercio Cavalcanti ...... 151

CANTO XXVI.

The Eighth Bolgia : Evil Counsellors. — Ulysses and Diomed . . .158 vi Contents

CANTO XXVII.

Guido da Montefeltro . • ...... 165

CANTO XXVIII.

The Ninth Bolgia: Schismatics. — Mahomet and Ali. — Pier da Medicina, Curio, Mosca, and Bertrand de B o r n ......

CANTO XXIX.

The Tenth Bolgia : Alchemists. — Griffolino d’ Arezzo and Capocchio . .178

CANTO XXX.

Other Falsifiers or Forgers. — , , of Brescia, Pot- iphar’s W ife, and Sinon of T r o y ...... 184

CANTO XXXI.

The Giants, , Ephialtes, and A n taeu s ...... 191

CANTO XXXII.

The Ninth Circle : the Frozen Lake of . — First Division, Caina: Traitors to their Kindred. — Camicion de’ Pazzi. — Second Division, Antenora : Traitors to their Country. — Bocca degli Abati and Buoso da D u e r a ...... 198

CANTO XXXIII.

Count Ugolino and the Archbishop Ruggieri. — Third Division of the Ninth Circle, Ptolomaea: Traitors to their Friends. — Friar Alberigo, Branca d’ O r i a ...... 204

CANTO XXXIV.

Fourth Division of the Ninth Circle, the Judecca: Traitors to their Lords and Benefactors.— Lucifer, Judas Iscariot, Brutus and Cassius . • .211

N O T E S ...... 219 Contents vii

ILLUSTRATIONS. L’ Ottimo Com ento ...... 343 Villani’s Notice of Dante...... 343 Letter of Frate I la r io ...... 344 Passage from the Convito ...... 346 Dante’s Letter to a Friend ...... 346 Portraits of D a n t e ...... 347 Boccaccio’s Account of the C o m m e d i a ...... 353 The Posthumous Dante ...... 356 The Scholastic Philosophy...... 360 Homer’s , Book XI...... 362 Virgil’s , Book V I...... 374 ’s Vision of S c i p i o ...... 388 Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven...... 394 The Vision of Frate Alberico ...... 398 The Vision of W a l k e l i n ...... 400 From the Life of St. Brandan...... 406 Icelandic Vision ...... 411 Anglo-Saxon Description of Paradise . . » . . . . 413

1

FT have I seen at some cathedral door OA laborer, pausing in the dust and heat, Lay down his burden, and with reverent feet Enter, and cross himself, and on the floor Kneel to repeat his paternoster o’e r ; Far off the noises of the world retreat; The loud vociferations of the street Become an undistinguishable roar. So, as I enter here from day to day, And leave my burden at this minster gate, Kneeling in prayer, and not ashamed to pray, The tumult of the time disconsolate To inarticulate murmurs dies away, While the eternal ages watch and wait. H O W strange the sculptures that adorn these towers ! This crowd of statues, in whose folded sleeves Birds build their nests ; while canopied with leaves Parvis and portal bloom like trellised bowers, And the vast minster seems a cross of flowers ! But fiends and on the gargoyled eaves Watch the dead Christ between the living thieves, And, underneath, the traitor Judas lowers ! Ah ! from what agonies of heart and brain, W hat exultations trampling on , W hat tenderness, what tears, what hate of wrong, What passionate outcry of a soul in pain, Uprose this poem of the earth and air, This mediaeval miracle o f song ! INFERNO

CANTO I.

M IDW AY upon the journey of our life I found myself within a forest dark, For the straightforward pathway had been lost. A h me ! how hard a thing it is to say What was this forest savage, rough, and stern, 5 Which in the very thought renews the fear. So bitter is it, death is little m ore; But of the good to treat, which there I found, Speak will I of the other things I saw there. I cannot well repeat how there I entered, 10 So full was I o f slumber at the moment In which I had abandoned the true way. But after I had reached a mountain’s foot, At that point where the valley terminated, Which had with consternation pierced my heart, 15 2 The

Upward I looked, and I beheld its shoulders, Vested already with that planet’s rays W hich leadeth others right by every road. Then was the fear a little quieted That in my heart’s lake had endured throughout 20 The night, which I had passed so piteously. And even as he, who, with distressful breath, Forth issued from the sea upon the shore, Turns to the water perilous and gazes; So did my soul, that still was fleeing onward, 25 Turn itself back to re-behold the pass W hich never yet a living person left. After my weary body I had rested, The way resumed I on the desert slope, So that the firm foot ever was the lower. 30 And lo ! almost where the ascent began, A panther light and swift exceedingly, Which with a spotted skin was covered o’e r! And never moved she from before my face,

Nay, rather did impede so much my way, 3s That many times I to return had turned. The time was the beginning of the morning, And up the sun was mounting with those stars That with him were, what time the Love Divine I n f e r n o I . 3

At first in motion set those beauteous things; 40 So were to me occasion of good hope, The variegated skin of that wild beast, The hour of time, and the delicious season; But not so much, that did not give me fear A lion’s aspect which appeared to me. 45 He seemed as if against me he were coming W ith head uplifted, and with ravenous hunger, So that it seemed the air was afraid of him ; And a she-wolf, that with all hungerings Seemed to be laden in her meagreness, 50 And many folk has caused to live forlorn! She brought upon me so much heaviness, W ith the affright that from her aspect came, That I the hope relinquished of the height. And as he is who willingly acquires, 55 And the time comes that causes him to lose, W ho weeps in all his thoughts and is despondent, E ’en such made me that beast withouten , W hich, coming on against me by degrees, Thrust me back thither where the sun is silent. 60 W hile I was rushing downward to the lowland, Before mine eyes did one present himself, W ho seemed from long-continued silence hoarse. 4 The Divine Comedy

W hen I beheld him in the desert vast, “ Have pity on me,” unto him I cried, 65 “ W hiche’er thou art, or shade or real man ! ” He answered me : “ Not man ; man once I was, And both my parents were of Lombardy, And Mantuans by country both of them. Sub Julio was I born, though it was late, 70 And lived at under the good Augustus, During the time of false and lying gods. A Poet was I, and I sang that just Son of , who came forth from Troy,

After that Ilion the superb was burned. 75 But thou, why goest thou back to such annoyance ? W hy climb’st thou not the Mount Delectable, W hich is the source and cause of every joy ? ” “ Now, art thou that Virgilius and that fountain Which spreads abroad so wide a river of speech ? ” 80 I made response to him with bashful forehead. “ O, of the other poets honor and light, Avail me the long study and great love That have impelled me to explore thy volume! Thou art my master, and my author thou, 85 Thou art alone the one from whom I took T h e beautiful style that has done honor to me. Inferno /. 5

Behold the beast, for which I have turned back; Do thou protect me from her, famous Sage, For she doth make my veins and pulses tremble.” 90 “ Thee it behoves to take another road,” Responded he, when he beheld me weeping, “ If from this savage place thou wouldst escape; Because this beast, at which thou criest out, Suffers not any one to pass her way, 95 But so doth harass him, that she destroys him ; And has a nature so malign and ruthless, That never doth she glut her greedy will, And after food is hungrier than before. Many the animals with whom she weds, 100 And more they shall be still, until the Greyhound Comes, who shall make her perish in her pain. He shall not feed on either earth or pelf, But upon wisdom, and on love and virtue; ’Twixt Feltro and Feltro shall his nation be; 105 Of that low shall he be the saviour, On whose account the maid Camilla died* . Euryalus, Turnus, Nisus, of their wounds ; Through every city shall he hunt her down, Until he shall have driven her back to Hell, 110 Thpre from whence envy first did let her loose. 6 The Divine Comedy

Therefore I think and judge it for thy best Thou follow me, and I will be thy guide, And lead thee hence through the eternal place, Where thou shalt hear the desperate lamentations, 115 Shalt see the ancient spirits disconsolate, Who cry out each one for the second death ; And thou shalt see those who contented are Within the fire, because they hope to come, Whene’er it may be, to the blessed people; 120 To whom, then, if thou wishest to ascend, A soul shall be for that than I more worthy ; With her at my departure I will leave thee; Because that Emperor, who reigns above, In that I was rebellious to his law, 125 Wills that through me none come into his city. He governs everywhere, and there he reigns; There is his city and his lofty throne ; O happy he whom thereto he elects! ” And I to him : “ Poet, I thee entreat, 130 By that same God whom thou didst never know, So that I may escape this woe and worse, Thou wouldst conduct me there where thou hast said, That I may see the portal of ,

And those thou makest so disconsolate.,, 135 Then he moved on, and I behind him followed. CANTO II.

D A Y was departing, and the embrowned air Released the animals that are on earth From their fatigues; and I the only one Made myself ready to sustain the war,

Both o f the way and likewise of the woe, 5 W hich memory that errs not shall retrace. O , O high genius, now assist m e ! O memory, that didst write down what I saw, Here thy nobility shall be manifest! And I began : “ Poet, who guidest me, 10 Regard my manhood, if it be sufficient, Ere to the arduous pass thou dost confide me. Thou sayest, that of Silvius the parent, While yet corruptible, unto the world Immortal went, and was there bodily. 15 But if the adversary of all evil Was courteous, thinking of the high effect That issue would from him, and who, and what, 8 The D ivine Comedy

To men of intellect unmeet it seems not; For he was of great Rome, and of her empire 20

In the empyreal heaven as father chosen; The which and what, wishing to speak the truth, Were stablished as the holy place, wherein Sits the successor of the greatest Peter. Upon this journey, whence thou givest him vaunt, 25 Things did he hear, which the occasion were Both of his victory and the papal mantle. Thither went afterwards the Chosen Vessel, To bring back comfort thence unto that Faith, Which of salvation’s way is the beginning. 30 But I, why thither come, or who concedes it ? I not am, I am not Paul, Nor I, nor others, think me worthy of it. Therefore, if I resign myself to come, I fear the coming may be ill-advised; 35 Thou ’rt wise, and knowest better than I speak.” And as he is, who unwills what he willed, And by new thoughts doth his intention change, So that from his design he quite withdraws, Such I became, upon that dark hillside, 40 Because, in thinking, I consumed the emprise, Which was so very prompt in the beginnings I n f e r n o II. 9

“ If I have well thy language understood, ’ Replied that shade of the Magnanimous, “ Thy soul attainted is with cowardice, 45 W hich many times a man encumbers so, It turns him back from honored enterprise, As false sight doth a beast, when he is shy. That thou mayst free thee from this apprehension, I ’11 tell thee why I came, and what I heard 50 At the first moment when I grieved for thee. Among those was I who are in suspense, And a fair, saintly Lady called to me In such wise, I besought her to command me. Her eyes were shining brighter than the Star; 55 And she began to say, gentle and low, W ith voice angelical, in her own language: ‘ O spirit courteous of M antua, O f whom the fame still in the world endures, And shall endure, long-lasting as the world; 60 A friend of mine, and not the friend of fortune, Upon the desert slope is so impeded Upon his way, that he has turned through terror, And may, I fear, already be so lost, That I too late have risen to his succor, 65 From that which I have heard of him in Heaven. IO The Divine Comedy

Bestir thee now, and with thy speech ornate, And with what needful is for his release, Assist him so, that I may be consoled. Beatrice am I, who do bid thee go ; I come from there, where I would fain return; Love moved me, which compelleth me to speak, When I shall be in presence of my Lord, Full often will I praise thee unto him.’ Then paused she, and thereafter I began: ‘ O Lady of virtue, thou alone through whom The human race exceedeth all contained W ithin the heaven that has the lesser circles, So grateful unto me is thy commandment, To obey, if ’t were already done, were late ; No farther need’st thou ope to me thy wish. But the cause tell me w hy thou dost not shun The here descending down into this centre, From the vast place thou burnest to return to.' ‘ Since thou wouldst fain so inwardly discern, Briefly will I relate,' she answered me, ‘ Why I am not afraid to enter here. O f those things only should one be afraid Which have the power of doing others harm; O f the rest, n o ; because they are not fearful. Inferno II. 11

God in his mercy such created me That misery of yours attains me not, N or any flame assails me of this burning. A gentle Lady is in Heaven, who grieves At this impediment, to which I send thee, 95 So that stern judgm ent there above is broken. In her entreaty she besought Lucia, And said, “ Thy faithful one now stands in need O f thee, and unto thee I recommend him.” Lucia, foe of all that cruel is, 100 Hastened away, and came unto the place W here I was sitting with the ancient Rachel, “ Beatrice, ’ said she, “ the true praise of God, W hy succorest thou not him, who loved thee so, For thee he issued from the vulgar herd ? 105 Dost thou not hear the pity of his plaint ? Dost thou not see the death that combats him , Beside that flood, where ocean has no vaunt ? ”

Never were persons in the world so swift To work their weal and to escape their woe, 110 As I, after such words as these were uttered, Came hither downward from my blessed seat, Confiding in thy dignified discourse, W hich honors thee, and those w ho’ve listened to it.’ 12 The Divine Comedy

After she thus had spoken unto me, 115 Weeping, her shining eyes she turned away; Whereby she made me swifter in my coming; And unto thee I came, as she desired; I have delivered thee from that wild beast, 119 Which barred the beautiful mountain’s short ascent. What is it, then ? Why, why dost thou delay ? W hy is such baseness bedded in thy heart ? Daring and hardihood why hast thou not, Seeing that three such Ladies benedight. Are caring for thee in the court of Heaven, 125 And so much good my speech doth promise thee ? ” Even as the flowerets, by nocturnal chill, Bowed down and closed, when the sun whitens them, Uplift themselves all open on their stems; Such I became with my exhausted strength, 130 And such good courage to my heart there coursed, That I began, like an intrepid person: “ O she compassionate, who succored me, And courteous thou, who hast obeyed so soon The words of truth which she addressed to thee! 135 Thou hast my heart so with desire disposed To the adventure, with these words of thine, That to my first intent I have returned. Inferno II. 1 3

Now go, for one sole will is in us both, Thou Leader, and thou Lord, and Master thou.” 140 Thus said I to him ; and when he had moved, I entered on the deep and savage way. C A N T O I I I .

“ T HROUGH me the way is to the city dolent;

Through me the way is to eternal dole; Through me the way among the people lost. incited my sublime Creator; Created me divine Omnipotence, 5 The highest Wisdom and the primal Love. Before me there were no created things, Only eterne, and I eternal last. All hope abandon, ye who enter in ! ” These words in sombre color I beheld 10 W ritten upon the summit of a gate; W hence I : “ Their sense is, Master, hard to me ! ” And he to me, as one experienced : “ Here all suspicion needs must be abandoned, All cowardice must needs be here extinct. 15 We to the place have come, where I have told thee Thou shalt behold the people dolorous W ho have foregone the good of intellect.” Inferno III. 1 5

And after he had laid his hand on mine W ith joyful mien, whence I was comforted, 20 H e led me in among the secret things. There sighs, complaints, and ululations loud Resounded through the air without a star, W hence I, at the beginning, wept thereat. Languages diverse, horrible dialects, 25 Accents of anger, words of agony, And voices high and hoarse, with sound of hands, Made up a tumult that goes whirling on Forever in that air forever black, 29 Even as the sand doth, when the whirlwind breathes. And I, who had my head with horror bound, Said : “ Master, what is this which now I hear ? W hat folk is this, w hich seems by pain so vanquished ? ” And he to m e: “ This miserable mode Maintain the melancholy souls of those 3s W ho lived withouten infamy or praise. Commingled are they with that caitiff choir O f Angels, who have not rebellious been, Nor faithful were to God, but w ere for self. The heavens expelled them, not to be less fair; 40 Nor them the nethermore abyss receives, For glory none the damned would have from them.”

t i6 The Divine Comedy

And I : “ O Master, what so grievous is To these, that maketh them lament so sore ? ” He answered : “ I will tell thee very briefly. 45 These have no longer any hope of death; And this blind life of theirs is so debased, They envious are of every other fate. No fame of them the world permits to be; Misericord and Justice both disdain them. 50 Let us not speak of them, but look, and pass.” And I, who looked again, beheld a banner, Which, whirling round, ran on so rapidly, That of all pause it seemed to me indignant; And after it there came so long a train 55 Of people, that I ne’er would have believed That ever Death so many had undone. When some among them I had recognized, I looked, and I beheld of him W ho made through cowardice the great refusal. 60 Forthwith I comprehended, and was certain, That this the sect was of the caitiff wretches Hateful to God and to his enemies. These miscreants, who never were alive, Were naked, and were stung exceedingly 65 By gadflies and by hornets that were there. Inferno III. 1 7

These did their faces irrigate with blood, W hich, with their tears commingled, at their feet By the disgusting worms was gathered up. And when to gazing farther I betook me, 70 People I saw on a great river’s bank; W hence said I : “ Master, now vouchsafe to me, That I may know who these are, and what law Makes them appear so ready to pass over, As I discern athwart the dusky light.’ 75 And he to m e: “ These things shall all be known To thee, as soon as we our footsteps stay Upon the dismal shore of Acheron.” Then with mine eyes ashamed and downward cast, Fearing my words might irksome be to him, 80 From speech refrained I till we reached the river. And lo ! towards us coming in a boat An old man, hoary with the hair of eld, Crying: “ W oe unto you, ye souls depraved! Hope nevermore to look upon the heavens; 85 I come to lead you to the other shore, To the eternal shades in heat and frost. And thou, that yonder standest, living soul, W ithdraw thee from these people, who are dead! ” But when he saw that I did not withdraw, 90 1 8 The Divine Comedy

H e said : “ By other ways, by other ports Thou to the shore shalt come, not here, for passage; A lighter vessel needs must carry thee.” And unto him the Guide: “ Vex thee not, Charon; It is so willed there where is power to do 95 That which is w illed; and ask no further question.” Thereat were quieted the fleecy cheeks O f him the ferryman of the livid fen, W ho round about his eyes had wheels of flame. But all those souls who weary were and naked 100 Their color changed and gnashed their teeth together, As soon as they had heard those cruel words. God they blasphemed and their progenitors, The human race, the place, the time, the seed Of their engendering and of their birth ! 105 Thereafter all together they drew back, Bitterly weeping, to the accursed shore, W hich waiteth every man who fears not God. Charon the demon, with the eyes of glede, Beckoning to them, collects them all together, 110 Beats with his oar whoever lags behind. As in the autum n-time the leaves fall off, First one and then another, till the branch Unto the earth surrenders all its spoils; Inferno III. 1 9

In similar wise the evil seed of Adam 115 Throw themselves from that margin one by one, At signals, as a bird unto its lure. So they depart across the dusky wave, And ere upon the other side they land, Again on this side a new troop assembles. 120 “ My son,” the courteous Master said to me, “ All those who perish in the wrath of God Here meet together out of every land ; And ready are they to pass o’er the river, Because celestial Justice spurs them on, 125 So that their fear is turned into desire. This way there never passes a good soul; And hence if Charon doth complain of thee, W ell mayst thou know now what his speech imports.” This being finished, all the dusk champaign 130 Trembled so violently, that of that terror The recollection bathes me still with sweat. The land of tears gave forth a blast of wind, And fulminated a vermilion light, Which overmastered in me every sense, 13s And as a man whom sleep hath seized I fell. CANTO IV.

B ROKE the deep lethargy within my head A heavy thunder, so that I upstarted, Like to a person who by force is wakened; And round about I moved my rested eyes, Uprisen erect, and steadfastly I gazed, To recognize the place wherein I was. True is it, that upon the verge I found me O f the abysmal valley dolorous, That gathers thunder of infinite ululations. Obscure, profound it was, and nebulous, So that by fixing on its depths my sight Nothing whatever I discerned therein. “ Let us descend now into the blind world,” Began the Poet, pallid utterly ; “ I w ill be first, and thou shalt second be.” And I, who of his color was aware, Said : “ How shall I come, if thou art afraid, W ho ’rt wont to be a comfort to my fears ? ” Inferno IV. 21

And he to m e: “ The anguish of the people Who are below here in my face depicts 20 That pity which for terror thou hast taken. Let us go on, for the long way impels us.” Thus he went in, and thus he made me enter The foremost circle that surrounds the abyss.

There, in so far as I had power to hear, 25 W ere lamentations none, but only sighs, That tremulous made the everlasting air. And this arose from sorrow without torment, W hich the crowds had, that many were and great, Of infants and of women and of men. 30 To me the Master good : “ Thou dost not ask W hat spirits these, which thou beholdest, are ? Now will I have thee know, ere thou go farther, That they sinned n ot; and if they merit had, 'T is not enough, because they had not baptism, 35 W hich is the portal of the Faith thou holdest; And if they were before Christianity, In the right manner they adored not God; And among such as these am I myself. For such defects, and not for other guilt, 40 Lost are we, and are only so far punished, That without hope we live on in desire.” 22 The Divine Comedy

Great grief seized on my heart when this I heard, Because some people of much worthiness I knew, who in that Limbo were suspended. “ Tell me, my Master, tell me, thou my Lord,” Began I, with desire of being certain O f that Faith which o’ercometh every error, “ Came any one by his own merit hence, Or by another’s, who was blessed thereafter ? ” And he, who understood my covert speech, Replied : “ I was a novice in this state, When I saw hither come a M ighty One, With sign of victory incoronate. Hence he drew forth the shade of the First Parent, And that of his son Abel, and of Noah, O f Moses the lawgiver, and the obedient Abraham, patriarch, and , king, Israel with his father and his children, And Rachel, for whose sake he did so much, . And others many, and he made them blessed; And thou must know, that earlier than these Never were any human spirits saved.” W e ceased not to advance because he spake, But still were passing onward through the forest, The forest, say I, of thick-crowded ghosts. Inferno iv 23

Not very far as yet our way had gone This side the summit, when I saw a fire That overcame a hemisphere of darkness. W e were a little distant from it still, 70 But not so far that I in part discerned not That honorable people held that place. “ O thou who honorest every art and science, W ho may these be, which such great honor have,

That from the fashion of the t;est it parts them ? ” 75 And he to m e: “ The honorable name, That sounds of them above there in thy life, Wins grace in Heaven, that so advances them.” In the mean time a voice was heard by m e: “ All honor be to the pre-eminent Poet; 80 His shade returns again; that was departed.” After the voice had ceased and quiet was, Four mighty shades I saw approaching us; Semblance had they nor sorrowful nor glad.

To say to me began my gracious M aster: . 85 “ Him with that falchion in his hand behold, W ho comes before the three, even as their lord. That one is Homer, Poet sovereign; He who comes next is Horace, the satirist; The third is Ovid, and the last is Lucan. 90 24 The Divine Comedy

Because to each of these with me applies The name that solitary voice proclaimed, They do me honor, and in that do well.” Thus I beheld assemble the fair school Of that lord of the song pre-eminent, 95 Who o’er the others like an eagle soars. When they together had discoursed somewhat, They turned to me with signs of salutation, And on beholding this, my Master smiled; And more of honor still, much more, they did me, 100 In that they made me one of their own band; So that the sixth was I, ’mid so much wit. Thus we went on as far as to the light, Things saying ’t is becoming to keep silent, As was the saying of them where I was. 105 W e came unto a noble castle’s foot, Seven times encompassed with lofty walls, Defended round by a fair rivulet; This we passed over even as firm ground ; 109 Through portals seven I entered with these Sages; W e came into a meadow of fresh verdure. People were there with solemn eyes and slow, Of great authority in their countenance; They spake but seldom, and with gentle voices. Inferno iv. 25

Thus we withdrew ourselves upon one side 115 Into an opening luminous and lofty, So that they all of them were visible. There opposite, upon the green enamel, Were pointed out to me the mighty spirits, Whom to have seen I feel myself exalted. 120 I saw Electra with companions many, ’Mongst whom I knew both Hector and AEneas, Caesar in armor with gerfalcon eyes ; I saw Camilla and On the other side, and saw the King Latinus, 125 W ho with Lavinja his daughter sat; I saw that Brutus who drove Tarquin forth, Lucretia, Julia, Marcia, and Cornelia, And saw alone, apart, the Saladin. When I had lifted up my brows a little, 130 The Master I beheld of those who know, Sit with his philosophic family. All gaze upon him, and all do him honor. There I beheld both and , W ho nearer him before the others stand; 135 Democritus, who puts the world on chance, Diogenes, Anaxagoras, and Thales, Zeno, Empedocles, and Heraclitus; 26 The D ivine Comedy

O f qualities I saw the good collector, Hight Dioscorides ; and Orpheus saw I, ho Tully and Livy, and moral Seneca, Euclid, geometrician, and Ptolemy, Galen, Hippocrates, and Avicenna, , who the great Comment made. I cannot all of them portray in full, 14s Because so drives me onward the long theme, That many times the word comes short of fact. The sixfold company in two divides; Another way my sapient Guide conducts me Forth from the quiet to the air that trembles; 150 And to a place I come where nothing shines. CANTO V.

''T H U S I descended out o f the first circle Down to the second, that less space begirds, And so much greater dole, that goads to wailing. There standeth Minos horribly, and snarls;

Examines the transgressions at the entrance; 5 Judges, and sends according as he girds him. I say, that when the spirit evil-born Cometh before him, wholly it confesses; And this discriminator of transgressions Seeth what place in Hell is meet for it; 10 Girds himself with his tail as many times As grades he wishes it should be thrust down. Always before him many of them stand; They go by turns each one unto the judgment; 14 \ They speak, and hear, and then are downward hurled. “ O thou, that to this dolorous hostelry Comest,” said Minos to me, when he saw me, Leaving the practice of so great an office, 28 The Divine Comedy

“ Look how thou enterest, and in whom thou trustest; Let not the portal’s amplitude deceive thee.” 20 And unto him my Guide : “ Why criest thou too ? Do not impede his journey fate-ordained; It is so willed there where is power to do That which is willed; and ask no further question.” And now begin the dolesome notes to grow 25 Audible unto me; now am I come There where much lamentation strikes upon me. I came into a place mute of all light, W hich bellows as the sea does in a tempest, If by opposing winds ’t is combated. 30 The infernal hurricane that never rests Hurtles the spirits onward in its rapine; Whirling them round, and smiting, it molests them. When they arrive before the precipice,

There are the shrieks, the plaints, and the laments, 35 There they blaspheme the puissance divine. I understood that unto such a torment The carnal malefactors were condemned, W ho reason subjugate to appetite. And as the wings of starlings bear them on 40 In the cold season in large band and full, So doth that blast the spirits maledict; Inferno v. 29

It hither, thither, downward, upward, drives them ; No hope doth comfort them forevermore,

Not of repose, but even of lesser pain. 45 And as the cranes go chanting forth their lays, Making in air a long line of themselves, So saw I coming, uttering lamentations, Shadows borne onward by the aforesaid stress. Whereupon said I : “ Master, who are those 50 People, whom the black air so castigates ? ”

“ The first of those, of whom intelligence Thou fain wouldst have,” then said he unto me,

“ The empress was of many languages.

To sensual vices she was so abandoned, 55 That lustful she made licit in her law, To remove the blame to which she had been led. She is Semiramis, of whom we read That she succeeded Ninus, and was his spouse; She held the land which now the Sultan rules. 60 The next is she who killed herself for love, And broke faith with the ashes of Sichaegus; Then Cleopatra the voluptuous.” Helen I saw, for whom so many ruthless Seasons revolved ; and saw the great Achilles, 65 Who at the last hour combated with Love. 30 The Divine Comedy

Paris I saw, Tristan ; and more than a thousand Shades did he name and point out with his finger, Whom Love had separated from our life.

After that I had listened to my Teacher, 70 Naming the dames of eld and cavaliers, Pity prevailed, and I was nigh bewildered. And I began : “ O Poet, willingly Speak would I to those two, who go together,

And seem upon the wind to be so light.” 75

And he to me : “ Thou ’lt mark, when they shall be Nearer to us; and then do thou implore them By love which leadeth them, and they will come.” Soon as the wind in our direction sways them, My voice uplift I: “ O ye weary souls! 80 Come speak to us, if no one interdicts it.” As turtle-doves, called onward by desire, W ith open and steady wings to the sweet nest Fly through the air by their volition borne, So came they from the band where Dido is, 85 Approaching us athwart the air malign, So strong was the affectionate appeal. “ O living creature gracious and benignant, Who visiting goest through the purple air

Us, who have stained the world incarnadine, 90 I n f e r n o v. 3 1

If were the King of the Universe our friend, W e would pray unto him to give thee peace, Since thou hast pity on our woe perverse. O f what it pleases thee to hear and speak, That will we hear, and we will speak to you, 95 W hile silent is the wind, as it is now. Sitteth the city, wherein I was born, Upon the sea-shore where the Po descends To rest in peace with all his retinue. Love, that on gentle heart doth swiftly seize, 100 Seized this man for the person beautiful T hat was ta’en from me, and still the mode offends me. Love, that exempts no one beloved from loving, Seized me with pleasure of this man so strongly, That, as thou seest, it doth not yet desert me ; 105 Love has conducted, us unto one death ; Caina waiteth him who quenched our life! ” These words were borne along from them to us. As soon as I had heard those souls tormented, I bowed my face, and so long held it down 110 Until the Poet said to me : “ W hat thinkest ? ” W hen I made answer, I began : “ Alas ! How many pleasant thoughts, how much desire, Conducted these unto the dolorous pass! ”

r 32 The Divine Comedy

Then unto them I turned me, and I spake, And I began : “ Thine agonies, Francesca, Sad and compassionate to weeping make me. But tell me, at the time of those sweet sighs, By what and in what manner Love conceded, That you should know your dubious desires ? ” And she to m e: “ There is no greater sorrow Than to be mindful of the happy time In misery, and that thy Teacher knows. But, if to recognize the earliest root O f love in us thou hast so great desire, I will do even as he who weeps and speaks. . One day we reading were for our delight O f Launcelbt, how Love did him enthrall. Alone we were and without any fear. Full many a time our eyes together drew That reading, and drove the color from our faces; But one point only was it that o’ercame us. Whenas we read of the much longed-for smile Being by such a noble lover kissed, This man, who ne’er from me shall be divided, Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating. Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it. That day no farther did we read therein.” Inferno v. 3 3

And all the while one spirit uttered this, The other one did weep so, that, for pity, 140 I swooned away as if I had been dying, And fell, even as a dead body falls. CANTO VI.

AT the return of consciousness, that closed Before the pity of those two relations, Which utterly with sadness had confused me, New torments I behold, and new tormented Around me, whichsoever way I move, And whichsoever way I turn, and gaze. In the third circle am I of the rain Eternal, maledict, and cold, and heavy; Its law and quality are never new. Huge hail, and water sombre-hued, and snow, Athwart the tenebrous air pour down amain; Noisome the earth is, that receiveth this. Cerberus, monster cruel and uncouth, With his three gullets like a dog is barking Over the people that are there submerged. Red eyes he has, and unctuous beard and black, And belly large, and armed with claws his hands; H e rends the spirits, flays, and quarters them; Inferno vi. 35

Howl the rain maketh them like unto dogs; One side they make a shelter for the other; 20 Oft turn themselves the wretched reprobates. When Cerberus perceived us, the great worm! His mouths he opened, and displayed his tusks; Not a limb had he that was motionless. And my Conductor, with his spans extended, \ 25 Took of the earth, and with his fists well^lled, He threw it into those rapacious gullets. Such as that dog is, who by barking craves, And quiet grows soon as his food he grievs,

For to devour it he but.thinks and struggles, 30 The like became those muzzles filth-begrimed Of Cerberus the demon, who so thunders Over the souls that they would fain be deaf. We passed across the shadows, which subdues

The heavy rain-storm, and we placed our feet 35 Upon their vanity that person seems. They all were lying prone upon the earth, Excepting one, who sat upright as soon As he beheld us passing on before him. “ O thou that art conducted through this Hell,” 40 He said to me, “ recall me, if thou canst; Thyself wast made before I was unmade.” 36 The Divine Comedy

And I to him : “ The anguish which thou hast Perhaps doth draw thee out of my remembrance, So that it seems not I have ever seen thee. But tell me who thou art, that in so doleful A place art put, and in such punishment, If some are greater, none is so displeasing.” And he to m e: “ Thy city, which is full O f envy so that now the sack runs over/ Held me within it in the life serene. You citizens were wont to call me Ciacco ; For the pernicious of gluttony I, as thou seest, am battered by this rain. And I, sad soul, am not the only one, For all these suffer the like penalty For the like sin” ; and word no more spake he. I answered him : “ Ciacco, thy wretchedness Weighs on me so that it to weep invites me ; But tell me, if thou knowest, to what shall come The citizens of the divided city; If any there be just; and the occasion T ell me why so much discord has assailed it.* And he to me : “ They, after long contention, ’ W ill come to bloodshed; and the rustic party Will drive the other out with much offence. Inferno vi.

Then afterwards behoves it this one fall Within three suns, and rise again the other By force o f him who now is on the coast. High will it hold its forehead a long while, ~ Keeping the other under heavy burdens, Howe’er it weeps thereat and is indignant. The just are two, and are not understood there; Arrogance and Avarice Are the three sparks that have all hearts enkindled.” Here ended he his tearful utterance; And I to him : “ I wish thee still to teach me, And make a gift to me of further speech. 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.” And he : “ T hey are among the blacker souls ; A different sin down weighs them to the bottom; If thou so far descendest, thou canst see them. But when thou art again in the sweet world, I pray thee to the mind of others bring m e; No more I tell thee and no more I answer.” 38 The Divine Comedy

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 m e : “ H e 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, Shall hear what through eternity re-echoes.” So we passed onward o’er the filthy mixture O f shadows and of rain with footsteps slow, Touching a little on the future life. Wherefore I said : “ Master, ‘these torments here, W ill they increase after the mighty sentence, Or lesser be, or will they be as burning ? ” And he to me : “ Return unto thy science, Which wills, that as the thing more perfect is The more it feels of pleasure and of pain. Albeit that this people maledict To true perfection never can attain, Hereafter more than now they look to be.” 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.

“ p A P E Satan, Pape Sat&n, Aleppe! ” 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 w olf; Consume within thyself with thine own rage. N ot causeless is this journey to the abyss; Thus is it willed on high, where Michael wroug Vengeance upon the proud adultery.” Even as the sails inflated by the wind Together fall involved when snaps the mast, So fell the cruel monster to the earth. Thus we descended into the fourth chasm, Gaining still farther on the dolesome shore Which all the woe of the universe insacks. 40 The Divine Comedy

Justice of God, ah! who heaps up so many New toils and sufferings as I beheld ? *o And why doth our transgression waste us so ? As doth the billow there upon Charybdis, That breaks itself on that which it encounters, So here the folk must dance their roundelay. Here saw I people, more than elsewhere, many, . *5 On one side and the other, with great howls, Rolling weights forward by main-force of chest. They clashed together, and then at that point Each one turned backward, rolling retrograde, 29 Crying, “ Why keepest ? ” and, “ Why squanderest Thus they returned along the lurid circle [thou ? ” On either hand unto the opposite point, Shouting their shameful metre evermore. Then each, when he arrived there, wheeled about Through his half-circle to another joust; 3s And I, who had my heart pierced as it were, Exclaimed : “ My Master, now declare to me What people these are, and if all were clerks, These shaven crowns upon the left of us.”

And he to me : “ All of them were asquint 4® In intellect in the first life, so much That there with measure they no spending made. *

Inferno vn. 4i

Clearly enough their voices bark it forth, Whene’er they reach the two points of the circle,

W here sunders them the opposite defect. 45 Clerks those were who no hairy covering Have on the head, and Popes and Cardinals, In whom doth avarice practise its excess.” And I : “ My Master, among such as these I ought forsooth to recognize some few, s° Who were infected with these maladies.” And .he to me : “ Vain thought thou* entertainest; ; « The undiscerning life which made them sordid Now makes them unto all discernment dim.

Forever shall they come to these two buttings; 55 These from the sepulchre shall rise again W ith 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 scuffle;} Whate’er it be, no words adorn I for it. 60 Now canst thou, Son, behold the transient farce O f goods that are committed unto Fortune, For which the human race each other buffet; For all the gold that is beneath the moon, Or ever has been, o f these weary souls 65 Could never make a single one repose.” 42 The Divine Comedy

“ Master,” I said to him, “ now tell me also What is this Fortune which thou speakest of, That has the world’s goods so within its clutches ? ” And he to me : “ O creatures imbecile, 70 What ignorance is this which doth beset you ? Now will I have thee learn my judgment of her. He whose omniscience everything transcends The heavens created, and gave who should guide them,

That every part to. every part may shine, 75 Distributing the light in equal measure; He in like manner to the mundane splendors Ordained a general ministress and guide, That she might change at times the empty treasures From race to race, from one blood to another, 80 Beyond resistance of all human wisdom. Therefore one people triumphs, and another Languishes, in pursuance of her judgment, W hich hidden is, as in the grass a serpent. Your knowledge has no counterstand against her ; 85 She makes provision, judges, and pursues Her governance, as theirs the other gods. Her permutations have not any truce; Necessity makes her precipitate, So often cometh who his turn obtains. 90 Inferno v i i .

And this is she who is so crucified Even by those who ought to give her praise, Giving her blame amiss, and bad repute. But she is blissful, and she hears it not; Among the other primal creatures gladsome She turns her sphere, and blissful she rejoices. Let us descend now unto greater woe; Already sinks each star that was ascending When I s'et out, and loitering is forbidden.” W e crossed the circle to the other bank, Near to a fount that boils, and pours itself Along a gully that runs out of it. The water was more sombre far than ; 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 o f the malign gray shores. And I, who stood intent upon beholding, Saw people mud-besprent in that lagoon, All of them naked and with angry look. They smote each other not alone with hands, But with the head and with the breast and feet, Tearing each other piecemeal with their te^th. 44 The Divine Comedy

Said the good Master : “ Son, thou now beholdest T he souls o f those whom anger overcam e; And likewise I would have thee know for certain Beneath thp water people are who sigh And make this water bubble at the surface, As the eye tells thee wheresoe’er it turns. Fixed in the mire they say, ‘ W e sullen were In the sweet air, which by the sun is gladdened, Bearing within ourselves the sluggish reek; Now we are sullen in this sable mire.’ This hymn do they keep gurgling in their throats, For with unbroken words they cannot say it.” 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 o f a tower we came at last. CANTO VIII.

J 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, 5 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 tie to me : “ Across the turbid waves 10 What is expected thou canst now discern, I f reek o f the morass conceal it not.” Cord never shot an arrow from itself That sped away athwart the air so swift, As I beheld a very little boat 15 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 ? ” 46 The Divine Comedy

“ Phlegyas, Phlegyas, thou criest out- in vain 19 For this once/’ said my Lord; “ thou shalt not have us Longer than in the passing of the slough.” As he who listens to some great deceit That has been done to him, and then resents it, Such became Phlegyas, in his gathered wrath.

My Guide descended down into the boat, *5 And then he m^de 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’t is wont with others. 3° 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 ? ” And I to him : “ Although I come, I stay not; ) But who art thou that hast become so squalid ? ” 3s “ Thou seest that I am one who weeps,” he answered. And I to him : “ With weeping and with wailing, Thou spirit maledict, do thou remain ; For thee I know, though thou art all defiled.”

Then stretched he both his hands unto the boat; 4° Whereat my wary Master thrust him back, Saying, “ Away there with the other dogs! ” Inferno vm.

Thereafter with his arms he clasped my neck; H e kissed my face, and said : “ Disdainful soul, Blessed be she who bore thee in her bosom. That was an arrogant person in the world ; Goodness is none, that decks his memory; So likewise here his shade is furious. How many are esteemed great kings up there, Who here shall be like unto swine in mire, Leaving behind them horrible dispraises! ” And I : “ My Master, much should I be pleased, I f I could see him soused into this broth, Before we issue forth out o f the lake.” And he to m e: “ Ere unto thee the shore Reveal itself, thou shalt be satisfied; Such a desire ’t is meet thou shouldst enjoy.” A little after that, I saw such havoc Made of him by the people of the mire, That still I praise and thank my God for it. They all were shouting, “ At Philippo Argenti! ” And that exasperate spirit Florentine Turned round upon himself with his own teeth. We left him there, and more of him I tell not; But on mine ears there smote a lamentation, Whence forward I intent unbar mine eyes. 48 The Divine Comedy

And the good Master said : “ Even now, my son, The city draweth near whose name is Dis, With the grave citizens, with the great throng.” And I : “ Its already, Master, clearly Within there in the valley I discern Vermilion, as if issuing from the fire They were.” And he to me : “ The fire eternal That kindles them within makes them look red, As thou beholdest in this nether Hell.” Then we arrived within the moats profound, That circumvallate that disconsolate city; The walls appeared to me to be of iron. Not without making first a circuit wide, We came unto a place where loud the pilot Cried out to us, “ Debark, here is the entrance.” More than a thousand at the gates I saw Out of the Heavens rained down, who angrily Were saying, “ Who is this that without death Goes through the kingdom of the people dead ? ” And my sagacious Master made a sign O f wishing secretly to speak with them. A little then they quelled their great disdain, And said : “ Come thou alone, and he begone Who has so boldly entered these dominions. Let him return alone by his mad road; Try, if he can; for thou shalt here remain, Who hast escorted him through such dark regions.” Think, Reader, if I was discomforted

At utterance of the accursed words; 95 For never to return here I believed. “ O my dear Guide, who more than seven times Hast rendered me security, and drawn me From imminent peril that before me stood, Do not desert me,” said I, “ thus undone; 100 And if the going farther be denied us, Let us retrace our steps together swiftly.” And that Lord, who had led me thitherward, Said unto me : “ Fear not; because our passage

None can take from us, it by Such is given. i°5 .Bu< here await me, and thy weary spirit C or o?rt and nourish with a better hope; For Vi ’: nether world I will not leave thee.” So soe* ihere abandons me My Father eet, and I remain in doubt, no For INa:’ Yes within my head contend. I could not hear what he proposed to them; But with them there he did not linger long, Ere each within in rivalry ran back. 50 The Divine Comedy

They closed the portals, those our adversaries, On my Lord’s breast, who had remained without And turned to me with footsteps far between. His eyes cast down, his forehead shorn had he O f all its boldness, and he said, with sighs, “ Who has denied to me the dolesome houses?” 'And unto me : “ Thou, because I am angry, Fear not, for I will conquer in the trial, Whatever for defence within be planned. This arrogance of theirs is nothing new; For once they used it at less secret gate, W hich finds itself without a fastening still. O’er it didst thou behold the dead inscription; And now this side of it descends the steep, Passing across the circles without escort, One by whose means the city shall be opened.” CANTO IX.

' J^AH A T hue which cowardice brought out on me, Beholding my Conductor backward turn, Sooner repressed within him his new color. He stopped attentive, like a man who listens, Because the eye could not conduct him far s Through the black air, and through the heavy fog. “ Still it behoveth us to win the fight,” Began he; “ Else ... Such offered us herself... O how I long that some one here arrive ! ” Well I perceived, as soon as the beginning 1 10 He covered up with what came afterward, That they were words quite different from the first; But none the less his saying gave me fear, Because I carried out the broken phrase, Perhaps to a worse meaning than he had. 15

“ Into this bottom of the doleful conch Doth any e’er descend from the first grade, Which for its pain has only hope cut off? ” 52 The Divine Comedy

This question put I ; and he answered me :

“ Seldom it comes to pass that one o f us *o Maketh the journey upon which I go. True is it, once before I here below Was conjured by that pitiless Erictho, W ho summoned back the shades unto their bodies. Naked of me short while the flesh had been, 25 Before within that wall she made me enter, To bring a spirit from the circle of Judas; That is the lowest region and the darkest, And farthest from the heaven which circles all. Well know I the way; therefore be reassured. 3° This fen, which a prodigious stench exhales, Encompasses about the city dolent, Where now we cannot enter without anger.” And more he said, but not in mind I have it;

Because mine eye had altogether drawn me 35 Tow ’rds the high tower with the red-flaming summit,. Where in a moment saw I swift uprisen The three infernal Furies stained with blood, Who had the limbs of women and their mien, And with the greenest hydras were begirt; 40 Small serpents and cerastes were their tresses, Wherewith their horrid temples were entwined. In ferm ix. S3

And he who well the handmaids of the Queen O f everlasting lamentation knew,

Said unto me : “ Behold the fierce Erinnys. 45 This is Megasra, on the left-hand side; She who is weeping on the right, Alecto; is between” ; and then was silent.^ Each one her breast was rending with her nails;

They beat them with their palms, and cried so loud, 5° That I for dread pressed close unto the Poet. “ come, so we to stone will change him !” All shouted looking down ; “ in evil hour Avenged we not on Theseus his assault! ”

“ Turn thyself round, and keep thine eyes close shut, 55 For if the Gorgon appear, and thou shouldst see it, No more returning upward would there be.” . Thus said the Master; and he turned me round Himself, and trusted not unto my hands • So far as not to blind me with his own. , 60 O ye who have undistempered intellects^ Observe the doctrine that conceals itself Beneath the veil of the mysterious verses! And now there came across the turbid waves The clangor of a sound with terror fraught, 65 Because of which both of the margins trembled; 54 The Divine Comedy

Not otherwise it was than of a wind Impetuous on account of adverse heats, That smites the forest, and, without restraint, The branches rends, beats down, and bears away ; 7° > Right onward, laden with dust, it goes superb, And puts to flight the wild beasts and the shepherds. Mine eyes he loosed, and said : “ Direct the nerve O f vision now along that ancient foam,

There yonder where that smoke is most intense.” 75 Even as the frogs before the hostile serpent Across the water scatter all abroad, Until each one is huddled in the earth, More than a thousand ruined souls I saw, Thus fleeing from before one who on foot . 80 Was passing o’er the Styx with soles unwet. From off his face he fanned that unctuous air, Waving his left hand oft in front of him, And only with that anguish seemed he weary. W ell I perceived one sent from Heaven was. he, 85 And to the Master turned; and he made sign That I should quiet stand, and bow before him. Ah ! how disdainful he appeared to me ! He reached the gate, and with a little rod He opened it, for there was no resistance. 90 Inferno ix.

“ O banished out of Heaven, people despised! ” Thus he began upon the horrid threshold; “ Whence is this arrogance within you couched ? Wherefore recalcitrate against that will,. From which the end can never be cut 9ff, And which has many times increased your pain ? What helpeth it to butt against the fates ? Your Cerberus, if you remember well, For that still bears his chin and gullet peeled.” Then he returned along the miry road, And spake no word to us, but had the look O f one whom other care constrains and goads Than that of him who in his presence is; And we our feet directed tow’rds the city, After those holy words all confident. Within we entered without any contest; And I, who inclination had to see What the condition such a fortress holds, Soon as I was within, cast round mine eye, And see on every hand an ample plain, Full of distress and torment terrible. Even as at Arles, where stagnant grows the Rhone, Even as at Pola near to the Quarnaro, That shuts in Italy and bathes its borders, 56 The Divine Comedy

The sepulchres make all the place uneven; 115 So likewise did they there on every side, Saving that there the manner was more bitter; For flames between the sepulchres were scattered, By which they so intensely heated were, That iron more so asks not any art. i*o - All of their coverings uplifted were, And from them issued forth such dire laments, Sooth seemed they of the wretched and tormented. And I : “ My Master, what are all those people Who, having sepulture within those tombs, ™5 Make themselves audible by doleful sighs ? ” And he to me : “ Here are the Heresiarchs, W ith their disciples of all sects, and much More than thou thinkest laden are the tombs. Here like together with its like is buried; 13° And more and less the monuments are heated.” And when he to the right had turned, we passed Between the torments and high parapets. CANTO X.

OW onward goes, along a narrow path Between the torments and the city wall, M y Master, and I follow at his back. “ O power supreme, that through these impious circles Turnest me,” I began, “ as pleases thee, Speak to me, and my longings satisfy; The people who are lying in these tombs, M ight they be seen ? already are uplifted The covers all, and no one keepeth guard.” And he to m e: “ They all will be closed up When from Jehosaphat they shall return Here with the bodies they have left above. Their cemetery have upon this side W ith EpiciLtus all his followers, Who with the body mortal make the soul; But in the question thou dost put to me, W ithin here shalt thou soon be satisfied, And likewise in the wish thou keepest silent.” 58 The Divine Comedy

’And I : “ Good Leader, I but keep concealed From thee my heart, that I may speak the less, ao Nor only now hast thou thereto disposed me.” “ O Tuscan, thou who through the city of fire Goest alive, thus speaking modestly, Be pleased to stay thy footsteps in this place.

Thy mode of speaking makes thee manifest *5 A native of that noble fatherland, To which perhaps I too molestful was.” Upon a sudden issued forth this sound From out one of the tombs; wherefore I pressed, Fearing, a little nearer to my Leader. ■ 33 And unto me he said : “ Turn thee ; what dost thou ? Behold there Farinata who has risen ; From the waist upwards wholly shalt thou see him.” I had already fixed mine eyes on his, And he uprose erect with breast and front 35 E’en as if Hell he had in great despite. And with courageous hands and prompt my Leader Thrust me between the sepulchres towards him, Exclaiming, “ Let thy words explicit be.” As soon as I was at the foot of his tomb, 40 Somewhat he eyed me, and, as if disdainful, Then asked of me, “ Who were thine ancestors ? ” Inferno x. 59

I, who desirous of obeying was, Concealed it not, but all revealed to him ;

Whereat he raised his brows a little upward. 45 Then said h e: “ Fiercely adverse have they been To me, and to my fathers, and my party; So that two several times I scattered them.” “ If they were banished, they returned on all sides,”

I answered him, “ the first time and the second; 5° But yours have not acquired that art aright.” Then there uprose upon the sight, uncovered Down to the chin, a shadow at his side; I think that he had risen on his knees.

Round me he gazed, as if solicitude 55 1 He had to see if some one else were with me; But after his suspicion was all spent, Weeping, he said to me : “ If through this blind Prison thou goest by loftiness of genius, Where is my son ? and why is he not with thee ? ” 60

And I to him : “ I come not of myself; He who is waiting yonder leads me here, Whom in disdain perhaps your Guido had.” His language and the mode of punishment^ Already unto me had read his name; 65 On that account my answer was so full. \ 6o The Divine Comedy

Up starting suddenly, he cried out : “ How Saidst thou, — he had ? Is he not still alive ? Does not the sweet light strike upon his eyes ? ” When he became aware of some delay, 70 W hich I before my answer made, supine He fell again, and forth appeared no more. But the other, magnanimous, at whose desire I had remained, did not his aspect change,

Neither his neck he moved, nor bent his side. 75 “ And if,” continuing his first discourse, “ They have that art,” he said, “ not learned aright, That more tormenteth me, than doth this bed. But fifty times shall not rekindled be The countenance of the Lady who reigns here, 80 Ere thou shalt know how heavy is that art; And as thou wouldst to the sweet world return, Say w h y that people is so pitiless Against my race in each one of its laws ? ” Whence I to him : “ The slaughter and great carnage 85 Which have with crimson stained the Arbia, cause Such orisons in our temple to be made.” After his head he with a sigh had shaken, “ There I was not alone,” he said, “ nor surely Without a cause had with the others moved. 90 But there I was alone, where every one Consented to the laying waste of , He who defended her with open face.” “ Ah! so hereafter may your seed repose,”

I him entreated, “ solve for me that knot, 95 W hich has entangled my conceptions here. It seems that you can see, if I hear rightly, Beforehand whatsoe’er time brings with it, And in the present have another mode.” “ W e see, like those who have imperfect sight, The things,” he said, “ that distant are from us; So much still shines on us the Sovereign Ruler. When they draw near, or are, is wholly vain Our intellect, and if none brings it to us, Not anything know we of your human state. 105 Hence thou canst understand, that wholly dead W ill be our knowledge from the moment when The portal of the future shall be closed.” Then I, as if compunctious for my fault, Said : “ Now, then, you will tell that fallen one, no That still his son is with the living joined. And if just now, in answering, I was dumb, Tell him I did it because I was thinking Already of the error you have solved me.” 62 The Divine Comedy

And now my Master was recalling me, us Wherefore more eagerly I prayed the spirit That he would tell me who was with him there. He said : “ With more than a thousand here I lie : Within here is the second Frederick, And the Cardinal, and of the rest I speak not.” 120 Thereon he hid himself; and I towards The ancient poet turned my steps, reflecting Upon that saying, which seemed hostile to me. He moved along ; and afterward, thus going, He said to me, “ W hy art thou so bewildered ? ” 125 And I in his inquiry satisfied him.

“ Let memory preserve what thou hast heard Against thyself,” that Sage commanded me, “ And now attend here” ; and he raised his finger. “ When thou shalt be before the radiance sweet 130 O f her whose beauteous eyes all things behold, From her thou ’It know the journey of thy life.” Unto the left hand then he turned his feet; W e left the wall, and went towards the middle, Along a path that strikes into a valley, 135 W hich even up there unpleasant made its stench. CANTO XI.

^JPO N the margin of a lofty bank W hich great rocks broken in a circle made, W e came upon a still more cruel throng; And there, by reason of the horrible Excess of stench the deep abyss throws out, W e drew ourselves aside behind the cover • O f a great tomb, whereon I saw a writing, W hich said : “ Pope Anastasius I hold, Whom out of the right way Photinus drew.” “ Slow it behoveth our descent to be, So that the sense be first a little used To the sad blast, and then we shall not heed it.” The Master thus; and unto him I said, “ Some compensation find, that the tim e pass not Idly” ; and he: “ Thou seest I think of that.. My son, upon the inside of these rocks,” Began he then to say, “ are three small circles, From grade to grade, like those which thou art leaving 6+ The Divine Comedy

They all are full of spirits maledict^ But that hereafter sight alone suffice thee, H ear how and wherefore they are in constraint. O f every malice that wins hate in Heaven, Injury is the end; and all such end Either bv force or fraud afflicteth others. But because fraud is man’s peculiar vice, More it displeases G od; and so stand lowest The fraudulent, and greater dole assails them. All the first circle of the Violent is ; But since force may be used against three persons, In three rounds ’t is divided and constructed. To God, to ourselves, and to our neighbor can we Use force ; I say on them and on their things, As thou shalt hear with reason manifest. A death by violence, and painful wounds, Are to our neighbor given ; and in his substance Ruin, and arson, and injurious levies ; Whence homicides, and he who smites unjustly, Marauders, and freebooters, the first round Tormenteth all in companies diverse. Man may lay violent hands upon himself And his own goods ; and therefore in the second Round must perforce without avail repent Inferno xi.

Whoever of your world deprives himself, W ho games, and dissipates his property, And weepeth there, where he should jocund be. Violence can be done the Deity, In heart denying and blaspheming Him, And by disdaining Nature and her bounty. And for this reason doth the smallest round Seal with its signet Sodom and Cahors, And who, disdaining God, speaks from the heart. Fraud, wherewithal is every conscience stung, A man may practise upon him who trusts, And him who doth no confidence imburse. This latter mode, it would appear, dissevers Only the bond of love which Nature makes; Wherefore within the second circle nestle Hypocrisy, flattery, and who deals in magic, Falsification, theft, and simony, Panders, and barrators, and the like filth. By the other mode, forgotten is that love W hich Nature makes, and what is after added, From which there is a special faith engendered. Hence in the smallest circle, where the point is O f the Universe, upon which Dis is seated, W hoe’er betrays forever is consumed.” 66 The Divine Co7nedy

And I : “ My Master, clear enough proceeds Thy reasoning, and full well distinguishes This cavern and the people who possess it. But tell me, those within the fat lagoon, 70 Whom the wind drives, and whom the rain doth beat, And who encounter with such bitter tongues, Wherefore are they inside of the red city Not punished, if God has them in his wrath,

And if he has not, wherefore in such fashion ? ” 75 And unto me he said: “ W hy wanders so Thine intellect from that which it is wont ? Or, sooth, thy mind where is it elsewhere looking ? Hast thou no recollection of those words With which thine Ethics thoroughly discusses 80 The dispositions three, that Heaven abides not,— Incontinence, and Malice, and insane Bestiality ? and how Incontinence Less God offendeth, and less blame attracts ? If thou regardest this conclusion well, 85 And to thy mind recallest who they are That up outside are undergoing penance, Clearly wilt thou perceive why from these felons T h e y separated, are, and w h y less w roth Justice divine doth smite them with its hammer.” 93 Inferno xi. 67

“ O Sun, that healest all distempered vision, Thou dost content me so, when thou resolvest, That doubting pleases me no less than knowing! Once more a little backward turn thee,” said I, “ There where thou sayest that offends Goodness divine, and disengage the knot.” “ Philosophy,” he said, “ to him who heeds it, Noteth, not only in one place alone, After what manner Nature takes her course

From Intellect Divine, and from its art; 100 And if thy Physics carefully thou notest, After not many pages shalt thou find, rhat this your art as far as possible Follows, as the disciple doth the master; ^ So that your art is, as it were, God’s grandchild. 105 From these two, if thou bringest to thy mind Genesis at the beginning, it behoves Mankind to gain their life and to advance ; A.nd since the usurer takes another way, Nature herself and in her follower no Disdains he, for elsewhere he puts his hope. But follow, now, as I would fain go on, For quivering are the Fishes on the horizon, And the Wain wholly* over Caurus lies, A.nd far beyond there we descend the crag.” CANTO XII.

' |^H E place where to descend the bank we came Was alpine, and from what was there, moreover, O f such a kind that every eye# would shun it. Such as that ruin is which in the flank

Smote, on this side of Trent, the Adige, 5 Either by earthquake or by failing stay, For from the mountain’s top, from which it moved, U nto the plain the cliff is shattered so, Some path’t would give to him who was above; Even such was the descent of that ravine, 10 And on the border of the broken chasm The infamy of Crete was stretched along, Who was conceived in the fictitious cow ; And when he us beheld, he bit himself, Even as one whom anger racks within. 15 My Sage towards him shouted : “ Peradventure ' Thou think’st that here may be the Duke of Athens, Who in the world above brought death to thee P Inferno xn. 69

Get thee gone, beast, for this one cometh not Instructed by thy sister, but he comes 20 In order to. behold your punishments.” As is that bull who breaks loose at the moment In which he has received the mortal blow, Who cannot walk, but staggers here and there, The Minotaur beheld I do the like; And he, the wary, cried : “ Run to the passage ; While he is wroth, ’t is well thou shouldst descend.” Thus down we took our way o’er that discharge O f stones, which oftentimes did move themselves

Beneath my feet, from the unwonted burden. 3° Thoughtful I went; and he said : “ Thou art thinking Perhaps upon this ruin, which is guarded By that brute anger which just now I quenched. Now will I have thee know, the other time

I here descended to the nether Hell, 35 This precipice had not yet fallen down. But truly, if I well discern, a little Before His coming who the mighty spoil Bore off from Dis, in the supernal circle, Upon all sides the deep and lciathsome valley 40 Trembled so, that I thought the Universe Was thrilled with love, by which there are who think 70 The Divine Comedy

The world ofttimes converted into chaos; And at that moment this primeval crag Both here and elsewhere made such overthrow. But fix thine eyes below; for draweth near The river of blood, within which boiling is W hoe’er by violence doth injure others.” 0 blind cupidity, O wrath insane, T h at spurs us onward so in our short life, And in the eternal then so badly steeps us! 1 saw an ample moat bent like a bow, As one which all the plain encompasses, Conformable to what my Guide had said. And between this and the embankment’s foot Centaurs in file were running, armed with arrows, As in the world they used the-chase to follow. Beholding us descend, each one stood still, And from the squadron three detached themselves, W ith bows ar^d arrows in advance selected; And from afar one cried: “ Unto what torment s Come ye, who down the hillside are descending ? Tell us from there; if not, I draw the bow.” My Master said : “ Our answer will we make To , near you there ; in evil hour, & That will of thine was evermore so hasty.” Then touched he me, and said: “ This one is Nessus, Who perished for the lovely Dejanira, And for himself, himself did vengeance take. And he in the midst, who at his breast is gazing, Is the great Chiron, who brought up Achilles; That other Pholus is, who was so wrathful. Thousands and thousands go about the moat Shooting with shafts whatever soul emerges Out of the blood, more than his crime allots.” Near we approached unto those monsters fleet; Chiron an arrow took, and with the notch Backward upon his jaws he put his beard. After he had uncovered his great mouth, He said to his companions: “ Are you ware That he behind moveth whate’er he touches ? Thus are not wont to do the feet of dead men.” And my good Guide, who now was at his breast, Where the two natures are together joined, Replied : “ Indeed he lives, and thus alone M eat behoves to show him the dark valley; ^ ' Necessity, and not delight, impels us. Some one withdrew from singing Halleluja, i'V £ *Who unto me committed this new office:' • w N o th ie f is he, nor I a thievish spirit. 72 The Divine Comedy

But by that virtue through which I am moving M y steps along this savage thoroughfare, Give us some one of thine, to be with us, And w ho may show us where to pass the ford,

And who may carry this one on his back; 95 For ’t is no spirit that can walk the air.” Upon his right breast Chiron wheeled about, And said to Nessus : “ Turn and do thou guide them, And warn aside, if other band may meet you.” We with our faithful escort onward moved, 100 Along the brink of the vermilion boiling, Wherein the boiled were uttering loud laments. People I saw within up to the eyebrows, And the great said: “ Tyrants are these, Who dealt in bloodshed and in pillaging. 105 Here they lament their pitiless mischiefs; here Is Alexander, and fierce Dionysius W ho upon Sicily brought dolorous years. That forehead there which has the hair so black Is A^zolin ; and the other who is blond, no Obizzo is of Esti, who, in truth, Up in the world was by his step-son slain.” Then turned I to the Poet; and he said, 'v “ Now he be first to thee, and second I.” Inferno xn. 73

A little farther on the Centaur stopped 115 Above a folk, who far down as the throat Seemed from that boiling stream to issue forth,, A shade he showed us on one side alone, Saying: “ He cleft asunder in God’s bosom 119 The heart that still upon the Thames is honored/’ Then people saw I, who from out the river Lifted their heads and also all the chest ; And many among these I recognized. Thus ever more and more grew shallower That blood, so that the feet alone it covered; 1*5 And there across the moat our passage was. “ Even as thou here upon this side beholdest The boiling stream, that aye diminishes,” The Centaur said, “ I wish thee to believe That on this other more and more declines * 130 Its bed, until it reunites itself Where it behoveth tyranny to groan. Justice divine, upon this side, is goading That Attila, who was a scourge on earth, And Pyrrhus, and Sextus; and forever milks 135 The tears which with the boiling it unseals In Rinier da Corneto and Rinier Pazzo, Who made upon the highways so much war.” Then back he turned, and passed again the ford. 10 CANTO XIII.

O T yet had Nessus reached the other side, When we had put ourselves within a wood, That was not marked by any path whatever. Not foliage green, but of a dusky colo^ Not branches smooth, but gnarled and intertangled,

Not apple-trees were there3 but thorns with poison. Such tangled thickets have not, nor so dense, Those savage wild-beasts, that in hatred hold ’Twixt Cecina and Corneto the tilled places. There do the hideous Harpies make their nests, W h o chased *the Trojans from the Strophades, With sad announcement of impending doom; Broad wings have they, and necks and faces human, And feet with claws, and their great bellies fledged They make laments upon the wondrous trees. And the good Master : “ Ere thou enter farther, Know that thou art within the second round,” Thus he began to say, “ and shalt be, till Inferno xm.

Thou comest out upon the horrible sand ;

Therefore look well around, and thou shalt see 20 Things that will credence give unto my speech.” I heard on all sides lamentations uttered, And person none beheld I who might make them, Whence, utterly bewildered, I stood still. I think he thought that I perhaps might think 25 So many voices issued through those trunks From people who concealed themselves for us;

Therefore the Master said : “ If thou break off Some little spray frpm any of these trees,

The thoughts thou hast will wholly b e made vain.” 3° Then stretched I forth my hand a little forward, And plucked a branchlet off from a great thorn ; And-the trunk cried, “ W hy dost thou mangle m e?” After it had become embrowned with blood,

It recommenced its cry: “ W hy dost thou rend me? 35 Hast thou no spirit of pity whatsoever ? Men once we were, and now are changed to trees; * Indeed, thy hand should be more pitiful, Even if the souls of serpents we had been.” As out of a green brand, that is on fire 40 At one of the ends, and from the other drips And hisses with the wind that is escaping; 76 The Divine Comedy

So from that splinter issued forth together Both words and blood ; whereat I let the tip Fall, and stood like a man who is afraid. “ Had he been able sooner to believe,” M y Sage made answer, “ O thou wounded soul, What only in my verses he has seen, Not upon thee had he stretched forth his hand; Whereas the thing incredible has caused me To put him to an act which grieveth me. But tell him who thou wast, so that by way O f some amends thy fame he may refresh Up in the world, to which he can return.” And the trunk said : “ So thy sweet words allure me, I can not silent be; and you be vexed not, That I a little to discourse am tempted. I am the one who both keys had in keeping O f Frederick’s heart, and turned them to and fro So softly in unlocking and in locking, That from his secrets most men I withheld; Fidelity I bore the glorious office So great, I lost thereby my sleep and pulses. The courtesan who never from the dwelling O f Cssar turned aside her strumpet eyes, Death universal and the vice of courts, Inflamed against me all the other minds, And they, inflamed, did so inflame Augustus, That my glad honors turned to dismal mournings. My spirit, in disdainful exultation, 70 Thinking by dying to escape disdain, Made me unjust against myself, the just. I, by the roots unwonted of this wood, Do swear to you that never broke I faith

Unto my lord, who was so worthy of honor ; 75 And to the world if one of you return, Let him my memory comfort, which is lying Still prostrate from the blow that envy dealt it.” Waited awhile, and then : “ Since he is silent,” The Poet said to me, “ lose not the time, .80 But speak, and question him, if more may please thee.” Whence I to him : “ Do thou again inquire Concerning what thou think’st will satisfy m e; For I can not, such pity is in my heart.” Therefore he recommenced : “ So may the man 85 Do for thee freely what thy speech implores, Spirit incarcerate, again be pleased T o tell us in w hat w ay the soul is bound Within these knots; and tell us, if thou canst, If any from such members e’er is freed.” 90 78 The Divine Comedy

Then blew the trunk amain, and afterward The wind was into such a voice converted: “ W ith brevity shall be replied to you. When the exasperated soul abandons The body whence it rent itself away, 95 Minos consigns it to the seventh abyss. It falls into the forest, and no part Is chosen for it; but where Fortune hurls it, There like a grain of spelt it germinates. It springs a sapling, and a forest tree; ’ 100 The Harpies, feeding then upon its leaves, Do pain create, and for the pain an outlet. Like others for our spoils shall we return; But not that any one may them revest, For’t is not just to have what one casts off. 105 Here we shall drag them, and along the dismal Forest our bodies shall suspended be, Each to the thorn of his molested shade.” W e were attentive still unto the trunk, Thinking that more it yet might wish to tell us, no When by a tumult we were overtaken, In the same way as he is who perceives The boar and chase approaching to his stand, Who hears the crashing of the beasts and branches ; Inferno xm. 79

And two behold! upon our left-hand side, 115 Naked and scratched, fleeing so furiously, That of the forest every fan they broke. He who was in advance : “ Now help, Death, help ! ” And the other one, who seemed to lag too much, Was shouting : “ Lano, were not so alert 120 Those legs of thine at joustings of the Toppo ! ” And then, perchance because his breath was failing, He grouped himself together with a bush. Behind them was the forest full of black She-mastifFs, ravenous, and swift of foot 125 As greyhounds, who are issuing from the chain.

3 n him who had crouched down they set their teeth, And him they lacerated piece by piece, Thereafter, bore away those aching members, rhereat my Escort took me by the hand, 13° And led me to the bush, that all in vain Was weeping from its bloody lacerations. ‘ O Jacopo,” it said, “ of Sant’ Andrea, What helped it thee of me to make a screen ? What blame have I in thy nefarious life ? ” 135 When near him had the Master stayed his steps, He said: “ W ho wast thou, that through wounds so many Art blowing out with blood thy dolorous speech ? ” 80 The Divine Comedy

And he to us: “ O souls, that hither come To look upon the shameful massacre That has so rent away from me my leaves, Gather them up beneath the dismal bush; I of that city was which to the Baptist Changed its first patron, wherefore he for this Forever w ith his art w ill m ake it sad. And were it not that on the pass of Arno Some glimpses of him are remaining still, Those citizens, who afterwards rebuilt it Upon the ashes left by Attila, In vain had caused their labor to be done. O f my own house I made myself a gibbet.” CANTO XIV.

gE C A U SE the charity of my native place Constrained me, gathered I the scattered leaves, And gave them back to him, who now was hoarse. Then came we to the confine, where disparted The second round is from the third, and where * A horrible form of Justice is beheld. Clearly to manifest these novel things, I say that we arrived upon a plain, W hich from its bed rejecteth every plant; The dolorous forest is a garland to it All round about, as the sad moat to that; There close upon the edge we stayed our feet. The soil^ was of an arid and thick sand, Not of another fashion made than that W hich by the feet of Cato once was pressed. Vengeance of God, O how much oughtest thou By each one to be dreaded, who doth read That which was manifest unto mine eyes ! 82 The Divine Comedy

O f naked souls beheld I many herds, Who all were weeping very miserably, ‘ 20 And over them seemed set a law diverse. Supine upon the ground some folk were lying; And some were sitting all drawn up together, And others went about continually. Those who were going round were far the more, 25 And those were less who lay down to their torment, But had their tongues more loosed to lamentation. O’er all the sand-waste, with a gradual fall, Were raining down dilated flakes of fire, As of the snow on Alp without a wind. 3° As Alexander, in those torrid parts O f India, beheld upon his host Flames fall unbroken till they reached the ground, Whence he provided with his phalanxes To trample down the soil, because the vapor • 35 Better extinguished was while it was single; Thus was descending the eternal heat, Whereby the sand was set on fire, like tinder Beneath the steel, for doubling of the dole. Without repose forever was the dance 40 O f miserable hands, now there, now here, Shaking away from off them the fresh gleeds. Inferno xiv. 83

“ Master,” began I, “ thou who overcomest All things except the demons dire, that issued

Against us at the entrance of the gate, 45 Who is that mighty one who seems to heed not The fire, and lieth lowering and disdainful, So that the rain seems not to ripen him ? ” And he himself, who had become aware That I was questioning my Guide about him, 5°

C rie d : “ Such as I was living, am I, dead ! if J ove should weary out his smith, from whom He seized in anger the sharp thunderbolt, Wherewith upon the last day I was smitten,

And if he wearied out by turns the others 55 In Mongibello at the swarthy forge,

Vociferating, ‘ Help, good Vulcan, help ! y Even as he did there at the fight of Phlegra, And shot his bolts at me with all his might, He would not have thereby a joyous vengeance.” 60 Then did my Leader speak with such great force, That I had never heard him speak so loud : “ O Capaneus, in that is not extinguished Thine arrogance, thou punished art the more; Not any torment, saving thine own. rage, 65 Would be unto thy fury pain cj^piege.’

n ■ /( v - v // / 84 The Divine Comedy

Then he turned round to me with better lip, Saying : “ One of the Seven Kings was he Who Thebes besieged, and held, and seems to hold God in disdain, and little seems to prize him ; But, as I said to him, his own despites Are for his breast the fittest ornaments. Now follow me, and mind thou do not place \ As yet thy feet upon the burning sand, But always keep them close unto the wood.” Speaking no word, we came to where there gushes Forth from the wood a little rivulet, Whose redness makes my hair still stand on end. As from the Bulicame springs the brooklet, The sinful women later share among them, So downward through the sand it went its way. The bottom of it, and both sloping banks, Were made of stone, and the margins at the side; Whence I perceived that there the passage was. “ In all the rest which I have shown to thee Since we hav j entered in within the gate Whose threshold unto no one is denied, Nothing has been discovered by thine eyes So notable.as is the present river, Which all me'little flames above it quenches.” Inferno xiv. 85

These words were of my Leader; whence I prayed him That he would give me largess of the food, For which he had given me largess of desire. “ In the mid-sea there sits a wasted land,” V

Said he thereafterward, “ whose name is Crete, 95 Under whose king the world of old was chaste. There is a mountain there, that once was glad With waters and with leaves, which was called Ida; Now ’t is deserted, as a thing worn out. Rhea once chose it for the faithful cradle 100 O f her own son; and to conceal him better, Whene’er he cried, she there had clamors made. A grand old man stands in the mount erect, W ho holds his shoulders turned tow’rds Damietta, And looks at Rome as if it were his mirror. 105 His head is fashioned of refined gold, And of pure silver are the arms and breast; Then he is brass as far down as the fork. From that point downward all is chosen iron, Save that the right foot is of kiln-baked clay, no And more he stands on that than on the other. Each part, except the gold, is by a fissure Asunder cleft, that dripping is with tears, W hich gathered together perforate that cavern. 86 The D iv i7ie Comedy

From rock to rock they fall into this valley ; Acheron, Styx, and Phlegethon they form ; Then downward go along this narrow sluice Unto that point where is no more descending. They form Cocytus ; what that pool may be Thou shalt behold, so here ’t is not. narrated.” And I to him : “ If so the present runnel Doth take its rise in this way from our world, Why only on this verge appears it to us ? ” And he to me : “ Thou knowest the place is round, And notwithstanding thou hast journeyed far, Still to the left descending to the bottom, Thou hast not yet through all the circle turned. Therefore if something new appear to us, It should not bring amazement to thy face.” And I again °» “ Master, where shall be found Lethe and Phlegethon, for of one thou ’rt silent, And sayest the other of this rain is made ? ” , “ In all thy questions truly thou dost please me,” Replied he ; “ but the boiling of the red Water might well solve one of them thou makest. Thou shalt see Lethe, but outside this moat, There where the souls repair to lave themselves, W hen sin repented o f has been removed.” Inferno xiv. r h e n said h e : “ It is time now to abandon The wood; take heed that thou come after me A way the margins make that are not burning, And over them all vapors are extinguished.” CANTO XV.

OW bears us onward one of the hard margins, And so the brooklet’s mist o’ershadows it, From fire it saves the water and the dikes. * Even as the Flemings, ’twixt Cadsand and Bruges, Fearing the flood that tow’rds them hurls itself, Their bulwarks build to put the sea to flight; And as the Paduans along the Brenta, To guard their villas and their villages, Or ever Chiarentana feel the heat; In such similitude had those been made, Albeit not so lofty nor so thick, Whoever he might be, the master made them. Now were we from the forest so remote, I could not have discovered where it was, Even if backward I had turned myself, W hen we a company o f souls encountered, Who came beside the dike, and every one Gazed at us, as at evening we are wont Inferno xv m : 8q \\ y : r . : To eye each other under a new moon, And so towards us sharpened they their brows 20 ^As an old tailor at the needle’s ey^ Thus scrutinized by such a family, By some one I was recognized, who seized My garment’s hem, and cried out, “ What a marvel!” And I, when he stretched forth his arm to me, *5 On his baked aspect fastened so mine eyes, That the scorched countenance prevented not His recognition by my intellect; : And bowing down my face unto his own, I made reply, “ Are you here, Ser Brunetto ? ” 3° And he *: “ M ay’t not displease thee, O my son, If a brief space with thee Brunetto Latini Backward return and let the trail go on.” I said to him : “ With all my power I ask it;

And if you wish me to sit down with you, 35 I will, if he please, for I go with him.” “ O son,” he said, “ whoever of this herd A moment stops, lies then a hundred years, Nor fans himself when smiteth him the fire. Therefore go on; I at thy skirts will come, 40 And afterward will I rejoin my band,, W hich goes lamenting its eternal-doom.” 90 The Divine Comedy

I did not dare to go down from the road Level to walk with him ; but my head bowed I held as one who goeth reverently. And he began : “ What fortune or what fate Before the last day leadeth thee down here ? And who is this that showeth thee the way ? ” “ Up there above us in the life serene,” I answered him, “ I lost me in a valley, Or ever yet my age had been completed. But yestermorn I turned my back upon it; This orfe appeared to me, returning thither, ■ And homeward leadeth me along this road.” And he to me : “ I f thou thy star do follow, Thou canst not fail thee of a glorious port, If well I judged in the life beautiful. • And if I had not died so prematurely, Seeing Heaven thus benignant unto thee, I would have given thee comfort in the work. But that ungrateful and malignant people, Which of old time from Fesole descended, And smacks still of the mountain and the granite, W ill make itself, for thy good deeds, thy fo e ; And it is right; for among crabbed sorbs It ill befits^the sweet fig to bear fruit. Inferno xv. 9 1

Old rumor in the world proclaims them blind; A people avaricious, envious, proud ; Take heed that of their customs thou do cleanse thee. Thy fortune so much honor doth reserve thee, 70 One party and the other shall be hungry For thee ; but far from goat shall be the grass. Their litter let the beasts o f Fesole Make of themselves, nor let them touch the plant, I f any still upon their dunghill rise, 75 In which may yet revive the consecrated Seed of those Romans, who remained there when The nest of such great malice it became.” “ If my entreaty wholly were fulfilled,” Replied I tp him, “ not yet would you be 80 In banishment from human nature placed ; For in my mind is fixed, and touches now My heart the dear and good paternal image O f you, when in the world from hour to hour You taught me how a man becomes eternal ; 85 And how much I am grateful, while I live Behoves that in my language be discerned. What you narrate of my career I write, And keep it to be glossed with other text By a Lady who can do it, if I reach her. 90 92 The Divine Comedy

This much will I have manifest to you; Provided that my conscience do not chide me, For whatsoever Fortune I am ready. Such hansel is not new unto mine ears; Therefore let Fortune turn her wheel around As it may please her, and the churl his mattock.” M y Master thereupon on his right cheek Did backward turn himself, and looked at m e; Then said : “ H e listeneth well who noteth it.” Nor speaking less on that account, I go W ith Ser Brunetto, and I ask who are His most known and most eminent companions. And he to me : “ To know of some* is well; O f others it were laudable' to be silent, For short would be the time for so much speech. Know then, in sum, that all of them were clerks, And men of letters great and of great fame, In the world tainted with the selfsame sin. Priscian goes yonder with that wretched crowd, And Francis of Accorso; and thou hadst seen there, If thou hadst had a hankering for such scurf, That one, who by the Servant o f the Servants From Arno was transferred to Bacchiglione, W here he has left his sin-excited nerves. Inferno xv. 93

More would I say, but coming and discoursing Can be no longer; for that I behold N ew smoke uprising yonder from the sand. A people comes with whom I may not be; Commended unto thee be my Tesoro, .

In which I still live, and no more I ask.” 120 Then he turned round, and seemed to be of those Who at Verona run for the Green Mantle Across the plain; and seemed to be among them The one who wins, and not the one who loses.

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© CANTO XVI.

Now was I where was heard the reverberation O f water falling into the next round, Like to that humming which the beehives make, When shadows three together started forth, Running, from out a company that passed Beneath the rain of the sharp martyrdom. Towards us came they, and each one cried out: “ Stop, thou ; for by thy garb to us thou seemest To be some one of our depraved city.” Ah me ! what wounds I saw upon their limbs, Recent and ancient by the flames burnt in ! It pains me still but to remember it. Unto their cries my Teacher paused attentive ; 0 He turned his face towards me, and “ Now wait,” H e said ; “ to these we should be courteous. And if it were not for the fire that darts T h e nature o f this region, I should say That haste were more becoming thee than them.” Inferno xvi. 95

As soon as we stood still, they recommenced The old refrain, and when they overtook us, 20 Formed of themselves a wheel, all three of them. As champions stripped and oiled are wont to do, v Watching for their advantage and their hold, Before they come to blows and thrusts between them, * Thus, wheeling round, did every one his visage 25 Direct to me, so that in opposite wise His neck and feet continual journey made.y And, “ If the misery of this soft place Bring in disdain ourselves and our entreaties,” Began one, “ and our aspect black and blistered, 3° Let the renown of us thy mind incline To tell us who thou art, who thus securely Thy living feet dost move along through Hell. He in whose footprints thou dost see me treading,

Naked and skinless though he now may go, 35 Was of a greater rank than thou dost think; He was the grandson of the good Gualdrada; His name was Guidoguerra, and in life Much did he with his wisdom and his sword. The other, who close by me treads the sand, 40 Tegghiaio Aldobrandi is, whose fame Above there in the world should welcome be. 96 The Divine Comedy

And I, who with them on the cross am placed, Jacopo Rusticucci was; and truly M y savage wife, more than aught else, doth harm m< Could I have been protected from the fire, Below I should have thrown myself among them, And think the Teacher would have suffered it; But as I should have burned and baked myself, My terror overmastered my good will, Which made me greedy of embracing them. Then I began : “ Sorrow and not disdain Did your condition fix within me so, That tardily it wholly is stripped off, As soon as this my Lord said unto me Words, on account of which I thought within me That people such as you are were approaching. I of your city am ; and evermore Your labors and your honorable names I with affection have retraced and heard. I leave the gall, and go for the sweet fruits Promised to me by the veracious Leader; But to the centre first I needs must plunge/’ “ So may the soul for a long while conduct Those limbs of thine,” did he make answer then, “ And so may thy renown shine after thee, Inferno xvi.

Valor and courtesy, say if they dwell W ithin our city, as they used to do, Or if they wholly have gone out of it; i For Guglielmo Borsier, who is in torment With us of late, and goes there with his comrades, Doth greatly mortify us with his words.” “ The new inhabitants and the sudden gains, Pride and extravagance have in thee engendered, Florence, so that thou weep’st thereat already ! ” In this wise I exclaimed with face uplifted ; And the three, taking that for my reply, Looked at each other, as one looks at truth. “ If other times so little it doth cost thee,” Replied they all, “ to satisfy another, Happy art thou, thus speaking at thy w ill! Therefore, if thou escape from these dark places, And come to rebehold the beauteous stars, When it shall pleasure thee to say, ‘ I was/ Bee that thou speak of us unto the people.” Then they broke up the wheel, and in their flight It seemed as if their agile legs were wings. Not an Amen could possibly be said So rapidly as they had disappeared; Wherefore the Master deemed best to depart. 98 The Divine Comedy

I followed him, and little had we gone, Before the sound of water was so near us, That speaking we should hardly have been heard. Even as that stream which holdeth its own course T h e first from Monte Veso tow’rds the East, Upon the left-hand slope of Apennine, Which is above called Acquacheta, ere It down descendeth into its low bed, And at Forli is vacant of that name, Reverberates there above San Benedetto From Alps, by falling at a single leap, Where for a thousand there were room enough; Thus downward from a bank precipitate, W e found resounding that dark-tinted water, So that it soon the ear would have offended. I had a cord around about me girt, And therewithal I whilom had designed To take the panther with the painted skin. After I this had all from me unloosed, As my Conductor had commanded me, I reached it to him, gathered up and coiled, Whereat he turned himself to the right side, And at a little distance from the verge, H e cast it down into that deep abyss. Inferno xvi. 99

“ It must needs be some novelty respond,” 115 I said within myself, “ to the new signal

The Master with his eye is following so. ”4 Ah m e! how very cautious men should be With those who not alone behold the act, But with their wisdom look into the thoughts! i»o He said to me : “ Soon there will upward come What I await.; and what thy thought is dreaming Must soon reveal itself unto thy sight.” Aye to that truth which has the face of falsehood, A man should close his lips as far as may be, ™5 Because without his fault it causes shame; But here I can not; and, Reader, by the notes O f this my Comedy to thee I swear, So may they not be void of lasting favor, Athwart that dense and darksome atmosphere 13° I saw a figure swimming upward come, Marvellous unto every steadfast heart, Even as He returns who goeth down Sometimes to clear an anchor, which has grappled Reef, or aught else that in the sea is hidden, 135 Who upward stretches, and draws in his feet. CANTO XVII.

“ j^ E H O LD the monster with the pointed tail, W ho cleaves the hills, and breaketh walls and weapons, Behold him who infecteth all the world.” Thus unto me my Guide began to say, And beckoned him that he should come to shore, s Near to the confine of the trodden marble ; And that uncleanly image of deceit Came up and thrust ashore its head and bust, But on the border.did not drag its tail. The face was as the face of a just man, 10 Its semblance outwardly was so benign, And of a serpent all the trunk beside. Two paws it had, hairy unto the armpits; The back, and breast, and both the sides it had Depicted o’er with nooses and with shields. 15 W ith colors more, groundwork or broidery Never in cloth did Tartars make nor Turks, Nor were such tissues by Arachne laid. Inferno x v i l y . v\ - As sometimes wherries lie upon the shore, That part are in the water, part on land; Arid as among the guzzling Germans there, The beaver plants himself to wage his war; So that vile monster lay upon the border, W hich is o f stone, and shutteth in the sand. His tail was wholly quivering in the void, Contorting upwards the envenomed fork, That in the guise of scorpion armed its point. The Guide said : “ N ow perforce must turn aside / Our way a little, even to that beast Malevolent, that yonder coucheth him.” We therefore on the right-hand side descended, And made ten steps upon the outer verge, Completely to avoid the sand and flame ; And after we are come to him, I see A little farther off upon the sand A people sitting near the hollow place. Then said to me the Master : “ So that full Experience of this round thou bear away, N ow go and see what their condition is. There let thy conversation be concise; Till thou returnest I will speak with him, That he concede to us his stalwart shoulders.” 102 The Divine Comedy

Thus farther still upon the outermost Head of that seventh circle all alone I went, where sat the melancholy folk. Out of their eyes was gushing forth their woe; This way, that way, they helped them with their han N ow from the flames and now from the hot soil. Not otherwise in summer do the dogs, Now with the foot, now with the muzzle, when By fleas, or flies, or gadflies, they are bitten. When I had turned mine eyes upon the faces O f some, on whom the dolorous fire is falling, Not one of them I knew; but I perceived That from the neck of each there hung a pouch, Which certain color had, and certain blazon ; And thereupon it seems their eyes are feeding. And as I gazing round me come among them, Upon a yellow pouch I azure saw That had the face and posture of a lion. Proceeding then the current of my sight, Another of them saw I, red as blood, Display a goose more white than butter is„ And one, who with an azure sow and gravid Emblazoned had his little pouch of white, Said unto me : “ W hat dost thou in this moat ? Inferno xvir. 103

Now get thee gone; and since thou ’rt still alive, Know that a neighbor of mine, Vitaliano, W ill have his seat here on my left-hand side. A Paduan am I with these Florentines; 70 Full many a time they thunder in mine ears, Exclaiming, ‘ Come the sovereign cavalier, He who shall bring the satchel with three goats’” ; Then twisted he his mouth, and forth he thrust

His tongue, like to an ox th^t licks its nose. 75 And fearing lest my longer stay might vex Him who had warned me not to tarry long, Backward I turned me from those weary souls. I found my Guide, who had already mounted Upon the back of that wild animal, 80 And said to m e: “ Now be both strong and bold. Now we descend by stairways such as these; Mount thou in front, for I will be midway, \ So that the tail may have no power to harm thee.” Such as he is who has so near the ague 85 O f quartan that his nails are blue already, And trembles all, but looking at the shade^ Even such became I at those proffered words ; But shame in me his menaces produced, Which maketh servant strong before good master. 90 104 The Divine Comedy

I seated me upon those monstrous shoulders; I wished to say, and yet the voice came not As I believed, “ Take heed that thou embrace me.” But he, who other times had rescued me In other peril, soon as I had mounted, 95 Within his arms encircled and sustained me, And said: “ Now, Geryon, bestir thyself; The circles large, and the descent be little; Think of the novel burden which thou hast.” Even as the little vessel shoves from shore, 100 Backward, still backward, so he thence withdrew; And when he wholly felt himself afloat, There where his breast had been he turned his tail, And that extended like an eel he moved, And with his paws drew to himself the air. 105 A greater fear I do not think there was What time abandoned Phaeton the reins, Whereby the heavens, as still appears, were scorched; Nor when the wretched Icarus his flanks Felt stripped of feathers by the melting wax, no His father crying, “ An ill way thou takest! ” Than was my own, when I perceived myself On all sides in the air, and saw extinguished The sight of everything but of the monster. Inferno xvn.

Onward he goeth, swimming slowly, slowly; 115 Wheels and descends, but I perceive it only By wind upon my face and from below. I heard already on the right the whirlpool Making a horrible crashing under us; 119 Whence I thrust out my head with eyes cast downward. Then was I still more fearful of the abyss; Because I fires beheld, and heard laments, Whereat I, trembling, all the closer cling. I saw then, for before I had not seen it, The turning and descending, by great horrors 125 That were approaching upon divers sides. As falcon who has long been on the wing, Who, without seeing either lure or bird, Maketh the falconer say, “ Ah me, thou stoopest,” Descendeth weary, whence he started swiftly, 13° Thorough a hundred circles, and alights Far from his master, sullen and disdainful; Even thus did Geryon place us on the bottom, Close to the bases of the rough-hewn rock,

And being disencumbered of our persons, 135 He sped away as arrow from the string.

H CANTO XVIII.

/

''J^'HERE is a place in Hell called Malebolge, Wholly of stone and of an iron color, As is the circle that around it turns. Right in the middle of the field malign There yawns a well exceeding wide and deep, O f which its place the structure will recount. Round, then, is that enclosure which remains Between the well and foot of the high, hard bank, And has distinct in valleys ten its bottom. As where for the protection of the walls Many and many moats surround the castles, The part in which they are a figure forms, Just such an image those presented there; And as about such strongholds from their gates Unto the outer bank are little bridges, So from the precipice’s base did crags Project, which intersected dikes and moats, Unto the well that truncates and collects them. Inferno xvm. i

Within this place, down shaken from the back O f Geryori, we found us; and the Poet Held to the left, and I moved on behind. Upon my right hand I beheld new anguish, New torments, and new wielders of the lash, Wherewith the foremost Bolgia was replete. Down at the bottom were the sinners naked; This side the middle came they facing us, Beyond it, with us, but with greater steps; Even as the Romans, for the mighty host, The year of Jubilee, upon the bridge, Have chosen a mode to pass the people over; For all upon one side towards the Castle Their faces have, and go unto Saint Peter’s; On the other side they go towards the Mountain. This side and that, along the livid stone Beheld I horned demons with great scourges, Who cruelly were beating them behind. ^h me! how they did make them lift their legs At the first blow s! and sooth not any one The second waited for, nor for the third. iVhile I was going on, mine eyes by one. * Encountered were ; and straight I said : “ Already With sight of this one I am not unfed.” io8 The Divine Comedy

Therefore I stayed my feet to make him out, And with me the sweet Guide came to a stand, And to my going somewhat back assented ; And he, the scourged one, thought to hide himself, Lowering his face, but little it availed him ; For said I : “ Thou that castest down thine eyes, If false are not the features which thou bearest, Thou art Venedico Caccianimico ; But what doth bring thee to such pungent sauces And he to me : “ Unwillingly I tell it; But forces me thine utterance distinct, Which makes me recollect the ancient world. I was the one who the fair Ghisola Induced to grant the wishes of the Marquis, Howe’er the shameless story may be told. Not the sole Bolognese am I who weeps here ; Nay, rather is this place so full of them, That not so many tongues to-day are taught ’T w ixt Reno and Savena to say si£a; And if thereof thou wishest pledge or proof, Bring to thy mind our avaricious heart.” While speaking in this manner, with his scourge A demon smote him, and said : “ Get thee gone, Pander, there are no women here for coin.” Inferno xvm. 10 9

I joined myself again unto mine Escort; Thereafterward with footsteps few we came To where a crag projected from the bank.

This very easily did we ascend, 7° And turning to the right along its ridge, From those eternal circles we departed. When we were there, where it is hollowed out Beneath, to give a passage to the scourged,

The Guide said: “ Wait, and see that on thee strike 75 The vision of those others evil-born, Of whom thou hast not yet beheld the faces, Because together with us they have gone.” From the old bridge we looked upon the train Which tow’rds us came upon the other border, 80 And which the scourges in like manner smite. And the good Master, without my inquiring, Said to m e : “ See that tall one who is com ing: And for his pain seems not to shed a tear; Still what a royal aspect ’he retains ! 85 That Jason is, who by his heart and cunning The Colchians of the Ram made destitute. He by the isle o f Lemnos passed along After the daring women pitiless Had unto death devoted all their males. 9° I IO The Divine Comedy

There with his tokens and with ornate words Did he deceive Hypsipyle, the maiden W ho first, herself, had all the rest deceived. There did he leave her pregnant and forlorn ; Such sin unto such punishment condemns him, And also for Medea is vengeance done. With him go those who in such wise deceive; And this sufficient be o f the first valley To know, and those that in its jaws it holds.” We were already where the narrow path Crosses athwart the second dike, and forms , O f that a buttress for another arch. Thence we heard people, who are making moan In the next Bolgia, snorting with their muzzles, And with their palms beating upon themselves. The margins were encrusted with a mould By exhalation from below, that sticks there, And with the eyes and nostrils wages war. T h e bottom is so deep, no place suffices To give us sight of it, without ascending The arch’s back, where most the crag impends. Thither we came, and thence down in the moat I saw a people smothered in a filth That out of human privies seemed to flow ; Inferno xvm. 1 11

And whilst below there with mine eye I search, 115 I saw one with his head so foul with ordure, It was not clear if he were clerk or layman. He screamed to m e: “ Wherefore art thou so eager To look at me more than the other foul ones ? ” And I to him : “ Because, if I remember, I have already seen thee with dry hair, And thou ’rt Alessio Interminei of Lucca; Therefore I eye. thee more than all the others.” And he thereon, belaboring his pumpkin: “ The flatteries have submerged me here below, Wherewith my tongue was never surfeited.” Then said to me the G u id e: “ See that thou thrust Thy visage somewhat farther in advance, That with thine eyes thou well the face attain Of that uncleanly and dishevelled drab, 13° Who there doth scratch herself wifh filthy nails, And crouches now, and now on foot is standing. Thais the harlot is it, who replied Unto her paramour, when he said, ‘ Have I Great gratitude from thee?’ — ‘ Nay, marvellous’ ; 135 And herewith let our sight be satisfied.” CANTO XIX.

SIM ON M AG U S, O forlorn disciples, Ye who the things of God, which ought to be The brides of holiness, rapaciously For silver and for gold do prostitute, Now it behoves for you the trumpet sound, Because in this third Bolgia ye abide. W e had already on the following tomb Ascended to that portion of the crag -Which o’er the middle of the moat hangs plumb. Wisdom supreme, O how great art thou showest In heaven, in earth, and in the evil world, And with ,what justice doth thy power distribute! I saw upon the sides and on the bottom The livid stone with perforations filled, All of one size, and every one was round. To me less ample seemed they not, nor greater Than those that in my beautiful Saint John Are fashioned for the place of the baptizers, Inferno xix.

And one of which, not many years ago, I broke for some one, who was drowning in it ; 20 Be this a seal all men to undeceive. Out of the mouth of each one there protruded The feet of a transgressor, and the legs Up to the calf, the rest within remained. In all of them the soles were both on fire; 25 Wherefore the joints so violently quivered, They would have snapped asunder withes and bands. Even as the flame of unctuous things is wont To move upon the outer surface only, So likewise was it there from heel to point* 3° “ Master, who is that one who writhes himself, More than his other comrades quivering,” I said, “ and whom a redder flame is sucking ? ” And he to m e : “ If thou wilt have me bear thee Down there along that bank which lowest lies, 3s From him thou ’It know his errors and himself.” And I : “ What pleases thee, to me is pleasing; Thou art my Lord, and knowest that I depart not From thy desire, and knowest what is not spoken.” Straightway upon the fourth dike we arrived ; 40 W e turned, and on the left-hand side descended Down to the bottom full of holes and narrow. ii4 The Divine Comedy

And the goocj Master yet from off his haunch Deposed me not, till to the hole he brought me O f him who so lamented with his shanks. “ Whoe’er thou art, that standest upside down, 0 doleful soul, implanted like a stake,” To say began I, “ if thou canst, speak out.” I stood even as the friar who is confessing The false assassin, who, when he is fixed, Recalls him, so that death may be delayed. And he cried out : “ Dost thou stand there already, Dost thou stand there already, Boniface ? By many years the record lied to me. Art thou so early satiate with that wealth, For which thou didst not fear to take by fraud The beautiful Lady, and then work her woe ? ” Such I became, as people are who stand, Not comprehending what is answered them, As if bemocked, and know not how to answer. Then said Virgilius: “ Say to him straightway, 1 am not he, I am not he thou thinkest.” And I replied as was imposed on me. Whereat the spirit writhed with both his feet, Then, sighing, with a voice of lamentation Said to me : “ Then what wantest thou of me? Inferno xix. i

[f who I am thou carest so much to know, That thou on that account hast crossed the bank, Know that I vested was with the great mantle; ^\.nd truly was I son of the She-bear, So eager to advance the cubs, that wealth Above, and here myself, I pocketed. Beneath my head the others are dragged down Who have preceded me in simony, Flattened along the fissure of the rock. Below there I shall likewise fall, whenever That one shall come who I believed thou wast. What time the sudden question I proposed. But longer I my feet already toast, And here have been in this way upside down, Than he will planted stay with reddened feet; For after him shall come of fouler deed From tow’rds the west a Pastor without law, Such as befits to cover him and me. New Jason will he be, of whom we read In Maccabees; and as his king was pliant, So he who governs France shall be to this one.” [ do not know if I were here too bold, That him I answered only in this m etre: " I pray thee tell me now how great a treasure 116 The Divine Comedy

Our Lord demanded of Saint Peter first, Before he put the keys into his keeping ? Truly he nothing asked but ‘ Follow me/ Nor Peter nor the rest asked of Matthias Silver or gold, when he by lot was chosen 95 Unto the place the guilty soul had lost. Therefore stay here, for thou art justly punished, And keep safe guard o’er the ill-gotten money, W hich caused thee to be valiant against Charles. And were it not that still forbids it me 100 The reverence for the keys superlative Thou hadst in keeping in the gladsome life, I would make use of words more grievous still; Because your avarice afflicts the world, Trampling the good and lifting the depraved. 105 The Evangelist you Pastors had in mind, When she who sitteth upon many waters T^fornicate with kings by him was seen; The same who with the seven heads was born, 109 And power and strength from the ten horns received, So long as virtue to her spouse was pleasing. Ye have made yourselves a god of gold and silver; And from the idolater how differ ye, Save that he one, and ye a hundred worship ? Inferno xix. ii 7

Ah, Constantine! of how much ill was mother, 115 Not thy conversion, but that marriage-dower Which the first wealthy Father took from thee! ” And while I sang to him such notes as these, Either that anger or that conscience stung him, He struggled violently with both his feet 120 I think in sooth that it my Leader pleased, W ith such contented lip he listened ever Unto the sound of the true words expressed. Therefore with both his arms he took me up, And when he had me all upon his breast, 125 Remounted by the way where he descended. Nor did he tire to have me clasped to h im ; But bore me to the summit of the arch Which from the fourth dike to the fifth is passage. There tenderly he laid his burden down, 130 Tenderly on the crag uneven and steep, That would have been hard passage for the goats: Thence was unveiled to me another valley. CANTO XX.

a new pain behoves me to make verses And give material to the twentieth canto O f the first song, which is of the submerged. I was already thoroughly disposed /To peer down into the uncovered depth, / 7 Which bathed itself with tears of agony/ And people saw I through the circular valley, Silent and weeping, coming at the pace W hich in this world the Litanies assume. As lower down my sight descended on them, Wondrously each one seemed to be distorted From chin to the beginning of the chest; For tow’rds the reins the countenance was turned, And backward it behoved them to advance, As to look forward had been taken from them. Perchance indeed by violence of palsy Some one has been thus wholly turned aw ry; But I ne’er saw it, nor believe it can be. Inferno xx. i

As God may let thee, Reader, gather fruit ■ From this thy reading, think now for thyself How I could ever keep my face unmoistened, When our own image near me I beheld, Distorted so, the weeping of the eyes . Along the fissure bathed the hinder parts. Truly I wept, leaning upon a peak O f the hard crag, so that my Escort said To me : “ Art thou, too, of the other fools ? Here pity lives when it is wholly dead; Who is a greater reprobate than he Who feels compassion at the doom divine ? Lift up, lift up thy head, and see for whom Opened the earth before the Thebans’ eyes ; Wherefore they all cried : ‘ Whither rushest thou, Amphiaraus ? W hy dost leave the war ? ’ And downward ceased he not to fall amain As far as Minos, who lays hold on all. See, he has made a bosom of his shoulders ! Because he wished to see too far before him Behind he looks, and backward makes his w ay: Behold Tiresias, who his semblance changed, When from a male a female he became, His members being all of them transformed ; 120 The Divine Comedy

And afterwards was forced to strike once more The two entangled serpents with his rod, Ere he could have again his manly plumes. That Aruns is, who backs the other’s belly, W ho in the hills of Luni, there where grubs The Carrarese who houses underneath, Among the marbles white a cavern had For his abode; whence to behold the stars And sea, the view was not cut off from him. And she there, who is covering up her breasts, W hich thou beholdest not, with loosened tresses, And on that side has all the hairy skin, Was Manto, who made quest through many lands, Afterwards tarried there where I was born; W hereof I would thou list to me a little. After her father had from life departed, And the city of Bacchus had become enslaved, She a long season wandered through the world. Above in beauteous Italy lies a lake At the Alp’s foot that shuts in Germany

Over Tvrol,y 7 and has the name Benaco. By a thousand springs, I think, and more, is bathed, ’Twixt Garda and Val Camonica, Pennino, With water that grows stagnant in that lake. Inferno xx. 12

Midway a place is where the Trentine Pastor, And he of Brescia, and the Veronese Might give his blessing, if he passed that, way^ Sitteth Peschiera, fortress fair and strong, To front the Brescians and the Bergamasks, Where round about the bank descendeth lowest. There of necessity must fall whatever In bosom of Benaco cannot stay, And grows a river down through verdant pastures. Soon as the water doth begin to run, No more Benaco is it called, but Mincio, Far as Governo, where it falls in Po. Not far it runs before it finds a plain In which it spreads itself, and makes it marshy, And oft ’t is wont in summer to be sickly. Passing that way the virgin pitiless Land in the middle of the fen descried, Untilled and naked of inhabitants; There to escape all human intercourse, She with her servants stayed, her arts to practise, And lived, and left her empty body there. The men, thereafter, who were scattered round, Collected in that place, which was made strong By the lagoon it had on every side; 122 The Divine Comedy

They built their city over those dead bones, And, after her who first the place selected, Mantua named it, without other omen. Its people once within more crowded were, Ere the stupidity of Casalodi 95 From Pinamonte had received deceit. Therefore I caution thee, if e’er thou hearest Originate my city otherwise, No falsehood may the verity defraud.” And I : “ M y master, thy discourses are 100 *T o me so certain, and so take my faith, That unto me the rest would be spent coals. But tell me of the people who are passing, I f any one note-worthy thou beholdest, For only unto that my mind reverts.” 105 Then said he to me : “ He who from the cheek Thrusts out his beard upon his swarthy shoulders Was, at the time when Greece was void of males, So that there scarce remained one in the cradle, An augur, and with Calchas gave the moment, In Aulis, when to sever the first cable. Eryphylus his name was, and so sings M y lofty Tragedy in some part or other; That knowest thou well, who knowest the whole of it. Inferno xx. 123

The next, who is so slender in the flanks, ns Was Michael Scott, who of a verity O f magical illusions knew the game. Behold Guido Bonatti, behold Asdente, Who now unto his leather and his thread Would fain have stuck, but he too late repents. 120 Behold the wretched ones, who left the needle, The spool and rock, and made them fortune-tellers ; They wrought their magic spells with herb and image. But come now, for already holds the confines O f both the hemispheres, and under * 125 Touches the ocean-wave, Cain and the thorns, And yesternight the moon was round already ; Thou shouldst remember well it did not harm thee From time to time within the forest deep.” Thus spake he to me, and we walked the while. 130 CANTO XXI.

P RO M bridge to bridge thus, speaking other things O f which my Comedy cares not to sing, We came along, and held the summit, when We halted to behold another fissure O f Malebolge and other vain laments; And I beheld it marvellously dark. As in the Arsenal of the Venetians Boils in the winter the tenacious pitch To smear their unsound vessels o’er again, For sail they cannot; and instead thereof One makes his vessel new, and one recaulks The ribs of that which many a voyage has made; One hammers at the prow, one at the stern, This one makes oars, and that one cordage twists, Another mends the mainsail and the m izzen; Thus, not by fire, but by the art divine, Was boiling down below there a dense pitch W hich upon every side the bank belimed. Inferno xxi.

I saw it, but I did not see within it Aught but the bubbles that the boiling raised, And all swell up and resubside compressed. The while below there fixedly I gazed, My Leader, crying out: “ Beware, beware ! ” Drew me unto himself from where I stood. Then I turned round, as one who is impatient To see what it behoves him to escape, And whom a sudden terror doth unman, Who, while he looks, delays not his departure; And I beheld behind us a black devil, Running along upon the crag, approach. Ah, how ferocious was he in his aspect! And how he seemed to me in action ruthless, W ith open wings and light upon his feet! His shoulders, which sharp-pointed were and high, A sinner did encumber with both haunches, And he held clutched the sinews of the feet. From off our bridge, he said : “ O Malebranche, Behold one of the elders of Saint Z ita ; Plunge him beneath, for I return for others Unto that town, which is well furnished with them. All there are barrators, except Bonturo; No into Yes for money there is changed.” The Divine Comedy

He hurled him down, and over the hard crag Turned round, and never was a mastiff loosened In so much hurry to pursue a thief. The other sank, and rose again face downward; But the demons, under cover of the bridge, Cried : “ Here the Santo Volto has no place ! Here swims one otherwise than in the Serchio; Therefore, if for our gaffs thou wishest not, Do not uplift thyself above the pitch.” They seized him then with more than a hundred rakes; They said : “ It here behoves thee to dance covered, That, if thou canst, thou secretly mayest pilfer.” Not otherwise the cooks their scullions make \ Immerse into the middle of the caldron \ ' The meat with hooks, so that it may not float. Said the good Master to m e : “ That it be not Apparent thou art here, crouch thyself down Behind a jag, that thou mayest have some screen; And for no outrage that is done to me Be thou afraid, because these things I know, For once before was I in such a scuffle.” Then he passed on beyond the bridge’s head, And as upon the sixth bank he arrived, Need was for him to have a steadfast front. Inferno xxi. 127

With the same fury, and the same uproar, As dogs leap out upon a mendicant, Who on a sudden begs, where’er he stops, They issued from beneath the little bridge, 70 And turned against him all their grappling-irons; But he cried out: “ Be none of you malignant! Before those hooks of yours lay hold of me, Let one of you step forward, who may hear me,

And then take counsel as to grappling me.” 75 They all cried ou t: “ Let Malacoda g o ” ; Whereat one started, and the rest stood still, And he came to him, saying : “ What avails it ? ” “ Thinkest thou, Malacoda, to behold me • Advanced into this place,” my Master said, so “ Safe hitherto from all your skill of fence, Without the will divine, and fate auspicious ? Let me go on, for it in Heaven is willed That I another show this savage road.” Then was his arrogance so humbled in him, 85 That he let fall his grapnel at his feet, And to the others said: “ Now strike him not.” And unto me my Guide : “ O thou, who sittest Among the splinters of the bridge crouched down, Securely now return to me again.” 9° 128 The Divine Comedy

Wherefore I started and came swiftly to h im ; And all the devils forward thrust themselves, So that I feared they would not keep their compact. And thus beheld I once afraid the soldiers W ho issued under safeguard from Caprona, 95 Seeing themselves among so many foes. Close did I press myself with all my person Beside my Leader, and turned not mine eyes From off their countenance, which was not good. They lowered their rakes, and “ W ilt thou have me hit him,” They said to one another, “ on the rump ? ” 101 And answered: “ Yes; see that thou nick him with it.” But the same demon who was holding parley With my Conductor turned him very quickly, And said : “ Be quiet, be quiet, ” ; 105 Then said to us: “ You can no farther go Forward upon this crag, because is lying A ll shattered, at the bottom, the sixth arch. And if it still doth please you to go onward, Pursue your way along upon this rock; no Near is another crag that yields a path. Yesterday, five hours later than this hour, One thousand and two hundred sixty-six Years were complete, that here the way was broken. Inferno xxi. 129

I send in that direction some of mine 115 To see if any one doth air himself; Go ye with them; for they will not be vicious. Step forward and Calcabrina,” Began he to cry out, “ and thou, Cagnazzo; And do thou guide the ten. i»o Come forward, Libicocco and Draghignazzo, And tusked Ciriatto and Graffiacane, And Farfarello and mad Rubicante ; Search ye all round about the boiling pitch; Let these be safe as far as the next crag, 3*5 That all unbroken passes o’er the dens.” “ O me ! what is it, Master, that I see ? Pray let us go,” I said, “ without an escort, If thou knowest how, since for myself I ask none. [f thou art as observant as thy wont is, *3° Dost thou not see that they do gnash their teeth, And with their brows are threatening woe to us ? ” And he to m e: “ I will not have thee fear; Let them gnash on, according to their fancy, Because they do it for those boiling wretches.” 135 Along the left-hand dike they wheeled about; But first had each one thrust his tongue between His teeth towards their leader for a signal; And he-had made a trumpet of his rump. CANTO XXII.

J H A V E erewhile seen horsemen moving camp, Begin the storming, and their muster make, And sometimes starting off for their escape; Vaunt-couriers have I seen upon your land, O Aretines, and foragers go forth, Tournaments stricken, and the joustings run, Sometimes with trumpets and sometimes with bells, W ith kettle-drums, and signals of the casfles, And with our own, and with outlandish things, But never yet with bagpipe so uncouth Did I see horsemen move, nor infantry, Nor ship by any sign of land or star.. W e went upon our way with the ten demons; Ah, savage company! but in the church With saints, and in the tavern with the gluttons Ever upon the pitch was my intent, To see the whole condition of that Bolgia, And of the people who therein were burned. Inferno x x i i .

Even as the dolphins, when they make a sign To mariners by arching of the back, 20 That they should counsel take to save their vessel, Thus sometimes, to alleviate his pain, One of the sinners would display his back, And in less time conceal it than it lightens. As on the brink of water in a ditch 25 The frogs stand only with their muzzles out, . So that they hide their feet and other bulk, So upon every side the sinners stood; But ever as Barbariccia near them came,

Thus underneath the boiling they withdrew. 3° I saw, and still my heart doth shudder at it, One waiting thus, even as it comes to pass One frog remains, and down another dives; And Graffiacan, who most confronted him,

Grappled him b y his tresses smeared with pitch, 35 And drew him up, so that he seemed an otter. • I knew, before, the names of all of them, So had I noted them when they were chosen, And when they called each other, listened how. “ O Rubicante, see that thou do lay 40 Thy claws upon him, so that thou mayst flay him,” Cried all together the accursed ones. i32 The Divine Comedy

And I : “ M y Master, see to it, if thou canst, That thou mayst know who is the luckless wight, Thus come into his adversaries’ hands.” 45 Near to the side of him my Leader drew, Asked of him whence he was ; and he replied : “ I in the kingdom of Navarre was born ; M y mother placed me servant to a lord, For she had borne me to a ribald knave, 50 Destroyer of himself and of his things. Then I domestic was of good King Thibault; ^ I set me there to practise barratry/ /\ ^ For which I pay the reckoning in this heat.” ^

And Ciriatto, from whose mouth projected, 55 On either side, a tusk, as in a boar, Caused him to feel how one of them could rip. Among malicious cats the mouse had cpm e; But Barbariccia clasped him in his arms, And said : “ Stand ye aside, while I enfork him.” 60 And to my Master he turned round his head; “ xA sk him again,” he said, “ if more thou wish To know from him, before some one destroy him.” The Guide : “ Now tell then of the other culprits; Knowest thou any one who is a Latian, 65 Under the pitch ? ” And he : “ I separated Inferno xxn. 133

Lately from one who was a neighbor to it; Would that I still were covered up with him, For I should fear not either claw nor hook!”

And Libicocco : “ W e have borne too much ” ; 7° And with his grapnel seized him by the arm, So that, by rending, he tore off a tendon. Eke Draghignazzo wished to pounce upon him Down at the legs ; whence their Decurion

Turned round and round about with evil look. 75 When they again somewhat were pacified, O f him, who still was looking at his wound, Demanded my Conductor without stay: “ W ho was that one, from whom a luckless parting Thou sayest thou hast made, to come ashore ? ” 80 And he replied : “ It was the Friar Gomita, He of Gallura, vessel of all fraud, Who had the enemies of his Lord in hand, And dealt so with them each exults thereat; Money he took, and let them smoothly off, 85 As he says; and in other offices A barrator was he, not mean but sovereign. Foregathers with him one Don Michael Zanche O f Logodoro ; and of Sardinia To gossip never do their tongues feel tired. 9° 134 The Divine Comedy

O m e! see that one, how he grinds his teeth ; Still farther would I speak, but am afraid Lest he to scratch my itch be making ready.” And the grand Provost, turned to Farfarello, W ho rolled his eyes about as if to strike, Said : “ Stand aside there, thou malicious bird.” “ If you desire either to see or hear,” The terror-stricken recommenced thereon, “ Tuscans or Lombards, I will make them come. But let the Malebranche cease a little, So that these may not their revenges fear, And I, down sitting in this very place, For one that I am will make seven come, * When I shall whistle, as our custom is To do whenever one of us comes out.” Cagnazzo at these words his muzzle lifted* Shaking his head, and said: “ Just hear the trick W hich he has thought of, down to throw himseli Whence he, who snares in great abundance had, Responded : “ I by far too cunning am, When I procure for mine a greater sadness.” Alichin held not in, but running counter Unto the rest, said to him : “ If thou dive, I will not follow thee upon the gallop, Inferno xxn. 135

But I will beat my wings above the pitch; us The height be left, and be the bank a shield, To see if thou alone dost countervail us.” O thou who readest, thou shalt hear new sport! Each to the other side his eyes averted; He first, who most reluctant was to do it. The Navarrese selected well his time; Planted his feet on land, and in a moment Leaped, and released himself from their design. Whereat each one was suddenly stung with shame, But he most who was cause of the defeat; 125 Therefore he moved, and cried: “ Thou art o’ertaken.” But little it availed, for wings could not Outstrip the fear; the other one went under, And, flying, upward he his breast directed. Not otherwise the duck upon a sudden 130 Dives under, when the falcon is approaching, And upward he returneth cross^and weary. Infuriate at the. mockery, Calcabrina Flying behind him followed close, desirous The other should escape, to have a quarrel. 135 And when the barrator had disappeared, He turned his talons upon his companion, And grappled with him right above the moat. 136 The Divine Comedy

But sooth the other was a doughty sparhawk To clapperclaw him well; and both of them 140 Fell in the middle of the boiling pond. A sudden intercessor was the heat; But ne’ertheless of rising there was naught, To such degree they had their wings belimed. Lamenting with the others, Barbariccia 145 Made four of them fly to the other side W ith all their gaffs, and very speedily This side and that they to their posts descended; They stretched their hooks towards the pitch-ensnared, Who were already baked within the crust, 150 And in this manner busied did we leave them. CANTO XXIII.

(^ IL E N T , alone, and without company W e went, the one in front, the other after, As go the Minor Friars along their way. Upon the fable of iEsop was directed M y thought, by reason of the present, quarrel, Where he has spoken of the frog and mouse; For mo and issa are not more alike Than this one is to that, if well we couple End and beginning with a steadfast mind. And even as one thought from another springs, So afterward from that was born another, W hich the first fear within me double made. Thus did I ponder: “ These on our account Are laughed to scorn, with injury and scoff So great, that much I think it must annoy them. If anger be engrafted on ill-will, They will come after us more merciless Than dog upon the leveret which he seizes,” 138 The Divine Comedy 1

I felt my hair stand all on end already W ith terror, and stood backwardly intent, When said I : “ Master, if thou hidest not Thyself and me forthwith, of Malebranche I am in dread ; we have them now behind us; I so imagine them, I already feel them.” And he : “ If I were made of leaded glass, Thine outward image I should not attract Sooner to me than I imprint the inner. Just now thy thoughts came in among my own, W ith similar attitude and similar face, So that of both one counsel sole I made. ■' I f peradventure the right bank so slope That we to the next Bolgia can descend, W e shall escape from the imagined chase.” Not yet he finished rendering such opinion, When I beheld them come with outstretched wings, Not far remote, with will to seize upon us. My Leader on a sudden seized me up, Even as a mother who by noise is wakened, And close beside her sees the enkindled flames, Who takes her son, and flies, and does not stop, Having more care of him than of herself, So that she clothes her only with a shift; And downward from the top of the hard bank Supine he gave him to the pendent rock,

That one side of the other Bolgia walls. 45 Ne’er ran so swiftly water through a sluice To turn the wheel of any land-built mill, When nearest to the paddles it approaches, As did my Master down along that border,

Bearing me with him on his breast away, 5° As his own son, and not as a companion. Hardly the bed of the ravine below His feet had reached, ere they had reached the hill Right over us; but he was not afraid;

For the high Providence, which had ordained 55 To place them ministers of the fifth moat, The power of thence departing took from all. A painted people there below we found,

Who went about with footsteps very slow, 59 Weeping and in their semblance tired and vanquished. They had on mantles with the hoods low down Before their eyes, and fashioned of the cut That in Cologne they for the monks are made. Without, they gilded are so that it dazzles; . But inwardly all leaden and so heavy 65 That Frederick used to put them on of straw. 140 The Divine Comedy

0 everlastingly fatiguing mantle! Again we turned us, still to the left hand Along with them, intent on their sad plaint; But owing to the weight, that weary folk Came on so tardily, that we were new In company at each motion of the haunch. Whence I unto my Leader : “ See thou find Some one who may by deed or name be known, And thus in going move thine eye about.” And one, who understood the Tuscan speech, Cried to us from behind : “ Stay ye your feet,. Ye, who so run athwart the dusky a ir! Perhaps thou ’It have from me what thou demandest.” Whereat the Leader turned him, and said : “ Wait, And then according to his pace proceed.” 1 stopped, and two beheld I show great haste O f spirit, in their faces, to be with m e; But the burden and the narrow way delayed them, When they came up, long with an eye askance They scanned me without uttering a word. Then to each other turned, and said together: “ He by the action of his throat seems living ; And if they dead are, by what privilege * Go they uncovered by the heavy stole ? ” Inferno xxm. i

Then said to m e: “ Tuscan, who to the college O f miserable hypocrites art come, Do not disdain to tell us who thou art.” And I to them : “ Born was I, and grew up In the great town on the fair river of Arno, And with the body am I *ve always had. But who are ye, in whom there trickles down Along your cheeks such grief as I behold ? And what pain is upon you, that so sparkles ? ” And one replied to m e : “ These orange cloaks Are made of lead so heavy, that the weights Cause in this way their balances to creak. Frati Gaudenti were we, and Bolognese; I Catalano, and he- Loderingo Named, and together taken by thy city, As the wont is to take one man alone, For maintenance of its peace; and we were such That still it is apparent round Gardingo.” “ O Friars,” began I, “ your iniquitous . . .” But said no m ore; for to mine eyes there rushed One crucified with three stakes on the ground. When me he saw, he writhed himself all over, Blowing ipto his beard with suspirations; And the Friar Catalan, who noticed this, 142 The Divine Comedy 1

Said to m e : “ This transfixed one, whom thou seest, Counselled the Pharisees that it was meet To put one man to torture for the people. Crosswise and naked is he on the path, As thou perceivest; and he needs must feel, Whoever passes, first how much he weighs; And in like mode his father-in-law is punished Within this moat, and the others of the council, W hich for the Jews was a malignant seed.” And thereupon I saw Virgilius marvel O ’er him who was extended on the cross So vilely in eternal banishment. Then he directed to the Friar this voice: “ Be not displeased, if granted thee, to tell us I f to the right hand any pass slope down By which we two may issue forth from here, Without constraining some of the black angels To come and extricate us from this deep.” Then he made answer: “ Nearer than thou hopest There is a rock, that forth from the great circle Proceeds, and crosses all the cruel valleys, Save that at this’t is broken, and does not bridge it; You will be able to mount up the ruin, That sidelong slopes and at the bottom rises.” Inferno x x i i i .

The Leader stood awhile with head bowed down ; Then said : “ The business badly he recounted Who grapples with his hook the. sinners yonder. And the Friar : “ Many of the Devil’s vices Once heard I at , and among them, That h e ’s a liar and the father of lies.” Thereat my Leader with great strides went on, Somewhat disturbed with anger in his looks; Whence from the heavy-laden I departed After the prints of his beloved feet. CANTO XXIV.

J N that part of the youthful year wherein The Sun his locks beneath tempers, And now the nights draw near to half the day, What time the hoar-frost copies on the ground The outward semblance of her sister white, But little lasts the temper of her pen, The husbandman, whose forage faileth him, Rises, and looks, and seeth the champaign A ll gleaming white, whereat he beats his flank, 4 Returns in doors, and up and down laments, Like a poor wretch, who knows not^what to do; Then he returns, and hope revives again, Seeing the world has changed its countenance In little time, and takes his shepherd’s crook, And forth the little lambs to pasture drives. Thus did the Master fill me with alarm, When I beheld his forehead so disturbed, And to the ailment came as soon the plaster. Inferno xxiv.

'or as we came unto the ruined bridge, The Leader turned to me with that sweet look Which at the mountain’s foot I first beheld, lis arms he opensome advisement Within himself elected, looking first W ell at the ruin, and laid hold of me; Lnd even as he who acts and meditates, For aye it seems that he provides beforehand, So upward lifting me towards the summit )f a huge rock, he scanned another crag, Saying: “ To that one grapple afterwards, But try first i f ’t is such that it will hold thee.” T'his was no way for one clothed with a cloak.; For hardly we, he light, and I pushed upward, Were able to ascend from jag to jag. i.nd had it not been, that upon that precinct Shorter was the ascent than on the other, He I know not, but I had been dead beat, lut because Malebolge tow’rds the mouth O f the profoundest well is all inclining, The structure of each valley doth import rhat one bank rises and the other sinks. Still we arrived at length upon the point Wherefrom the last stone breaks itself asunder. 146 The Divine Comedy

The breath was from my lungs so milked away, When I was up, that I could go no farther, Nay, I sat down upon my first arrival. “ Now it behoves thee thus to put off sloth,” My Master said; (“ for sitting upon down, Or under quilt, one cometh not to Withouten which whoso his life consumes Such vestige leaveth of himself on earth, As smoke in air or in the water foam. And therefore raise thee up, o’ercome the anguish W ith spirit that o’ercometh every battle, If with its heavy body it sink not. A longer stairway it behoves thee mount; ’T is not enough from these to have departed; Let it avail thee, if thou understand me.” Then I uprose, showing myself provided Better with breath than I did feel myself, And said : “ Go on, for I am strong and bold.” Upward we took our way along the crag, W hich jagged was, and narrow, and difficult, And more precipitous far than that before. Speaking I went, not to appear exhausted; Whereat a voice from the next moat came forth, Not well adapted to articulate words. Inferno xxiv.

I know not what it said, though o’er the, bacl$. I now was of the arch that passes there; But he seemed moved to anger who was speaking.

I was bent downward, but my living eyes 7° Could not attain the bottom, for the dark; Wherefore I : “ Master, see that thou arrive At the next round, and let us descend the w all; For as from hence I hear and understand not,

So I look down and nothing I distinguish.” 75 “ Other response,” he said, “ I make thee not, Except the doing; for the modest asking Ought to be followed by the deed in silence.” We from the bridge descended at its head, Where it connects itself with the eighth bank, 80 And then was manifest to me the Bolgia; And I beheld therein a terrible throng O f serpents, and of such a monstrous kind, That the remembrance still congeals my blood. Let Lybia boast no longer with her sand; 85 For if Chelydri, Jaculi, and Phareae She breeds, with Cenchri and with Amphisbasna, Neither so many plagues nor so malignant E ’er showed she with all Ethiopia, .

Nor with whatever on the Red Sea i s ! 9° 148 The Divine Comedy

Among this cruel and most dismal throng People were running naked and affrighted, Without the hope of hole or heliotrope. They had their hands with serpents bound behind them;

These riveted upon their reins the tail 95 And head, and were in front of them entwined. And lo ! at one who was upon our side There darted forth a serpent, which transfixed him There where the neck is knotted to the shoulders. Nor O so quickly e’er, nor I was written, 100 As he took fire, and burned; and ashes wholly Behoved it that in falling he became. And when he on the ground was thus destroyed, The ashes drew together, and of themselves Into himself they instantly returned. 105 Even thus by the great sages ’t is confessed The phoenix dies, and then is born again, When it approaches its five-hundredth year; On herb or grain it feeds not in its life, But only on tears of incense and amomum, no And nard and myrrh are its last winding-sheet. And as he is who falls, and knows not how, By force of demons who to earth down drag him, 'Or other oppilation that binds man, Inferno xxiv. i

When he arises and around him looks, Wholly bewildered by the mighty anguish Which he has suffered, and in looking sighs; Such was that sinner after he had risen. Justice of God ! O how severe it is, That blows like these in vengeance poureth down ! The Guide thereafter asked him who he was; Whence he replied : “ I rained from A short time since into this cruel gorge. A bestial life, and not a human, pleased me, Even as the mule I was; I ’m Vanni Fucci, Beast, and Pistoia was my worthy den.” And I unto the Guide : “ Tell him to stir not, And ask what crime has thrust him here below, For once a man of blood and wrath I saw him.” And the sinner, who had heard, dissembled not, But unto me directed mind and face, And with a melancholy shame was painted. Then said: “ It pains me more that thou hast caught me Amid this misery where thou seest me, Than when I from the other life was taken. What thou demandest I cannot deny ; So low am I put down because I robbed The sacristy of the fair ornaments, 150 The Divine Comedy

And falsely once ’t was laid upon another; But that thou mayst not such a sight enjoy, I f thou shalt e’er be out of the dark places, Thine ears to my announcement ope and hear: Pistoia first of Neri groweth meagre; Then Florence doth renew her men and manners Mars draws a vapor up from Val di Magra, W hich is with turbid clouds enveloped round, And with impetuous and bitter tempest Over Campo Picen shall be the battle ; When it shall suddenly rend the mist asunder, So that each Bianco shall thereby be smitten. And this I ’ve said that it may give thee pain.” CANTO XXV.

the conclusion of his words, the thief Lifted his hands aloft with both the figs, Crying: “ Take that, God, for at thee I aim them/ From that time forth the serpents were my friends; For one entwined itself about his neck As if it said: “ I will not thou speak more ” ; And round his arms another, and rebound him, Clinching itself together so in front, That with them he could not a motion make. Pistoia, ah, Pistoia ! why resolve not To burn thyself to ashes and so perish, Since in ill-doing thou thy seed excellest ? Through all the sombre circles of this Hell, Spirit I saw not against God so proud, Not he who fell at Thebes down from the walls! He fled away, and spake no further w ord; And I beheld a Centaur full of rage Come crying o u t: “ Where is, where is the scoffer ? 152 The Divine Comedy

I do not think Maremma has so many Serpents as he had all along his back, As far as where our countenance begins. Upon the shoulders, just behind the nape, W ith wings wide open was a lying, And he sets fire to all that he encounters. My Master said: “ That one is , who Beneath the rock upon Mount Aventine Created -oftentimes a lake of blood. He goes not on the same road with his brothers, By reason of the fraudulent theft he made O f the great herd, which he had near to him Whereat his tortuous actions ceased beneath The mace of Hercules, who peradventure Gave him a hundred, and he felt not ten.” W hile he was speaking thus, he had passed by, And spirits three had underneath us come, O f which nor I aware was, nor my Leader, Until what time they shouted: “ Who are you?” On which account our story made a halt, And then we were intent on them alone. I did not know them ; but it came to pass, As it is wont to happen by some chance, That one to name the other was compelled, Inferno xxv. 153

Exclaiming : “ Where can Cianfa have remained?” Whence I, so that the Leader might attend, Upward from chin to nose my finger laid. 45 If thou art, Reader, slow now to believe What I shall say, it will no marvel be, For I who saw it hardly can admit it. As I was holding raised on them my brows, Behold ! a serpent with six feet darts forth 50 In front of one, and fastens wholly on him. With middle feet it bound him round the paunch, And with the forward ones his arms it seized ; Then thrust its teeth through one cheek and the other;

The hindermost it stretched upon his thighs, 55 And put its tail through in between the two, And up behind along the reins outspread it. Ivy was never fastened*by its barbs Unto a tree so, as this horrible reptile Upon the other’s limbs entwined its own. 60 Then they stuck close, as if of heated wax They had been made, and intermixed their color; Nor one nor other seemed now what he w as; E’en as proceedeth on before the flame Upward along the paper a brown color, 65 Which is not black as yet, and the white dies. 154 The Divine Comedy

The other two looked on, and each of them Cried out: “ O me, Agnello, how thou changest! Behold, thou now art neither two nor one.” A lre a d y the two heads had one become, When there appeared to us two figures mingled Into one face, wherein the two were lost. O f the four lists were fashioned the two arms, The thighs and legs, the belly and the chest Members became that never yet were seen. Every original aspect there was cancelled; Tw o and yet none did the perverted image Appear, and such departed with slow pace. Even as a lizard, under the great scourge O f days canicular, exchanging hedge, Lightning appeareth if the road it cross; Thus did appear, coming towards the bellies O f the two others, a small fiery serpent, Livid and black as is a peppercorn. And in that part whereat is first received Our aliment, it one of them transfixed; Then downward fell in front of him extended. The one transfixed looked at it, but said naught; Nay, rather with feet motionless he yawned, Just as if sleep or fever had assailed him. Inferno xxv. 155

He at the serpent gazed, and it at him ; One through the wound, the other through the mouth Smoked violently, and the smoke commingled. Henceforth be silent Lucan, where he mentions Wretched Sabellus and Nassidius, 95 And wait to hear what now shall be shot forth. Be silent Ovid, of Cadmus and Arethusa; For if him to a snake, her to a fountain, Converts he fabling, that I grudge him not; Becaruse two natures never front to front 100 Has he transmuted, so that both the forms To interchange their matter ready were. Together they responded in such wise, That to a fork the serpent cleft his tail, And eke the wounded drew his feet together. 105 The legs together with the thighs themselves Adhered so, that in little time the juncture No sign whatever made that was apparent. He with the cloven tail assumed the figure The other one was losing, and his skin no Became elastic, and the other’s hard. I saw the arms draw inward at the armpits, And both feet of the reptile, that were short,

Lenetheno as much as those contracted were. The Divine Comedy

Thereafter the hind feet, together twisted, Became the member that a man conceals, And of his own the wretch had two created. While both of them the exhalation veils W ith a new color, and engenders hair On one of them and depilates the other, The one uprose and down the other fell, Though turning not away their impious lamps, Underneath which each one his muzzle changed. He who was standing drew it tow’rds the temples, And from excess of matter, which came thither, Issued the ears from out the hollow cheeks; What did not backward run and was retained O f that excess made to the face a nose, And the lips thickened far as was befitting. He who lay prostrate thrusts his muzzle forward, And backward draws the ears into his head, In the same manner as the snail its horns; And so'the tongue, which was entire and apt For speech before, is cleft, and the bi-forked In the other closes up, and the smoke ceases. The soul, which to a reptile had been changed, Along the valley hissing takes to flight, And after him the other speaking sputters. Inferno xxv. 157

Then did he turn upon him his new shoulders, And said to the other : “ I ’11 have Buoso run, 140 Crawling as I have done, along this road.” In this way I beheld the seventh ballast Shift and reshift, and here be my excuse The novelty, if aught my pen transgress.

And notwithstanding that mine eyes might be 145 Somewhat bewildered, and my mind dismayed, They could not flee away so secretly But that I plainly saw Puccio Sciancato; And he it was who sole of three companions, Which came in the beginning, was not changed; 150 The other was he whom thou, Gaville, weepest. CANTO XXVI.

J ^ E J O IC E , 0 Florence, since thou art so great, That over sea and land thou beatest thy wings, And throughout Hell thy name is spread abroad! Among the thieves five citizens of thine Like these I found, whence shame comes unto me, And thou thereby to no great honor risest. But if when morn is near our dreams are true, Feel shalt thou in a little time from now What Prato, if none other, craves for thee. And if it now were, it were not too soon; Would that it were, seeing it needs must be, F o r ’t will aggrieve me more the more I age. W e went our way, and up along the stairs The bourns had made us to descend before, Remounted my Conductor and drew me. And following the solitary path Among the rocks and ridges of the crag, The foot without the hand sped not at all. Inferno xxvi. 159

Then sorrowed I, and sorrow now again, When I direct my mind to what I saw, 20 And more my genius curb than I am wont, That it may run not unless virtue guide i t ; So that if some good star, or better thing, Have given me good, I may myself not grudge it. As many as the hind (who on the hill 25 Rests at the time when he who lights the world His countenance keeps least concealed from us, Whileas the fly gives place unto the gnat) Seeth the glow-worms down along the valley, [tage; Perchance there where he ploughs and makes his vin- With flames as manifold resplendent all 31. Was the eighth Bolgia, as I grew aware As soon as I was where the depth appeared. And such as he who with the bears avenged him

Beheld Elijah’s chariot at departing, 35 What time the steeds to heaven erect uprose, For with his eye he could not follow it So as to see aught else than flame alone, Even as a little cloud ascending upward, Thus each along the gorge of the intrenchment 40 Was moving; for not one reveals the theft, And every flame a sinner steals away. 160 The Divine Comedy

I stood upon the bridge uprisen to see, So that, if I had seized not on a rock, Down had I fallen without being pushed. 45 And the Leader, who beheld me so attent, Exclaimed : “ Within the fires the spirits are; Each swathes himself with that wherewith he burns.” “ M y Master,” I replied, “ by hearing thee I am more sure ; but I surmised already 50 It might be so, and already wished to ask thee W ho is within that fire, which comes so cleft At top, it seems uprising from the pyre Where was Eteocles with his brother placed.” He answered me : “ Within there are tormented ss Ulysses and Diomed, and thus together They unto vengeance run as unto wrath. And there within their flame do they lament The ambush of the horse, which made the door Whence issued forth the Romans’ gentle seed; 60 Therein is wept the craft, for which being dead Deidamia still deplores Achilles, And pain for the Palladium there is borne.” “ If they within those sparks possess the power To speak,” I said, “ thee, Master, much I pray, 65 And re-pray, .that be worth a thousand, Inferno xxvi. 16 1

That thou make no denial of awaiting Until the horned flame shall hither come; Thou seest that with desire I lean towards it.” And he to me : “Worthy is thy entreaty 70 O f much applause, and therefore I accept i t ; But take heed that thy tongue restrain itself. Leave me to speak, because I have conceived That which thou wishest; for they might disdain Perchance, since they were Greeks, discourse of thine.” When now the flame had come unto that point, 76 Where to my Leader it seemed time and place, After this fashion did I hear him speak: “ O ye, who are twofold within one fire, If I deserved of you, while I was living, 80 If I deserved of you or much or little When in the world I wrote the lofty verses, Do not move on, but one of you. declare Whither, being lost, he went away to die.” Then of the antique flame the greater horn, 85 Murmuring, began to wave itself about Even as a flame doth which the wind fatigues. Thereafterward, the summit to and fro Moving as if it were the tongue that spake, It uttered forth a voice, and said : “ When I 9° 21 162 The Divine Comedy

From Circe had departed, who concealed me More than a year there near unto Gaeta, Or ever yet j®neas named it so, Nor fondness for my son, nor reverence For my old father, nor the due affection Which joyous should have made Penelope, Could overcome within me the desire I had to be experienced of the world, And of the vice and virtue of mankind; But I put forth on the high open sea W ith one sole ship, and that small company By which I never had deserted been. Both of the shores I saw as far as , Far as Morocco, and the isle of Sardes, And the others which that sea bathes round about. I and my company were old and slow When at that narrow passage we arrived Where Hercules his landmarks set as signals, That man no farther onward should adventure. On the right hand behind me left I Seville, And on the other already had left Ceuta. ‘ O brothers, who amid a hundred thousand Perils/ I said, ‘ have come unto the West, To this so inconsiderable vigil Inferno xxvi.

Which is remaining of your senses still, Be ye unwilling to deny the knowledge, Following the sun, of the unpeopled world. Consider ye the seed from which ye sprang ; ^Ye were not made to live like unto brutes, ^ But for pursuit of virtue and of knowledge.’ So eager did I render my companions, With this brief exhortation, for the voyage, That then I hardly could have held them back. And having turned our stern unto the morning, W e of the oars made wings for our mad flight, Evermore gaining on the larboard side. Already all the stars of the other pole The night beheld, and ours so very low It did not rise above the ocean floor. Five times rekindled and as many quenched Had been the splendor underneath the moon, Since we had entered into the deep pass, When there appeared to us a mountain, dim From distance, and it seemed to me so high As I had never any one beheld. Joyful were we, and soon it turned to weeping; For out of the new land a whirlwind rose, And smote upon the fore part of the ship. 164 The Divine Comedy

Three times it made it whirl with all the waters, A t the fourth time it made the stern uplift, And the prow downward go, as pleased Another, Until the sea above us closed again.” CANTO XXVII.

^/^LR EAD Y was the flame erect and quiet, To speak no more, and now departed from us W ith the permission of the gentle Poet; When yet another, which behind it came, Caused us to turn our eyes upon its top By a confused sound that issued from it. As the Sicilian bull (that bellowed first W ith the lament of him, and that was right, Who with his file had modulated it) Bellowed so with the voice of the afflicted, That, notwithstanding it was made of brass, Still it appeared with agony transfixed; Thus, by not having any way or issue At first from out the fire, to its own language Converted were the melancholy words. But afterwards, when they had gathered way Up through the point, giving it that vibration The tongue had given them in their passage out, 166 The Divine Comedy

We heard it said : “ O thou, at whom I aim M y voice, and who but now wast speaking Lombard, Saying, ‘Now go thy way, no more I urge thee/ 21 Because I come perchance a little late, To stay and speak with me let it not irk thee; Thou seest it irks not me, and I am burning. If thou but lately into this blind world 25 Hast fallen down from that sweet Latian land, Wherefrom I bring the whole of my transgression, Say, have the Romagnuoli peace or war, For I was from the mountains there between Urbino and the yoke whence Tiber bursts.” 30 I still was downward bent and listening, When my Conductor touched me on the .side, Saying : “ Speak thou : this one a Latian is.” And I, who. had beforehand my reply In readiness, forthwith began to speak : 3s “ O soul, that down below there art concealed, Romagna thine is not and never has been Without war in the bosom of its tyrants; But open war I none have left there now. Ravenna stands as it long years has stood; 40 The Eagle of Polenta there is brooding, So that she covers Cervia with her vans. Inferno xxvn. 167

The city which once made the long resistance, And of the French a sanguinary heap,

Beneath the Green Paws finds itself again ; 45 ^errucchio’s ancient Mastiff and the new, Who made such bad disposal of Montagna, Where they are wont make wimbles of their teeth, rhe cities of Lamone and Santerno Governs the Lioncel of the white lair, s° Who changes sides ’twixt summer-time and winter; ^nd that of which the Savio bathes the flank, Even as it lies between the plain and mountain, Lives between tyranny and a free state.

>fow I entreat thee tell us who thou art; 55 Be not more stubborn than the rest have been, So may thy name hold front there in the world.” \fter the fire a little more had roared In its own fashion, the sharp point it moved This way and that, and then gave forth such breath: 60 4 If I believed that my reply were made To one who to the world would e’er return, This flame without more flickering would stand still; But inasmuch as never from this depth Did any one return, if I hear true, 65 Without the fear of infamy I answer, 168 The Divine Comedy

I was a man of arms, then Cordelier, Believing thus begirt to make amends ; And truly my belief had been fulfilled But for the High Priest, whom may ill betide, Who put me back into my former ; And how and wherefore I will have thee hear. W hile I was still the form of bone and pulp M y mother gave to me, the deeds I did Were not those of a lion, but a fox. The machinations and the covert ways I knew them all, and practised so their craft, That to the ends of earth the sound went forth. When now unto that portion of mine age I saw myself arrived, when each one ought To lower the sails, and coil away the ropes, That which before had pleased me then displeased me And penitent and confessing I surrendered, Ah woe is me ! and it would have bestead m e ; The Leader of the modern Pharisees Having a war near unto Lateran, And not with Saracens nor with the Jews, For each one of his enemies was Christian, And none of them had been to conquer Acre, Nor merchandising in the Sultan’s land, Inferno x x v i i . 169

Nor the high office, nor the sacred orders, In him regarded, nor in me that cord W hich used to make those girt with it more meagre; But even as Constantine sought out Sylvester

To cure his leprosy, within Soracte, 95 So this one sought me out as an adept To cure him of the fever of his pride. Counsel he asked of me, and I was silent, Because his words appeared inebriate. And then he said : ‘ Be not thy heart afraid ; 100 Henceforth I thee absolve; and thou instruct me How to raze Palestrina to the ground. Heaven have I power to lock and to unlock, As thou dost know; therefore the keys are two, The which my predecessor held not dear/ 105 Then urged me on his weighty arguments There, where my silence was the worst advice; And said I : ‘ Father, since thou washest me O f that sin into which I now must fall, The promise long with the fulfilment short no W ill make thee triumph in thy lofty seat.’ Francis came afterwaid, when I was dead, For me ; but one of the black Cherubim Said to him : ‘ Take him n ot; do me no w rong; The Divine Comedy

He must come down among my servitors, 115 Because he gave the fraudulent advice From which time forth I have been at his hair; For who repents not cannot be absolved, Nor can one both repent and will at once, Because of the contradiction which consents not/ no O miserable me ! how I did shudder When he seized on me, saying: ‘ Peradventure Thou didst not think that I was a logician! ’ He bore me unto Minos, who entwined Eight times his tail about his stubborn back, 1*5 And after he had bitten it in great rage, Said : ‘ O f the thievish fire a culprit this ’ ; Wherefore, here where thou seest, am I lost, And vested thus in going I bemo’an me.” When it had thus completed its recital, 13° The flame departed* uttering lamentations, W rithing and flapping its sharp-pointed horn. Onward we passed, both I and my Conductor, Up o’er the crag above another arch, W hich the moat covers, where is paid the fee *35 By those who, sowing discord, win their burden. CANTO XXVIII.

ever could, e’en with untrammelled words, Tell of the blood and of the wounds in full W hich now I saw, by many times narrating ? Each tongue would for a certainty fall short By reason of our speech and memory, That have small room to comprehend so much. If were again assembled all the people Which formerly upon the fateful land O f Puglia were lamenting for their blood Shed by the Romans and the lingering war That of the rings made such illustrious spoils, As Livy has recorded, who errs not, With those who felt the agony of blows By making counterstand to Robert Guiscard, And all the rest, whose bones are gathered still At Ceperano, where a renegade Was each Apulian, and at Tagliacozzo, Where without arms the old Alardo conquered, The Divine Comedy

And one his limb transpierced, and one lopped off, Should show, it would be nothing to compare With the disgusting mode of the ninth Bolgia. A cask by losing centre-piece or cant Was never shattered so, as I saw one Rent from the chin to where one breaketh wind. Between his legs were hanging down his entrails; His heart was visible, and the dismal sack That maketh excrement of what is eaten. W hile I was all absorbed in seeing him, He looked at me, and opened with his hands His bosom, saying : “ See now how I rend m e ; How mutilated, see, is Mahomet; In front of me doth Ali weeping go, Cleft in the face from forelock unto chin ; And all the others whom thou here beholdest, Disseminators of scandal and of schism W hile living were, and therefore are cleft thus. A devil is behind here, who doth cleave us Thus cruelly, unto the falchion’s edge Putting again each one of all this ream, When we have gone around the doleful road; By reason that our wounds are closed again Ere any one in front of him repass. Inferno xxvm. 173

But who art thou, that musest on the crag, Perchance to postpone going to the pain That is adjudged upon thine accusations?” 45 “ Nor death hath reached him yet,nor guilt doth bring him,” M y Master made reply, “ to be tormented; But to procure him full experience, Me, who am dead, behoves it to conduct him Down here through Hell, from circle unto circle; 5° And this is true as that I speak to thee.” More than a hundred were there when they heard him, Who in the moat stood still to look at me, Through wonderment oblivious of their torture. “ Now say to Fra Dolcino, then, to arm him, 55 Thou, who perhaps wilt shortly see the sun, If soon he wish not here to follow me, So with provisions, that no stress of snow May give the victory to the Novarese, Which otherwise to gain would not be easy.” 60 After one foot to go away he lifted, This word did Mahomet say unto me, Then to depart upon the ground he stretched it. Another one, who had his throat pierced through, And nose cut off close underneath the brows, 65 And had no longer but a single ear, 174 The-Divine Comedy

Staying to look in wonder with the others, Before the others did his gullet open, W hich outwardly was red in every part, And said : “ O thou, whom guilt doth not condemn, And whom I once saw up in Latian land, Unless too great similitude deceive me, Call to remembrance Pier da Medicina, If e’er thou see again the lovely plain That from Vercelli slopes to Marcabo, And make it known to the best two of Fano, To Messer Guido and Angiolello likewise, That if foreseeing here be not in vain, Cast over from their vessel shall they be, And drowned near unto the Cattolica, By the betrayal of a tyrant fell. Between the isles of Cyprus and Majorca Neptune ne’er yet beheld so great a crime, Neither of pirates nor Argolic people. That traitor, who sees only with one eye, And holds the land, which some one here with Would fain be fasting from the vision of, Will make them come unto a parley with him ; Then will do so, that to Focara’s wind They will not stand in need of vow or prayer.” Inferno xxv-ni.

* And I to him : “ Show to me and declare, If thou wouldst have me bear up news of thee, W ho is this person of the bitter vision.” Then did he lay his hand upon the jaw O f one of his companions, and his mouth Oped, crying: “ This is he, and he speaks not. This one, being banished, every doubt submerged In Caesar by affirming the forearmed Always with detriment allowed delay.” O how bewildered unto me appeared, W ith tongue asunder in his windpipe slit, Curio, who in speaking was so bold ! And one, who both his hands dissevered had, The stumps uplifting through the murky air, So that the blood made horrible his face, Cried o u t: “ Thou shalt remember Mosca also, . W ho said, alas ! * A thing done has an end ! ’ Which was an ill seed for the Tuscan people ” “ And death unto thy race,” thereto I added ; Whence he, accumulating woe on woe, Departed, like a person sad and crazed. But I remained to look upon the crowd; And saw a thing which I should be afraid, Without some further proof, even to recount, 176 The Divine Comedy

If it were not that conscience reassures me, That good companion which emboldens man Beneath the hauberk of its feeling pure. I truly saw, and still I seem to see it, A trunk without a head walk in like manner As walked the others of the mournful herd. And by the hair it held the head dissevered, Hung from the hand in fashion of a lantern, And that upon us gazed and said : “ O me ! ” It of itself made to itself a lamp, And they were two in one, and one in tw o ; How that can be, He knows who so ordains it. When it was come close to the bridge’s foot, It lifted high its arm with all the head, To bring more closely unto us its words, Which were : “ Behold now the sore penalty, Thou, who dost breathing go the dead beholding; Behold if any be as great as this. And so that thou may carry news of me, Know that Bertram de Born am I, the same Who gave to the Young King the evil comfort. I made the father and the son rebellious; Achitophel not more with Absalom And David did with his accursed goadings. Inferno x x v iii .

Because I parted persons so united, Parted do I now bear my brain, alas! From its beginning, which is in this trunk, rhus is observed in me the counterpoise.” CANTO X X I X .

T H E many people and the divers wounds These eyes of mine had so inebriated, That they were wishful to stand still and weep; But said Virgilins: “ What dost thou still gaze at ?

W hy is thy sight still riveted down there 5 Among the mournful, mutilated shades? Thou hast not done so at the other Bolge; Consider, if to' count them thou believest, That two-and-twenty miles the valley winds, And now the moon is underneath our feet; 10 Henceforth the time allotted us is brief, And more is to be seen than what thou seest.” “ I f thou hadst,” I made answer thereupon, “ Attended to the cause for which I looked, Perhaps a longer stay thou wouldst have pardoned." 15 Meanwhile my Guide departed, and behind him I went, already making my reply, And superadding : “ In that cavern where Inferno xxix.

I held mine eyes with such attention fixed, I think a spirit of my blood laments The sin which down below there costs so much. Then said the Master: “ Be no longer broken Thy thought from this time forward upon him ; Attend elsewhere, and there let him remain; For him I saw below the little bridge, Pointing at thee, and threatening with his finger Fiercely, and heard him called Geri del Bello. So wholly at that time wast thou impeded By him who formerly held Altaforte, Thou didst not look that way ; so he departed.” “ O my Conductor, his own violent death, Which is not yet avenged for him,” I said, “ By any who is sharer in the shame, Made him disdainful; whence he went away, As I imagine, without speaking to me, And thereby made me pity him the more.” Thus did we speak as far as the first place Upon the crag, which the next valley shows Down to the bottom, if there were more light. When we were now right over the last cloister O f Malebolge, so that its lay-brothers Could manifest themselves unto our sight, 180 . The Divine Comedy

Divers lamentings pierced me through and through, W hich with compassion had their arrows barbed, Whereat mine ears I covered with my hands. What pain would be, if from the hospitals O f Valdichiana, ’twixt July and September, And of Maremma and Sardinia All the diseases in one moat were gathered, Such was it here, and such a stench came from it As from putrescent limbs is wont to issue. We had descended on the furthest bank From the long crag, upon the left hand still, And then more vivid was my power of sight Down tow’rds the bottom, where the ministress Of the high Lord, Justice infallible, Punishes forgers, which she here records. I do not think a sadder sight to see Was in iEgina the whole people sick, (When was the air so full of pestilence, The animals, down to the little worm, All fell, and afterwards the ancient people, According as the poets have affirmed, Were from the seed of ants restored again,) Than was it to behold through that dark valley The spirits languishing in divers heaps. Inferno xxix. i

This on the belly, that upon the back One of the other lay, and others crawling Shifted themselves along the dismal road. W e step by step went onward without speech, Gazing upon and listening to the sick W ho had not strength enough to lift their bodies. I saw two sitting leaned agaihst each other, As leans in heating platter against platter, From head to foot bespotted o’er with scabs; And never saw I plied a currycomb By stable-boy for whom his master waits, Or him who keeps awake unwillingly, As every one was plying fast the bite O f nails upon himself, for the great rage O f itching which no other succor had. And the nails downward with them dragged the scab, In fashion as a knife the scales of bream, Or any other fish that has them largest. “ O thou, that with thy fingers dost dismail thee,” Began my Leader unto one of them, “ And makest of them pincers now and then, Tell me if any Latian is with those W ho are herein ; so may thy nails suffice thee To all eternity unto this work.” 182 The Divine Comedy

“ Latians are we, whom thou so wasted seest, Both of us here,” one weeping made reply; “ But who art. thou, that questionest about us ? ” And said the Guide : “ One am I who descends Down with this living man from cliff to cliff, And I intend to show Hell unto him.” Then broken was their mutual support, And trembling each one turned himself to me, W ith others who had heard him by rebound. W holly to me did the good Master gather, Saying“ Say unto them whate’er thou wishest.” And I began, since he would have it so : “ So may your memory not steal away In the first world from out the minds of men, But so may it survive ’neath many suns, Say to me who ye are, and of what people; Let not your foul and loathsome punishment Make you afraid to show yourselves to me.” “ I of Arezzo was,” one made reply, “ And Albert of Siena had me burned; But what I died for does not bring me here. JT is true I said to him, speaking in jest, That I could rise by flight into the air, And he who had conceit, but little wit, Inferno xxix.

Would have me show to him the art; and only Because no Daedalus I made him, made me Be burned‘by one who held him as his son. But unto the last Bolgia of the ten, For alchemy, which in the world I practised, Minos, who cannot err, has me condemned.” And to the Poet said I : “ Now was ever So vain a people as the Sienese ? Not fcr a certainty the French by far.” Whereat the other leper, who had heard me, Replied unto my speech : “ Taking out Stricca Who knew the art of moderate expenses, And Niccol6, who the luxurious use O f cloves discovered earliest of all Within that garden where such seed takes root And taking out the band, among whom squandered Caccia d’ Ascian his vineyards and vast woods, And where his wit the Abbagliato proffered ! But, that thou know who thus doth second thee Against the Sienese, make sharp thine eye T ow ’rds me, so that my face well answer thee, And thou shalt see I am Capocchio’s shade, W ho metals falsified by alchem y; Thou must remember, if I well descry thee, How I a skilful ape of nature was.” CANTO XXX.

T W AS at the time when Juno was enraged, For , against the Theban blood, As she already more than once had shown, So reft of reason became, That, seeing his own wife with children twain 5 W alking encumbered upon either hand, He cried : “ Spread out the nets, that I may take The lioness and her whelps upon the passage ” ; And then extended his unpitying claws, Seizing the first, who had the name Learchus, 10 And whirled him round, and dashed him on a rock; And she, with the other burthen, drowned herself; — And at the time when fortune downward hurled The Trojans’ arrogance, that all things dared, So that the king was with his kingdom crushed, 15 Hecuba sad, disconsolate, and captive, When lifeless she beheld Polyxena, And of her Polydorus on the shore Inferno xxx.

O f ocean was the dolorous one aware, Out of her senses like a dog she barked, 20 So much the anguish had her mind distorted; But not of Thebes the furies nor the Trojan Were ever seen in any one so cruel In goading beasts, and much more human members, As I beheld two shadows pale and naked, 25 Who, biting, in the manner ran along That a boar does, when from the sty turned loose. One to Capocchio came, and by the nape Seized with its teeth his neck, so that in dragging It made his belly grate the solid bottom. 30 And the Aretine, who trembling had remained, Said to m e: “ That mad sprite is Gianni Schicchi, And raving goes thus harrying other people.” “ O,” said I to him, “ so may not the other

Set teeth on thee, let it not weary thee 35 To tell us who it is, ere it dart hence.” And he to me : “ That is the ancient ghost O f the nefarious Myrrha, who became Beyond all rightful love her father’s lover. She came to sin with him after this manner, 40 By counterfeiting of another’s form; As he who goeth yonder undertook,

1 186 The Divine Comedy

That he might gain the lady of the herd, To counterfeit in himself Buoso Donati, Making a will and giving it due form.” And after the two maniacs had passed On whom I held mine eye, I turned it back . To look upon the other evil-born. I saw one made in fashion of a lute, If he had only had the groin cut off Just at the point at which a man is forked. The heavy dropsy, that so disproportions The limbs with humors, which it ill concocts, That the face corresponds not to the belly, Compelled him so to hold his lips apart As does the hectic, who because of thirst One tow’rds the chin, the other upward turns. “ O ye, who without any torment are, And why I know not, in the world of woe,” He said to us, “ behold, and be attentive Unto the misery of Master Adam ; I had while living much of what I wished, And now, alas! a drop of water crave. The rivulets, that from the verdant hills O f Cassentin descend down into Arno, Making their channels to be cold and moist, Inferno xxx.

Ever before me stand, and not in vain; For far more doth their image dry me up Than the disease which strips my face of flesh. The rigid justice that chastises me Draweth occasion from the place in which I sinned, to put the more my sighs in flight. There is Romena, where I counterfeited The currency imprinted with the Baptist, For which I left my body burned above. But if I here could see the tristful soul O f Guido, or Alessandro, or their brother, For Branda’s fount I would not give the sight. One is within already, if the raving Shades that are going round about speak truth; But what avails it me, whose limbs are tied? If I were only still so light, that in A hundred years I could advance one inch, I had already started on the way, Seeking him out among this squalid folk, Although the circuit be eleven miles, And be not less than half a mile across. For them am I in such a fam ily; They did induce me into coining florins, W hich had three carats of impurity.” The Divine Comedy

And I to him : “ Who are the two poor wretches That smoke like unto a wet hand in winter, Lying there close upon thy right-hand confines ? ” “ I found them here,” replied he, “ when I rained Into this chasm, and since they have not turned, 95 Nor do I think they will for evermore. One the false woman is who accused Joseph, The other the false Sinon, Greek of Troy ; From acute fever they send forth such reek.” And»one of them, who felt himself annoyed 100 At being, peradventure, named so darkly, Smote with the fist upon his hardened paunch. It gave a sound, as if it were a drum ; And Master Adam smote him in the face, W ith arm that did not seem to be less hard,. *05 Saying to him : “ Although be taken from me All motion, for my limbs that heavy are, I have an arm unfettered for such need.” Whereat he answer mad^ : “ When thou didst go Unto the fire, thou hadst it not so ready ; no But hadst it so and more when thou wast coining.” The dropsical : “ Thou sayest true in that; But thou wast not so true a witness there, Where thou wast questioned of the truth at Troy.” Inferno xxx. 189

“ If I spake false, thou falsifiedst the coin,” 115 Said Sinon; “ and for one fault I am here, And thou for more than any other demon.” “ Remember, perjurer, about the horse,” He made reply who had the swollen belly, “ And rueful be it thee the whole world knows it.”i2o “ Rueful to thee the thirst be wherewith cracks Thy tongue,” the Greek said, “ and the putrid water That hedges so thy paunch before thine eyes.” Then the false-coiner: “ So is gaping wide Thy mouth for speaking evil, as ’t is wont; i25 Because if I have thirst, and humor stuff me, Thou hast the burning and the head that aches, And to lick up the mirror of Narcissus Thou wouldst not want words many to invite thee.” In listening to them was I wholly fixed, 13° When said the Master to me : “ Now just look, For little wants it that I quarrel with thee.” When him I heard in anger speak to me, I turned me round towards him with such shame That still it eddies through my memory. 135 And as he is who dreams of his own harm, W ho dreaming wishes it may be a dream, So that he craves what is, as if it were not;

\ 190 The Divine Comedy

Such I became, not having power to speak, For to excuse myself I wished, and still Excused myself, and did not think I did it. “ Less shame doth wash away a greater fault,” The Master said, “ than this of thine has been; Therefore thyself disburden of all sadness, And make account that I am aye beside thee, I f e’er it come to pass that fortune bring thee Where there are people in a like dispute; For a base wish it is to wish to hear it.” CANTO XXXI. ‘

and the self-same tongue first wounded me, So that it tinged the one cheek and the other, And then held out to me the medicine; Thus do I hear that once Achilles’ spear, His and his father’s, used to be the cause s First of a sad and then a gracious boon. We turned oiir backs upon the wretched valley, Upon the bank that girds it round about, Going across it without any speech. There it was less than night, and less than day, So that my sight went little in advance; But I could hear the blare of a loud horn, So loud it would have made each thunder faint, Which, counter to it following its way, Mine eyes directed wholly to one place. 15 After the dolorous discomfiture When Charlemagne the holy emprise lost, So terribly Orlando sounded not. 192 The Divine Comedy

Short while my head turned thitherward I held When many lofty towers I seemed to see, 20 Whereat I : “ Master, say, what town is this ? ” And he to me : “ Because thou peerest forth Athwart the darkness at too great a distance, It happens that thou errest in thy fancy. WqII shalt thou see, if thou arrivest there, 25 How much the sense deceives itself by distance; Therefore a little faster spur thee on.” Then tenderly he took me by the hand, And said : “ Before we farther have advanced, That the reality may seem to thee 3° Less strange, know that these are not towers, but giants, And they are in the well, around the bank, From navel downward, one and all of them.” As, when the fog is vanishing away, Little by little doth the sight refigure 35 Whate’er the mist that crowds the air conceals, So, piercing through the dense and darksome air, More and more near approaching tow’rd the verge, M y error fled, and fear came over me ; Because as on its circular parapets 4° Montereggione crowns itself with towers, E ’en thus the margin which surrounds the well Inferno xxxi. 193

With one half of their bodies turreted The horrible giants, whom Jove menaces E ’en now from out the heavens when he thunders. 45 And I of one already saw the face, Shoulders, and breast, and great part of the belly, And down along his sides both of the arms. Certainly Nature, when she left the making O f animals like these, did well indeed, 5° By taking such executors from M ars; And if of elephants and whales she doth not Repent her, whosoever looketh subtly More just and more discreet will hold her for i t ; For where the argument of intellect 55 Is added unto evil will and power, No rampart can the people make against it. His face appeared to me as long and large As is at Rome the pine-cones of Saint Peter’s, And in proportion were the other bones; 60 5o that the margin, which an apron was Down from the middle, showed so much of him Above it, that to reach up to his hair rhree Frieslanders in vain had vaunted them ; For I beheld thirty great palms of him 65 Down from the place where man his mantle buckles. 25 194 The Divine Comedy

“ Raphel mai amech izabi almi,” Began to clamor the ferocious mouth, To which were not befitting sweeter psalms. And unto him my Guide : “ Soul idiotic, Keep to thy horn, and vent thyself with that, When wrath or other passion touches thee. Search round thy neck, and thou wilt find the belt W hich keeps it fastened, O bewildered soul, And see it, where it bars thy mighty breast.” Then said to me : “ He doth himself accuse ; This one is Nimrod, by whose evil thought One language in the world is not still used. Here let us leave him and not speak in vain ; For even such to him is every language As his to others, which to none is known.” Therefore a longer journey did we make, Turned to the left, and a crossbow-shot off W e found another far more fierce and large. In binding him, who might the master be I cannot say; but he had pinioned close Behind the right arm, and in front the other, W ith chains, that held him so begirt about From the neck down, that on the part uncovered It wound itself as far as the fifth gyre. Inferno xxxi. i

“ This proud one wished to make experiment O f his own power against the Supreme Jove,” M y Leader said, “ whence he has such a guerdon. Ephialtes is his name; he showed great prowess, What time the giants terrified the Gods; The arms he wielded never more he moves.” And I to him : “ If possible, I should wish That of the measureless Briareus These eyes of mine might have experience.” Whence he replied : “ Thou shalt behold Antaeus Close by here, who can speak and is unbound, Who at the bottom of all crime shall place us. Much farther yon is he whom thou wouldst see, And he is bound, and fashioned like to this one, Save that he seems in aspect more ferocious.” There never was an earthquake of such might That it could shake a tower so violently, As Ephialtes suddenly shook himself. Then was I more afraid of death than ever, . For nothing more was needful than the fear, If I had not beheld the manacles. Then we proceeded farther in advance, And to Antaeus came, who, full five ells Without the head, forth issued from the cavern. 196 The Divine Comedy

“ O thou, who in the valley fortunate, Which Scipio the heir of glory made, When Hannibal turned- back with all his hosts, Once brought’st a thousand lions for thy prey, And who, hadst thou been at the mighty war Among thy brothers, some it seems still think The sons of Earth the victory would have gained; Place us below, nor be disdainful of it, There where the cold doth lock Cocytus up. Make us not go to Tityus nor Typhoeus; This one can give of that which here is longed for; Therefore stoop down, and do not curl thy lip. Still in the world can he restore thy fam e; Because he lives, and still expects long life, If to itself Grace call him not untimely.” So said the Master ; and in haste the other His hands extended and took up my Guide, — Hands whose great pressure Hercules once felt. Virgilius, when he felt himself embraced, Said unto me : “ Draw nigh, that I may take thee Then of himself and me one bundle made. As seems the Carisenda, to behold Beneath the leaning side, when goes a cloud Above it so that opposite it hangs ; Such did Antaeus seem to me, who stood Watching to see him stoop, and then it was I could have wished to go some other way. But lightly in the* abyss, which swallows up Judas with Lucifer, he put us down ; Nor thus bowed downward made he there delay, But, as a mast does in a ship, uprose. CANTO XXXII.

J F I had rhymes both rough and stridulous* As were appropriate to the dismal hole Down upon which thrust all the other rocks, I would press out the juice of my conception More fully; but because I have them not, Not without fear I bring myself to speak; For ’tis no enterprise to take in jest, T o sketch the bottom of all the universe, Nor for a tongue that cries Mamma and Babbo. But may those Ladies help this verse of mine, Who helped Amphion in enclosing Thebes, That from the fact the word be not diverse. O rabble ill-begotten above all, W ho ’re in the place to speak of which is hard, ’T were better ye had here been sheep or goats! When we were down within the darksome well, Beneath the giant’s feet, but lower far, And I was scanning still the lofty wall, Inferno x x x ii . i

I heard it said to me : “ Look how thou steppest! Take heed thou do not trample with thy feet The heads of the tired, miserable brothers! ” Whereat I turned me round, and saw before me And underfoot a lake, that from the frost The semblance had of glass, and not of water. So thick a veil ne’er made upon its current In winter-time Danube in Austria, Nor there beneath the frigid sky the Don, As there was here; so that if Tambernich Had fallen upon it, or Pietrapana, E ’en at the edge ’t would not have given a creak. And as to croak the frog doth place himself With muzzle out of water, — when is dreaming O f gleaning oftentimes the peasant-girl,— Livid, a,s far down as where shame appears, Were the disconsolate shades within the ice, Setting their teeth unto the note of storks. Each one his countenance held downward bent; From mouth the cold, from eyes the doleful heart Among them witness of itself procures. When round about me somewhat I had looked, I downward turned me, arid saw two so close, The hair upon their heads together mingled. 200 The Divine Comedy

“ Ye who so strain your breasts together, tell me,” I said, “ who are you ” ; and they bent their necks,

And when to me their faces they had lifted, 45 Their eyes, which first were only moist within, • Gushed o’er the eyelids, and the frost congealed The tears between, and locked them up again. Clamp never bound together wood with wood So strongly; whereat they, like two he-goats, 5° Butted together, so much wrath o’ercame them. And one, who had by reason of the cold Lost both his ears, still with his visage downward, Said ; “ Why dost thou so mirror thyself in us ? I f thou desire to know who these two are, 55 The valley whence Bisenzio descends Belonged to them and to their father Albert. They from one body came, and all Caina Thou shalt search through, and shalt not find a shade More worthy to be fixed in gelatine; 60 Not he in whom were broken breast and shadow At one and the same blow by Arthur’s hand ; Focaccia not; not he who me encumbers So with his head I see no farther forward, And bore the name of Sassol Mascheroni; 65 W ell knowest thou who he was, if thou art Tuscan. And that thou put me not to further speech, Know that I Camicion de’ Pazzi was, And wait Carlino to exonerate me/’ Then I beheld a thousand faces, made 70 Purple with cold; whence o’er me comes a shudder, And evermore will come, at frozen ponds. And while we were advancing tow’rds the middle, Where everything of weight unites together,

And I was shivering hi the eternal shade, . 75 Whether ’t were will, or destiny, or chance, I know not; but in walking ’mong the heads I struck my foot hard in the face of one. Weeping he growled : “ Why dost thou trample me ? Unless thou comest to increase the vengeance 80 Of Montaperti, why dost thou molest me?” And I: “ My Master, now wait here for me, That I through him may issue from a doubt; Then thou mayst hurry me, as thou shalt wish.” The Leader stopped ; and to that one I said 85 Who was blaspheming vehemently still: “ W ho art thou, that thus reprehendest others ? ” Now who art thou, that goest through Antenora Smiting,” replied he, “ other people’s cheeks, So that, if thou wert living, ’t were too much ? ” 9° 202 The Divine Comedy

“ Living I am, and dear to thee it may be/’ Was my response, “ if thou demandest fame, That 'mid the other notes thy name I place.” And he to me : “ For the reverse I lon g; Take thyself hence, and give me no more trouble For ill thou knowest to flatter in this hollow.” Then by the scalp behind I seized upon him, And said: “ It must needs be thou name thyself, Or not a hair remain upon thee here.” Whence he to me : “ Though thou strip off my hair, . I will not tell thee who I am, nor show thee, I f on my head a thousand times thou fall.” I had his hair in hand already twisted, And more than one shock of it had pulled out, He barking, with his eyes held firmly down, When cried another : “ What doth ail thee, Bocca ? Is ’t not enough to clatter with thy jaws, But thou must bark ? what devil touches thee ? ” ^ Now,” said I. “ I care not to have thee speak, Accursed traitor ; for unto thy shame I will report of thee veracious news.” “ Begone,” replied he, “ and tell what thou wilt, But be not silent, if thqu issue hence, O f him who had just now his tongue so prompt; Inferno xxxn. 203

He weepeth here the silver of the French; us ‘ I saw/ thus canst thou phrase it, ‘ him of Duera There where the sinners stand out in the cold/ If thou shouldst questioned be who else was there, Thou hast beside thee him of Beccaria, O f whom the gorget Florence slit asunder ; Gianni del Soldanier, I think, may be Yonder with Ganellon, and Tebaldello Who oped Faenza when the people slept.,, Already we had gone away from him, When I beheld two frozen in one hole, 1*5 So that one head a hood was to the other; And even as bread through hunger is devoured, The uppermost on the other set his teeth, There where the brain is to the nape united. Not in another fashion Tydeus gnawed *3° The temples of Menalippus in disdain, Than that one did the skull and the other things. O thou, who showest by such bestial sign

Thy hatred against him whom thou art eating, 134 Tell me the wherefore,” said I, “ with this compact, rhat if thou rightfully of him complain, In knowing who ye are, and his transgression, I in the world above repay thee for.it, [f that wherewith I speak be not dried up.” CANTO XXXIII.

JL_J IS mouth uplifted from his grim repast, That sinner, wiping it upon the hair O f the same head that he behind had wasted. Then he began : “ Thou wilt that I renew The desperate grief, which wrings my heart already To think of only, ere I speak of i t ; But if my w.ords be seed that may bear fruit O f infamy to the traitor whom I gnaw, Speaking and weeping shalt thou see together. I know not who thou art, nor by what mode Thou hast come down here ; but a Florentine Thou seemest to me truly, when I hear thee. Thou hast to know I was Count Ugolino, And this one was Ruggieri the Archbishop; Now I will tell thee why I am such a neighbor. That, by effect of his malicious thoughts, Trusting in him I was made prisoner, And after put to death, I need not say ; Inferno xxxm. 205

But ne’ertheless what thou canst not have heard, That is to say, how cruel was my death, 20 Hear shalt thou, and shalt know if he has wronged me. A narrow perforation in the mew, W hich bears because of me the title of Famine, And in which others still must be locked up, Had shown me through its opening many moons 25 Already, when I dreamed the evil dream Which of the future rent for me the veil. This one appeared to me as lord and master, Hunting the w olf and whelps upon the mountain For which the Pisans cannot Lucca see. 3° With sleuth-hounds gaunt, and eager, and well trained, Gualandi with Sismondi and Lanfranchi He had sent out before him to the front. After brief course seemed unto me forespent

The father and the sons, and with sharp tushes 35 It seemed to me I saw their flanks ripped open. When I before the morrow was awake, Moaning amid their sleep I heard my sons Who with me were, and asking after bread. Cruel indeed art thou, if yet thou grieve not, 40 Thinking of what my heart foreboded me, And weep’st thou not, what art thou wont to weep at ? 206 The Divine Comedy 206

They were awake now, and the hour drew nigh

At which our food used to be brought to us, 44 And through his dream was each one apprehensive; And I heard locking up the under door O f the horrible tower ; whereat without a word I gazed into the faces of my sons. I wept not, I within so turned to stone ; They wept; and darling little Anselm mine 50 Said: ‘ Thou dost gaze so, father, what doth ail thee?* Still not a tear I shed, nor answer made All of that day, nor yet the night thereafter, Until another sun rose on the world.

As now a little glimmer made its way 55 Into the dolorous prison, and I saw Upon four faces my own very aspect, Both of my hands in agony I bit; And, thinking that I did it from desire O f eating, on a sudden they uprose, 60 And said they : ‘ Father, much less pain ’t will give us If thou do eat of us ; thyself didst clothe us W ith this poor flesh, and do thou strip it off.* I calmed me then, not to make them more sad. That day we all were silent, and the next. 6s Ah ! obdurate earth, wherefore didst thou not open ? Inferno xxxm. 207

When we had come unto the fourth day, Gaddo Threw himself down outstretched before my feet, Saying, * M y father, why dost thou not help me ? ’ And there he died ; and, as thou seest me, 7° I saw the three fall one by one, between The fifth day and the sixth ; whence I betook me, Already blind, to groping over each, And three days called them after they were dead ;

Then hunger did what sorrow could not do.” 75 When he had said this, with his eyes distorted, The wretched skull resumed he with his teeth, Which, as a dog’s, qpon the bone were strong. Ah ! , thou opprbbium of the ‘people . * . 0 \ O f the fair land there where the St doth sound, 80 Since slow to punish thee thy neighbors are, Let the Capraia and Gorgona move, And make a hedge across the mouth of Arno, That every person in thee it may drown ! For if Count Ugolino had the fame 85 O f having in thy castles thee betrayed, • Thou shouldst not on such cross have put his sons. Guiltless of any crime, thou modern Thebes ! Their youth made Uguccione and Brigata, And the other two my song doth name above! 9° 208 The Divine Comedy

• W e passed still farther onward, where the ice Another people ruggedly enswathes, Not downward turned, but all of them reversed. Weeping itself there does not let them weep, And grief that finds a barrier in the eyes 9s Turns itself inward to increase the anguish ; Because the earliest tears a cluster form, And, in the manner of a crystal visor, Fill all the cup beneath the eyebrow full. And notwithstanding that, as in a callus, 100 Because of cold all sensibility Its station had abandoned in my face, Still it appeared to me I felt some w ind; Whence I : “ M y Master, who sets this in motion ? Is not below here every vapor quenched ? ” 105 Whence he to me : “ Full soon shalt thou be where Thine eye shall answer make to thee of this, Seeing the cause which raineth down the blast. And one of the wretches of the frozen crust Cried out to us : “ O souls so merciless no That the last post is given unto you, Lift from mine eyes the rigid veils, that I May vent the sorrow which impregns my heart A little, e’er the weeping recongeal.” Whence I to him : “ If thou wouldst have me help thee, 1*5 Say who thou wast; and if I free thee not, May I go to the bottom of the ice.” Then he replied : “ I am Friar Alberigo ; He am I of the fruit of the bad garden, Who here a date am getting for my .fig.” 120 “ O,” said I to him, “ now art thou, too, dead ? ” And he to me : “ How may my body fare Up in the world, no knowledge I possess. Such an advantage has this Ptolomasa, That oftentimes the soul descendeth here Sooner than Atropos in motion sets it. And, that thou mayest more willingly remove From off my countenance these glassy tears, Know that as soon as any soul betrays As I have done, his body by a demon 13° J s taken from him, who thereafter rules it, Until his time has wholly been revolved. Itself down rushes into such a cistern ; And still perchance above appears the body O f yonder shade, that* winters here behind me. 135 This thou shouldst know, if thou hast just come down; It is Ser Branca d’ Oria, and many years Have passed away since he was thus locked up.” 2io The Divine Comedy

“ I think/’ said I to him, “ thou dost deceive me ; For Branca d’ Oria is not dead as yet, 140 And eats, and drinks, and sleeps, and puts on clothes.” “ In moat above,” said he, “ of Malebranche, There where is boiling the tenacious pitch, As yet had Michel Zanche not arrived, When this one left a devil in his stead 145 In his own body and one near of kin, W ho made together with him the betrayal. But hitherward stretch out thy hand forthwith, Open mine eyes” ; — and open them I did not, And to be rude to him was courtesy. 15° Ah, Genoese ! ye men at variance W ith every virtue, full of every vice! Wherefore are ye not scattered from the world ? For with the vilest spirit of Romagna I found of you one such, who for his deeds *55 In soul already in Cocytus bathes, And still above in body seems alive! CANTO x x x iv ;

J/EX ILLA Regis prodeunt Inferni Towards us; therefore look in front, of thee,” M y Master said, “ if thou discernest him.” 4 s, when there breathes a heavy fog, or when Our hemisphere is darkening into night, s Appears far off a mill the wind is turning, Vtethought that such a building then I saw; And, for the wind, I drew myself behind M y Guide, because there was no other shelter. Now was I, and with fear in verse I put it, There where the shades were wholly covered up, And glimmered through like unto straws in glass. Some prone are lying, others stand erect, This with the head, and that one with the soles; Another, bow-like, face to feet inverts. 15 When in advance so far we had proceeded, That it my Master pleased to show to me The creature who once had the beauteous semblance, 212- The Divine Comedy

He from before me moved and made me stop, Saying: “ Behold Dis, and behold the place Where thou with fortitude must arm thyself/’ How frozen I became and powerless then, Ask it not, Reader, for I write it not, Because all language would be insufficient. I did not die, and I alive remained not; Think for thyself now, hast thou aught of wit, What I became, being of both deprived. The Emperor of the kingdom dolorous-^ From his mid-breast forth issued from the ice; And better with a giant I compare Than do the giants with those arms of h is; Consider now how great must be that whole, W hich unto such a part conforms itself. Were he as fair once, as he now is foul, And lifted up his brow against his Maker, Well may proceed from him all tribulation. O, what a marvel it appeared to me, When I beheld three faces on his head! The one in front, and that vermilion was ; \ - Tw o were the others, that were joined with this Above the middle part of either shoulder, And they were joined together at the crest; Inferno xxxiv. 213

And the right-hand one seemed ’twixt white and yellow ;' The left was such to look upon as those

Who come from where the Nile falls valley-ward. 45 Underneath each came forth two mighty wings, Such as befitting were so great a bird; Sails of the sea I never saw so large. No feathers had they, but as of a bat Their fashion was ; and he was waving them, 5° So that three winds proceeded forth therefrom. Thereby Cocytus wholly was congealed. With six eyes did he weep, and down three chins Trickled the tear-drops and the bloody drivel. At every mouth he with his teeth was crunching 55 A sinner, in the manner of a brake, So that he three of them tormented thus. To him in front the biting was as naught Unto the clawing, for sometimes the spine Utterly stripped of all the skin remained. 60 “ That soul up there which has the greatest pain,” The Master said, “ is Judas Iscariot; With head inside, he plies his legs without. O f the two others, who head downward are, The one who hangs from the black jowl is Brutus; 65 See how he writhes himself, and speaks no word. 214 The Divine Comedy . 214

And the other, who so stalwart seems, is Cassius.V But night is reascending, and ’t is time That we depart, for we have seen the whole.” As seemed him good, I clasped him round the neck, 70 And he the vantage seized of time and place, And when the wings were opened wide apart, He laid fast hold upon the shaggy sides ; From fell to fell descended downward then Between the thick hair and the frozen crust. 75 When we were come to where the thigh revolves Exactly on the thickness of the haunch, The Guide, with labor and with hard-drawn breath, Turned round his head where he had had his legs, And grappled to the hair, as one who mounts, 80 So that to Hell I thought we were returning. “ Keep fast thy hold, for by such stairs as these,” The Master said, panting as one fatigued, “ Must we perforce depart from so much evil.” Then through the opening of a rock he issued, 85 And down upon the margin seated m e; Then tow’rds me he outstretched his wary step. I lifted up mine eyes and thought to see Lucifer in the same way I had left him ; And I beheld him upward hold his legs. 9° Inferno xxxiv. 215

And if I then became disquieted, Let stolid people think who do not see What the point is beyond which I had passed. “ Rise up,” the Master said, “ upon thy feet;

The way is long, and difficult the road, 95 And now the sun to middle-tierce returns.,, It was not any palace corridor There where we were, but dungeon natural, W ith floor uneven and unease of light. “ Ere from the abyss I tear myself away, *°° M y Master,” said I when I had arisen, “ To draw me from an error speak a little; Where is the ice ? and how is this one fixed Thus upside down? and how in such short time From to morn has the sun made his transit ?” 105 And he to me : “ Thou still imaginest Thou art beyond the centre, where I grasped The hair of the fell worm, who mines the world. That side thou wast, so long as I descended; When round I turned me, thou didst pass the point no To which things heavy draw from every side, And now beneath the hemisphere art come Opposite that which overhangs the vast Dry-land, and ’neath whose cope was put to death 216 The Divine Comedy

The Man who without sin was born and lived. us Thou hast thy feet upon the little sphere Which makes the other face of the Judecca. Here it is morn when it is evening there ; And he who with his hair a stairway made us Still fixed remainet.h as he was before. Upon this side he fell down out of heaven,; And all the land, that whilom here emerged, For fear of him made of the sea a veil, And came to our hemisphere; and peradventure To flee from him, what on this side appears ™s Left the place vacant here, and back recoiled.” A place there is below, from Beelzebub As far receding as the tomb extends, W hich not by sight is known, but by the sound V O f a small rivulet, that there descendeth 13° Through chasm within the stone,which it has gnawed W ith course that winds about and slightly falls. The Guide and I into that hidden road Now entered, to return to the bright world ;

And without care of having any rest 135 W e mounted up, he first and I the second, T ill I beheld through a round aperture Some of those beauteous things which Heaven doth Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars. [bear; NOTES

28

NOTES

The Divine Comedy. — The Vita and the thought o f her death which Nuova o f Dante closes with these came to him on the ninth d av; her words : “ After this sonnet there ap­ death on the ninth day of the ninth peared to me a wonderful vision, in month, “ computing by the Syrian which I beheld things that made me method,” and in that year of our propose to say no more o f this blessed Lord “ when the perfect number ten one, until I shall be able to treat of her was nine times completed in that cen­ more worthily. And to attain there­ tury ” which was the thirteenth. More­ unto, truly I strive with all my power, over, he says the number nine was as she knoweth. So that if it shall be friendly to her, because the nine heav­ the pleasure o f Him, through whom all ens were in conjunction at her birth; things live, that my life continue some­ and that she was herself the number what longer, I hope to say o f her what nine, “ that is, a miracle whose root never yet was said o f any woman. is the wonderful Trinity.” And then may it please Him, who is Following out this idea, we find the the Sire o f courtesy, that my soul may Divine Comedy written in terza rima> depart to look upon the glory of its or threefold rhyme, divided into three Lady, that is to say, of the blessed Be­ parts, and each part again subdivided in atrice, who in glory gazes into the its structure into three. . The whole face o f Him, qui est per omnia scecula number of cantos is one hundred, the benedictus perfect number ten multiplied into it­ In these lines we have the earliest self ; but if we count the first. canto glimpse of the Divine Comedy, as it of the Inferno as a Prelude, which it rose in the author’s mind. really is, each part will consist of thirty- W hoever has read the Vita Nuova three cantos, making ninety-nine in a ll; will remember the stress which Dante and so the favorite mystic numbers re­ lays upon the mystic numbers Nine and appear. Three ; his first meeting with Beatrice The three divisions o f the Inferno at the beginning of her ninth year, and are minutely described and explained the end o f his ; his nine days’ illness, '^TDante in Canto XI. They are sep­ 220 Notes

arated from each other by great spaces ly, is the condition o f souls after death, in the infernal abyss. The sins pun- simply considered. For on this and , ished in them are,— I. Incontinence. around this the whole action o f the ' II. Malice. III. Bestiality. work turns. But if the work be taken

I. I ncontinence : I. The Wanton. allegorically, the subject is man, how 2. The Gluttonous. 3. The Avaricious by actions o f merit or demerit, through and Prodigal. 4. T h e Irascible and the freedom o f the w ill, he justly deserves Sullen. reward or punishment.”

II. M a l i c e : 1. T h e Violent against It may not be amiss here to refer to their neighbor, in person or property. what.are sometimes called the sources 2. T he Violent against themselves, in of the Divine Comedy. Foremost person or property. 3. The Violent among them must be placed the Elev­ against God, or against Nature, the enth Book of the Odyssey, and the daughter o f God, or against Art, the Sixth o f the JBneid ; and to the latter daughter o f Nature. Dante seems to point significantly in

III. B e s t ia l it y : first subdivision : choosing Virgil for his Guide, his Mas­ 1. Seducers. 2. Flatterers. 3. Simoni- ter, his Author, from whom he took acs. 4. Soothsayers. 5. Barrators. 6. “ the beautiful style that did him Hypocrites. 7. Thieves. 8. Evil coun­ honor.” sellors. 9. Schismatics. 10. Falsifiers. Next to these may be mentioned Second subdivision : 1. Traitors to Cicero’s Vision of Scipio, of which their kindred. 2. Traitors to their Chaucer says : —

country. 3. Traitors to their friends. “ Chapiters seven it had, of Heven, and Hell, 4. Traitors to their lords and benefac­ And Earthe,and soules that therein dodwell/V tors. Then follow the popular legends w The Divine Comedy is not strictly were current in Dante’s age ; an .age an allegorical poem in the sense in which when the end o f all things was thought the Faerie 2>ueene is ; and yet it is full of allegorical symbols and figurative to be near at hand, and the wonders meanings. In a letter to Can Grande o f the invisible world had laid fast hold della Scala, Dante writes: “ It is to be on the imaginations o f men. Promi­ remarked, that the sense of ^his work nent among these is the “ Vision of is not simple, but on the contrary one Frate Alberico,” who calls himself' may say manifold. For one sense is “ the humblest servant of the servants that which is derived from, the letter, o f the L o rd ” ; and who and another is that which is derived “ Saw in dreaijie at point-devyse.5. from the things signified by the letter. Heaven, Earthe, Hell, and Paradyse.” T he first is called literal, the serond T his vision was written in in allegorical or moral...... The subject, the latter half of the twelfth century, then, of the whole work, taken literal­ and contains a description of Hell, Pur­ >\ 1 ■ - ' ' 2 2 1 ^*wvT'- • - * gatory, and Paradise, with its Seven have taken a few hints also from the Heavens. It is for the most part a te­ Tesoretto of his teacher, Ser Brunet­ dious tale, and bears evident marks o f to Latini. See Canto X V . Note having been written by a friar o f some 3 0 - monastery, when the afternoon sun See upon this subject, Cancellieri, was shining into his sleepy eyes. He Osservaxioni Sopra P Originalita di Dan­ seems, however, to have looked upon te ; — Wright, St. Patrick's Purgatory, his own work with a not unfavorable an Essay on the Legends o f Purgatory, opinion ; for he concludes the Epistle Hell\ and Paradise, current during tb£ Introductory with the words of St. ; — Ozanam, Dante et la John : “ I f any man shall add unto PhilosophicCatholique au Trcizi'eme Sieclc; these things, God shall add unto him — Labitte, La Divine Come die avant the plagues that are written in this Dante, published as an Introduction book ; and i f any man shall take away to the translation of Brizeux ; — and from these things, God shall take away Delepierre, Le Livre des Visions, ou his part from the good things written V Enfer et le d e l deer its par ceux qui in this book.” les ont vus. See also the Illustrations It is not impossible that Dante may at the end of this volume.

CANTO I.

1. T h e actiorf o f the poem begins not know how to keep the right way if on Good Friday o f the year 1300, at he were not guided by his elders.” whiqh time Dante, who was born in Brunetto Latini, Tesoretto, II. 75: — 1265, had reached the middle of the “ Pensando a capo chino Scriptural threescore years and ten. It Perdei il gran cammino, ends on the first Sunday after Easter, E tenni alia traversa D’ una selva diversa.” making in all ten days. 2. T h e dark forest of human life, with Spenser, Faerie Queene, IV . ii. 45.: — its passions, vices, and perplexities of “ Seeking adventures in the salvage wood.” all kinds ; politically the state o f Flor­ 13. Bunyan, in his Pilgrim’s Pro­ ence with its factions G uelf and Ghib- gress, which is a kind o f Divine Com­ elline. Dante, Convito, IV . 25, says: edy in prose, says : “ I beheld then “ Thus the adolescent, who enters into that they all went on till they came-to the erroneous forest o f this life, would the foot of the hill Difficulty...... But 222 Notes the narrow way lay right up the hill, “ there creature never passed and the name of the going up the side of That back returned without.heavenly grace.” the hill is called Difficulty. . . . They 30. Climbing the hillside slowly, so went then till they came to the D e­ that he rests longest on the foot that is lectable Mountains, which mountains lowest. belong to the Lord of that hill of which 31. Jeremiah v. 6: “ Wherefore we have spoken before.” a lion out of the forest shall slay them, 14. Bunyan, Pilgrim's Progress: — a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, “ But now in. this valley of Humilia­ a leopard shall watch over their cities : tion poor Christian was hard put to i t ; every one that goeth out thence shall for he had gone but a little way be­ be torn in pieces.” fore he spied a foul fiend coming over 32. World]y_Pleflsur^ ; and politi­ the field to meet him; his name is cally Florence, with its factions o f Bi- Apollyon. Then did Christian begin anchi and Neri. to be afraid, and to cast in his mind 36. Piu volte volto. Dante delights whether to go back or stand his ground. in a play upon words as much as Shake­ . . . N ow at the end of this valley was speare. another, called the valley of the Shadow 38. T h e stars of . Some phi­ o f Death ; and Christian must needs losophers and fathers think the world go through it, because the way to was created in Spring. the Celestial City lay through the 45. Ambition ; and politically the midst of it.” royal house of France. 17. T h e sun, with all its symbolical 48. Some editions read temesse, others meanings. This is the morning of Good tremesse. Friday. 49. Avarice ; and politically the In the Ptolemaic system the sun was Court of Rome, or temporal power one of the planets. ofUfcke Popes. 20. T h e deep mountain tarn of his // 60. ^ Dante as a Ghibelline_and Impe- heart, dark with its own depth, and the rlMisj/ is in opposition to the Guelfs, shadows hanging over it. Pope Boniface V III., and the King of 27. Jeremiah ii. 6 : “ That led us FraVce, Philip the Fair, and is ban- through the wilderness, through a isheaVfrom Florence, out o f the sun­ land of deserts and of pits, through shine, \ n d into “ the dry wind that a land of drought, and of the shadow blows frVn dolorous poverty.” of death, through a land that no man Cato speaks o f the “ silent moon ” passed through, and where no man in De Re Khjtica, X X IX ., Evehito luna dwelt.” silenti; and VCL., Fites inseri luna si­ In his note upon this passage Mr. lent i. Also P\ny, X V I. 39, has Silens Wright quotes Spenser’s lines, Faerie luna ; and Mil ten, in Samson Agonistes, Queene, I. v. 31, — “ Silent as the moon.” Inferno //. 223

63. T h e long neglect o f classic studies Universe, to whom Pythagoras gave the in Italy before Dainte’s time. name o f Philosophy.” 70. Born under Julius Caesar, but too 87. Dante seems to have been al­ late to grow up to manhood during his ready conscious of the fame which his Imperial reign. He flourished later Vita Nuova and Canzoni had given him. /M idjr ./£u|;ustus. 101. The greyhound is Can Grande / 79. In\ this passage Dante but ex­ Scalp 1 T.nrrl o f Verona, Imperial presses th/e universal veneration felt for Vicar, Ghibelline, and friend of Dante. Virgil jzmring the Middle Ages, and Verona is between Feltro in tfie Vlarca ^spemlly in Italy. Petrarch’s copy Trivigiana, and Montefeltro in R o­ ofvVirgil is still preserved in the Am ­ magna. Boccaccio, Decameron, I. 7, brosian Library at M ilan; and at the speaks of him as “ one of the most not­ beginning of it he has recorded in a able and magnificent lords that had been Latin note the time o f his first meeting known in Italy, since the Emperor Fred­ 1 with Laura, and the date of her death, erick the Second.” To him Dante j which, he says, “ I wrijie in this book, dedicated the . Some com­ \rather than elsewhere, because it comes mentators think the Veltro is not Can often under my eye.” Grande, but Ugguccione della Faggiola. \ In the popular imagination Virgil be- See T roya,- D el Veltro Allegoric 0 di Dante. qame a mythical personage and a mighty 106. T h e plains o f Italy, in contradis­ rrkgician. See the story of Virgilius tinction to the mountains ; the humi- in\ Thom ’s Early Prose Romances, 11. lemque Italiam of Virgil, JEneid, III. Dante selects him for his guide, as 522: “ And now the stars being chased symbolizing human science or Philoso­ away, blushing Aurora appeared, when phy. “ I say and affirm,” he remarks, far off we espy the hills obscure, and Comnto, V. 16, “ that the lady with lowly Italy.” whom I became enamored after my 116. I give preference to the read­ first loye was the most beautiful and ing, Vedrai git anticbi spiriti dolenti. modest daughter o f the Emperor o f the 122. Beatrice.

CANT 0 I I .

1. The evening of Good Friday. Mr. Ruskin, Modern Painters, III. Dante, Convito, III. 2, says: “ Man 240, speaking of Dante’s use of the is.called by the divine ani­ word “ bruno,” says : — mal.” Chaucer’s Assemble o f Foules:— “ In describing a simple twilight —

“ The daie gan failen, and the darke night not a twilight, but an ordinarily That reveth bestes from hir businesse fair evening — (Inf. ii. 1), he says, the Berafte me my boke for lacke of light.” 1 brown ’ air took the animals away 224 N o teo

from their fatigues; — the waves under Comento, “ St. Peter the Apostle, called Charon’s boat are e brown * (Inf. iii. the greater on account o f his papal dig­ 1 17 ); and Lethe, which is perfectly nity, and to distinguish him from many clear and yet dark, as with oblivion, is other holy men o f the same name.” 1 bruna-bruna,’ ‘ brown, exceeding brown.’ 28. St. Paul. Acts, ix. 15: “ He is N ow , clearly in all these cases no a chosen vessel unto me.” Also, 2 Co­ warmth is meant to be mingled in the rinthians, xii. 3, 4 : “ And I knew such color. Dante had never seen one of a man, whether in the body, or out of our bog-streams, with its porter-col- the body, I cannot tell; God knoweth; ored foam ; and there can be no doubt how that he was caught up into Par­ that, in calling Lethe brown, he means adise, and heard unspeakable words, that it was dark slate-gray, inclining to which it is not lawful for a man to black; as, for instance, our clear Cum­ utter.” berland lakes, which, looked straight 42. Shakespeare, Macbeth, IV . 1: down upon where they are deep, seem “ The flighty purpose never is o’ertook, to be lakes o f ink. I am sure this is Unless the deed go with it.” the color he means ; because no clear stream or lake on the Continent ever 52. Suspended in Limbo ; neither looks brown, but blue or green; and in pain nor in glory. Dante, by merely taking away the pleas­ 55. Brighter than the star; than ant color, would get at once to this te that star which is brightest,” com­ idea of grave clear gray. So, when he ments Boccaccio. Others say the Sun, was talking of twilight, his eye for color and refer to Dante’s Canzone, begin­ was far too good to let him call it brown n in g:

in our sense. T w ilight is not brown, “ The star of beauty which doth measure time, but purple, golden, or dark gray ; and The lady seems, who has enamored me, this last was what Dante meant. Far­ Placed in the heaven of Love.” ther, I find'that this negation of color 56. Shakespeare, King Lear, V . 3 : — is always the means by which Dante subdues his tones. Thus the fatal in­ " Her voice was ever soft, Gentle, and low j an excellent thing in woman.” scription on the Hades gate is written in ‘ obscure color/ and the air which 67. This passage w ill recall Minerva torments the passionate spirits is ‘ aer transmitting the message o f Juno to nero,’ black air (Inf. v. 51), called pres­ Achilles, , II. : “ G o thou forth­ ently afterwards (line 81) malignant air, with to the army o f the Achaeans, and just as the gray cliffs are called malig­ hesitate n o t; but restrain each man nant cliffs.” . with thy persuasive words, nor suffer 13. ^Eneas, founder o f the Roman them to drag to the sea their double- Empire. Virgil, JEneid, B. V I. ships.” 24. “ That is,” says Boccaccio, f 70.\, Dante’s first ' Inferno n. 225

love, the inspiration of his song and caccio, Comento, “ the sea cannot boast in his mind the symbol of the Divine. o f being more impetuous or more dan­ He says of her in the Vita Nuova: — gerous than that.” “ This most gentle lady, of whom there 127. This simile has been imitated has been discourse in what precedes, by Chaucer, Spenser, and many more. reached such favor among the people, Jeremy Taylor says : — that when she passed along the way “ So have I seen the sun kiss the persons ran to see her, which gave me frozen earth, which was bound up with , wonderful delight. And when she was the images o f death, and the colder near any one, such modesty took pos­ breath of the north ; and then the wa­ session o f his heart, that he did not ters break from their enclosures, and dare to raise his eyes or to return her melt with joy, and run in useful chan­ salutation ; and to this, should any one nels ; and the flies do rise again from doubt it, many, as haying experienced their little graves in walls, and dance it, could bear witness for me. She, awhile in the air, to tell that there is joy crowned and clothed with humility, within, and that the great mother of took her way, displaying no pride in creatures will open the stock of her that which._she_.saw and heard. Many, new refreshment, become useful to when she had passed, said, * This is not mankind, and sing praises to her Re­ a woman, rather is she one o f the most deemer.” beautiful angels o f heaven.’ Others Rossetti, Spirito Jntipapale del Secolo said, ‘ She is a miracle. Blessed be the di Dante, translated by Miss Ward, II. Lord who can perform such a marvel/ 216, makes this political application o f I say, that she showed herself so gentle the lines: “ T he Florentines, called Sons and so full o f all beauties, that those o f Flora, are compared to flowers ; and who looked on her felt within them­ Dante calls the two parties who di­ selves a pure and sweet delight, such-as vided the city white and black flowers, they could not tell in words.” C. E. and himself whit e-flower, — the name by Norton, The New Life, , which he was called by many. Now The heayen ?f ti^mnnn. wfiich he makes use o f a very abstruse com­ contains or encircles the earth. parison, to express how he became, 84. T h e ampler circles o f Para­ from a Guelph or Black, a Ghibelline dise. or White. He describes himself as a 94. Divine Mercy. . ' flower, first bent and closed by the night 97. St. Lucia, emblem of'enlight­ frosts, and then blanched or whitened by ening Grace. the sun (the symbol of reason), which 102. Rachel, emblem of| Divineopens its leaves ; and what produces the Contemplation. See Par. X X K II. 9. effect of the sun on him is a speech o f 108. Beside that flood, whehe oceanV irgil’s, persuading him to follow his has no vaunt; “ That is,” sa\|s Boc- guidance.” 29 \ 226 Notes

CANTO III.

I. This canto begins with a repeti­ neatness and perfectness, o f the stone­ tion o f sounds like the tolling o f a fu­ work. For instance, in describing the neral bell : dolente . . . dolore ! river Phlegethon, he tells us that it was Ruskin, Modern Painters, III. 215, ‘ paved with stone at the bottom, and speaking of the Inferno, says: — at the sides, and over the edges o f the “ M ilton’s effort, in all that he tells sides.' just as the water is at the baths us o f his Inferno, is to make it indefi­ o f Bulicame ; and for fear we should nite ; Dante’s, to make it definite. Both, think this embankment at all larger indeed, describe it as Entered through than it really was, Dante adds, carer gates ; but, within the gate, all is wild fully, that it was made just like the em­ and fenceless with Milton, having in­ bankments of Ghent or Bruges against deed its four rivers, — the last vestige the sea, or those in Lombardy which o f the mediaeval tradition, — but rivers bank the Brenta, only * not so high, which flow through a waste of moun­ nor so wide,’ as any of these. And tain and moorland, and by ‘ many a besides the trenches, we have two frozen, many a fiery,Alp.’ But Dante’s well-built castles ; one like Ecbatana, Inferno is accurately separated into with seven circuits of wall (and sur­ circles drawn with well-pointed com­ rounded by a fair stream), wherein the passes ; mapped and properly surveyed great poets and sages o f antiquity live ; in every direction, trenched in a thor­ and another, a great fortified city with oughly good style of engineering from walls of iron, red-hot, and a deep fosse depth to depth, and divided, in the round it, and full of ‘ grave citizens,’ * accurate middle’ (dritto mezzo) o f its — the city of Dis. deepest abyss, into a concentric series “ Now, whether this be in what we o f ten moats and embankments, like moderns call f good taste,’ or not, I do those about a castle, with bridges from not mean just now to inquire, — Dante each embankment to the next; pre­ having nothing to do with taste, but cisely in the m anner.of those bridges with the facts of what he had seen ; over Hiddekel and Euphrates, which only, so far as the imaginative faculty Mr. Macaulay thinks so innocently de­ o f the two poets is concerned, note signed, apparently not aware that he that Milton’s vagueness is not the sign is also laughing at Dante. These larger o f imagination, but o f its absence, so fosses are of rock, and the bridges also; far as it is significative in the matter. but as he goes further into detail, Dante For it does not follow, because Milton tells us of various minor fosses and em­ did not map out his Inferno as Dante bankments, in which he anxiously points did, that he could not have done so if out to us not only the formality, but the he had chosen ; only it was the easier Inferno in. 227 and less imaginative process to leave it stood a great multitude o f souls, which vague than to define it. Imagination he absorbed at once, as if they were is always the seeing and asserting fac­ flies ; so that, drawing in his breath, ulty ; that which obscures or conceals he swallowed them all together ; then, may be judgment, or feeling, but not breathing, exhaled them all on fire, like invention. The invention, whether sparks.” good or bad, is in the accurate en­ 36. The reader will here be re­ gineering, not in the fog and uncer­ minded of Bunyan’s town of Fair- tainty.” speech. 18. says: “ The good of “ Christian. Pray who are your kin­ the intellect is the highest beatitude” ; dred there, if a man may be so bold. apd Dante in the Convito: “ The True “ By-ends. Almost the whole town; is the good of the intellect.” In other and in particular my Lord Turnabout, words, the knowledge of God is intel­ my Lord Timeserver, my Lord Fair- lectual good. speech, from whose ancestors that town “ It is a most just punishment,” says first took its name; also Mr. Smooth- St. Augustine, “ that man should lose man, Mr. Facing-both-ways, Mr. Any­ that freedom which man could not use, thing, — and the parson o f our parish, yet had power to keep, if he would, Mr. Two-tongues, was my mother’s and that he who had knowledge to do own brother by father’s side ...... what was right, and did not do it, “ There Christian stepped a little should be deprived o f the knowledge aside to his fellow Hopeful, saying, of what was right; and that he who * It runs in my mind that this is one would not do righteously, when he By-ends o f Fair-speech; and if it be had the power, should lose the power he, we have as very a knave in our to do it when he. had the w ill.” company as dwelleth in all these 22. The description given of the Mouth of Hell by Frate Alberico, F i­ any commentators and trans- sh, 9, is in the grotesque spirit of the rpret alcuna in its usual signifi- Mediaeval Mysteries. some: “ For some glory the “ After all these things, I was led to damned would have from them.” This the Tartarean Regions, and to the mouth would be a reason why these pusillan­ of the Infernal Pit, which seemed like imous ghosts should not be sent into unto a w e ll; regions full o f horrid the profounder abyss, but no reason darkness, of fetid exhalations, o f shrieks w hy they should not be received there. and loud howlings. Near this Hell This is strengthened by what comes there was a Worm of immeasurable afterwards, 1. 63. These souls were size, bound with a huge chain, one end “ hateful to God, and to his enemies.” of which seemed to be fastened in Hell. T h ey were not good enough for Heaven, Before the mouth o f this Hell there nor bad enough for Hell. “ So then, 228 Notes

because thou art lukewarm, and neither o f the aforesaid Pope, which, as if they cold nor hot, I will spew thee out o f were voices o f angels sent from heaven, my mouth.” Revelation iii. 16. said, ‘ Resign, Celestine ! Resign, Ce­ Macchiavelli represents this scorn o f lestine!’ — moved by which, and being inefficient mediocrity in an epigram on an idiotic man, he took counsel with Peter Soderini: — Messer Benedetto aforesaid, as to the best method o f resigning.” “ The night that Peter Soderini died ^j.He at the mouth of Hell himself presented. Celestine having relinquished the ‘ What, you come into Hell? poor ghost de- papal office, this

o f the shifting and unstable minds of its “ This clerk, when he hath herd the form, fqJkTWers. How he the pope shuld enform, 59. jGenerally supposed to be Pope Toke of the cardinal his leve ele>*ine V . whose great refusal, or ab­ And goth him home, till it was eve. dication, of the papal office is thus de­ And prively the trompe he hadde Til that the pope was abedde. scribed by Boccaccio in his Comen to: — And at midnight when he knewe “ Being a simple man and of a holy The pope slepte, than he blewe life, living as a hermit in the moun­ Within his trompe through the wall tains of Morrone in Abruzzo, above Sel- And tolde in what maner he shall mona, he was elected Pope in Perugia His papacie leve, and take after the death of Pope Niccola d’ As- His first estate.” co li; and his name being Peter, he was Milman, Hist. Latin Christianity, V I. called Celestine. Considering his sim­ 194, speaks thus upon the subject: -■— plicity, Cardinal Messer Benedetto Ga- “ The abdication of Celestine V. was tano, a very cunning man, o f great an event unprecedented in the annals of courage and desirous of being Pope, the Church, and jarred harshly against managing astutely, began to show him some of the first principles of the Papal that he held this high office much to authority. It was a confession of com­ the prejudice of his own soul, inasmuch mon humanity, of weakness below the as he did not feel himself competent ordinary standard of men in him whom for i t ; — others pretend that he con­ the Conclave, with more than usual cer­ trived with some private servants of titude, as guided by the special inter­ his to have voices heard in the chamber position of the H oly Ghost, had raised Inferno in. 229 to the spiritual throne of the world. the poet w ill not condescend to look. • The Conclave had been, as it seemed, This sentence, so accordant with the either under an illusion as to this de­ stirring and passionate soul of the great clared manifestation of the Holy Spirit, Florentine, has been feebly counter­ or had been permitted to deceive itself. acted, if counteracted, by the praise of Nor was there less incongruity in a Petrarch in his declamation on the Pope, whose office invested him in beauty of a solitary life, for which the something at least approaching to in­ lyrist professed a somewhat hollow fallibility, acknowledging before the and poetic admiration. Assuredly there world his utter incapacity, his undeni­ was no magnanimity contemptuous of able fallibility. That idea, formed out the Papal greatness in the abdication of many conflicting conceptions, yet of Celestine ; it was the weariness, the forcibly harmonized by long, tradi­ conscious inefficiency, the regret of a tionary reverence, of unerring wisdom, man suddenly wrenched away from all oracular truth, authority which it was his habits, pursuits, and avocations, and sinful to question or limit, was strange­ unnaturally compelled or tempted to ly disturbed and confused, not as be­ assume an uncongenial dignity. It was fore by too overweening ambition, or the cry o f passionate feebleness to be even awful yet still unacknowledged released from an insupportable burden. crime, but by avowed weakness, bor­ Compassion is the highest emotion of dering on imbecility. His profound sympathy which it would have desired piety hardly reconciled the confusion. or could deserve.” A saint after all made but a bad Pope. 75. Spenser’s “ misty dampe of “ It was viewed, in his own time, in a misconceyving night.” different light by different minds. T h e 82. Virgil, JEneid, VI., Davidson’s monkish writers held it up as the most translation : — noble example of monastic, of Christian “ A grim ferryman guards these floods perfection. Admirable as was his elec­ and rivers, Charon, of frightful sloven­ tion, his abdication was even more to liness ; on whose chin a load of gray be.admired. It was an example of hair neglected lies; his eyes are flame: humility stupendous to all, imitable by his vestments hang from his shoulders few. T h e divine approval was said to by a knot, with filth overgrown. Him­ be shown by a miracle which followed self thrusts on the barge with a pole, directly on his resignation ; but the and tends the sails, and wafts over the scorn o f man has been expressed by bodies in his iron-colored boat, now in the undying verse of Dante, who con­ years : but the god is of fresh and green demned him who was guilty o f the old age. Hither the whole tribe in baseness of the ‘ great refusal ’ to that swarms come pouring to the banks, circle of hell where are those disdained matrons and men, the souls of magnan­ alike by mercy and justice, on whom imous heroes who had gone through 230 Notes life, boys and unmarried maids, and where they were received by the ce­ young men who had been stretched on lestial pilot, or ferryman, who trans­ the funeral pile before the eyes of their ported them to the shores o f Purga- parents; as numerous as withered leaves to££* as described in Purg. II. fall in the woods with the first cold o f / 94/Syiany critics, and foremost among autumn, or as numerous as birds flock lhem Padre Pompeo Venturi, blame to the land from deep ocean, when the ©anterior mingling together things Pa- chilling year drives them beyond sea, gin and Christian. But they should and sends them to sunny climes. T h ey remember how through all the Middle stood praying to cross the flood the A^.es human thought\vas wrestling with first, and were stretching forth their the\ old traditions; how many Pagan hands with fond desire to gain the observances passed into Christianity in further bank: but the sullen boat­ those early days; what reverence Dante man admits sometimes these, some­ had for Virgil and the classics; and times those ; while others to a great how many Christian nations still pre­ distance removed, he debars from the serve some traces of Paganism in the banks.” names o f the stars, the months, and the And Shakespeare, Richard III., I. days. Padre Pompeo should not have 4 : — forgotten \ that he, though a Christian, “ I passed, methought, the melancholy flood bore a Pagan name, which perhaps is W ith that grim ferryman which poets write of, as evident z brutto miscuglio in a learned Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.” Jesuit, as ai^y which he has pointed out in Dante^ 87. Shakespeare, Measure for Meas- Upon him and other commentators ure, III. 1 : — o f the Divine Poem, a very amusing “ This sensible warm motion to become chapter might be written. W hile the A kneaded clod j and the delighted spirit great Comedy is going on upon the To bathe in fiery floods, or to reside In thrilling regions of thick-ribbed ice ; scene above, with all its pomp and To be imprisoned in the viewless winds, music, these critics in the pit keep up And blown with restless violence round about such a perpetual wrangling among them­ The pendent world; or to be worse than worst selves, as seriously to disturb the per­ O f those that lawless and incertain thoughts formance. Biagioli is the most vio­ Imagine howling.” lent of all, particularly against Venturi, 89. V irgil, JEneid, V I . : “ This fs whom he calls an “ infamous dirty the region o f Ghosts, of Sleep and dog,” sozzo can vituperatoj'zn epithet drowsy Night; to waft over the bodies hardly permissible in the most heated o f the living in my Stygian boat is not literary controversy. Whereupon in permitted.” return Zani de’ Ferranti calls Biagioli 93. T h e souls that were to be saved “ an inurbane grammarian,” and a assembled at the mouth of the T iber, “ most ungrateful ingrate,” — quel gram" Inferno if. 231 matico inurbano . . . ingrato ingratis- “ When Dante describes the spirits simo. falling from the bank of Acheron 4 as Any one who is desirous o f tracing dead leaves flutter from a bough,’ he out the presence o f Paganism in Chris­ gives the most perfect image possible tianity w ill find the subject amply dis­ of their utter lightness, feebleness, pas­ cussed by Middleton in his Letter from siveness, and scattering agony of de­ Rome. spair, without, however, for an instant 109. Dryden’s Aene'is, B. V I.: — losing his own clear perception that

** His eyes like hollow furnaces on fire.” these are souls, and those are leaves: he makes no confusion o f one with the 112. Homer, Iliad, V I.: “ As is the other.” race o f leaves, such is that o f men ; Shelley in his Ode to the West Wind some leaves the wind scatters upon the inverts this image, and compares the ground, and others the budding wood dead leaves to ghosts: — produces, for they come again in the “ O wild West W ind! thou breath of Autumn’s season of Spring. So is the race o f being ! men, one springs up and the other Thou from whose presence the leaves dead dies.,, Are driven like ghosts, from an enchanter See also Note 82 o f this canto. fleeing, Mr. Ruskin, Modern Painters, III. Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, 160, says: — Pestilence-stricken multitudes.”

CAN TO IV.

1. Dante is borne across the river little growing weaker, declines into old Acheron in his sleep, he does not tell age ; and at every step of life the sum us how, and awakes on the brink of o f his sins increases. So likewise the “ the dolorous valley of the abyss.” little children are punished least, and He now enters the First Circle o f the more and more the adolescents and the Inferno; the Limbo of the Unbap­ youths; until, their sins decreasing with tized, the border land, as the name the long-continued torments, punish­ denotes. ment also begins to decrease, as if by Frate Alberico in § 2 of his Vision a kind o f old age (veluti quadam senec- says, that the divine punishments are tute).” tempered to extreme youth and old 10. Frate Alberico, in § 9: “ T h e age. darkness was so dense and impenetrable “ Man is first a little child, then that it was impossible to see anything grows and reaches adolescence, and at­ there.” tains to youthful vigor; and, little by 28. Mental, not physical pain; what 232 Notes the French theologians call la peine profound matter, as he and Virgil pass du dam, the privation of the sight of over it as if it were dry ground. God. 118. O f this word “ enamel'” Mr. 30. Virgil, JEneid, V I. : “ Forth­ Ruskin, Modern Painters, III. 227, re­ with are heard voices, loud wailings, marks : — and weeping ghosts of infants, in the “ T h e first instance I know o f its first opening of the gate ; whom, be­ right use, though very probably it had reaved of sweet life out o f the course been so employed before, is in Dante. o f nature, and snatched from the breast, T h e righteous spirits o f the pre-Chris­ a black day cut off, and buried in an tian ages are seen by him, though in untimely grave.” the Inferno, yet in a place open, lumi­ 53. The descent of Christ into nous and high, walking upon the e green Limbo. Neither here nor elsewhere enamel.’ in the Inferno does Dante mention the “ I am very sure that Dante did not name of Christ. use this phrase as we use it. He knew 72. T h e reader will not fail to ob­ well what enamel w as; and his read­ serve how Dante maizes the word honor, ers, in order to understand him thor­ in its various forms, ring and rever­ oughly, must remember what it is ,— berate through these lines, — orrevol, a vitreous paste, dissolved in water, onoriy orranza, onrata, onorata ! mixed with metallic oxides, to give it 86. Dante puts the sword into the the opacity and the color required, hand of Homer as a symbol of his spread in a moist state on metal, and warlike epic, which is a Song of afterwards hardened by fire, so as never the Sword. to change. And Dante means, in using 93. Upon this line Boccaccio, Co- this metaphor o f the grass o f the In­ m entOy says: “ A proper thing it is to ferno, to mark that it is laid as a tem­ honor every man, but especially those pering and cooling substance over the who are of one and the same profes­ dark, metallic, gloomy ground ; but yet sion, as these were with V irgil.” so hardened by the fire, that it is not 100. Another assertion o f Dante’s any more fresh or living grass, but a consciousness of his own power as a smooth, silent, lifeless bed of eternal poet. green. And we know how hard Dante’s 106. This is the Noble Castle of idea o f it w as; because afterwards, in human wit and learning, encircled with what is perhaps the most awful passage its seven scholastic walls, the Trivium y of the whole Inferno, when the thfee Logic, Grammar, Rhetoric, and the furies rise at the top o f the burning £>uadrivium, Arithmetic, Astronomy, tower, and, catching sight of Dante, and Geometry, Music. not being able to get at him, shriek The fair rivulet is Eloquence, which w ildly for the Gorgon to come up, Dante does not seem to consider a very too, that they may turn him into stone, Inferno iv. 233 the word stone is not hard enough for E io presi ardimento, them. Stone might crumble away after Quasi per avventura it was made, or something with life Per una valle scura, Tanto, ch’ al terzo giorno might grow upon it; no, it shall not I’ mi trovai d’ intorno be stone ; th ey. will make enamel o f Un grande pian giocondo, him ; nothing can grow out o f th at; Lo piu gaio del mondo, it is dead forever.” E lo piu dilettoso. And yet just before, line ill, Dante Ma ricontar non oso speaks o f this meadow as a “ meadow Cio, ch’ io trovai, e vidi, Se Dio mi guardi, e guidi. of fresh verdure.” Io non sarei creduto Compare Brunetto’s Tesoretto, X III. Di cio, ch’ i’ ho veduto; Ch’ i’ vidi Imperadori, “ Or va mastro Brunetto E Re, e gran signori, Per lo cammino stretto, E mastri di scienze, Cercando di vedere, Che dittavan sentenze; E toccare, e sapere E vidi tante cose, Cio, che gli e destinato. Che gia ’n rime, n& ’n prose E non fui guari andato, Non le poria ritrare. Ch’ i’ fui nella diserta, Dov’ i’ non trovai certa 128. In the Convito, IV . 28, Dante N& strada, ne sentiero. Deh che paese fero makes Marcia, Cato’s wife, a symbol Trovai in quelle parti! „ o f the noble soul : “ Per la quale Mar- Che s’ io sapessi d’ arti zias* intende la nobile anima.” Quivi mi bisognava, 129. T h e Saladin of the Crusades. Chfe quanto piu mirava, See Gibbon, Chap. L IX . Dante also Piil mi parea selvaggio. makes mention of him, as worthy of Quivi non ha viaggio, Quivi non ha persone, affectionate remembrance, in the Con- Quivi non ha magione, vito, IV . 2. M r. Cary quotes the fol­ Non bestia, non uccello, lowing passage from Knolles’s History Non fiume, non ruscello, of the Turks, page 57 : — Non formica, n& mosca, “ About this time (1193) died the N& cosa, ch’ i’ conosca. great Sultan Saladin, the greatest terror E. io pensando forte, of the Christians, who, mindful of Dottai ben della morte. E non e maraviglia5 man’s fragility and the vanity o f worldly Chti ben trecento miglia honors, commanded at the time o f his Girava d’ ogni lato death no solemnity to be used at his Quel paese snagiato. burial, but only his shirt, in manner of M a s'l m ’ assicurai an ensign, made fast unto the point of Quando mi ricordai a lance, to be carried before his dead Del sicuro segnale, Che contra tutto male body as an ensign, a plain priest going Mi dk securamento: before, and crying aloud unto the peo- 234 Notes pie in this sort, * Saladin, Conqueror “ Afterwards, several of the Chris­ o f the East, of all the greatness and tian leaders returned with the Sultan to riches he had in his life, carrieth not observe the manners o f the Saracens. with him anything more than his shirt.* T h ey appeared much shocked on see­ A sight worthy so great a king, as ing all ranks of people take their meals wanted nothing to his eternal commen­ sitting upon the ground. T h e Sultan dation more than the true knowledge led them into a grand pavilion where of his salvation in Christ . He he feasted his court, surrounded with reigned about sixteen years with great the most beautiful tapestries, and rich honor. ” foot-cloths, on which were wrought The following story of Saladin is large embroidered figures of the cross. from the Cento Novelle Antiche. Ros- The Christian chiefs trampled them coe’s Italian Novelists, I. 18 : — under their feet with the utmost in­ “ On another occasion the great Sa­ difference, and even rubbed their boots, ladin, in the career of victory, pro­ and spat upon them. claimed a truce between the Christian “ On perceiving this, the Sultan armies and his own. During this in­ turned towards them in the greatest terval he visited the camp and the cities anger, exclaiming : ‘ And do you who belonging to his enemies, with the de­ pretend to preach the cross treat it sign, should he approve of the customs thus ignominiously ? Gentlemen, I and manners o f the people, of embra­ <- am shocked at your conduct. Am I cing the Christian faith. He observed to suppose from this that the wor­ their tables spread with the finest dam­ ship o f your Deity consists only in ask coverings ready prepared for the words, not in actions ? Neither your feast, and he praised their magnificence. manners nor your conduct please me.’ On entering the tents of the king o f And on this he dismissed them, break­ France during a festival, he was much ing off the truce and commencing hos­ pleased with the order and ceremony tilities more warmly than before.” with which everything was conducted, 143. Avicenna, an Arabian physi­ and the courteous manner in which he cian of Ispahan in the eleventh cen­ feasted his nobles ; but when he ap­ tury. Born 980, died 1036. proached the residence of the poorer 144. Averrhoes, an Arabian scholar class, and perceived them devouring o f the twelfth century, who translated their miserable pittance upon the the works of Aristotle, and wrote a ground, he blamed the want o f grati­ commentary upon them. He was born tude which permitted so many faith­ in Cordova in 1149, and died in M o­ ful followers o f their chief to fare so rocco, about 1200. He was the head much worse than the rest o f their of the Western School of philosophy, Christian brethren. as Avicenna was of the Eastern. Inferno v. 235

C A N T O V .

In the Second Circle are found the Both of himself and of his men, souls of carnal sinners, whose punish­ A t Troie for Polixenen ment is Upon her love when he felle, That for no chaunce that befelle “ To be imprisoned in the viewless winds, Among the Grekes or up or down And blown with restless violence round about He wolde nought ayen the town The pendent world.” * Ben armed for the love of her.” 2; T h e circles grow smaller and “ I know not how ,” says Bacon in smaller as they descend. his Essay on Love, “ but martial men 4. Minos, the king of Crete, so re­ are given to love ; I think it is but as nowned for justice as to be called the they are given to w in e; for perils com­ Favorite o f the Gods, and after death monly ask to be paid in pleasure.” made Supreme Judge in the Infernal 67. of Troy, of whom Spen­ Regions. Dante furnishes him with a ser says, Faerie Queene, III. ix. 34: — > tail, thus converting him, after the me­ diaeval fashion, into a Christian de­ u Most famous W orthy of the world, by whome That warre was kindled which did Troy in­ mon. flame 21. Thou, too, as well as Charon, And stately towres of Ilion whilome to whom Virgil has already made the Brought unto balefull ruine, was by name same reply, Canto V I. 22. Sir Paris, far renown’d through noble fame.” 28. In Canto I. 60, the sun is si­ Tristan is the Sir Tristram of the lent ; here the light is dumb. Romances of Chivalry. See his ad­ 51. Gower, Confessio Am ant is, V III., ventures in the Mort dArthure. Also gives a similar list “ o f gentil folke that Thomas of Ercildoune’s Sir Tristram, whilom, were lovers,” seen by him as a Metrical Romance. His amours with he lay in a swound and listened to the Yseult or Ysonde bring him to this music circle of the Inferno. “ O f bombarde and of clarionne 71. Shakespeare, Sonnet C V I.: — W ith cornemuse and shalmele.” “ When in the chronicle of wasted time 61. Queen Dido. I see descriptions of the fairest wights 65. Achilles, being in love with And beauty making beautiful old rhyme Polyxena, a daughter of Priam, went In praise of ladies dead and lovely knights.” unarmed to the temple of , where he was put to death by Paris. See also the “ wives and daughters o f chieftains ” that appear to Ulysses, Gower, Confessio Amantis, IV ., in the Odyssey, Book X I. says : -— “ For I have herde tell also Also Milton, Paradise Regained, II. Achilles left his armes so, 35 7 : — 236 Notes

“ And ladies of the Hesperides, that seemed marks, Voyage Dantesque, p. 312: “ We Fairer than feigned of old, or fabled since have only to cast our eyes upon the O f fairy damsels met in forest wide map to recognize the topographical By knights of Logres, or of Lyones, exactitude of this last expression. In Lancelot, or Palleas, or Pellenore.” fact, in all the upper part o f its course, 89. In the original, Vaer perso, the the Po receives a multitude of affluents, perse air. Dante, Convito, IV . 20, de­ which converge towards its bed. They fines perse as “ a color mixed o f pur­ are the Tessino, the Adda, the Olio, ple and black, but the black predomi­ the M incio, the Trebbia, the Bormida, nates.” Chaucer’s “ Doctour of Phi- the Taro ; — names which recur so sike ” in the Canterbury Tales, Pro­ often in the history of the wars o f the logue 441, wore this color: — fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.” “ In sanguin and in perse he clad was alle, 103. Here the word love is re­ Lined with taffata and with sendalle.” peated, as the word honor was in T h e Glossary defines it, “ skie col­ Canto IV . 72. T h e verse murmurs ored, of a bluish gray.” The word is with it, like the “ moan of doves in again used, V II. 103, and Purg. IX . 97. immemorial elms.” 97. The city of Ravenna. “ One St. Augustine says in his Confessions, reaches Ravenna,” says Ampere, Voyage III. 1 : “ I loved not yet, yet I loved Dantesque, p. 311, “ by journeying along to love...... I sought what I might the borders of a pine forest, which is love, in love with loving.” seven leagues in length, and which 104. I think it is Coleridge who seemed to me an immense funereal wood, says : “ T h e desire of rftan is for the serving as an avenue to the common woman, but the desire of woman is for tomb of those two great powers, Dante the desire o f man»” and the Roman Empire in the West. 107. Cai'na is in the lowest circle There is hardly room for any other of the Inferno, where fratricides are memories than theirs. But other poetic punished. names are attached to the Pine Woods 116. Francesca, daughter of Guido of Ravenna. Not long ago da Polenta, Lord o f Ravenna, and wife evoked there the fantastic tales bor­ o f Gianciotto Malatesta, son of the rowed by Dryden from Boccaccio, and Lord of Rimini. The lover, Paul now he is himself a figure o f the past, Malatesta, was the brother o f the hus­ wandering in this melancholy place. band, who, discovering their amour, I thought, in traversing it, that the put them both to death with his own singer of despair had ridden along this hand. melancholy shore, trodden before him Carlyle, Heroes and Hero Worship, by the graver and slower footstep of Lect. III., says : — the poet of the Inferno.” “ Dante’s painting is not graphic 99. Quoting this line, Ampere re­ only, brief, true, and o f a vividness as Inferno v. 237 of fire in dark night; taken on the lished, it pleased both parties to desire wider scale, it is every way noble, and to fortify by relationship ; and the the outcome of a great soul. Fran­ matter of this relationship was so dis­ cesca and her Lover, what qualities in coursed, that the said Messer Guido th at! A thing woven as out of rain­ agreed to give his young and fair bows, on a ground of eternal black. daughter in marriage to Gianciotto, A small flute-voice o f infinite wail the son of Messer Malatesta. N ow , speaks there, into our very heart of this being made known to certain of hearts. A touch o f womanhood in it the friends of Messer Guido, one of too: della bella persona, che mi fu tolta; them said to him : e Take care what and how, even in the Pit o f woe, it is you do ; for if you contrive not matters a solace that be will never part from discreetly, such relationship will beget h e r! Saddest tragedy in these alti scandal. You know what manner of guai. And the racking winds, in that person your daughter is, and o f how aer bruno, whirl them away again, to lofty a spirit; and if she see Gian­ wail forever! — Strange to think: Dante ciotto before the bond is tied, neither was the friend of this poor Francesca’s you nor any one else will have power father ; Francesca herself may have sat to persuade her to marry him ; there­ upon the Poet’s knee, as a bright, in­ fore, if it so please you, it seems to nocent little child. Infinite pity, yet me that it would be good to conduct also infinite rigor of law : it is so N a­ the matter thus : namely, that Gian­ ture is made ; it is so Dante discerned ciotto should not come hither himself that she was made.” to marry her, but that a brother of Later commentators assert that Dan­ his should come and espouse her in te’s friend Guido was not the father of his name.’ Francesca, but her nephew. “ Gianciotto was a man o f great Boccaccio’s account, translated from spirit, and hoped, after his father’s his Commentary by , Sto­ death, to become lord of R im ini; in ries from tbe Italian Poets, Appendix the contemplation of which event, II., is as follows : — albeit he was rude in appearance and “ You must know that this lady, Ma­ a cripple, Messer Guido desired him donna Francesca, was daughter o f Mes­ for a son-in-law above any one of his ser Guido the Elder, lord of Ravenna brothers. Discerning, therefore, the and of Cervia, and that a long and reasonableness of what his friend coun­ grievous war having been waged be­ selled, he secretly disposed matters tween him and the lords Malatesta of according to his device ; and a day Rimini, a treaty of peace by certain being appointed, Polo, a brother of mediators was at length concluded be­ Gianciotto, came to Ravenna with full tween them ; the which, to- the end authority to espouse Madonna Fran­ that it might be the more firmly estab­ cesca. Polo was a handsome man, 238 Notes

very pleasant, and o f a courteous breed­ finding it locked inside, called to his ing; and passing with other gentlemen lady to come out; for, Madonna Fran­ over the court-yard of the palace of' cesca and Polo having descried him, Messer Guido, a damsel who knew him Polo thought to escape suddenly through pointed him out to Madonna Francesca an opening in the wall, by means of through an opening in the casement, which there was a descent into another saying, * That is he that is to be your room ; and therefore, thinking to con­ husband’; and so indeed the poor lady ceal his fault either wholly or in part, believed, and incontinently placed in he threw himself into the opening, him her whole affection; and the cere­ telling the lady to go and open the mony of the marriage having been thus door. But his hope did not turn out as brought about, and the lady conveyed he expected; for the hem o f a mantle to Rimini, she became not aware o f which he had on caught upon a nail, the deceit till the morning ensuing the and the lady opening the door mean­ marriage, when she beheld Gianciotto time, in the belief that all would be rise from her sid e; the which dis­ well by reason of Polo’s not being covery moved her to such disdain, that there, Gianciotto caught sight of Polo she became not a whit the less rooted as he was detained by the hem o f the in her love for Polo. Nevertheless, mantle, and straightway ran with his that it grew to be unlawful I •fiever dagger in his hand to kill him ; where­ heard, except in what is written by upon the lady, to prevent it, ran be­ this author (Dante), and possibly it tween them; but Gianciotto having might so have become ; albeit I take lifted the dagger, and put the whole what he says to have been an invention force o f his arm into the blow, there framed on the possibility, rather than came to pass what he had not desired, anything which he knew of his own — namely, that he struck the dagger knowledge. Be this as it may, Polo into the bosom o f the lady before it and Madonna Francesca living in the could reach Polo ; by which accident, same house, and Gianciotto being gone being as one who had loved the lady into a certain neighboring district as better than himself, he withdrew the governor, they fell into great compan­ dagger and again struck at Polo, and ionship with one another, suspecting slew him ; and so leaving them both nothing ; but a servant o f Gianciotto’s, dead, he hastily went his way and be­ noting it, went to his master and told took him to his wonted affairs ; and him how matters looked; with the the next morning the two lovers, with which Gianciotto being fiercely moved, many tears, were buried together in the secretly returned to Rim ini; and seeing same grave.” Polo enter the room of Madonna Fran­ 121. This thought is from , cesca the while he himself was arriv­ De Consolat. Philos., Lib. II. Prosa 4: ing, went straight to the door, and “ In omni adversitate fortunes, infelicis- Inferno vi. -( 23.9 \\ , . • simum genus est infortunii fuisse felicem 128. T h e Romance of LatmceXbt et non esse.” of the Lake. See Delvan, Bibliotique In the Convitoy II. 16, Dante speaks Bleue: — of Boethius and T u lly as having di­ “ Chap. 39. Comment Launcelot et rected him “ to the love, that is to the la Reine Genibvre deviserent de choses study, o f this most gentle lady Philoso­ et d’autres, et surtout de choses amou- phy From this Venturi and Biagioli reuses...... infer that, by the Teacher, Boethius is “ La Reine, voyant qu’il n’osait plus meant, not Virgil. rien faire ni dire, le prit par le menton This interpretation, however, can et le baisa assez longuement en pre­ hardly be accepted, as not in one place sence de Gallehault.” only, but throughout the Inferno and T he Romance was to these two lov­ the , Dante proclaims Virgil ers, what Galeotto (Gallehault or Sir as his Teacher, il mio Dottore. Lom­ Galahad) had been to Launcelot and bardi thinks, that Virgil had experience’ Queen Guenever. of this “ greatest sorrow,” finding him­ Leigh Hunt speaks o f the episode of self alsQ in “ the infernal prison” ; and Francesca as standing in the Inferno that it is to this, in contrast with his “ like a lily in the mouth o f Tarta­ happy life on earth, that Francesca al­ rus.” ludes, and not to anything in his writ­ 1 £2. Chaucer, Knightes Tale: — ings. “ The colde death, with mouth gaping upright.”

CANTO VI.

2. T h e sufferings of these two, and O f Gluttony, Chaucer says in The the pity it excited in him. As in Persones Tale, p. 239 : — Shakespeare, Othello, IV. 1: “ But yet “ H e that is usant to this sinne of the pity of it, Iago! — O Iago, the pity glotonie, he ne may no sinne with- of it, Iago!” stond, he must be in servage of all 7. In this third circle are punished vices, for it is the devils horde, ther the Gluttons. Instead of the feasts of he hideth him and resteth. This former days, the light, the warmth, the sinne hath many spices. T he first is comfort, the luxury, and “ the frolic dronkennesse, that is the horrible se­ wine ” of dinner tables, they have the pulture o f mannes reson : and there­ murk and the mire, and the “ rain fore whan a man is dronke, he hath eternal, maledict, and cold, and heavy ” ; lost his reson : and this is dedly sinne. and are barked at and bitten by the dog But sothly, whan that a man is not in the yard. wont to strong drinkes, and peraven- 240 Notes

ture ne knoweth not the strength of time, and is interesting for the glimpse the drinke, or hath feblenesse in his it gives, not only of Ciacco, but of Phi- hed, or hath travailled, thurgh which lippo Argenti, who is spoken of here­ he drinketh the more, al be he sodenly after, Canto VIII. 61. The Corso caught with drinke, it is no dedly Donati here mentioned is the Leader sinne, but venial. T h e second spice of the Neri. His violent death is pre­ o f glotonie is, that the spirit of a man dicted, Purg. XXIV. 82: — wexeth all trouble for dronkennesse, “ There dwelt somtime in Florence and bereveth a man the discretion of one that was generally called by the his wit. The thridde spice of glotonie name o f Ciacco, a man being the is, whan a man devoureth his mete, greatest Gourmand and grossest Feeder and hath not rightful maner o f eting. as ever was seen in any Countrey, all The fourthe is, whan thurgh the gret his means and procurements meerly abundance o f his mete, the humours in unable to maintain expences for filling his body ben distempered. T h e fifthe his belly. But otherwise he was of is, foryetfulnesse by to moche drink­ sufficient and commendable carriage, ing, for which sometime a man for- fairly demeaned, and well discoursing geteth by the morwe, what he did over on any Argum ent: yet not as a curious eve.” and spruce Courtier, but rather a fre­ 52. It is a question whether Ciacco, quenter of rich mens Tables, where H og, is the real name of this person, choice of good chear is seldom want­ or a nickname. Boccaccio gives him ing, and such should have his Com­ no other. He speaks o f him, Comentoy pany, albeit not invited, he had the V I., as a noted diner-out in Florence, Courage to bid himself welcome. “ who frequented the gentry and the “ At the same time, and in our City rich, and particularly those who ate and o f Florence also, there was another drank sumptuously and delicately ; and man named Biondello, very low of when he was invited by them to dine, stature, yet comely formed, quick wit- he w en t; and likewise when he was ted, more neat and brisk than a Butter- not invited by them, he invited himself; flie, always wearing a wrought silk Cap and for this vice he was well known to on his head, and not a hair standing all Florentines; though apart from this out o f order, but the tuft flourishing he was a well-bred man according to above the forehead, and he such an­ his condition, eloquent, affable, and of other trencher flie for the Table, as good feeling; on account of which he our forenamed Ciacco was. It so fell was welcomed by every gentleman.” out on a morning in the Lent time, T he following story from the Deca- that he went into the Fish-market, merone, Gior. IX ., Nov. viii., transla­ where he bought two goodly Lampreys tion of 1684, presents a lively picture for Messer Viero de Cerchi, and was of social life in Florence in Dante’s espyed by Ciacco, who, coming to Inferno vi. 241

Biondello,. said, cWhat is the meaning dello had meerly gull’d him in a knav­ o f this cost, and for whom is it? ’ ery, which did not a little vex him, Whereto Biondello thus answered, and made him vow to be revenged on ‘ Yesternight three other Lampreys, Biondello, as he could compass occa­ far fairer than these, and a whole Stur­ sion afterward. geon, were sent unto Messer Corso “ Before many days were past, it Donati, and being not sufficient to feed was his fortune to meet with Bion­ divers Gentlemen, whom he hath in­ dello, who having told his jest to vited this day to dine with him, he divers o f his friends, and much good caused me to buy these two beside : merryment made thereat: he saluted Dost not thou intend to make one of Ciacco in a kind manner, saying, ‘ How them ?’ ‘ Yes, I warrant thee,* re- didst thou like the fat Lampreys and plyed Ciacco, ‘ thou knowest I can in­ Sturgeon which thou fed’st on at the vite my self thither, without any other house of Messer Corso?’ ‘ W ell, Sir,* bidding.’ answered Ciacco, ‘ perhaps before Eight “ So parting, about the hour of days pass over my head, thou shalt dinner time Ciacco went to the house meet with as pleasing, a dinner as I of Messer Corso, whom he found sit­ did.’ So, parting away from Biondello, ting and talking with certain o f his he met with a Porter, such as are usu­ Neighbours, but dinner was not as yet ally sent on Errands ; and hyring him ready, neither were they come thither to do a message for him, gave him a to dinner. Messer Corso demanded glass Bottle, and bringing him near to of Ciacco, what news with him, and the Hall-house of Cavicciuli, shewed whether he went ? ‘ W hy Sir,’ said him there a Knight, called Signior Ciacco, ‘ I come to dine with you, and Philippo Argenti, a man o f huge stat­ your good Company.* Whereto Mes­ ure, very cholerick, and sooner moved ser Corso answered, That he was wel­ to Anger than any other man. ‘ T o come : and his other friends being him thou must go with this Bottle in gone, dinner was served in, none else thy hand, and say thus to him. Sir, thereat present but Messer Corso and Biondello sent me to you, and cour­ Ciacco : all the diet being a poor dish teously entreateth you, that you would of Pease, a little piece o f Tunny, and erubinate this glass Bottle with your a few small fishes fryed, without any best Claret Wine ; because he would other dishes to follow after. Ciacco make merry with a few friends o f his. seeing no better fare, but being dis­ But beware he lay no hand on thee, appointed of his expectation, as long­ because he may be easily induced to ing to feed on the Lampreys and Stur­ misuse thee, and so my business be dis­ geon, and so to have made a full dinner appointed.’ ‘ W ell, Sir,’ said the Por­ indeed, was of a quick apprehension, ter, ‘ shall I say any thing else unto and apparently perceived that Bion- him ? ’ ‘ N o,’ quoth Ciacco, ‘ only 3 i 242 Notes go and deliver this message, and when dello, by the procurement o f some thou art returned, I ’ll pay thee for thy body else, had done this in scorn of pains.’ T h e Porter being gone to the him. W hile he remained thus deeply house, delivered his message to the discontented, he espyed Biondello com­ Knight, who, being a man o f no great ing towards him, and meeting him by civil breeding, but very furious, pres­ the way, he stept close to him and ently conceived that Biondello, whom gave him a cruel blow on the Face, he knew well enough, sent this mes­ causing his Nose to fall out a bleeding. sage in meer mockage of him, and, ‘ Alas, Sir,’ said Biondello, * wherefore starting up with fierce looks, said, do you strike me ? ’ Signior Philippo, * What erubination of Claret should I catching him by the hair o f the head, send him ? and what have I to do trampled his Night Cap in the dirt, with him or his drunken friends? Let and his Cloak also, when, laying many him and thee go hang your selves to­ violent blows on him, he said, * Vil- gether.’ So he stept to catch hold on lanous Traitor as thou art, I ’11 teach the Porter, but he being nimble and thee what it is to erubinate with Cla­ escaping from him, returned to Ciacco ret, either thy self or any of thy cup­ and told him the answer o f Philippo. ping Companions. Am I a Child to Ciacco, not a little contented, payed be jested withal ? * the Porter, tarried in no place till he “ Nor was he more furious in words met Biondello, to whom he said, than in stroaks also, beating him about * When wast thou at the Hall of Ca- the Face, hardly leaving any hair on vicciuli ? ’ ‘ Not a long while,* an­ his head, and dragging him along in swered Biondello ; ' but why dost the mire, spoiling all his Garments, thou demand such a question ? ’ * Be­ and he not able, from the first blow cause,’ quoth Ciacco, ‘ Signior Phi­ given, to speak a word in defence of lippo hath sought about for thee, yet himself. In the end Signior Philippo know not I what he would have with having extreamly beaten him, and many thee.’ * Is it so,’ replied Biondello, poople gathering about them, to suc­ * then I will walk thither presently, cour a man so much misused, the mat­ to understand his pleasure.’ ter was at large related, and manner of “ When Biondello was thus parted the message sending. For which they from him, Ciacco followed not far off all did greatly reprehend Biondello, behind him, to behold the issue of this considering he knew what kind of man angry business ; and Signior Philippo, Philippo was, not any way to be jested because he could not catch the Porter, withal. Biondello in tears maintained continued much distempered, fretting that he never sent any such message and fuming, because he could not com­ for W ine, or intended it in the least prehend the meaning of the Porter’s degree; so, when the tempest was message, but only surmised that Bion­ more mildly calmed, and Biondello, Inferno vi.

thus cruelly beaten and durtied, had by the names o f thear birthplace, as gotten home to his own house, he Correggio, Bassano, etc*. Some by those could then remember that (questionless) o f their masters, as 11 Salviati, Sanso­ this was occasioned by Ciacco. vino, etc. Some by their father’s trade, “ After some few days were passed as Andrea del Sarto, Tintoretto, etc. over, and the hurts in his face indiffer­ Some by their bodily defects, as Guer- ently cured, Biondello beginning to cino, Cagnacci, etc. Some by the sub­ / walk abroad again, chanced to meet jects in which they excelled, as M. An­ with Ciacco, who, laughing heartily gelo delle battaglie, Agostino delle per- at him, said, ‘ Tell me, Biondello, how spettive. A few (I can recollect only dost thou like the erubinating Claret four) are known, each as the prince o f of Signior Philippo ? * ‘ As well,* his respective school, by their Christian quoth Biondello, ‘ as thou didst the names alone: Michael Angelo, Ra­ Sturgeon and Lampreys at Messer phael, Guido, Titian.” Corso Donaties.* ‘ W hy then/ said 65. T h e Bianchi are called the Ciacco, ‘ let these tokens continue fa­ Parte selvaggia, because its leaders, the miliar between thee and me, when Cerchi, came from the forest lands o f thou wouldest bestow such another Val di Sieve. The other party, the dinner on me, then w ill I erubinate Neri, were led by the Donati. thy Nose with a Bottle o f the same T h e following account o f these fac­ Claret.* But Biondello perceived to tions is from Giovanni Fiorentino, a his cost that he had met with the writer of the fourteenth century; I lC '"N worser bargain, and Ciacco got cheer Pecorone, Gior. X III. Nov. i., in Roscoe’s without any blows ; and therefore de­ Italian Novelists, I. 327. sired a peacefull attonement, each o f “ In the city of Pistoia, at the time them always after abstaining from o f its greatest splendor, there flourished flouting one another.” a noble family, called the Cancellieri, Ginguen^, Hist. Lit. de P it a lie, II. 53, derived from Messer Cancelliere, who j takes Dante severely to task for wast­ had enriched himself with his com- j ing his pity upon poor Ciacco, but mercial transactions. He had numer- I probably the poet had .pleasant mem­ ous sons by two wives, and they were ories of him at Florentine banquets in all entitled by their wealth to assume the olden time. Nor is it remarkable the title of Cavalieri, valiant and worthy that he should be mentioned only by men, and in all their actions magnan­ his nickname. Mr. Forsyth calls Italy imous and courteous. And so fast did “ the land o f nicknames.” He says the various branches o f this family in continuation, Italy, p. 145 : — spread, that in a short time they num­ “ have suppressed the surnames bered a hundred men at arms, and o f their principal artists under various being superior to every other, both in designations. Many are known only wealth and power, would have still in­ Notes creased, but that a cruel division arose most tumult throughout Pistoia, and between them, from some rivalship in such indignation and reproaches from the affections of a lovely and enchant­ the injured party of the Neri, as to im­ ing girl, and from angry words they plicate the whole city in a division of proceeded to more angry blows. Sep­ interests between them and the Bian­ arating into two parties, those de­ chi, which led to many desperate en­ scended from the first wife took the counters. title of Cancellieri Bianchi, and the “ T h e citizens, fearful lest the fac­ others, who were the offspring of the tion might cause insurrections through­ second marriage, were called Cancel­ out the whole territory, in conjunction lieri Neri. with the Guelfs, applied to the Flo­ “ Having at last come to action, the rentines in order to reconcile them ; Neri were defeated, and wishing to ad­ on which the Florentines took posses­ just the affair as well as they yet could, sion of the place, and sent the partisans they sent their relation, who had of­ on both sides to the confines o f Flo­ fended the opposite party, to entreat rence, whence it happened that the forgiveness on the part o f the Neri, IsTeri sought refuge in the house o f the expecting that such submissive conduct Frescobaldi, and the Bianchi in that of would meet with the compassion it the Cerchi nel Garbo, owing to the deserved. On arriving in the presence relationship which existed between of the Bianchi, who conceived them­ them. T h e seeds o f the same dissen­ selves the offended party, the young sion being thus sown in Florence, the man, on bended knees, appealed to whole city became divided, the Cerchi their feelings for forgiveness, observ­ espousing the interests of the Bianchi, ing, that he had placed himself in their and the Donati those of the Neri. power, that so they might inflict what “ So rapidly did this pestiferous spirit punishment they judged proper ; when gain ground in Florence, as frequently several of the younger members of the to excite the greatest tumult; and from offended party, seizing on him, dragged a peaceable and flourishing state, it him into an adjoining stable, and or­ speedily became a scene of rapine and dered that his right hand should be devastation. In this stage Pope Boni­ severed from his body. In the utmost face VIII. was made acquainted with terror the youth, with tears in his eyes, the state o f this ravaged and unhappy besought them to have mercy, and to city, and sent the Cardinal Acqua take a greater and nobler revenge, by Sparta on a mission to reform and pardoning one whom they had it in their pacify the enraged parties. But with power thus deeply to injure. But heed­ his utmost efforts he was unable to less of his prayers, they bound his hand make any impression, and accordingly, by force upon the manger, and struck after declaring the place excommuni­ it off; a deed which excited the ut­ cated, departed. Florence being thus Inferno vi. 245 exposed to the greatest perils, and in 69. Charles de Valois, called Senza- a continued state o f insurrection, Mes­ terra, or Lackland, brother of Philip ser , with the Spini, the the Fair, king of France. Pazzi, the Tosinghi, the Cavicciuli, 73. T h e names of these two remain and the populace attached to the Neri unknown. Probably one of them was faction, applied, with the consent of Dante’s friend Guido. Cavalcanti. their leaders, to Pope Boniface. T h ey 80. Of this Arrigo nothing what­ entreated that he would employ his ever seems to be known, hardly even interest with the court of France to his name ; for some commentators call send a force to allay these feuds, and him Arrigo dei Fisanti, and others A r­ to quell the party of the Bianchi. As rigo dei Fifanti. O f these other men soon as this was reported in the city, o f mark “ who set their hearts on doing Messer Donati was banished, and his good,” Farinata is among the Heretics, property forfeited, and the other heads Canto X .; Tegghiaio and Rusticucci. of the sect were proportionally fined among the Sodomites, Canto X V I.; and sent into exile. Messer Donati, and Mosca among the Schismatics, arriving at Rome, so far prevailed with Canto XXVIII. his Holiness, that he sent an embassy 106. The philosophy of Aristotle. to Charles de Valois, brother to the T h e same doctrine is taught by St. Au­ king of France, declaring his wish that gustine : “ Cum fa t resurrectio carnis, et he should be made Emperor, and King bonorum gaudia et tormenta malorum ma­ of the Romans ; under which persua­ jor a erurit.” sion Charles passed into Italy, rein­ 115. Plutus, the God of Riches, of stating Messer Donati and the Neri in which Lord Bacon says in his Essays:— the city of Florence. From this there “ I cannot call riches better than the only resulted worse evils, inasmuch as baggage of virtue ; the Roman word all the Bianchi, being the least power­ is better, ‘ impedimenta ’ ; for as the ful, were universally oppressed and baggage is to an army, so is riches to robbed, and Charles, becoming the virtue ; it cannot be spared nor left enemy of Pope Boniface, conspired his behind, but it hindereth the march ; death, because the Pope had not ful­ yea, and the care of it sometimes los- filled his promise o f presenting him eth or disturbeth the victory ; of great with an imperial crown. From which riches there is no real use, except it be events it may be seen that this vile fac­ in the distribution; the rest is but con­ tion was the cause of discord in the ceit...... T h e personal fruition in any cities o f Florence and Pistoia, and of man cannot reach to feel great riches: the other states o f Tuscany ; and no there is a custody of them; or a power less to the same source was to be at­ o f dole and donative of them ; or a tributed the death of Pope Boniface fame of them ; but no solid use to the VIII.” owner.” 246 Notes

CANTO VII.

1. In this Canto is described the As I had by this time thoroughly learnt punishment o f the Avaricious and the the French language, upon hearing Prodigal, with Plutus as their jailer. these words, I recollected what Dante His outcry of alarm is differently inter­ said, when he with his master, Virgil, preted by different commentators, and entered the gates of h e ll; for Dante by none very satisfactorily. The curi­ and the painter were together in ous student, groping among them for a France, and visited Paris with particular meaning, is like Gower’s young king, attention, where the court o f justice o f whom he says, in his Confessio Aman- may be considered as hell. Hence it tis: — is that Dante, who was likewise per­ fect master o f the French, made use “ O f deepe ymaginations And straunge interpretations, o f that expression ; and I have often Problemes and demaundes eke been surprised, that it was never un­ His wisedom was to finde and seke, derstood in that sense ; so that I can­ W hereof he wolde in sondry wise not help thinking, that the commenta­ Opposen hem, that weren wise j tors on this author have often made him But none of hem it mighte bere say things which he never so much as Upon his word to give answere.” dreamed of.” But nearly all agree, I believe, in con­ Dante himself hardly seems to have struing the strange words into a cry o f understood the meaning of the words, alarm or warning to Lucifer, that his though he suggests that Virgil did.. realm is invaded by some unusual ap­ 11. The overthrow of the Rebel parition. Angels. St. Augustine says, “ Idolatria O f all the interpretations given, the et qua lib et noxia superstitio fornicatio most amusing is that of Benvenuto C el­ est” lini, in his description of the Court of 24. Must dance the Ridda, a round Justice in Paris, Roscoe’s Memoirs of dance of the olden time. It was a Roun­ Benvenuto Cellini, Chap. X XII.: — delay, or singing and dancing together. I stooped down several times to Boccaccio’s Monna Belcolore " knew observe what passed: the words which better than any one how to play the I heard the judge utter, upon seeing two tambourine and lead the Ridda.” gentlemen who wanted to hear the 27. As the word honor resounds in trial, and whom the porter was en­ Canto IV ., and the word love in Canto deavoring to keep out, were these: V ., so here the words rolling and turn­ ' Be quiet, be quiet, Satan, get hence, ing are the burden of the song, as if to and leave off disturbing us.* T h e terms suggest the motion of Fortune’s wheel, were, Paix, paix, Satan, allez, paix. so beautifully described a little later. Inferno vu. 247

39. Clerks, clerics, or clergy. Boc­ but he leseth his catel. Sothly, what caccio, Comento, remarks upon this pas­ thing that he yeveth for vaine-glory, as sage : “ Some maintain, that the clergy to minstrals, and to folk that bere his wear the tonsure in remembrance and renome in the world, he hath do sinne reverence of St. Peter, on whom, they thereof, and non almesse : certes, he say, it was made by certain evil-minded leseth foule his good, that ne seketh men as a mark o f madness; because not with the yefte of his good nothing but comprehending and not wishing to com­ sinne. He is like to an hors that sek­ prehend his holy doctrine, and seeing eth rather to drink drovy or troubled him fervently preaching before princes water, than for to drink water o f the and people, who held that doctrine in clere well. And for as moche as they detestation, they thought he acted as yeven ther as they shuld nat yeven, to one out o f his senses. Others main­ hem apperteineth thilke malison, that tain that the tonsure is worn as a mark Crist shal yeve at the day o f dome to o f dignity, as a sign that those who hem that shul be dampned.” wear it are more worthy than those 68. T h e W heel of Fortune was one who do not; and they call it corona, o f the favorite subjects o f art and song because, all the rest o f the head being in the Middle Ages. On a large square shiaven, a single circle of hair should be o f white marble set in the pavement o f left, which in form o f a crown sur­ the nave o f the Cathedral at Siena, is rounds the whole head.” the representation of a revolving wheel. 58. In like manner Chaucer, Per- Three boys are climbing and clinging sones Tale, pp. 227, 337, reproves ill- at the sides and below; above is a dig­ keeping and ill-giving. nified figure with a stern countenance, “ Avarice, after the description of holding the sceptre and ball. A t the Seint Augustine, is a likerousnesse in four corners are inscriptions from Sen­ herte to have erthly thinges. Som eca, Euripides, Aristotle, and Epicte­ other folk sayn, that avarice is for to tus. T h e same symbol may be seen purchase many erthly thinges, and no­ also in the wheel-of-fortune windows thing to yeve to hem that han nede. o f many churches ; as, for example, And understond wel, that avarice stand- that o f San Zeno at Verona. See eth not only in land ne catel, but som Knight, Ecclesiastical Architecture, II. time in science and in glorie, and in plates v., vi. .-every maner outrageous thing is ava­ In the following poem Guido Caval­ rice...... canti treats this subject in very much “ But for as moche as som folk ben the same way that Dante does ; and it unmesurable, men oughten for to avoid is curious to observe how at particular and eschue fool-largesse, the whiche times certain ideas seem to float in the men clepen waste. Certes, he that air, and to become the property o f is fool-large, he yeveth not his catel, every one who chooses to make use o f 248 Notes them. From the similarity between Such is the sore disease this poem and the lines of Dante, one O f anguish that on all their days doth wait. Behold if they be not unfortunate, might infer that the two friends had W hen oft the father dares not trust the son I discussed the matter in conversation, 0 w ealth , w ith thee is won and afterwards that each had written A worm to gnaw forever on his soul out their common thought. Whose abject life is laid in thy control! Cavalcanti’s Song of Fortune, as trans­ lated by Rossetti, Early Italian Poets, “ If also ye take note what piteous death p. 366, runs as follows : — They ofttimes make, whose hoards were mani­ fold, “ L o! I am she who makes the wheel to turn; W ho cities had and gold Lo ! I am she who gives and takes away; And multitudes of men beneath their hand j Blamed idly, day by day, Then he among you that most angereth In all mine acts by you, ye humankind. Shall bless me saying, ‘ Lo ! I worship thee - For whoso smites his visage and doth mourn, T h a t I was not as he W hat time he renders back my gifts to me, Whose death is thus, accurst throughout the Learns then that I decree land.’ No state which mine own arrows may not find. But now your living souls are held in band Who clomb must fall: — this bear ye well in O f avarice, shutting you from the true light m ind, W hich shows how sad and slight Nor say, because he fell, I did him wrong. Are this world’s treasured riches and array Y e t m ine is a vain s o n g : That still change hands a hundred times a day. For truly ye may find out wisdom when King Arthur’s resting-place is found of men. “ For me, — could envy enter in my sphere, W hich of all human taint is clean and quit,— “ Ye make great marvel and astonishment 1 well might harbor it W hat time ye see the sluggard lifted up When I behold the peasant at his toil. And the just man to drop, Guiding his team, untroubled, free from fear, And ye complain on God and on my sway. He leaves his perfect furrow as he goes, O humankind, ye sin in your complaint: And gives his field repose For He, that Lord who made the world to live, From thorns and tares and weeds that vex the Lets me not take or give soil : By mine own act, but as he wills I may. Thereto he labors, and without turmoil Yet is the mind of man so castaway, Entrusts his work to God, content if so That it discerns not the supreme behest. Such guerdon from it grow Alas ! ye wretchedest, That in that year his family shall live : And chide ye at God also ? Shall«not He Nor care nor thought to other things will give. Judge between good and evil righteously ?

u But now ye may no more have speech of me, “ Ah ! had ye knowledge how God evermore, For this mine office craves continual use: W ith agonies of soul and grievous heats, Ye therefore deeply muse A s on an anvil beats Upon those things which ye have heard the On them that in this earth hold high estate, — w h ile : Ye would choose little rather than much store, Yea, and even yet remember heedfully And solitude than spacious palaces j How this my wheel a motion hath so fleet, Inferm v il 249

That in an eyelid’s beat ological representative ; the Sun by Him whom it raised it maketh low and vile. Apollo, the Moon by Diana; and over None was, nor is, nor shall be of such guile, each presides a grand, colossal winged Who could, or can, or shall, I say, at length spirit, seated or reclining on a portion Prevail against my strength. But still those men that are my questioners of the zodiac as on a throne.” In bitter torment own their hearts perverse. T h e old tradition may be found in Stehelin, Rabbinical Literature, I. 157. “ Song, that wast made to carry high intent See Purgatorio, X V I. 69. Dissembled in the garb of humbleness,— 98. Past midnight. W ith fair and open face 103. Perse, purple-black. See Canto To Master Thomas let thy course be bent. Say that a great thing scarcely may be pent V., Note 89. In little room : yet always pray that he 115. “ Is not this a cursed vice ? ” Commend us, thee and me, says Chaucer in The Persones Tale, p. To them that are more apt in lofty speech : 202, speaking o f wrath. “ Yes, certes. For truly one must learn ere he can teach.” Alas ! it benimmeth fro man his witte 74. This old Rabbinical tradition and his reson, and all his debonaire lif of the “ Regents of the Planets ” has spirituel, that shulde keepe his soule. been painted by Raphael, in the Ca- Certes it benimmeth also Goddes due pella Chigiana o f the Church o f Santa lordship (and that is mannes soule.) and Maria del Popolo in Rome. See Mrs. the love of his neighbours ; it reveth Jameson, Sacred and Legendary Art, I. him the quiet o f his herte, and subvert- 45. She says: “ As a perfect example eth his soule.” of grand and poetical feeling I may And farther on he continues: “ A f­ cite the angels as ‘ Regents o f the Plan­ ter the sinne of wrath, now wolle I ets * in the Capella Chigiana. The speke of the sinne of accidie, or slouth; Cupola represents in a circle the crea­ for envie blindeth the herte o f a man, tion of the solar system, according to and ire troubleth a man, and acci­ the theological (or rather astrological) die maketh him hevy, thoughtful, and notions which then prevailed, — a hun­ wrawe. Envie and ire maken bitter- dred years before ‘ the starry Galileo nesse in herte, which bitternesse is and his woes.’ In the centre is the mother of accidie, and benimmeth him Creator; around, in eight compart­ the love o f alle goodnesse ; than is ac­ ments, we have, first, the angel o f the cidie the anguish o f a trouble herte.” celestial sphere, who seems to be lis­ And Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, tening to the divine mandate, * Let I. 3. i. 3, speaking o f that kind of mel­ there be lights in the firmament of ancholy which proceeds from “ hu­ heaven ’ ; then follow, in their order, mors adust,” says: “ For example, if the Sun, the Moon, Mercury, Venus, it proceeds from flegm (which is sel­ Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. T h e name dom, and not so frequent as the rest) of each planet is expressed by its myth- it stirs up dull symptomes, and a. kind 32 250 Notes of stupidity, or impassionate hurt; they slothful, apt to sleep, heavy, much are sleepy, saith Savanarola, dull, slow, troubled with the head-ache, continual cold, blockish, ass-like, asininam melan- and muttering to them­ choliam Melancthon calls it, they are selves, they dream o f waters, that they much given to weeping, and delight in are in danger o f drowning, and fear waters, ponds, pools, rivers, fishing, such things.” fowling, &c. They are pale of color, See also Purg. X V II. 85.

CANTO VIII.

1. Boccaccio and some other com­ of sewn hide groaned under the weight, mentators think the words “ I say, con­ and, being leaky, took in much water tinuing,” are a confirmation o f the from the lake.” theory that the first seven cantos of the 49. Mr. Wright here quotes Spen­ Inferno were written before Dante’s ser, Ruins of Time: — banishment from Florence. Others “ How many great ones may remembered be, maintain that the words suggest only W ho in their days most famously did flour­ the continuation of the subject of the ish, last canto in this. Of whom no word we have, nor sign now 4. These two signal fires announce see, the arrival o f two persons to be ferried But as things wiped out with a sponge do perish.” over the wash, and the other in the distance is on the watch-tower o f the 51. Chaucer’s (i sclandre o f his dif- City of Dis, answering these. fame.” 19. Phlegyas was the father of 61. Of Philippo Argenti little is and . He was king o f known, and nothing to his credit. the Lapithae, and burned the temple Dante seems to have an especial per­ o f Apollo at to avenge the sonal hatred o f him, as. if in memory wrong done by the god to Coronis. o f some disagreeable passage between His punishment in the infernal regions them in the streets o f Florence. Boc­ was to stand beneath a huge impending caccio says o f him in his Comento: rock, always about to fall upon him. “ This Philippo Argenti, as Coppo di Virgil, jEneid, V I., says o f him : Borghese Domenichi de’ Cavicciuli was " Phlegyas, most wretched, is a moni­ wont to say, was a very rich gentle­ tor to all and with loud voice pro­ man, so rich that he had the horse he claims through the shades, * Being used to ride shod with silver, and from warned, learn righteousness, and not this he had his surname; he was in to contemn the gods.’ ” person large, swarthy, muscular, of 27. Virgil, JEneid, V I.: “ The boat marvellous strength, and at the slightest Inferno ix. 251 provocation the most irascible of men; o f and enjoyed, passion arguing in a nor are any more known o f his quali­ circle.” ties than these two, each in itself very 70. T h e word “ mosques” paints at blameworthy.” He was of the Adi- once to the imagination the City of Un­ mari family, and of the Neri faction ; belief. while Dante was of the Bianchi party, 78. Virgil, JEneid, V I., Davidson’s and in banishment. Perhaps this fact Translation: — may explain the bitterness o f his in­ “ ^Eneas on a sudden looks back, and vective. under a rock on the left sees vast pris­ This is the same Philippo Argenti ons inclosed with a triple wall, which who figures in Boccaccio’s tale. See Tartarean Phlegethon’s rapid flood en­ Inf. VI., note 52. The Ottimo Co- virons with torrents of flame, and whirls mento says o f h im : “ H e was a man roaring rocks along. Fronting is a o f great pomp, and great ostentation, huge gate, with columns o f solid ada­ and much expenditure, and little virtue mant, that no strength of men, nor the and worth ; and therefore the author gods themselves, can with steel demol­ says, ‘ Goodness is none that decks his ish. An iron tower rises aloft; and memory.* ” there wakeful Tisiphone, with her And this is all that is known o f the bloody robe tucked up around her, sits “ Fiorentino spirito bizzaro,” forgotten to watch the vestibule both night and by history, and immortalized in song. day.” “ What a barbarous strength and con­ 124. This arrogance of theirs; tra- fusion o f ideas,” exclaims Leigh Hunt, cotanzay oltracotanza; Brantome’s outre- Italian Poets, p. 60, “ is there in this cuidance ; and Spenser’s surquedrie. whole passage about him ! Arrogance 125. T h e gate of the Inferno. punished by arrogance, a Christian 130. The coming of the Angel, mother blessed for the unchristian dis­ whose approach is described in the next dainfulness o f her son, revenge boasted canto, beginning at line 64.

CANTO IX.

1. T h e flush o f anger passes from trice, the “ fair and saintly Lady ” o f Virgil’s cheek on seeing the pallor of Canto II. 53. Dante’s, and he tries to encourage him 9. The Angel who will open the with assurances o f success; but betrays gates o f the City of Dis. his own apprehensions in the broken 16. Dante seems to think that he phrase, “ I f not,” which he immedi­ has already reached the bottom o f the ately covers with words of cheer. infernal conch, with its many convolu­ 8. Such, or so great a one,, is Bea­ tions. 252 Notes

52. Gowery Confessio Amantis, I.: — rinite, Hato, Juonius, Berard, Beren- “ Cast nought thin eye upon Meduse gaire, and Naaman, Duke of Bour­ That thou be turned into stone.” bon, and o f ten thousand o f their sol­ Hawthorne has beautifully told the diers.” - story of “ The Gorgon’s Head,” as Bocccacio comments upon these tombs well as many more of the classic fa­ as follows: — bles, in his Wonder-Book. “ At Arles, somewhat out o f the 54. T he attempt which Theseus city, are many tombs o f stone, made and Pirithous made to rescue Proser­ o f old for sepulchres, and some are pine from the infernal regions. large, and some are small, and some 62. T h e hidden doctrine seems to are better sculptured, and some not so be, that Negation or U nbelief is the w ell, peradventure according to the Gorgon’s head which changes the heart means o f those who had them made; to stone; after which there is “ no and upon some o f them appear in­ more returning upward.” The Furies scriptions after the ancient custom, I display it from the walls of the City suppose in indication of .those who are of Heretics. buried within. The inhabitants of 112. At Arles lie buried, according the country repeat a tradition of them, to old tradition, the Peers of Charle­ affirming that in that place there was magne and their ten thousand men at once a great battle between William arms. Archbishop Turpin, in his fa­ o f Orange, or some other Christian mous Hifory of Charles the Great, prince, with his forces on one side, Rodd’s Translation, I. 52, and infidel barbarians from Africa [on says the other] ; and that many Christians “ After this the King and his army were slain in i t ; and that on the fol­ proceeded by the way of Gascony and lowing night, by divine miracle, those Thoulouse, and came to Arles, where tombs were brought there for the burial we found the army of Burgundy, which o f the Christians, and so on the follow­ had left us in the hostile valley, bring­ ing morning all the dead Christians ing their dead by the way of Morbihan were buried in them.” and Thoulouse, to bury them in the 113. Pola is a city in Istria. “ Near plain of Arles. Here we performed Pola,” says Benvenuto da Imola, “ are the rites of Estolfo, Count o f Cham­ seen many tombs, about seven hun­ pagne ; of Solomon ; Sampson, Duke dred, and o f various forms.” of Burgundy; Arnold of Berlanda; Quarnaro is a gulf of the northern Alberic of Burgundy ; Gurnard, Estu- extremity of the Adriatic. Inferno x. 253

CANTO X.

I. In this Canto is described the slandered without a cause, and lashed punishment of Heretics. by all posterity.” Brunetto Latini, 7'esoretto, X III.: — 32. Farinata degli Uberti was the “ Or va mastro Brunetto most valiant and renowned leader o f Per lo cammino stretto.” the Ghibellines in Florence. Boccac­ 14. Sir Thomas Browne, Urn Burial, cio, Comento, says : “ He was o f the Chap. IV ., says : “ T h ey may sit in opinion o f , that the soul dies the orchestra and noblest seats o f heaven with the body, and consequently main­ who have held up shaking hands in the tained that human happiness consisted lire, and humanly contended for glory. in temporal pleasures ; but he did not Meanwhile Epicurus lies deep in Dante’s follow these in the way that Epicurus hell, wherein we meet with tombs en­ did, that is by making long fasts to have closing souls, .which denied their im­ afterwards pleasure in eating dry bread; mortalities. But whether the virtuous but was fond o f good and delicate heathen, who lived better than he viands, and ate them without waiting spake, or, erring in the principles of to be hungry ; and for this sin he is himself, yet lived above philosophers damned as a Heretic in this place.” of more specious maxims, lie so deep Farinata led the Ghibellines at the as he is placed; at least so low as not famous battle o f Monte Aperto in 1260, to rise against Christians, who, believ­ where the Guelfs were routed, and ing or knowing that truth, have last­ driven out o f Florence. H e died in ingly denied it in their practice and con­ 1264. versation, — were a query too sad to 46. T h e ancestors o f Dante, and insist on.” Dante himself, were Guelfs. He did Also Burton, Anatomy of Melancholy, not become a Ghibelline till after his Part II. Sec. 2. Mem. 6. Subs. 1, thus banishment. Boccaccio in his Life of vindicates the memory of Epicurus : Dante makes the following remai “A quiet mind is that voluptas, or sum- upon his party spirit. I take the pas­ mum bonum of Epicurus ; non dolere, sage as given in Mrs. Bunbury’s transla­ cur is vacare, animo tranquillo esse, not to tion of Balbo’s Life and Times of Dante, grieve, but to want cares, and have a II. 227. quiet soul,, is the only pleasure o f the “ H e was,” says Boccaccio, “ a most world, as Seneca truly recites his opin­ excellent man, and most resolute in ad­ ion, not that o f eating and drinking, versity. It was only on one subject which 'injurious Aristotle maliciously that he showed himself, I do not know puts upon him, and for which he is whether I ought to call it impatient, or still mistaken, mala audit et vapulat, spirited, — it was regarding anything 254 Notes relating to Party ; since in his exile he was. And that which I feel most was more violent in this respect than ashamed at for the sake o f his memory suited his circumstances, and more than is, that it was a well-known thing in he was willing that others should be­ Romagna, that if any boy or girl, talk­ lieve. And in order that it may be ing to him on party matters, condemned seen for what party he was thus violent the Ghibelline side, he would become and pertinacious, it appears to me I frantic, so that if they did not be silent must go further back in my story. I he would have been induced to throw believe that it was the just anger of stones at them ; and with this violence God that permitted, it is a long time o f party feeling he lived until his death. ago, almost all Tuscany and Lombardy I am certainly ashamed to tarnish with to be divided into two parties ; I do any fault the fame of such a man ; but not know how they acquired those the order of my subject in some degree names, but one party was called G uelf demands it, because if I were silent in and the other party Ghibelline. And those things in which he was to blame, these two names were so revered, and I should not be believed in those things had such an effect on the folly o f many I have already related in his praise. minds, that, for the sake o f defending Therefore I excuse myself to himself, the side any one had chosen for his who perhaps looks down from heaven own against the opposite party, it was with a disdainful eye on me writ­ not considered hard to lose property, ing/ and even life, if it were necessary. And , 51/ T h e following account o f the under these names the Italian cities / Guelfs and Ghibellines is from the many times suffered serious grievances / ■ Pfcorone of Giovanni Fiorentino, a and changes ; and among the rest oui/ . Writer o f the fourteenth century. It which was sometimes at the head >forms the first Novella o f the Eighthcity, o f one party, and sometimes o f the D ay, and will be found in Roscoe’s other, according to the citizens in Italian Novelists, I. 322. power ; so much so that Dante’s an­ p There formerly resided in Ger­ cestors, being Guelfs, were twice ex­ many two wealthy and well-born in­ pelled by the Ghibellines from their dividuals, whose names were Guelfo home, and he likewise under the title and Ghibellino, very near neighbors, of Guelf held the reins of the Floren­ ancfi greatly attached to each other. tine , from which he was ex­ Butl returning together one day from pelled, as we have shown, not by the the \ chase, there unfortunately arose the Ghibellines, but by the Guelfs ; som$ difference o f opinion as to the and seeing that he could not return, he meriHs of one of their hounds, which so much altered his mind that there was maintained on both sides so very never was a fiercer Ghibelline, or a w a rm k that, from being almost in­ bitterer enemy to the Guelfs, than he separable friends and companions, they Inferno x. 255 became each other’s deadliest enemies. one o f the most distinguished houses This unlucky division between them in the state. Our young Buondel- still increasing, they on either side col­ monte having already plighted his troth lected parties of their followers, in to a lady of the Amidei family, the order more effectually to annoy each lovers were considered as betrothed, other. Soon extending its malignant with all the solemnity usually observed influence among the neighboring lords on such occasions. But this unfortu­ and barons o f Germany, who divided, nate young man, chancing one day to according to their motives, either with pass by the house o f the Donati, was the Guelf or the Ghibelline, it not only stopped and accosted by a lady o f the produced many serious affrays, but sev­ name of Lapaccia, who moved to him eral persons fell victims to its rage. from her door as he went along, say­ Ghibellino, finding himself hard pressed ing : ‘ I am surprised that a gentle­ by his enemy, and unable longer to man o f your appearance, Signor, should keep the field against him, resolved to think o f taking for his wife a woman apply for assistance to Frederick the scarcely worthy of handing him his First, the reigning Emperor. Upon boots. There is a child of my own, this, Guelfo, perceiving that his ad­ whom, to speak sincerely, I have long versary sought the alliance o f this intended for you, and whom I wish monarch, applied on his side to Pope you would just venture to see.’ And Honorius II., who being at variance on this she called out for her daughter, with the former, and hearing how the whose name was Ciulla, one of the affair stood, immediately joined the prettiest and most enchanting girls in all cause of the Guelfs, the Emperor Florence. Introducing her to Messer having already embraced that of the Buondelmonte, she whispered, ‘ This Ghibellines. It is thus that the apos­ is she whom I had reserved for you ’ ; tolic see became connected with the and the young Florentine, suddenly be­ former, and the empire with the lat­ coming enamored of her, thus replied ter faction ; and it wasr thus that a to her mother, ‘ I am quite ready, Ma­ vile hound became the origin of a donna, to meet your wishes ’ ; and be­ deadly hatred between the two noble fore stirring from the spot he placed a families. N ow it happened that in ring upon her finger, and, wedding her, the year of our dear Lord and Re­ received her there as his wife. deemer 1215, the same pestiferous “ The Amidei, hearing that young spirit spread itself into parts o f Italy, Buondelmonte had thus espoused an­ in the following manner. Messer other, immediately met together, and Guido Orlando being at that time chief took counsel with other friends and re­ magistrate o f Florence, there likewise lations,* how they might best avenge resided in that city a noble and valiant themselves for such an insult offered cavalier of the family of Buondelmonti, to their house. There were present 256 Notes

among the rest Lambertuccio Amidei, all the seigniories and cities of Italy Schiatta Ruberti, and Mosca Lamberti, were involved in the original quarrel one o f whom proposed to give him a between these two German families: box on the ear, another to strike him the Guelfs still supporting the interest in the face ; yet they were none o f o f the H oly Church, and the Ghibel- them able to agree about it among lines those of the Emperor. And thus themselves. On observing this, Mosca I have made you acquainted with the hastily rose, in a great passion, saying, origin of the Germanic faction, be­ f Cosa fatta capo ha/ wishing it to be tween two noble houses, for the sake understood that a dead man will never o f a vile cur, and have shown how it strike again. It was therefore decided afterwards disturbed the peace of Italy that he should be put to death, a sen­ for the sake of a beautiful woman.” tence which they proceeded to execute For an account of the Bianchi and in the following manner. Neri factions by the same author, see “ M . Buondelmonte returning one Canto VI. Note 65. Easter morning from a visit to the Casa 53. Cavalcante de’ Cavalcanti, fa­ Bardi, beyond the Arno, mounted upon ther of Dante’s friend, Guido Caval­ a snow-white steed, and dressed in a canti. He was of the Guelf party; mantle o f the same color, had just so that here are G uelf and Ghibelline reached the foot of the Ponte Vecchio, buried in the same tomb. or old bridge, where formerly stood a 60. This question recalls the scene statue o f Mars, whom the Florentines in the Odyssey, where the shade of in their Pagan state were accustomed Agamemnon appears to Ulysses and to Worship, when the whole party is­ asks for Orestes. Book XI. in Chap­ sued out upon him, and, dragging him man’s translation, line 603 : — in the scuffle from his horse, in spite “ Doth my son yet survive of the gallant resistance he made, de­ In Orchomen or Pylos ? Or doth live spatched him with a thousand wounds. In Sparta with his uncle ? Yet I see T h e tidings of this affair seemed to Divine Orestes is not here with me.” throw all Florence into confusion; the 63. , whom Ben­ chief personages and noblest families in venuto da Imola calls “ the other eye the place everywhere meeting, and di­ of Florence,” — alter oculus Florentine viding themselves into parties in con­ tempore Dantis. It is to this Guido sequence; the one party embracing the that Dante addresses the sonnet, which cause o f the Buondelmonti, who placed is like the breath o f Spring, begin­ themselves at the head o f the Guelfs ; ning : — and the other taking part with the “ Guido, I wish that Lapo, thou, and I Amidei, who supported the Ghibel- Could be by spells conveyed, as it were now, lines. Upon a barque, with all the winds that blow, “ In the same fatal manner, nearly Across all seas at our good will to hie.” Inferno x. 257

He was a poet of decided mark, as us go make some jests to anger him.* may be seen by his “ Song o f For­ So putting the Spurs to their Horses tune,” quoted in Note 68, Canto VII., they rode apace towards him ; and be­ and the Sonnet to Dante, Note 136, ing upon him before hee perceived Purgatorio X X X . But he seems not to them, one of them said, ‘ Guido, thou have shared Dante’s admiration for refusest to be one o f our , and Virgil, and to have been more given seekest for that which never w a s: to the study o f philosophy than of when thou hast found it, tell us, what poetry. Like Lucentio in “ The Tam­ wilt thou do with it ?’ ing of the Shrew ” he is “ Guido seing himself round engirt “ So devote to Aristotle’s ethics with them, suddenly thus replyed: As Ovid be an outcast quite abjured.” * Gentlemen, you may use me in your Boccaccio, Decameron, V I. 9, praises own House as you please.’ And set­ him for his learning and other good ting his hand upon one o f the Tombs qualities; “ for over and beside his (which was somewhat great) he took being one o f the best Logitians, as his rising, and leapt quite over it on those times not yielded a better,” so the further side, as being of an agile and runs the old translation, “ he was also sprightly body, and being thus freed a most absolute Natural , from them, he went away to his own a very friendly Gentleman, singularly lodging. well spoken, and whatsoever else was “ They stood all like men amazed, commendable in any man was no way strangely looking one upon another, wanting in him .” In the same N o­ and began afterward to murmur among vella he tells this anecdote of him : — themselves : That Guido was a man “ It chanced upon a day that Signior without any understanding, and the Guido, departing from the Church of answer which he had made unto them Saint Michael d’ Horta, and passing was to no purpose, neither savoured along by the Adamari, so far as to Saint of any discretion, but meerly came John’s Church, which evermore was from an empty Brain, because they had his customary w a lk : many goodly no more to do in the place where now Marble Tombs were then about the they were, than any of the other Citi­ said Church, as now adays are at Saint zens, and Signior Guido (himself) as Reparata, and divers more beside. He little as any of them; whereto Signior entring among the Columns of Por- Betto thus replyed: f Alas, Gentle­ phiry, and the other Sepulchers being men, it is you your selves that are void there, because the door, o f the Church of understanding : for, if you had but was shut: Signior Betto and his Com­ observed the answer which he made pany came riding from Saint Reparata, unto us: he did honestly, and (in very and espying Signior Guido among the few words) not only notably express Graves and Tom bs, said, ‘ Come, let his own wisdom, but also deservedly 33 258 Notes reprehend us. Because, if we observe caped with a slight wound from one of things as we ought to do, Graves and Donati’s attendants.” Tombs are the Houses o f the dead, or­ Sacchetti, Nov. 68, tells a pleasant dained* and prepared to be the latest story o f Guido’s having his cloak nailed dwellings. He told us moreover that to the bench by a roguish boy, while although we have here (in this life) he was playing chess in one of the our habitations and abidings, yet these streets o f Florence, which is also a cu­ (or the like) must at last be our Houses. rious picture o f Italian life. To let us know, and all other foolish, 75. Farinata pays no attention to indiscreet, and unlearned men, that we this outburst o f paternal tenderness on are worse than dead men, in compar­ the part of his Guelfic kinsman, but ison o f him, and other men equal to waits, in stern indifference, till it is him in skill and learning. And there­ ended, and then calmly resumes his fore^ while we are here among the discourse. Graves and Monuments, it may be well 80. The moon, called in the heav­ said, that we are not far from our own ens Diana, on earth Luna, and in the Houses, or how soon we shall be pos­ infernal regions Proserpina. sessors o f them, in regard o f the frailty 86. In the great battle o f Monte attending on us.* ” Aperto. The river Arbia is a few Napier, Florentine History, I. 368, miles south o f Siena. T h e traveller speaks o f Guido as ts a bold, melan­ crosses it on his way to Rome. In choly man, who loved solitude and this battle the banished Ghibellines of literature; but generous, brave, and Florence, joining the Sienese, gained a courteous, a poet and philosopher, and victory over the Guelfs, and retook the one that seems to have had the re­ city o f Florence. Before the battle spect and admiration of his age.” He Buonaguida, Syndic of Siena, present­ then adds this singular picture o f the ed the keys o f the city to the Virgin tim es: — Mary in the Cathedral, and made a gift “ Corso Donati, by whom he was to her of the city and the neighboring feared and hated, would have had him country. After the battle the standard murdered while on a pilgrimage to of the vanquished Florentines, together Saint James o f G alicia; on his return with their battle-bell, the Martinella, this became known and gained him was tied to the tail o f a jackass and many supporters amongst the Cerchi dragged in the dirt. See Ampere, and other youth o f Florence ; he took Voyage Dantesque, 254. no regular measures o f vengeance, but, 94. After the battle of Monte Aperto accidentally meeting Corso in the street, a diet of the Ghibellines was held at rode violently towards him, casting his Empoli, in which the deputies from javelin at the same time ; it missed by Siena and Pisa, prompted no doubt by the tripping o f his horse and he es­ provincial hatred, urged the demolition Inferno x. 259 of Florence. Farinata vehemently op­ city stands ? T o its houses and in­ posed the project in a speech, thus sensible walls ? To the fugitives who given in Napier, Florentine History, I. have abandoned it ? Or to ourselves 257: — that now possess it ? W ho is he that “ ‘ It would have been better,* he thus advises ? W ho is the bold bad exclaimed, ‘ to have died on the Arbia, man that dare thus give voice to the than survive only to hear such a prop­ malice he hath engendered in his soul ? osition as that which they were then Is it meet then that all your cities should discussing. There is no happiness in exist unharmed, and ours alone be de­ victory itself, that must ever be sought voted to destruction? That you should for amongst the companions who helped return in triumph to your hearths, and us to gain the day, and the injury we we with whom you have conquered receive from an enemy inflicts a far should have nothing in exchange but more trifling wound than the wrong exile and the ruin o f our country ? Is that comes from the hand o f a friend. there one o f you who can believe that If I now complain, it is not that I fear I could even hear such things with the destruction o f my native city, for as patience ? Are you indeed ignorant long as I have life to wield a sword that i f I have carried arms, if I have Florence shall never be destroyed; but persecuted my foes, I still have never I cannot suppress my indignation at the ceased to love my country, and that I discourses I have just been listening to : never will allow what even our enemies we are here assembled to discuss the have respected to be violated by your wisest means o f maintaining our in­ hands, so that posterity may call them fluence in Florence, not to debate on the saviours, us the destroyers o f our its destruction, and my country would country ? Here then I declare, that, indeed be unfortunate, and I and my although I stand alone amongst the companions miserable, mean-spirited Florentines, I will never permit my creatures, if it were true that the fate native city to be destroyed, and if it be of our city depended on the fiat o f the necessary for her sake to die a thousand present assembly. I did hope that all deaths, I am ready to meet them all in former hatred would have been ban­ her defence.* ished from such a meeting, and that our “ Farinata then rose, and with angry mutual destruction would not have been gestures quitted the assembly ; but left treacherously aimed at from under the such an impression on the mind of his false colors of general safety ; I did audience that the project was instantly hope that all here were convinced that dropped, and the only question for the counsel dictated by jealousy could never moment was how to regain a chief of be advantageous to the general good ! such talent and influence.” But to what does your hatred attach 119. Frederick II., son of the Em­ itself? T o the ground on which the peror Henry V I., surnamed the Severe, 260 Notes and grandson o f Barbarossa. He reigned men...... And no doubt that deli­ from 1220 to 1250, not only as Em­ cious climate and lovely land, so highly peror o f Germany, but also as King of appreciated by the gay sovereign, was and Sicily, where for the most not without influence on the state, and part he held his court, one o f the most even the manners o f his court, to which brilliant of the Middle Ages. Viliam, other circumstances contributed to give Cronica, V . 1, thus sketches his char­ a peculiar and romantic character. It acter : “ This Frederick reigned thirty resembled probably (though its full years as Emperor, and was a man of splendor was of a later period) Grenada great mark and great worth, learned in in its glory, more than any other in letters and o f natural ability, universal , though more rich and pictu­ in all things ; he knew the Latin lan­ resque from the variety of races, of guage, the Italian, the German, French, manners, usages, even dresses, which Greek, and Arabic ; was copiously en­ prevailed within it.” dowed with all virtues, liberal and Gibbon also, Decline and Fall, Chap. courteous in giving, valiant and skilled lix., gives this graphic picture : — in arms, and was much feared. And “ Frederick the Second, the grandson he was dissolute and voluptuous in many o f Barbarossa, was successively the pu­ ways, and had many concubines and pil, the enemy, and the victim of the mamelukes, after the Saracenic fashion; Church. At the age o f twenty-one he was addicted to all sensual delights, years, and in obedience to his guardian and led an Epicurean life, taking no Innocent the Third, he assumed the account of any other; and this was one cross; the same promise was repeated principal reason why he was an enemy at his royal and imperial coronations ; to the clergy and the H oly Church.” and his marriage with the heiress of Milman, Lat. Cbrist.y B. X., Chap. forever bound him to defend iii., says o f him : “ Frederick’s pre­ the kingdom of his son Conrad. But dilection for his native kingdom, for as Frederick advanced in age and au­ the bright cities reflected in the blue thority, he repented o f the rash engage­ Mediterranean, over the dark barbaric ments of his youth : his liberal sense towns of Germany, of itself character­ and knowledge taught him to despise izes the man. T h e summer skies, the the phantoms of superstition and the more polished manners, the more ele­ crowns o f Asia : he no longer enter­ gant luxuries, the knowledge, the arts, tained the same reverence for the suc­ the poetry, the gayety, the beauty, the cessors o f Innocent; and his ambition romance of the South, were throughout was occupied by the restoration o f the his life more congenial to his mind, than Italian monarchy, from Sicily to the the heavier and more chilly climate, Alps. But the success o f this project the feudal barbarism, the ruder pomp, would have reduced the Popes to their the coarser habits of his German liege­ primitive sim plicity; and, after the de­ Inferno x. ?6i lays and excuses o f twelve years, they previously instructed to renounce his urged the Emperor, with entreaties and communion and dispute his commands; threats, to fix the time and place of his and in his own kingdom the Emperor departure for . In the harbors was forced to consent that the orders of Sicily and Apulia he prepared a fleet o f the camp should be issued in the of one hundred galleys, and o f one name of God and o f the Christian re­ hundred vessels, that were framed to public. Frederick entered Jerusalem transport and land two thousand five in triumph ; and with his own hands hundred knights, with horses and at­ (for no priest would perform the of­ tendants; his vassals of Naples and G er­ fice) he took the crown from the altar many formed a powerful army ; and of the holy sepulchre.” the number o f English crusaders was Matthew Paris, A. D. 1239, gives a magnified to sixty thousand by the re­ long letter of Pope Gregory IX. in port of fame. But the inevitable, or which he calls the Emperor some very affected, slowness of these mighty prep­ hard names; “ a beast, full o f the arations consumed the strength and words of blasphemy,” “ a wolf in provisions of the more indigent pil­ sheep’s clothing,” “ a son of lies,” "a grims ; the multitude was thinned by staff of the impious,” and “ hammer o f sickness and desertion, and the sultry the earth ” ; and finally accuses him o f summer o f Calabria anticipated the being the author of a work De Tribus mischiefs of a Syrian campaign. At lmpostoribus, which, if it ever existed, length the Emperor hoisted sail at is no longer to be found. “ There is Brundusium with a fleet and army of one thing,” he says in conclusion, “ at forty thousand men ; but he kept the which, although we ought to mourn for sea no more than three days ; and his a lost man, you ought to rejoice greatly, hasty retreat, which was ascribed by and for which you ought to return his friends to a grievous indisposition, thanks to God, namely, that this man, was accused by his enemies as a volun­ who delights in being called a fore­ tary and obstinate disobedience. For runner of Antichrist, by God’s will, no suspending his vow was Frederick ex­ longer endures to be veiled in darkness; communicated by Gregory the Ninth ; not expecting that his trial and disgrace for presuming, the next year, to ac­ are near, he with his own hands under­ complish his vow, he was again excom­ mines the wall of his abominations, municated by the same Pope. W hile and, by the said letters of his, brings he served under the banner o f the cross, his works o f darkness to the light, a crusade was preached against him in boldly setting forth in them, that he Ita ly ; and after his return he was could not be excommunicated by us, compelled to ask pardon for the injuries although the Vicar o f C hrist; thus af­ which he had suffered. T h e clergy firming that the Church had not the and military orders of Palestine were power of binding and loosing, which 262 Notes

was given by our Lord to St. Peter and pended on the cross; and he, more­ his successors...... But as it may not over, presumes plainly to affirm (or be easily believed by some people that rather to lie), that all are foolish who he has ensnared himself by the words believe that God, who created nature, o f his own mouth, proofs are ready, and could do all things, was born of to the triumph of the faith ; for this the Virgin.” king o f pestilence openly asserts that 120. This is Cardinal Ottaviano the whole world was deceived by degli Ubaldini, who is accused of say­ three, namely Christ Jesus, Moses, and ing, “ I f there be any soul, I have lost Mahomet; that, two of them having mine for the Glybellines.” Dante died in glory, the said Jesus was sus­ takes him at his word.

CANTO XI.

Some critics and commentators authority on this point is indignantly accus^Dante of confounding Pope Anas- repudiated) accuses Anastasius o f hav­ tasius with the Emperor o f that name. ing communicated with a deacon of HrIt/’is however highly probable that Dan­ Thessalonica, who had kept up com­ te knew best whom he meant. Both munion with Acacius ; and of having Were accused o f heresy, though the entertained secret designs o f restoring heresy o f the Pope seems, to have been the name o f Acacius in the services of of mild type. A few years previous the Church.” to h\s time, namely, in the year 484, 9. Photinus is the deacon of .Thes­ Pope\Felix III. and Acacius, Bishop salonica alluded to in the preceding of Constantinople, mutually excom­ note. His heresy was, that the Holy, municated each other. When Anas- Ghost did not proceed from the Fa­ tasius 1^. became Pope in 496, “ he ther, and that the Father was greater dared,” tfftys Milman, Hist. Lat. Christ., than the Son. T h e writers who en­ I. 349, “ \to doubt the damnation o f a deavor to rescue the Pope at the ex­ bishop excbmmunicated by the See of pense o f the Emperor say that Photi­ Rome : € ie lix and Acacius are now nus died before the days of Pope Anas­ both before\ a higher tribunal; leave tasius. them to that\unerring judgment.* He 50. Cahors is the cathedral town would have tl\e name o f Acacius passed o f the Department o f the in the over in silence* quietly dropped, rather South o f France, and the birthplace of than publicly ekpunged from the dip- the poet Clement Marot and o f the tychs. This degenerate successor of romance-writer Calprenkde. In the St. Peter is not admitted to the rank Middle Ages it seems to have been a o f a saint. T he Pontifical book (its nest o f usurers. Matthew Paris, in his Inferno xn. 263

Historia Major, under date o f 1235, ter tonguesy the Prodigal and Avaricious, has a chapter entitled, O f the Usury Canto V II. of the Caursines, which in the trans­ 80. T h e Ethics o f Aristotle, V II. i. lation o f Rev. J. A . Giles runs as fol­ “ After these things, making another lows : — beginning, it must be observed by us “ In these days prevailed the horrible that there are three species o f things nuisance o f the Caursines to such a which are to be avoided in manners, degree that there was hardly any one viz. Malice, Incontinence, and Bestial­ in all England, especially among the ity.” ‘ bishops, who was not caught in their 101. T h e Physics of Aristotle, Book net. Even the king himself was held II. indebted to them in an uncalculable 107. Genesis, i. 28: “ And God said sum of money. For they circum­ unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, vented the needy in their necessities, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.” cloaking their usury under the show of 109. Gabrielle Rossetti, in the Co- trade, and pretending not to know that mento Analitico of his edition of the whatever is added to the principal is Divina Commediay quotes here the lines usury, under whatever name it may be of Florian: — called. For it is manifest that their “ Nous ne recevons l’existence loans lie not in the path o f charity, in­ Qu’afin de travailler pour nous, ou pour autrui: asmuch as they do not hold out a help­ De ce devoir sacre' quiconque se dispense ing hand to. the poor to relieve them, Est puni par la Providence, but to deceive them ; not to aid others Par le besoin, ou par l’ennui.” in theft starvation, but to gratify their 110. The constellation pre­ own covetousness; seeing that the mo­ cedes Aries, in which the sun now is. tive stamps our every deed.” This indicates the time to be a little 70. Those within the fa t lagoon, the before sunrise. It is Saturday morn­ Irascible, Canto VII., VIII. ing. 71. Whom the wind drives, the W an­ 114. The Wain is the constellation ton, Canto V ., and whom the rain doth Charles’s W ain, or Bootes; and Caurus beat, the Gluttonous, Canto V I. is the Northwest, indicated by the Latin 72. And who encounter with such bit­ name o f the northwest wind.

/ Y CANTO XII.

( 1. With this Canto begins the Sev- their neighbors, plunged more or less with Cilrcle of the Inferno, in which deeply in the river of boiling blood. tnfc^Viment are punished. In the first 2. Mr. Ruskin, Modern Painters, Girone or round are the Violent against III. 242, has the following remarks 264 Notes upon Dante’s idea of rocks and moun­ 5. Speaking of the region to which tains : — Dante here alludes, Eustace, Classical “ A t the top o f the abyss o f the sev­ Tour, I. 71, says: — enth circle, appointed for the f violent,’ “ The descent becomes more rapid or souls who had done evil by force, between Roveredo and Ala ; the river, we are told, first, that the edge of it which glided gently through the valley was composed o f * great broken stones o f Trent, assumes the roughness of a in a circle’ ; then, that the place was torrent; the defiles become narrower ; * Alpine ’ ; and, becoming hereupon and the mountains break into rocks and attentive, in order to hear what an precipices, which occasionally approach Alpine place is like, we find that it the road, sometimes rise perpendicular was * like the place beyond Trent, from it, and now and then hang over where the rock, either by earthquake, it in terrible majesty.” or failure of support, has broken down In a note he adds : — to the plain, so that it gives any one at “ Amid these wilds the traveller can­ the top some means o f getting down to not fail to notice a vast tract called the the bottom.’ This is not a very ele­ Slavini di Marco, covered with frag­ vated or enthusiastic description of an ments o f rock torn from the sides of Alpine scene ; and it is far from mend­ the neighboring mountains by an earth­ ed by the following verses, in which quake, or perhaps by their own unsup­ we are told that Dante € began to go ported weight, and hurled down into down by this great unloading o f stones,* the plains below. They spread over and that they moved often under his the whole valley,' and in some places feet by reason of the new weight. contract the road to a very narrow T h e fact is that Dante, by many ex­ space. A few firs and cypresses scat­ pressions throughout the poem, shows tered in the intervals, or sometimes himself to have been a notably bad rising out o f the crevices of the rocks, climber ; and being fond o f sitting in cast a partial and melancholy shade the sun, looking at his fair Baptistery, amid the surrounding nakedness and or walking in a dignified manner on desolation. This scene o f ruin seems flat pavement in a long robe, it puts to have made a deep impression upon him seriously out of his way when he the wild imagination of Dante, as he has to take to his hands and knees, or has introduced it into the twelfth canto look to his feet; so that the first strong of the Inferno, in order to give the impression made upon him by any reader an adequate idea o f one o f his Alpine scene whatever is, clearly, that infernal ramparts.” it is bad walking. When he is in a 12. The Minotaur, half bull, half fright and hurry, and has a very steep man. See the infamous story in all place to go down, Virgil has to carry the classical dictionaries. him altogether.*’ 18. The Duke of Athens is Theseus. • {i ' r/ r " Inferno x i i . i 265

Chaucer gives him the same title in The Ritter, History of Ancient Philosophy, Knightes T a le: — Book V., Chap. vi. The following passages are from Mr. Morrison’s trans­ “ Whilom, as olde stories tellen us, lation : — Ther was a duk that highte Theseus. O f Athenes he was lord and governour, “ Empedocles proceeded from the That greter was ther non under the sonne. Eleatic principle o f the oneness o f all Ful many a rich contree had he wonne. truth. In its unity it resembles a ball; What with his wisdom and his chevalrie, he calls it the sphere, wherein the an­ He conquerd all the regne of Feminie,/ cients recognized the God of Empedo- That whilom was ycleped Scythia ; / ocles...... And wedded the freshe quene Ipolita 1 And brought hire home with hiny to his “ Into the unity of the sphere all contree / elementary things are combined by W ith mochel glorie and great solenhpnitee, love, without difference or distinction : And eke hire yonge suster EmelieJ within it they lead a happy life, replete And thus with victorie and with^melodie with holiness, and remote from dis­ Let I this worthy duk to Athenes ride, cord : And all his host, in armes him beside.” They know no god of war nor the spirit of Shakespeare also, in the Midsummer battles, Night's Dream, calls him the Duke of Nor , the sovereign, nor Cronos, nor yet Athens. , 20. Ariadne,7who gave Theseus the But Cypris the queen...... silken thread^ guide him back through “ T he actual separation o f the ele­ the Cretan labyrinth after slaying the ments one from another is produced by Minotaur^ Hawthorne has beautifully discord; for originally they were bound told the old..story,in his Tanglewood together in the sphere, and therein con­ Tales. “ Ah, the bull-headed vil­ tinued perfectly unmovable. N ow in lain ! ” he says. “ And O my good this Empedocles posits different periods little people, you w ill perhaps see, one and different conditions o f the world ; of these days, as I do now, that every for, according to the above ppsition, human being who suffers anything evil originally all is united in love, and then to get into his nature, or to remain there, subsequently the elements and living is a kind o f Minotaur, an enemy o f his essences are separated...... fellow-creatures, and separated from all tf His assertion o f certain mundane good companionship, as this poor mon­ periods was taken by the ancients liter­ ster was.” ally; for they tell us that, according to 39. Christ’s descent into Limbo, his theory, All was originally one by ind the earthquake at the Crucifix­ love, but afterwards many and at en­ ion. mity with itself through discord.” 42. This is the doctrine o f Empedo­ 56. T h e Centaurs are set to guard cles and other old philosophers. See this Circle, as symbolizing violence, 34 266 Notes with some form o f which the classic master, had the body and legs o f a horse. poets usually associate them. Just imagine the grave old gentleman, 68. Chaucer, The Monkes Tale: — clattering and stamping into the school­ room on his four hoofs, perhaps tread­ “ A lemman had this noble champion, ing on some little fellow’s toes, flour­ T h a t highte D eianire, as fresh as M ay j And as thise clerkes maken mention, ishing his switch tail instead of a rod, She hath him sent a sherte fresh and gay : and, now and then, trotting out of Alas ! this sherte, alas and wala wa ! doors to eat a mouthful of grass! ” Envenimed was sotilly withalle, 77. M r. Ruskin refers to this line That or that he had wered it half a day, in confirmation o f his theory that “ all It made his flesh all from his bones falle.” great art represents something that it Chiron was a son of Saturn; Pholus, o f sees or believes in ; nothing unseen or Silenus ; and Nessus, o f Ixion and the uncredited.” T h e passage is as fol­ Cloud. lows, Modern Painters, III. 83 : — 71. Homer, Iliad, XI. 832, “ Whom “ And just because it is always some­ Chiron instructed, the most just o f the thing that it sees or believes in, there Centaurs.” Hawthorne gives a humor­ is the peculiar character above noted, ous turn to the fable of Chiron, in the almost unmistakable, in all high and Tanglewood Tales, p. 273 : — true ideals, of having been as it were “ I have sometimes suspected that studied from the life, and involving Master Chiron was not really very dif­ pieces o f sudden familiarity, and close ferent from other people, but that, be­ specific painting which never would ing a kind-hearted and merry old fel­ have been admitted or even thought low, he was in the habit of making of, had not the painter drawn either believe that he was a horse, and scram­ from the bodily life or from the life of bling about the school-room on all fours, faith. For instance, Dante’s Centaur, and letting the little boys ride upon Chiron, dividing his beard with his his back. And so, when his scholars arrow before he can speak, is a thing had grown up, and grown old, and that no mortal would ever have thought were trotting their grandchildren on of, if he had not actually seen the Cen­ their knees, they told them about the taur do it. They might have com­ sports of their school days ; and these posed handsome bodies of men and young folks took the idea that their horses in all possible ways, through a grandfathers had been taught their let­ whole life o f pseudo-idealism, and yet ters by a Centaur, half man and half never dreamed o f any such thing. But horse...... the real living Centaur actually trotted “ Be that as it may, it has always across Dante’s brain, and he saw him been told for a fact, (and always will do it.” be told, as long as the world lasts,) 107. Alexander of Thessaly and that Chiron, with the head o f a school­ Dionysius of Syracuse. Inferno xn. 267

no. Azzolino, or Ezzolino di Ro­ meadow, on a certain day, and to each mano, tyrant o f Padua, nicknamed the he would give a new gown, and abun­ Son of the Devil. Ariosto, Orlando dance of food. T h e news spread among Furiosoy III. 33, describes him as the servants on all hands. When the “ Fierce Ezelin, that most inhuman lord, day of assembling came, his seneschals Who shall be deemed by men a child of hell.” went among them with the gowns and His story may be found in Sismondi’s the food, and made them strip naked Histoire def Republiques Italiennesy Chap. one by one, and then clothed them with XIX. He so outraged the religious new clothes, and fed them. T h ey sense of the people by his cruelties, asked for their old rags, but it was all that a crusade was preached against in vain ; for he put them into a heap him, and he died a prisoner in 1259, and set fire to them. Afterwards he tearing the bandages from his wounds, found there so much gold and silver and fierce, and defiant to the last. melted, that it more than paid the ex­ “ Ezzolino was small of stature,” says pense, and then he dismissed them with Sismondi, “ but the whole aspect of his his blessing. .... person, all his movements, indicated “ To tell you how much he was the soldier. His language was bitter, feared, would be a long story, and his countenance proud; and by a single many people know it. But I will re­ look, he made the boldest tremble. call how he, being one day with the His soul, so greedy of all crimes, felt Emperor on horseback, with all their no attraction for sensual pleasures. people, they laid a wager as to which Never had Ezzolino loved wom en; and o f them had the most beautiful sword. this perhaps is the reason why in his T h e Emperor drew from its sheath his punishments he was as pitiless against own, which was wonderfully garnished them as against men. He was in his with gold and precious stones. Then sixty-sixth year when he died; and his said Messer A zzo lin o: ‘ It is very reign o f blood had lasted thirty-four beautiful; but mine, without any great years.” ornament, is far more beautiful’ ; — and Many glimpses o f him are given in he drew it forth. Then six hundred the Cento Novelle Anticbe, as if his knights, who were with him, all drew memory long haunted the minds of theirs. When the Emperor beheld this men. Here are two o f them, from cloud of swords, he said: ‘ Yours is the Novella 83. most beautiful.’ ” “ Once upon a time Messer Azzolino h i. Obizzo da Esti, Marquis of da Romano made proclamation, through Ferrara. He was murdered by Azzo, his own territories and elsewhere, that “ whom he thought to be his son,” says he wished to do a great charity, and Boccaccio, “ though he was not.” The therefore that all the beggars, both Ottimo Comento remarks: “ Many call men and women, should assemble in his themselves sons, and are step-sons.” 268 Notes

119. Guido di Monforte, who mur­ “ The body of the Prince,” says dered Prince Henry of England “ in Barlow, Study of Dante, p. 125, “ was the bosom o f G od,” that is, in the brought to England, and interred at church, at Viterbo. T h e event is thus Hayles, in Gloucestershire, in the Ab­ narrated by Napier, Florentine History, bey which his father had there built I. 283 : — for monks o f the Cistercian order; but “ Another instance of this revenge­ his heart was put into a golden vase, ful spirit occurred in the year 1271 at and placed on the tomb of Edward Viterbo, where the cardinals had as­ the Confessor, in Westminster Abbey; sembled to elect a successor to Clement most probably, as stated by some writ­ the Fourth, about whom they had been ers, in the hands of a statue.” long disputing : Charles of Anjou and 123. Violence in all its forms was Philip o f France, with Edward and common enough in Florence in the age Henry, sons of Richard, Duke of Corn­ o f Dante. wall, had repaired there, the two first 134. Attila, the Scourge of God. to hasten the election, which they Gibbon, Decline and Fall, Chap. 39, finally accomplished by the elevation describes him thus : — of Gregory the Tenth. During these “ Attila, the son of Mundzuk,. de­ proceedings Prince Henry, while tak­ duced his noble, perhaps his regal, de­ ing the sacrament in the church o f San scent from the ancient Huns, who had Silvestro at Viterbo, was stabbed to formerly contended with the monarchs the heart by his own cousin, Guy de o f China. His features, according to Montfort, in revenge for the Earl of the observation of a Gothic historian, Leicester’s death, although Henry was bore the stamp o f his national origin ; then endeavoring to procure his par­ and the portrait of Attila exhibits the don. This sacrilegious act threw Vi­ genuine deformity of a modern Cal- terbo into confusion, but Montfort had muk ; a large head, a swarthy com­ many supporters, one of whom asked plexion, small, deep-seated eyes, "a flat him what he had done. * I have taken nose, a few hairs in the place of a my revenge,’ said he. ‘ But your father's beard, broad shoulders, and a short, body was trailed/ ’ At this reproach, square body, o f nervous strength, De Montfort instantly re-entered the though of a disproportioned form. church, walked straight to the altar, T h e haughty step and demeanor of and, seizing Henry’s body by the hair, the King o f the Huns expressed the dragged it through the aisle, and left it, consciousness o f his superiority above still bleeding, in the open street: he the rest of mankind ; and he had a then retired unmolested to the castle custom o f fiercely rolling his eyes, as of his father-in-law, Count Rosso of if he wished to enjoy the terror which the Maremma, and there remained in he inspired.” security! ” 135. W hich Pyrrhus and which Inferno xm. 269

Sextus, the commentators cannot de­ 137. Nothing more is known o f these termine ; but incline to Pyrrhus o f highwaymen than that the first infested Epirus, and Sextus Pompey, the cor­ the Roman sea-shore, and that the sec­ sair o f the Mediterranean. ond was of a noble family of Florence.

CANTO XIII.

1. , In this Canto is described the ture and man seem to have conspired punishment o f those who had laid vio­ against it. lent hands on themselves or their prop­ “ Sylla threw this maritime part of erty. Tuscany into enormous latifundia for 2n Chaucer, Knightes Tale, 1977: — his disbanded soldiers. Similar distri­ butions continued to lessen its popula­ “ First on the wall was peinted a forest, In which ther wonneth neyther man ne best, tion during the Empire. In the younger With knotty knarry barrein trees old Pliny’s time the climate was pestilen­ O f stubbes sharpe and hidous to behold; tial. The Lombards gave it a new as­ In which there ran a romble and a swough pect of misery. Wherever they found As though a storme shuld bresten every culture they built castles, and to each bough.” castle they allotted a ‘ bandita * or mil­ 9. T he Cecina is a small river run­ itary fief. Hence baronial wars which ning into the Mediterranean not many have left so many picturesque ruins on miles south o f Leghorn; Corneto, a the hills, and such desolation round village in the Papal States, north o f them. Whenever a baron was con­ Civita Vecchia. The country is wild quered, his vassals escaped to the cit­ and thinly peopled, and studded with ies, and the vacant fief was annexed thickets, the haunts of the deer and the to the victorious. Thus stripped of wild boar. This region is the fatal men, the lands returned into a state Maremma, thus described by Forsyth, of nature : some were flooded by the Italy, p. 156 : — rivers, others grew into horrible forests, “ Farther south is the Maremma, a which enclose and concentrate the pes­ region which, though now worse than tilence o f the lakes and marshes. a desert, is supposed to have been an­ “ In some parts the water is brack­ ciently both fertile and healthy. The ish, and lies lower than the sea : in Maremma certainly formed part of that others it oozes full o f tartar from beds Etruria which was called from its har­ o f travertine. At the bottom or on the vests the annonaria. Old Roman cis­ sides of hills are a multitude of hot terns may still be traced, and the ruins springs, which form pools, called La- of Populonium are still visible in the goni. A few of these are said to pro­ worst part of this tract: yet both na­ duce borax : some, which are called 270 Notes fumacbe, exhale sulphur; others, called flocks o f goats along the meadows with­ bulicami, boil with a mephitic gas. out a keeper* W e rush upon them The very air above is only a pool of with our swords, and invoke the gods vapors, which sometimes undulate, but and Jove himself to share the booty. seldom flow off. It draws corruption Then along the winding shore we from a rank, unshorn, rotting vegeta­ raise the couches, and feast on the rich tion, from reptiles and fish both living repast. But suddenly, with direful and dead. swoop, the Harpies are upon us from “ A ll nature conspires to drive man the mountains, shake their wings with away from this fatal region ; but man loud din, prey upon our banquet, and will ever return to his bane, if it be defile everything with their touch : at well baited. T h e Casentine peasants the same time, together with a rank still migrate hither in the winter to smell, hideous screams arise.” feed their cattle : and here they sow 21. His words in the jEneid, III., corn, make charcoal, saw wood, cut Davidson’s T r.: — hoops, and peel cork. W hen summer “ Near at hand there chanced to be returns they decamp, but often too late; a rising ground, on whose top were for many leave their corpses on the young cornel-trees, and a myrtle rough road, or bring home the Maremmian with thick, spear-like branches. I came disease.” up to it, and attempting to tear from 11. uEneid, III., Davidson’s T r.: — the earth the verdant wood, that I “ T he shores o f the Strophades first might cover the altars with the leafy receive me rescued from. the waves. boughs, I observe a dreadful prodigy, The Strophades, so called by a Greek and wondrous to relate. For from name, are islands situated in the great that tree which first is torn from the Ionian Sea; which direful Celaeno and soil, its rooted fibres being burst asun­ the other Harpies inhabit, from what der, drops of black blood distil, and time Phineus’ palace was closed against stain the ground with gore: cold ter­ them, and they were frighted from his ror shakes my limbs, and my chill table, which they formerly haunted. blood is congealed with' fear. I again No monster more fell than they, no essay to tear off a limber bough from plague and scourge o f the gods more another, and thoroughly explore the cruel, ever issued from the Stygian latent cause : and from the rind of waves. T h ey are fowls with virgin that other the purple blood descends. faces, most loathsome is their bodily Raising in my mind many an anxious discharge, hands hooked, and looks thought, I with reverence besought the ever pale with famine. Hither con­ rural nymphs, and father Mars, who veyed, as soon as we entered the port, presides over the Thracian territories, lo ! we observe joyous herds of cattle kindly to prosper the vision and avert roving up and down the plains, and evil from the omen. But when I at- „ Inferno xm. 271 % tfempted the boughs a third time with the Emperor, but to attempt his life ; a more vigorous effort, and on my and whether he were really culpable, or knees struggled against the opposing the victim of court intrigue, is still mould, (shall I speak, or shall I for­ doubtful. Frederick, on apparently bear?) a piteous groan is heard from good evidence, condemned him to have the bottom o f the rising ground, and his eyes burned out, and the sentence a voice sent forth reaches my ears : was executed at San Miniato al T e- ‘ ^Eneas, why dost thou tear an unhappy desco: being afterwards sent on horse­ wretch ? Spare me, now that I am in back to Pisa, where he was hated, as my grave; forbear to pollute with guilt an object for popular derison, he died, thy pious hands : T roy brought me as is conjectured, from the effects o f a forth no stranger to you ; nor is it from fall while thus cruelly exposed, and not the trunk this blood distils.* ” by his own hand, as Dante believed 40. Chaucer, Knightes Tale, 2339:---- and sung.”

“ And as it queinte, it made a whisteling Milman, Latin Christianity, V . 499, As don these brondes wet in hir brenning, gives the story thus : — And at the brondes ende outran anon “ Peter de Vinea had been raised by As it were blody dropes many on.” the wise choice of Frederick to the See also Spenser, Faerie Queene, I. ii. 30. highest rank and influence. A ll the 58. Pietro della Vigna, Chancellor acts o f Frederick were attributed to his of the Emperor Frederick II. Na­ Chancellor. De Vinea, like his master, pier’s account of him is as follows, was a poet; he was one of the coun­ Florentine History, I. 197 : — sellors in his great scheme of legisla­ “ T he fate o f his friend and minister, tion. Some rumors spread abroad that Piero delle Vigne of Capua, if truly at the Council of Lyons, though Fred­ tbld, would nevertheless impress us erick had forbidden all his representa­ with an unfavorable idea of his mercy tives from holding private intercourse and magnanimity: Piero was sent with with the Pope, De Vinea had many Taddeo di Sessa as Frederick’s advocate secret conferences with Innocent, and and representative to the Council of was accused of betraying his master’s Lyons, which was assembled by his interests. Yet there was no seeming friend Innocent the Fourth, nominally diminution in the trust placed in De to reform the Church, but really to im­ Vinea. Still, to the end the Emperor’s part more force and solemnity to a letters concerning the disaster at Parma fresh sentence o f excommunication and are by the same hand. Over the cause deposition. There Taddeo spoke with o f his disgrace and death, even in his force and boldness for his master ; but own day, there was deep doubt and Piero was silent; and hence he was obscurity. T h e popular rumor ran accused o f being, like several otlvers, that Frederick was ill; the physician bribed by the Pope, not only to desert of De Vinea prescribed for him ; the 272 Notes ♦ Emperor having received some warn­ Siena, who had a large patrimony, and ing, addressed De Vinea : f M y friend, associating himself with a club of other in thee I have full trust; art thou sure young Sienese, called the Spendthrift that this is medicine, not poison ?’ De Club, they also being all rich, together Vinea replied: ‘ How often has my phy­ with them, not spending but squander­ sician ministered healthful medicines! ing, in a short time he consumed all — why are you now afraid?’ Fred*- that he had and became very poor.” erick took the cup, sternly commanded Joining some Florentine troops sent the physician to drink half of it. T h e out against the Aretines, he was in a physician threw himself at the King’s skirmish at the parish o f Toppo, which feet, and, as he fell, overthrew the Dante calls a joust; “ and notwithstand­ liquor. But what was left was admin­ ing he might have saved himself,” con­ istered to some criminals, who died tinues Boccaccio, “ remembering his in agony. The Emperor wrung his wretched condition, and it seeming to hands and wept bitterly : c Whom can him a grievous thing to bear poverty, I now trust, betrayed by my own fa­ as he had been very rich, he rushed miliar friend ? Never can I know into the thick o f the enemy and was security, never can I know joy more.’ slain, as perhaps he desired to be.” By one account Peter de Vinea was 125. Some commentators interpret, led ignominiously on an ass through these dogs as poverty and despair, still Pisa, and thrown into prison, where pursuing their victims. The Ottimo he dashed his brains out against the Comento calls them “ poor men w h o ,. wall. Dante’s immortal verse has saved to follow pleasure and the kitchens of the fame o f De V in e a : according to other people, abandoned their homes the poet he was the victim of wicked and families, and are therefore trans­ and calumnious jealousy.” formed into hunting dogs, and pursue See also Giuseppe de Blasiis, Vita et and devour their masters.” Op ere di Pietro della Vigna. 13 3. Jacopo da St. Andrea was a 112. Iliad, XII. 146: “ Like two Paduan o f like character and life as wild boars, which catch the coming Lano. “ Among his other squander­ tumult of men and dogs in the moun­ ings,” says the Ottimo Comento, “ it is tains, and, advancing obliquely to the said that, wishing to see a grand and attack, break down the wood about beautiful fire, he had one of his own them, cutting it off at the roots.” villas burned.” Chaucer, Legende of Goode Women:— 143. Florence was first under the “ Envie ys lavendere of the court alway; protection o f the god Mars; afterwards For she ne parteth neither nyght ne day under that of St. . But Out of the house of Cesar, thus saith Daunte.” in Dante’s time the statue o f Mars was 120. “ Lano,” says Boccaccio, Co- still standing on a column at the head mento, “ was a young gentleman of o f the Ponte Vecchio. It was over- Inferno xiv. 273 ♦ :hrown by an inundation o f the Arno name of this suicide; Boccaccio thinks, n 1333. See Canto X V . Note 62. for one of two reasons; “ either-out 149. Florence was destroyed by of regard to his surviving relatives, who Totila in 450, and never by Attila. peradventure are honorable men, and [n Dante’s time the two seem to have therefore he did not wish to stain them Deen pretty generally confounded. The with the infamy of so dishonest a death, Ottimo Comento remarks upon this point, or else (as in those times, as if by a f Some say that Totila was one person malediction sent by God upon our city, md Attila another ; and some say that many hanged themselves) that each one ie was one and the same man.” might apply it to either he pleased o f 150. Dante does not mention the these many.”

CANTO XIV.

1. In this third round of the sev­ lish version of it, published by the enth circle are punished the Violent; Roxburghe Club, we find the rain o f against God, fire, and a fall "of snow ; but it is the

“ In heart denying and blaspheming him, snow, and not the fire, that the soldiers And by disdaining Nature and her bounty.” trample down. So likewise in the French version. T h e English runs as 15. When he retreated across the follows, line 4164: — Libyan desert with the remnant of “ Than fandis he furth as I finde five and twenti Pompey’s army after the battle of Phar- days, salia. Lucan, Pbarsalia, Book IX .: — Come to a velanus vale thare was a vile cheele, " Foremost, behold, I lead you to the toil, Quare flaggis of the fell snawe fell fra the My feet shall foremost print the dusty soil.” heven , That was a brade, sais the buke, as battes ere 31. Boccaccio confesses that he does o f w olle. not know where Dante found this tra­ Than bett he many brigt fire and lest it bin dition o f Alexander. Benvenuto da nold, Imola says it is in a letter which A lex­ And made his folk with thaire feete as flores ander wrote to Aristotle. He quotes it to trede. the passage as follows : “ In India ig­ Than fell ther fra the firmament as it ware nited vapors fell from heaven like snow. fell sparkes, I command.ed my soldiers to trample Ropand doune o rede firfe, than any rayne them under foot.” th ik ir .” Dante perhaps took the incident 45. Canto V III. 83. from the old metrical Romance of Alex­ 56. Mount Etna, under which, with ander', which in some form or other his Cyclops, Vulcan forged the thun­ was current in his time. In the Eng­ derbolts of Jove. 35 Notes

63. Capaneus was one o f the seven the Bulicame and Viterbo. About half kings who besieged Thebes. Euripi­ a mile beyond the Porta di Faule, des, Pheenissa, line 1188, thus describes which leads to Toscanella, we come his death: — to a way called Riello, after which we arrive at the said ruined edifice, which “ W hile o’er the battlements sprung Capaneus, Jove struck him with his thunder, and the received the water from • the Bulicame earth by conduits, and has popularly been Resounded with the crack; meanwhile man­ regarded as the Bagno delle Meretrici kin d ' alluded to by D ante; there is no other Stood all aghast j from off the ladder’s height building here found, which can dispute His limbs were far asunder hurled, his hair Flew to’ards Olympus, to the ground his blood, with it the claim to this distinction.” His hands and feet whirled like Ixion’s wheel, 102. T h e shouts and cymbals of the And to the earth his flaming body fell.” Corybantes, drowning the cries o frtlje Also Gower, Confes. Amant., I . : — infant Jove, lest Saturn should find H11K and devour him. As he the cite wolde assaile, God toke him selfe the bataile 103. T h e statue o f Tim e, turning its Ayen his pride, and fro the sky back upon the East and looking towards A firy thonder sudeinly Rome. Compare Daniel ii. 31. He sende and him to pouder smote.” 105. The Ages of Gold, Silver, 72. Like Hawthorne’s scarlet letter, Brass, and Iron .’ See Ovid, Meta- at once an ornament and a punishment. morph. I. 79. The Bulicame or Hot Springs See also Don Quixote’s discourse to of Viterbo. Villani, Cronica, Book I. the goatherds, inspired by the acorns Ch. 51, gives the following brief ac­ they gave him, Book II. Chap. 3 ; and count o f these springs, and o f the ori­ Tasso’s Ode to the Golden Age, in the gin o f the name o f Viterbo : — Aminta. “ The city of Viterbo was built by 113. T h e Tears o f Tim e, forming the Romans, and in old times was the infernal rivers that flow into Co- called Vigezia, and the citizens V i- cytus. gentians. And the Romans sent the M ilton, Parad. Lost, II. 577 : —

sick there on account o f the baths “ Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate ; which flow from the Bulicame, and Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep j therefore if was called Vita Erbo, that Cocytus, named of lamentation loud is, life of the sick, or city of life.” Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, W h ose waves o f torrent fire inflame w ith rage. 80. “ T h e building thus appropri­ Far off from these a slow and silent stream, ated,” says M r. Barlow, Contributions Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls to the Study of the Divine Comedy, p. Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks . 129, " would appear to have been the Forthwith his former state and being forgets, large ruined edifice known as the Bagno Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.” di Ser Paolo Benigno, situated between 136. See Purgatorio X X V III. Inferno xv. 275

CANTO XV.

I. In this Canto is described the 9. That part of the Alps in which punishment o f the Violent against Na- the Brenta rises. :ure ; — 29. T h e reading la mia seems pref­

“ And for this reason does the smallest round erable to la manoy and is justified by Seal with its signet Sodom and Cahors.” line 45. 30. Brunetto Latini, Dante’s friend 4* Guizzante is not Ghent, but Cad- and teacher. Villani thus speaks o f sand, an island opposite L ’Ecluse, where him, Cronicay VIII. 10: “ In this year :he great canal o f Bruges enters the sea. 1294 died in Florence a worthy citizen, k canal thus flowing into the sea, the whose name was Ser Brunetto Latini, likes on either margin uniting with the who was a great philosopher and per­ sea-dikes, gives a perfect image o f this fect master o f rhetoric, both in speak­ Dart of the Inferno. ing and in writing. He commented Lodovico Guicciardini in his Descrit- the Rhetoric o f T u lly, and made the lione di tutti i Paesi Bassi (1581), p. good and useful book called the Tesoro, j.16, speaking o f Cadsand, says: “ This and the Tesoretto, and the Keys of the s the very place o f which our great Tesoro, and many other books of phi­ poet Dante makes mention in the fif- losophy, and o f vices and o f virtues, :eenth chapter of the Inferno, calling and he was Secretary of our Commune. it incorrectly, perhaps by error of the He was a worldly man, but we have press, Guizzante ; where still at the made mention o f him because he was present day great repairs are continually the first master in refining the Floren­ nade upon the dikes, because here, and tines, and in teaching them how to in the environs towards Bruges, the speak correctly, and how to guide and Hood, or I should rather say the tide, govern our Republic on political prin­ Dn account o f the situation and lowness ciples.” af the land, has very great power, par­ Boccaccio, Comento, speaks o f him ticularly during a northwest wind.” thus: “ This Ser Brunetto Latini was 5. These lines recall Goldsmith’s a Florentine, and a very able man in iescription in the Traveller:— some of the liberal arts, and in phi­ ** Methinks her patient sons before me stand, losophy ; but his principal calling was Where the broad ocean leans against the land, that of Notary; and he held himself And, sedulous to stop the coming tide, and his calling in such great esteem, Lift the tall rampire’s artificial pride. that, having made a mistake in a con­ Onward, methinks, and diligently slow tract drawn up by him, and having The firm connected bulwark seems to grow; Spreads its long arms amidst the watery roar, been in consequence accused o f fraud, Scoops out an empire and usurps the shore.” he preferred to be condemned for it 276 Notes rather than to confess that he had made gorical personages of the Virtues and a mistake ; and afterwards he quitted Vices. Ser Brunetto, returning from Florence in disdain, and leaving in an embassy to King Alphonso of Spain, memory of himself a book composed meets on the plain o f Roncesvalles a by him, called, the Tesoretto, he went student of Bologna, riding on a bay to Paris and lived there a long time, mule, who informs him that the Guelfs and composed a book there which is have been banished from Florence. in French, and in which he treats o f Whereupon Ser Brunetto, plunged in many matters regarding the liberal arts, meditation and sorrow, loses the high­ and moral and natural philosophy, and road and wanders in a wondrous forest. metaphysics, which he called the Te- Here he discovers the august and gi­ soro ; and finally, I believe, he died in gantic figure o f Nature, who relates Paris.” to him the creation of the world, and He also wrote a short poem, called gives him a banner to protect him on the Favoletto, and perhaps the Pataffio, his pilgrimage through the forest, in a satirical poem in the Florentine dia­ which he meets with no adventures, lect, “ a jargon,” says Nardini, “ which but with the Virtues and Vices, Phi­ cannot be understood even with a com­ losophy, Fortune, Ovid, and the God mentary.” But his fame rests upon the o f Love, and sundry other characters, Tesoretto and the Tesoro, and more than which are sung at large through eight all upon the fact that he was Dante’s or ten chapters. He then emerges teacher, and was put by him into a very from the forest, and confesses himself disreputable place in the Inferno. He to the monks of M ontpellier; after died in Florence, not in Paris, as Boc­ which he goes back into the forest caccio supposes, and was buried in again, and suddenly finds himself on Santa Maria Novella, where his tomb the summit o f Olympus; and the poem still exists. It is strange that Boccac­ abruptly leaves him discoursing about cio should not have known this, as it the elements with Ptolemy, was in this church that the “ seven “ Mastro di storlomia young gentlewomen” of his Decameron E di filosofia.” met “ on a Tuesday morning,” and It has been supposed by some com­ resolved to go together into the country, mentators that Dante was indebted to where they “ might hear the birds sing, the Tesoretto for the first idea of the and see the verdure of the hills and Commedia. “ I f any one is pleased to plains, and the fields full o f grain un­ imagine this,” says the Abbate Zannoni dulating like the sea.” in the Preface to his edition of the The poem of the Tesoretto, written Tesoretto, (Florence, 1824,) “ he must in a jingling metre, which reminds one confess that a slight and almost invisi­ o f the Vision of Piers Ploughman, is it­ ble spark served to kindle a vast con­ self a Vision, with the customary alle­ flagration.” Inferno xv. •277

T he Tesoro, which is written in “ And I say not that this book is ex­ French, is a much more ponderous and tracted from my own poor sense and pretentious volume. Hitherto it has my own naked knowledge, but, on the been known only in manuscript, or in contrary, it is like a honeycomb gath­ the Italian translation o f Giamboni, but ered from diverse flowers; for this at length appears as one of the volumes book is wholly compiled from the won­ of the Collection de Documents Inedits derful sayings of the authors who be­ sur PHistoire de France, under the title fore our time have treated o f philoso­ of Li Livres dou Tresor, edited by P. phy, each one according to his knowl­ Chabaille, Paris, 1863; a stately quarto edge...... of some seven hundred pages, which it “ And if any one should ask why . would assuage the fiery torment of Ser this book is written in Romance, ac­ Brunetto to look upon, and justify him cording to the language o f the French, in saying since we are Italian, I should say it is “ Commended unto thee be my Tesoro, for two reasons; one, because we are In which I still live, and no more I ask.” in France, and the other, because this The work is quaint and curious, but speech is more delectable, and more mainly interesting as being written by common to all people.” Dante’s schoolmaster, and showing what 62. “ Afterwards,” says Brunetto he knew and what he taught his pupil. Latini, Tresor, Book I. Pt. I. ch. 37, I cannot better describe it than in the “ the Romans besieged Fiesole, till at author’s own words, Book I. ch. 1: — last they conquered it and brought it “ T he smallest part o f this Treasure into subjection. Then they built upon is like unto ready money, to be ex­ the plain, which is at the foot o f the pended daily in things needful; that is, high rocks on which that city stood, it treats of the beginning of time, o f another city, that is now called Flor­ the antiquity of old histories, of the ence. And know that the spot of creation of the world, and in fine of ground where Florence stands was the nature o f all things. % . . . formerly called the House of Mars, “ The second part, which treats of that is to say the House of W ar ; for the vices and virtues, is o f precious Mars, who is one of the seven planets, stones, which give unto man delight is called the God o f W ar, and as such and virtue ; that is to say, what things was worshipped of old. Therefore it a man should do, and what he should is no wonder that the Florentines are not, and shows the reason why. .... always in war and in discord, for that “ The third part of the Treasure is planet reigns over them. O f this Mas­ of fine gold; that is to say, it teaches a ter Brunez ought to know the man to speak according to the rules o f truth, for he was born there, and was in rhetoric, and how a ruler ought to gov­ exile on account of war with the Flor­ ern those beneath him...... entines, when he composed this book.” 278 Notes

See also Villani, I. 38, who assigns “ Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel with smile or a different reason for the Florentine frown ; dissensions. “ And observe, that if the W ith that wild wheel we go not up or down j Our hoard is little, but our hearts are great. Florentines are always in war and dis­ sension among themselves it is not to be wondered at, they being descended “ Smile and we smile, the lords of many lands; from two nations so contrary and hos­ Frown and we smile, the lords of our own tile and different in customs, as were h an d s; the noble and virtuous Romans and the For man is man and master of his fate. rude and warlike Fiesolans.”

Again, IV. 7, he attributes the Flor­ “ Turn, turn thy wheel above the staring entine dissensions to both the above- crowd ; mentioned causes. Thy wheel and thou are shadows in the 67. Villani, IV. 31, tells the story cloud; of certain columns of porphyry given Thy wheel and thee we neither love nor h ate.” by the Pisans to the Florentines for guarding their city while the Pisan 109. Priscian, the grammarian of army had gone to the conquest o f M a­ Constantinople in the sixth century. jorca. The columns were cracked by no. Francesco d’Accorso, a dis­ fire, but being covered with crimson tinguished jurist and Professor at Bo­ cloth, the Florentines did not perceive logna in the thirteenth century, cele­ it. Boccaccio repeats the story with brated for his Commentary upon the variations, but does not think it a suf­ Code Justinian. ficient reason for calling the Floren­ 113. Andrea de’ Mozzi, Bishop of tines blind, and confesses that he does Florence, transferred by the Pope, the not know what reason there can be for “ Servant of Servants,” to ; so calling them. the two cities being here designated by 89. T h e “ other text ” is the pre­ the rivers on which they are respec­ diction of his banishment, Canto X. 81, tively situated. and the Lady is Beatrice. 119. See Note 30. 96. Boileau, Epitret V . : — 122. T h e Corsa del Pallio, or foot

“ Qu’i son gre desormais la fortune me joue, races, at V erona; in which a green On me verra dormir au branle de sa roue.” mantle, or Pallio, was the prize. But- tura says that these foot-races are still And Tennyson’s Song of “ Fortune continued (1823), and that he has seen and her W heel ” : — them more than once; but certainly “ Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel and lower the not in the nude state in which Boc­ proud ; caccio describes them, and which ren­ Turn thy wild wheel thro’ sunshine, storm, and cloud ; ders Dante’s comparison more com­ Thy wheel and thee we neither love nor hate. plete and striking. Inferno xvi. 279

CANTO XVI.

I. In this Canto the subject of the being near the speaker; and somewhat preceding is continued. troubled by the opinion her father 4. Guidoguerra, Tegghiajo Aldo- seemed to have of her, that, if he brandi, and Jacopo Rusticucci. wished it, she would suffer herself to 37. The good Gualdrada was a be kissed by any one in this , daughter o f Bellincion Berti, the sim­ rising, and looking a moment at her ple citizen of Florence in the olden father, and blushing with shame, said : time, who used to walk the streets ‘ Father, do not make such courteous “ begirt with bone and leather,” as promises at the expense of my modesty, mentioned in the Paradiso, XV. 112. for certainly, unless by violence, no Villani, I. 37, reports a story of her one shall ever kiss me, except him with all the brevity of a chronicler. whom you shall give me as my hus­ Boccaccio tells the same story, as if band.’ T h e Emperor, on hearing this, he were writing a page of the De­ much commended the words and the cameron. In his version it runs as fol­ young lady...... And calling forward lows. a noble youth named Guido Beisangue, “ The Emperor Otho IV., being by who was afterwards called Guido the chance in Florence and having gone to Elder, who as yet had no wife, he in­ the festival o f St. John, to make it sisted upon his marrying her; and gave more gay with his presence, it hap­ him as her dowry a large territory in pened that to the church with the Cassentino and the Alps, and made him other city dames, as our custom is, Count thereof.” came the wife o f Messer Berto, and Ampbre says in his Voyage Dantesque, brought with her a daughter of hers page 242 : “ Near the battle-field of called Gualdrada, who was still un­ Campaldino stands the little town of married. And as they sat there with Poppi, whose castle was built in 1230 the others, the maiden being beautiful by the father of the Arnolfo who built in face and figure, nearly all present some years later the Palazzo Vecchio turned round to look at her, and among o f Florence. In this castle is still the rest the Emperor. And having shown the bedroom of the beautiful much commended her beauty and man­ and modest Gualdrada.” ners, he asked Messer Berto, who was , an Italian nov­ near him, who she was. T o which elist o f the sixteenth century, has made Messer Berto smiling answered : c She Gualdrada the heroine of one of his is the daughter o f one who, I dare say, tales, but has strangely perverted the old would let you kiss her if you wished.’ tradition. His story may be found in These words the young lady heard, Roscoe’s Italian Novelists, III. p. 107. 280 Notes

41. Tegghiajo Aldobrandi was a dis­ to the great reproach o f the debauched tinguished citizen o f Florence, and op­ dispositions of such as would now be posed what Malespini calls “ the ill reputed fine gentlemen, should more counsel of the people,’* that war should properly style themselves asses, brought be declared against the Sienese, which up amidst the filthiness and sink o f man­ war resulted in the battle of Monte kind, rather than in courts...... Aperto and the defeat of the Floren­ “ This Gulielmo, whom I before tines. mentioned, was much visited and re­ 44. Jacopo Rusticucci was a rich spected by the better sort of people at Florentine gentleman, whose chief mis­ Genoa ; when having made some stay fortune seems to have been an ill-as­ here, and hearing much talk o f Ermi- sorted marriage. Whereupon the ami­ no’s sordidness, he became desirous of able Boccaccio in his usual Decameron seeing him. N ow Ermino had been style remarks: “ Men ought not then informed of Gulielmo’s worthy char­ to be over-hasty in getting married; on acter, and having, however covetous he the contrary, they should come to it was, some small sparks of gentility, he with much precaution.” And then he received him in a courteous manner, indulges in live octavo pages against and, entering into discourse together, matrimony and woman in general. he took him, and some Genoese who 45. See Macchiavelli’s story of Bel- came along with him, to see a fine fagor, wherein Minos and Rhadaman- house which he had lately built: and thus, and the rest o f the infernal judges, when he had showed every part of it, are. greatly surprised to hear an infinite he said: ‘ Pray, sir, can you, who have number o f condemned souls “ lament heard and seen so much, tell me ofr nothing so bitterly as their folly in hav­ something that was never yet seen, to ing taken wives, attributing to them the have painted in my hall ?’ To whom whole of their misfortune.” Gulielmo, hearing him speak so simply, 70. Boccaccio, in-his Comento> speaks replied: ‘ Sir, I can tell you of nothing of Guglielmo Borsiere as “ a courteous which has never yet been seen, that I gentleman o f good breeding and excel­ know of; unless it be sneezing, or some lent manners ” ; and in the Decameron, thing of that sort; "but if you please, Gior. I. Nov. 8, tells of a sharp rebuke I can tell you o f a thing which, I be­ administered by him to Messer Ermino lieve, you never saw.’ Said Ermino de’ Grimaldi, a miser of Genoa. (little expecting such an answer as he “ It came to pass, that, whilst by received), * I beg you would let me spending nothing he went on accu­ know what that is.’ Gulielmo im­ mulating wealth, there came to Genoa mediately replied, f Paint Liberality.* a well-bred and witty gentleman called When Ermino heard this, such a sud-. Gulielmo Borsiere, one nothing like den shame seized him, as quite changed' the courtiers of the present day ; who, his temper from what it had hitherto Inferno xvi. 281 been; and he said: ‘ Sir, I will have detto, in company with the abbot, he her painted in such a manner that told me that there had once been a dis­ neither you, nor any one else, shall be cussion among the Counts who owned able to say, hereafter, that I am un­ the mountain, about building a village acquainted with her.’ And from that near the waterfall, as a convenient place time such effect had Gulielmo’s words for a settlement, and bringing into it upon him, he became the most liberal their vassals scattered on neighboring and courteous gentleman, and was the farms ; but the leader o f the project most respected, both by strangers and dying, it was not carried into effect; his own citizens, of any in Genoa.” and that is what the author says, Ov’e 95. Monte Veso is among the Alps, dovea per mille, that is, for many, esser between Piedmont and Savoy, where ricettOy that is, home and habitation.” the Po takes/its rise. From this point Doubtless grammatically the words eastward to the Adriatic, all the rivers w ill bear this meaning. But evidently on the left or northern slope o f the the idea in the author’s mind, and which Apennines are tributaries to the Po, he wished to impress upon the read­ until we come to the Montone, which er’s, was that of a waterfall plunging above Forli is called Acquacheta. This at a single leap down a high precipice. is the first which flows directly into T o this idea, the suggestion o f build­ the Adriatic, and not into the Po. A t ings and inhabitants is wholly foreign, least it.was so in Dante’s time. N ow , and adds neither force nor clearness. by some change in its course, the Whereas, to say that the river plunged Lamone, farther north, has opened itself at one bound over a precipice high a new outlet, and is the first to make enough for a thousand cascades, pre­ its own way to the Adriatic. See Bar­ sents at once a vivid picture to the low, Contributions to the Study of the imagination, and I have interpreted the Divine Comedy, p. 131. This com­ line accordingly, making the contrast parison shows the delight which Dante between una scesa and mille. It should took in the study of physical geogra­ not be forgotten that, while some edi­ phy. To reach the waterfall of Ac­ tions read dovea, others read dovria, and quacheta he traverses in thought the evenpd'tria. entire valley o f the Po, stretching across / 106. T h is cord has puzzled the the whole o f Northern Italy. j commentators exceedingly. Boccaccio, 102. Boccaccio’s interpretation ofVVolpj/and Venturi do not explain it. this line, which has been adopted by T h e anonymous author o f the Ottimo, most o f the commentators since his Benvenuto da Imola, Buti, Landino, Vel- time, is as follows : “ I was for a long Iptello, and Daniello, all think it means time in doubt concerning the author’s fitaud, which Dante had used in the meaning in this line ; but being by piirsuit o f pleasure, — “ the panther chance at this monastery of San Bene­ wish the painted skin.” Lombardi is 36 282 Notes of opinion that, “ by girding himself meagre” ; and in Paradiso, X I. 87, it with the Franciscan cord, he had en­ is humility, “ that family which had deavored to restrain his sensual appe­ already girt the humble cord,” tites, indicated by the panther; and It will be remembered that St. Fran-i still wearing the cord as a Tertiary of cis, the founder o f the Cordeliers (the the Order, he makes it serve here to wearers o f the cord), used to call his deceive Geryon, and bring him up.” body asinoy or ass, and to subdue it Biagioli understands by it “ the humil­ with the capestro, or halter. Thus the ity with which a man should approach cord is made to symbolize the sub­ Science, because it is she that humbles jugation of the animal nature. This the proud.” Fraticelli thinks it means renders Lombardi’s interpretation the vigilance; Tommaseo, “ the good faith most intelligible and satisfactory, though with which he hoped to win the Flor­ Virgil seems to have thrown the cord entines, and now wishes to deal with into the abyss simply because he had their fraud, so that it may not harm nothing else to throw, and not with the h im ” ; and Gabrielli Rossetti says, design o f deceiving. “ Dante flattered himself, acting as a 112. As a man does naturally in the sincere Ghibelline, that he should meet act of throwing. with good faith from his Guelf coun­ 131. That Geryon, seeing the cord, . trymen, and met instead with horrible ascends, expecting to find some moine fraud.” defroque, and carry him down, as Lom­ Dante elsewhere speaks o f the cord in bardi suggests, is hardly admissible; for a good sense. In Purgator io, VII. 114, that was not his office. T h e spirits Peter of Aragon is “ girt with the cord were hurled down to their appointed of every virtue.” In Inferno, X X V II. places, as soon as Minos doomed them. 92, it is mortification, “ the cord that Inferno, V . 15. used to make those girt with it more 132. Even to a steadfast heart.

CANTO XVII.

1. In this Canto is described the pun­ ally represented by the poets as haying ishment o f Usurers, as sinners against three bodies and three heads. He was Nature and Art. See Inf. X I. 109 : — in ancient times King of Hesperia or

“ And since the usurer takes another way, Spain, living on Erytheia, the Red Nature herself and in her follower Island o f sunset, and was slain by Her­ Disdains he, for elsewhere he puts his hope.” cules, who drove away his beautiful T h e monster Geryon, here used as oxen. The nimble fancy of Haw­ the symbol of Fraud, was born of thorne thus depicts him in his Wonder-■ Chrysaor and Callirrhoe, and is gener- Book, p. 148 : — Inferno x v ii. 283

" But was it really and truly an old 17. Tartars nor Turks, “ who are man ? Certainly at first sight it looked most perfect masters therein,’’ says Boc­ very like one ; but on closer inspec­ caccio, “ as we can clearly see in T ar­ tion, it rather seemed to be some kind tarian cloths, which truly are so skil- * of a creature that lived in the sea. For fully woven, that no painter with his on his legs and arms there were scales, brush could equal, much less surpass such as fishes have; he was web-footed them. The Tartars are . . . .” And and web-fingered, after the fashion of with this unfinished sentence close the a duck; and his long beard, being of a Lectures upon Dante, begun by Gio­ greenish tinge, had more the appear­ vanni Boccaccio on Sunday, August 9, ance of a tuft o f sea-weed than o f an 1373, in the church of San Stefano, in ordinary beard. Have you never seen Florence. That there were some crit­ a stick of timber, that has been long ics among his audience is apparent from tossed about by the waves, and has got this sonnet, which he addressed “ to all overgrown with barnacles, and at one who had censured his public E x­ last, drifting ashore, seems to have been position of Dante.” See D. G. Ro- thrown up from the very deepest bot­ setti, Early Italian Poets, p. 447 : — tom of the sea ? W ell, the old man “ If Dante mourns, there wheresoe’er he be, would have put you in mind of just That such high fancies of a soul so proud such a wave-tost spar.” Should be laid open to the vulgar crowd, The three bodies and three heads, (As, touching my Discourse, I ’m told by which old poetic fable has given to the th ee,) This were my grievous pain ; and certainly monster Geryon, are interpreted by M y proper blame should not be disavowed; modern prose as meaning the three Ba­ Though hereof somewhat, I declare aloud, learic Islands, Majorca, Minorca, and Were due to others, not alone to me. Ivica, over which he reigned. False hopes, true poverty, and therewithal 10. Ariosto, Orlando Furioso, X IV . The blinded judgment of a host of friends, 87, Rose’s T r ., thus depicts Fraud: — And their enteaties, made that I did thus. But of all this there is no gain at all With pleasing mien, grave walk, and decent Unto the thankless souls with whose base ends vest, Nothing agrees that’s great or generous.” Fraud rolled her eyeballs humbly in her head ; And such benign and modest speech possest, 18. Ovid, Metamorph. V I .: —

She might a Gabriel seem who A ve said. ** One at the loom so excellently skilled Foul was she and deformed in all the rest j That to the Goddess she refused to yield.” But with a mantle, long and widely spread, Concealed her hideous parts ; and evermore 57. T heir love o f gold still haunting Beneath the stole a poisoned dagger wore.” them in the other world. The Gabriel saying Aye is from 59. T h e arms of the Gianfigliacci Dante, Purgatory, X. 40 : — of Florence. “ One would have sworn that he was saying 63. T h e arms o f the Ubbriachi Ave'' of Florence. 284 N otes

64. T h e Scrovigni o f Padua. The studded harness from their necks they 68. Vitaliano del Dente o f Padua. broke, 73. Giovanni Bujamonte, who seems Here fell a wheel, and here a silver spoke, Here were the beam and axle tom away; to have had the ill-repute o f being the And, scatter’d o’er the earth, the shining greatest usurer of his day, called here fragments lay. in irony the “ sovereign cavalier.” The breathless Phaeton, with flaming hair, 74. As the ass-driver did in the Shot from the chariot, like a falling star, streets of Florence, when Dante beat That in a summer’s ev’ning from the top • him for singing his verses amiss. See O f heav’n drops down, or seems at least to drop j Sacchetti, Nov. CXV. Till on the Po his blasted corpse was hurled, 78. Dante makes as short work with Far from his country, in the Western World.” these usurers, as if he had been a 108. T h e M ilky W ay. In Spanish curious traveller walking through the E l camino de Santiago; in the Northern Ghetto o f Rome, or the Judengasse o f M ythology the pathway of the ghosts Frankfort. going to Valhalla. 107. Ovid, Metamorph. II., Addi­ 109. Ovid, Metamorph. VIII., Crox- son’s T r.: — all’s Tr.: — “ Half dead with sudden fear he dropt the “ The soft’ning wax, that felt a nearer sun, reins; Dissolv’d apace, and soon began to run. The horses felt ’em loose upon their manes, The youth in vain his melting pinions And, flying out through all the plains above, shakes, Ran uncontrolled where’er their fury drove j His feathers gone, no longer air he takes. Rushed on the stars, and through a pathless O father, father, as he strove to cry, way Down to the sea he tumbled from on high, O f unknown regions hurried on the day. And found his fate 3 yet still subsists by And now above, and now below they flew, fam e, . And near the earth the burning chariot Among those waters that retain his name. drew. The father, now no more a father, cries, Ho, Icarus ! where are you ? as he flies : At once from life and from the chariot Where shall I seek my boy? he cries again, driv’ n, And saw his feathers scattered on the main.” Th’ ambitious boy fell thunder-struck from heav’n. 136. Lucan, Pharsal. I .: — The horses started with a sudden bound, “ To him the Balearic sling is slow, And flung the reins and chariot to the And the shaft loiters from the Parthian gro u n d : bow .”

CANTO X V I I I .

1. Here begins the third division of Ninth Circles, in which the Fraudu- the Inferno, embracing the Eighth and lent are punished/ Inferm xvm. 285 u But because fraud is man’s peculiar vice Tabernicch and Pietra-pana, — the one More it displeases G od; and so stand lowest clearly chosen only for the sake o f the The fraudulent, and greater dole assails last syllable of its name, in order to th em .” make a sound as o f crackling ice, with The Eighth Circle is called Male- the two sequent rhymes o f the stanza, bolge, or Evil-budgets, and consists of — and the other is an Apennine near ten concentric ditches, or Bolge o f Lucca. storie^'with dikes between, and rough ** His idea, therefore, of rock color, bridges running across them to the founded on these experiences, is that centre like the spokes o f a wheel., of a dull or ashen gray, more or less In the First Bolgia are punished Se­ stained by the brown o f iron ochre, ducers, and in the Second, Flatterers. precisely as the Apennine limestones 2. Mr. Ruskin, Modern Painters, III. nearly always are ; the gray being pe­ p. 237, says: — culiarly cold and disagreeable. As we “ Our slates and granites are often go down the very hill which stretches, of very lovely colors; but the Apen- out from Pietra-pana towards Lucca, nine limestone is so gray and toneless,- the stones laid by the road-side to that I know not any mountain district mend it are o f this ashen gray, with so utterly melancholy as those which efflorescences of manganese and iron in are composed of this rock, when un­ the fissures. T h e whole of Malebolge wooded. N ow , as far as I can dis­ is made o f this rock, * All wrought in cover from the internal evidence in stone of iron-colored grain.’ ” his poem, nearly all Dante’s mountain 29. T h e ye£r o f Jubilee 1300. Mr* wanderings had been upon this ground. Norton, in his Notes o f Travel and Study He had journeyed once or twice among in Italy, p. 255, thus describes it: — the Alps, indeed, but seems to have “ The beginning of the new century been impressed chiefly by the road brought many pilgrims to the Papal from Garda to Trent, and that along city, and the Pope, seeing to what ac­ the Cornice, both o f which are either count the treasury of indulgences pos­ upon those limestones, or a dark ser­ sessed by the Church might now be pentine, which shows hardly any color turned, hit upon the plan of promising till it is polished. It is not ascertain­ plenary indulgence to all who, during able that he had ever seen rock scenery the year, should visit with fit disposi­ of the finely colored kind, aided by the tions the holy places of Rome. He Alpine mosses : I do not know the fall' accordingly, in the most solemn man­ at Forli (Inferno, XVI. 99), but every ner,-proclaimed a year of Jubilee, to other scene to which he alludes is date from the Christmas of 1299, and among these Apennine limestones; and appointed a similar celebration for each when he wishes to give the idea of hundredth year thereafter. The re­ enormous mountain size, he names port of the marvellous promise -spread 286 Notes rapidly through Europe ; and as the eorum manibus rastellos, rastellantes pe­ year advanced, pilgrims poured into cuniam infinitam: T o accommodate Italy from remote as well as from the throng o f pilgrims, and to protect neighboring lands. T h e roads leading them as far as possible from the danger to Rome were dusty with bands of which Ventura feelingly describes, a travellers pressing forward to gain the barrier was erected along the middle unwonted indulgence. The Crusades o f the bridge under the castle of Sant’ had made travel familiar to men, and a Angelo, so that those going to St. journey to Rome seemed easy to those Peter’s and those coming from the who had dreamed o f the Farther East, church, passing on opposite sides, o f Constantinople, and Jerusalem. G io­ might not interfere with each other. vanni Villani, who was among the It seems not unlikely that Dante him­ pilgrims from Florence, declares that self was one of the crowd who thus there were never less than two hun­ crossed the old bridge, over whose dred thousand strangers at Rome during arches, during this year, a flood of men the year; and Guglielmo Ventura, the was flowing almost as constantly as the chronicler of Asti, reports the total river’s flood ran through below.” number o f pilgrims at not less than 31. T h e castle is the Castle o f St. two millions. The picture which he Angelo, and the mountain Monte Gia- draws of Rome during the Jubilee is a nicolo. See Barlow, Study of Dante, p. curious one.

61. The two rivers between which makes no mention, because he became Bologna is situated. In the Bolognese illustrious after the author’s death. dialect sipa is used for si. Alessio took such delight in flattery, 72. T h ey cease going round the cir­ that he could not open his mouth with­ cles as heretofore, and now go straight out flattering. He besmeared every­ forward to the centre o f the abyss. body, even the lowest menials.” 86. For the story of Jason, Medea, T h e Ottimo says, that in the dialect and the Golden Fleece, see Ovid, Me- of Lucca the head “ was facetiously tamorpb. VII. Also Chaucer, Legende called a pumpkin.” of Goode Women : — 133. Thais, the famous courtesan of

u Thou roote of fals loveres, duke Jason ! Athens. Terence, The Eunuch, Act Thou slye devourer and confusyon III. Sc. 1: — O f gentil wommen, gentil creatures ! ” “ Thraso. Did Thai's really return 92. When the women of Lemnos me many thanks ? put to death all the male inhabitants “ Gnatbo. Exceeding thanks. of the island, Hypsipyle concealed her “ Thraso. Was she delighted, say father Thoas, and spared his life. you ? Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautics, II., “ Gnat ho. Not so much, indeed, at Fawkes’s T r.: — the present itself, as because it was

“ Hypsipyle alone, illustrious maid, given by you ; really, in right earnest, Spared her sire Thoas, who the sceptre she does exult at that.” swayed.” 136. “ T h e filthiness o f some pas­ 122. “ Allessio Interminelli,” says sages,” exclaims Landor, Pentameron, Benvenuto da Imola, “ a soldier, a no­ p. 15, “ would disgrace the drunkenest bleman, and o f gentle manners, was of horse-dealer ; and the names o f such Lucca, and from him descended that criminals are recorded by the poet, as tyrant Castruccio who filled all Tus­ would be forgotten by the hangman in cany with fear^ and was lord o f Pisa, six months.” Lucca, and Pistoja, of whom Dante

CANT O XIX.

I. T h e Third Bolgia is devoted to nity. His pupil is less reverential in the Simoniacs, so called from Simon this particular. Magus, the Sorcerer mentioned in Acts viii. 9, 18. See Par. XXX. Note 147. ** Altri per simonia Si getta in mala via, Brunetto Latini touches lightly upon E Dio e’ Santi ofFende them in the Tesoretto, X X I. 259, on E vende le prebende, account of their high ecclesiastical dig- E Sante Sagramente, 288 Notes

E mette ’nfra la gente and was near drow ning; or rather he Assempri di mal fare. fell into one o f the circular basins of M a questo lascio stare, water, which surrounded the principal Ch& tocca a ta’ persone, font.” Upon this Arrivabeni, Comento Che non e mia ragione Di dirne lungamente.” Storico, p. 588, where I find this ex­ tract, remarks: t“ Not Dante, but Lami, Chaucer, Persones Talet speaks thus staring at the moon, fell into the hole.” o f Simony : — 20. Dante’s enemies had accused him “ Certes simonie is cleped of Simon of committing this act through impiety. Magus, that wold have bought for tem- He takes this occasion to vindicate him­ porel catel the yefte that God had self. yeven by the holy gost to Seint Peter, 33. Probably an allusion to the red and to the Apostles: and therfore un­ stockings worn by the Popes. derstand ye, that both he that selleth 50. Burying alive with the head and he that byeth thinges spirituel ben downward and the feet in the air was called Simoniackes, be it by catel, be the inhuman punishment of hired assas­ it by procuring, or by fleshly praier of sins, “ according to justice and the mu­ his frendes, fleshly frendes, or spirituel nicipal law in Florence,” says the Ot- frendes, fleshly in two maners, as by timo. It was called Propagginare, to kinrede or other frendes : sothly, if plant in the manner o f vine-stocks. they pray for him that is not worthy Dante stood bowed down like the and able, it is simonie, if he take the confessor called back by the criminal benefice : and if he be worthy and in order to delay the moment o f his able, ther is non.” death. 5. Gower, Confes. Amant. I . : — 53. Benedetto Gaetani, Pope Boni­ 4( A trompe with a sterne breth, face V III. Gow er, Conf. Amant. II., W hich was cleped the trompe of deth. calls him

He shall this dredfull trompe blowe u Thou Boneface, thou proude clerke, To-fore his gate and make it knowe, Misleder of the papacie.” H ow that the ju gem en t is yive This is the Boniface who frightened O f deth, which shall nought be foryive.” Celestine from the papacy, and per­ 19. Lami, in his Delicice Erudito- secuted him to death after his resig­ rum, makes a strange blunder in refer­ nation. “ T h e lovely Lady ” is the ence to this passage. He says : “ Not Church. T h e fraud was his collusion long ago the baptismal font, which with Charles II. of Naples. “ He went stood in the middle of Saint John’s at to King Charles by night, secretly, and Florence, was rem oved; and in the with few attendants,” says Villani,VIII. pavement may still be seen the octago­ ch. 6, “ and said to him : * King, thy nal shape of its ample outline. Dante Pope Celestine had the will and the says, that, when a boy, he fell into it power to serve thee in thy Sicilian Inferno xix. ho .

- wars, but did no-t know how : but if guished every lamp and toreh^'friJ the'- thou wilt contrive with thy friends the church. A darker omen followed : a ordinals to have me elected Pope, I riot broke out among the populace, in shall know how, and shall have the which forty lives were lost. The day will and the power ’ ; promising upon after, the Pope dined in public in the his faith and oath to aid him with all Lateran; the two Kings waited behind the power of the Church.” Farther on his chair.” he continues: “ He was very magnani­ Dante indulges towards him a fierce mous and lordly, and .demanded great Ghibelline hatred, and assigns him his honor, and knew well how to maintain place o f torment before he is dead. and advance the cause o f the Church, In Canto XXVII. 85, he calls him and on account o f his knowledge and “ the Prince of the new Pharisees” ; power was much dreaded and feared. and, after many other bitter allusions in He was avaricious exceedingly in order various parts of the poem, puts into the to aggrandize the Church and his rela­ mouth of St. Peter, Par. X X V II. 22, tions, not being over-scrupulous about the terrible invective that makes the gains, for he said that all things were whole heavens red with anger. lawful which were o f the Church.” “ He who usurps upon the earth my place, He was chosen Pope in 1294. “ T h e My place, my place, which vacant has be­ inauguration o f Boniface,” says M il- come man, Latin Christ., Book IX ., ch. 7, . Now in the presence of the Son of God, Has of my cemetery made a sewer (f was the most magnificent which Of blood and fetor, whereat the Per­ Rome had ever beheld. In his pro­ verse, cession to St. Peter’s and back to the Who fell from here, below there is ap­ Lateran palace, where he was enter­ peased.” tained, he rode not a humble ass, but H e died in 1303. See Note 87, a noble white horse, richly capari­ Purg. X X . soned : he had a crown on his head ; 70. Nicholas III., of the Orsini (the the King of Naples held the bridle on Bears) of Rome, chosen Pope in 1277. one side, his son, the King o f Hungary, “ He was the first Pope, or one o f the on the other. T h e nobility o f Rome, first,” says Villani, V II. ch. 54, “ in the Orsinis, the Colonnas, the Savellis, whose court simony was openly prac­ the Stefaneschi, the Annibaldi, who tised.” On account of his many ac­ had not only welcomed him to Rome, complishments he was surnamed II but conferred on him the Senatorial Compiuto. Milman, Lat. Christ., Book. dignity, followed in a body : the pro­ XI. ch. 4, says of h im : “ At length the cession could hardly force its way election fell on John Gaetano, of the through the masses o f the kneeling noble Roman house, the Orsini, a man people. In the midst, a furious hurri­ o f remarkable beauty o f person and cane burst over the city, and extin- demeanor. His name, * the Accom­ 37 290 Notes

plished,* implied that in him met all high priest, that the priests had no the graces o f the handsomest clerks in courage to serve any more at the altar; the world, but he was a man likewise but, despising the temple, and neglect­ o f irreproachable morals, of vast ambi­ ing the sacrifices, hastened to be par­ tion, and of great ability.” He died takers of the unlawful allowance in the in 1280. place o f exercise, after the game of 83. T h e French Pope Clement V ., Discus called them forth.” elected in 1305, by the influence of 87. Philip the Fair of France. See Philip the Fair of France, with sundry Note 82. “ He was one of the hand­ humiliating conditions. He transferred somest men in the world,” says Vil- the Papal See from Rome to Avignon, lani, IX . 66, “ and one of the largest where it remained for seventy-one in person, and well proportioned in years in what Italian writers call its every lim b,— a wise and good man for “ Babylonian captivity.” He died in a layman.” 1314, on his way to Bordeaux. “ He 94. Matthew, chosen as an Apostle had hardly crossed the Rhone,” says in the place o f Judas. Milman, Lat. Christ., Book X II. ch. 5, 99. According to Villani, V II. 54, “ when he was seized with mortal Pope Nicholas III. wished to marry sickness at Roquemaure. T h e Papal his niece to a nephew of Charles of treasure was seized by his followers, Anjou, King of Sicily. T o this alli­ especially his n ephew ; his remains ance the King would not consent, say­ were treated with such utter neglect;, ing : “ Although he wears the red stock­ that the torches set fire to the cata­ ings, his lineage is not worthy to min­ falque under which he lay, not in statei gle with ours, and his power is not His body, covered only with a single hereditary.” This made the Pope in­ sheet, all that his rapacious retinue had dignant, and, together with the bribes left to shroud their forgotten master, o f John o f Procida, led him to encour­ was half burned ...... before alarm age the rebellion in Sicily, which broke was raised. His ashes were borne back out a year after the Pope’s death in the to Carpentras and solemnly interred.” “ ,” 1282. 85. Jason, to whom Antiochus Epi- 107. The Church of Rome under phanes granted a “ license to set him up Nicholas, Boniface, and Clement. Rev­ a place for exercise, and for the train­ elation xvii. 1-3 : — ing up of youth in the fashions o f the “ And there came one of the seven •heathen.” angels which had the seven vials, and 2 Maccabees iv. 13 : “ N ow such talked with me, saying unto me, Come was the height of Greek fashions, hither; I will show unto thee the judg­ and increase of the heathenish manners, ment of the great whore that sitteth through the exceeding profaneness of upon many waters; with whom the Jason, that ungodly wretch and not kings of the earth have committed for­ Inferno xx. 291 nication, and the inhabitants of the Peter,” Milman, Lat. Christ Book I. earth have been made drunk with the ch. 2, remarks : — wine of her fornication. So he carried “ Silvester has become a kind of hero me away in the Spirit into the wilder­ of religious fable. But it was not so ness : and I saw a woman sit upon a much the genuine mythical spirit which scarlet-colored beast, full of names of unconsciously transmutes history into blasphemy, having seven heads and ten legend; it was rather deliberate inven­ horns.” tion, with a specific aim and design, The seven heads are interpreted to which, in direct defiance o f history, mean the Seven Virtues, and the ten accelerated the baptism o f Constantine, horns the Ten Commandments. and sanctified a porphyry vessel as ap­ n o . Revelation xv'11. 12, 13: — propriated to, or connected with, that “ And the ten horns which thou holy use: and at a later period pro­ sawest are ten k in g s,...... and shall duced the monstrous fable o f the D o­ give their power and strength unto the nation. beast.” “ But that with which Constantine 117. Gower, Confes. Amant.> Pro- actually did invest the Church, the logus: — right of holding landed property, and “ The patrimonie and the rtchesse^ receiving it by bequest, was far more W hich to Silvester in pure almesse valuable to the Christian hierarchy, The firste Constantinus lefte.” and not least to the Bishop o f Rome, Upon this supposed donation o f im­ than a premature and prodigal endow­ mense domains by Constantine to the ment.” Pope,, called the ** Patrimony of St.

CANT O X X .

I. In the Fourth Bolgia are punished So backward still was turned his wrinkled the Soothsayers: — face.”

“ Because they wished to see too far before them, 34. Amphiaraus was one o f the seven Backward they look, and backward make their kings against Thebes. Foreseeing his w ay.” own fate, he concealed himself, to avoid 9. Processions chanting prayers and going to the war ; but his wife Eri- supplications. phyle, bribed by a diamond necklace 13. Ignaro in Spenser’s Faerie Stueene, (as famous in ancient story as the Car­ I. viii. 31: — dinal de Rohan’s in modern), revealed his hiding-place, and he went to his “ But very uncouth sight was to behold How he did fashion his untoward pace j doom with the others. For as he forward moved his footing old, iEschylus, The Seven against Thebes: 292 Notes

“ I w ill tell o f the sixth, a man most Irradiates all his soul with inward light, prudent and in valor the best, the And with the prophet’s art relieves the want seer, the mighty Amphiaraus...... o f sigh t.” And through his mouth he gives utter­ 45. His beard. T h e word “ plumes” ance to this sp eech ...... ‘ I, for my is used by old English writers in this part, in very truth shall fatten this soil, sense. Ford, Ladfs Trial: — seer as I am, buried beneath a hostile “ Now the down earth.’ ” O f softness is exchanged for plumes of age.” , , V III. 47, Lewis’s See also Purg. I. 42. T r .: — 46. An Etrurian soothsayer. Lucan,

‘‘Bought of my treacherous wife for cursed Pbarsalia, I., Rowe’s Tr. : — gold, “ O f these the chief, for learning famed and And in the list of Argive chiefs enrolled, age, Resigned to fate I sought the Theban plain; Aruns by name, a venerable sage, Whence flock the shades that scarce thy A t Luna lived.” realm contain ; Ruskin, Modern Painters, III. p. 246, When, how my soul yet dreads ! an earth­ quake came, says: — Big with destruction, and my trembling frame, “ But in no part o f the poem do we Rapt from the midst of gaping thousands, find allusion to mountains in any other hurled than a stern lig h t; nor the slightest To night eternal in thy nether world.” evidence that Dante cared to look at 40. The Theban soothsayer. Ovid, them. From that hill o f San Miniato, Met., III., Addison’s T r.: — whose steps he knew so well, the eye commands, at the farther extremity of “ It happen’d once, within a shady wood, the Val d’ Arno, the whole purple range Two twisted snakes he in conjunction view’d, W hen with his staff their slimy folds he broke, o f the mountains of Garrara, peaked And lost his manhood at the fatal stroke. and mighty, seen always against the But, after seven revolving years, he view’d sunset light in silent outline, the chief The self-same serpents in the self-same wood \ forms that rule the scene as twilight ‘And if,’ says he, ‘ such virtue in you lie, fades away. By this vision Dante That he who dares your slimy folds untie seems to have been wholly unmoved, Must change his kind, a second stroke I ’ 11 try.’ and, but for Lucan’s mention o f Aruns Again he struck the snakes, and stood again at Luna, would seemingly not have New-sex’d, and straight recovered into man. spoken of the Carrara hills in the whole course o f his poem : when he does al­ When Juno fired, lude to them, he speaks o f their white More than so trivial an affair required, marble, and their command o f stars and Deprived him, in her fury, of his sight, sea, but has evidently no regard for the And left him groping round in sudden night. But Jove (for so it is in heav’n decreed hills themselves. There is not a single That no one god repeal another’s deed) phrase or syllable throughout the poem Inferno xx. 293

which indicates such a regard. Ugo- says: “ Virgin should here be rendered lino, in his dream, seemed to himself Virago.” to be in the mountains, f by cause of 93. JEneid, X .: “ Ocnus, .... son which the Pisan cannot see L ucca’ ; of the prophetic Manto, and of the Tus­ and it is impossible to look up from can river, who gave walls and the name Pisa to that hoary slope without re­ of his mother to thee, O Mantua ! ” membering the awe that there is in the 95. Pinamonte dei Buonacossi, a passage ; nevertheless it was as a hunt­ bold, ambitious man, persuaded A l­ ing-ground only that he remembered berto, Count of Casalodi and Lord of these hills. Adam of Brescia, tor­ Mantua, to banish to their estates the mented with eternal thirst, remembers chief nobles of the city, and then, stir­ the hills of Romena, but only for the ring up a popular tumult, fell upon the sake of their sweet waters.” rest, laying waste their houses, and 55. Manto, daughter of Tiresias, sending them into exile or to prison, who fled from Thebes, the “ City of and thus greatly depopulating the city. Bacchus,” when it became subject to 110. Iliad, I. 69 : “ And Calchas, the tyranny o f Cleon. the son of Thestor, arose, the best of 63. Lake Benacus is now called the augurs, a man who knew the present, Lago di Garda. It is pleasantly alluded the future, and the past, and who had to by Claudian in his “ Old Man of guided the ships of the Achaeans to Verona,” who has seen “ the grove Ilium, by that power of prophecy grow old coeval with himself.” which Phcebus Apollo gave him.” “ Verona seems 112. JEneid, II. 114: “ In suspense To him remoter than the swarthy Ind; we send Eurypylus to consult the ora­ He deems the Lake Benacus as the shore cle of Apollo, and he brings back from O f the R ed Sea.” the shrine these mournful words : * O 65. The Pennine Alps, or Alpes Greeks, ye appeased the winds with Poena, watered by the brooklets blood and a virgin slain, when first ye ing into the Sarca, which is the princi­ came to the Trojan shores; your re­ pal tributary of Benaco. turn is to be sought by blood, and 69. The place where the three dio­ atonement made by a Grecian life.’ ” ceses of Trent, Brescia, and Verona I Dante calls V irgil’s poem a Tragedy, meet. 10 mark its sustained and lofty style, in v 70. At the outlet of the lake. (contrast with that of his own Comedy, o f which he has already spoken once, “ Mincius crowned with sea-green reeds.” Canto X V I. 138, and speaks again, Milton, Lycidas: — Canto XXI. 2; as if he wished the

“ Smooth-sliding Mincius, crowned with vocal reader to bear in mind that he is wear­ reeds.” ing the sock, and not the buskin. 82. Manto. Benvenuto da Imola 116. “ Michael Scott, the Magi­ 294 N otes

cian,” says Benvenuto da Imola, “ prac­ His hoary beard in silver rolled, tised divination at the court of Fred­ He seemed some seventy winters old; erick II., and dedicated to him a book A palmer’s amice wrapped him round, W ith a wrought Spanish baldric bound, on natural history, which I have seen, Like a pilgrim from beyond the sea; and in which among other things he His left hand held his book of might; treats of Astrology, then deemed in­ A silver cross was in his right; fallible...... It is said, moreover, that The lamp was placed beside his knee: he foresaw his own death, but could High and majestic was his look, not escape it. He had prognosticated A t which the fellest fiends had shook, And all unruffled was his face: — that he should be killed by the falling They trusted his soul had gotten grace.” of a small stone upon his head, and al­ ways wore an iron skull-cap under his See also Appendix to the Lay of the. hood, to prevent this disaster. But Last Minstrel. entering a church on the festival of 1 1 8. Guido Bonatti, a tiler and as^ Corpus Domini, he lowered his hood trologer o f Forli, who accompanied in sign o f veneration, not o f Christ, in Guido di Montefeltro when he marched whom he did not believe, but to de­ out of Forli to attack the French “ un­ ceive the common people, and a small der the great oak.” Villani, V II. 81, stone fell from aloft on his bare head.” in a passage in which the he and him The reader will recall the midnight get a little entangled, says: “ It is scene o f the monk o f St. M ary’s and said that the Count o f Montefeltro was William of Deloraine in Scott’s Lay of guided by divination and the advice of the Last Minstrel, Canto II.: — Guido Bonatti (a tiler who had be­ come an astrologer), or some other “ In these far climes it was my lot To meet the wondrous Michael Scott j strategy, and he gave the orders; and A wizard of such dreaded fame in this enterprise he gave him the gon­ That when, in Salamanca’s cave, falon and said, ‘ So long as a rag of Him listed his magic wand to wave, it remains, wherever thou bearest it, The bells would ring in Notre Dame! thou shalt be victorious’ ; but I rather Some of his skill he taught to m e; think his victories were owing to his And, warrior, I could say to thee The words that cleft Eildon hills in three, own wits and his mastery in war.” And bridled the Tweed with a curb of stone; Benvenuto da Imola reports the fol­ But to speak them were a deadly sin; lowing anecdote o f the same person­ And for having but thought them my heart ages. “ As the Count was standing one w ithin, day in the large and beautiful square of A treble penance must be done.” Forli, there came a rustic mountaineer / And the opening of the tomb to re­ and gave him a basket of pears. And cover the Magic Book : — when the Count said, ‘ Stay and sup

“ Before their eyes the wizard lay, with me,’ the rustic answered, ‘ My As if he had not been dead a day. Lord, I wish to > go home before it Inferno xxi. 295 rains; for infallibly there will be much luded me ? W ho has put me to shame ? * rain to-day.* T h e Count, wondering And for a long time this was a great at him, sent for Guido Bonatti, as a source o f merriment among the people.” great astrologer, and said to him, * Dost Asdente, a cobbler of Parma. “ I thou hear what this man says?’ Guido think he must have had acuteness o f answered, 'H e does not know what he mind, although illiterate; some having is saying; but wait a little.’ Guido the gift of prophecy by the inspira­ went to his study, and, having taken tion of Heaven.” Dante mentions him his astrolabe, observed the aspect of in the Convito, IV . 16, where he says the heavens. And on returning he said that, if nobility consisted in being known that it was impossible it should rain and talked about, “ Asdente the shoe­ that day. But the rustic obstinately af­ maker of Parma would be more noble firming what he had said, Guido asked than any of his fellow-citizens.” him, * How dost thou know ? ’ The 126. The moon setting in the sea rustic answered, * Because to-day my west of Seville. In the Italian popular ass, in coming out o f the stable, shook tradition to which Dante again alludes, his head and pricked up his ears, and Par. II. 51, the Man in the Moon is Cain whenever he does this, it is a certain with his Thorns. This belief seems to sign that the weather w ill soon change.* have been current too in England, Mid­ Then Guido replied, * Supposing this summer Night's Dream, III. 1 : “ Or to be so, how dost thou, know there else one must come in with a bush of will be much rain ? * ‘ Because,* said thorns and a lantern, and say he comes he, * my ass, with his ears pricked up, to disfigure, or to present, the person turned his head aside, and wheeled of moon-shine.” And again, V. 1 : about more than usual.* Then, with “ T h e man should be put into the lan­ the Count*s leave, the rustic departed tern. H ow is it else the man i’ the in haste, much fearing the rain, though moon ? ...... A ll that I have to say the weather was very clear. And .an is to tell you, that the lantern is the hour afterwards, lo, it began to thun­ moon ; I, the man in the moon ; this der, and there was a great down-pour­ thorn-bush, my thorn-bush; and this ing of waters, like a deluge. Then dog, my dog.” Guido began to cry out, with great in­ The time here indicated is'an hour dignation and derision, * W ho has de-* after sunrise on Saturday morning.

CANTO XXI.

1. T h e Fifth Bolgia, and the pun­ Canto of Virgil’s “ lofty Tragedy,” ishment o f Barrators, or “ Judges who Dante here speaks o f his own Comedy, take bribes for giving judgment.” as if to prepare the reader for the 2. Having spoken in the preceding scenes which are to follow, and for 296 Notes which he apologizes in Canto XXII. ing works o f art. O f these two, one is 14, by repeating the proverb, by far the oldest thing in , being “ In the church » not much younger than the battle of W ith saints, and in the tavern with carousers.” Marathon ; and thus, from the height 7. Of the Arsenal of Venice Mr. of twenty-three centuries, entitled to Hillard thus speaks in his Six Months look down upon St. Mark’s as the growth in Italy, I. 63 : — o f yesterday. T h e other two are non­ “ No reader of Dante will fail to pay descript animals, of the class commonly a visit to the Arsenal, from which, in called heraldic, and can be styled lions order to illustrate the terrors of his only by courtesy. In the armory are * Inferno,’ the great poet drew one of some very interesting objects, and none these striking and picturesque images, more so than the great standard of the characteristic alike of the boldness and Turkish admiral, made of crimson silk, the power of his genius, which never taken at the battle o f Lepanto, and hesitated to look for its materials among which Cervantes may have grasped the homely details and familiar inci­ with his unwounded hand. A few dents o f life. In his hands, the boil­ fragments of some o f the very galleys ing of pitch and the calking of seams that were engaged in that memorable ascend to the dignity o f poetry. Be­ fight are also preserved here.” sides, it is the most impressive and char­ 37. Malebranche, Evil-claws, a gen­ acteristic spot in Venice. T h e Ducal eral name for the devils. Palace and the Church o f St. Mark’s 38. Santa Zita, the Patron Saint of are symbols o f pride and power, but the Lucca, where the magistrates were strength of Venice resided here. Her called Elders, or Aldermen. In Flor­ whole history, for six hundred years, ence they bore the name of Priors. was here epitomized, and as she rose 41. A Barrator, in Dante’s use of and sunk, the hum o f labor here swelled the word, is to the State what a Simo- and subsided. Here was the index- niac is to the Church ; one who sells hand which marked the culmination justice, office, or employment. and decline of her greatness. Built Benvenuto says that Dante includes upon several small islands, which are Bontura with the rest, “ because he is united by a wall of two miles in cir­ speaking ironically, as who should say, cuit, its extent and completeness, de­ ‘ Bontura is the greatest barrator of all.’ cayed as it is, show what the naval For Bontura was an arch-barrator, who power of Venice once was, as the dis­ sagaciously led and managed the whole used armor o f a giant enables us to commune, and gave offices to whom he measure his stature and strength. Near wished. He likewise excluded whom the entrance are four marble lions, he wished.” brought by Morosini from the Pelopon­ 46. Bent down in the attitude of one nesus in 1685, two o f which are strik­ in prayer ; therefore the demons mock Inferno xxi. 297 him with the allusion to the Santo them ! ” In this crowd was Dante, Volto. “ a youth o f twenty-five,” says Ben­ 48. T he Santo Volto, or Holy Face, venuto da Imola. is a crucifix still preserved in the Ca­ no. Along the circular dike that thedral o f Lucca, and held in great separates one Bolgia from another. veneration by the people. T h e tra­ h i . This is a falsehood, as all the dition is that it is the work of Nico- bridges over the next Bolgia are broken. demus, who sculptured it from mem­ See Canto XXIII. 140. ory. 112. At the close of the preceding See also Sacchetti, Nov. 73, in which Canto the time is indicated as being an a preacher mocks at the Santo Volto hour after sunrise. Five hours later in the church o f Santa Croce at Flor­ would be noon, or the scriptural sixth ence. hour, the hour of the Crucifixion. 49. The Serchio flows near Lucca. Dante understands St. Luke to say that Shelley, in a poem called The Boat, on Christ died at this hour. Convito, IV . the Serchio, describes it as a “ torrent 23 : “ Luke says that it was about the fierce,” sixth hour when he died; that is, the

“ W hich fervid from its mountain source, culmination o f the day.” Add to the Shallow, smooth, and strong, doth come j “ one thousand and two hundred sixty- Swift as fire, tempestuously six years,” the thirty-four of Christ’s It sweeps into the affrighted sea. life on earth, and it gives the year 1300, In morning’s smile its eddies coil, the date o f the Infernal Pilgrimage. Its billows sparkle, toss, and boil, 114. Broken by the earthquake at Torturing all its quiet light Into columns fierce and bright.” the time of the Crucifixion, as the rock leading to the Circle of the Violent, 63. Canto IX . 22 : — Canto X II. 45 : — “ True is it once before I here below “ And at that moment this primeval rock Was conjured by that pitiless Erictho, Both here and elsewhere made such over­ W ho summoned back the shades unto their throw.” bodies.” As in the next Bolgia Hypocrites are 95. A fortified town on the Arno, punished, Dante couples them.with the in the Pisan territory. It was besieged Violent, by making the shock of the by the troops of Florence and Lucca earthquake more felt near them than in 1289, and capitulated. As the gar­ elsewhere. rison marched out under safe-guard, 125. T h e next crag or bridge, tra­ they were terrified by the shouts o f the versing the dikes and ditches. crowd, crying : “ Hang them ! hang 137. See Canto XVII. 75.

38 298 Notes

CANTO XXII.

I. The subject of* the preceding adoption of the Carroccio by the Flor­ Canto is continued in this. entines at this epoch, but it was long 5. Aretino, Vita di Dante, says, that before in use, and probably was copied Dante in his youth was present at the from the Milanese, as soon as Florence “ great and memorable battle, which became strong and independent enough befell at Campaldino, fighting valiantly to equip a national army. ■ Eribert, on horseback in the front rank.” It Archbishop o f Milan, seems to have was there he saw the vaunt-couriers been its author, for in the war between o f the Aretines, who began the battle Conrad I. and that city, besides other with such a vigorous charge, that they arrangements for military organization, routed the Florentine cavalry, and drove he is said to have finished by the in­ them back upon the infantry. vention of the Carroccio: it was a pious 7. Napier, Florentine Hist., I. 2 14 - and not impolitic imitation o f the ark 217, gives this description o f the Car- as it was carried before the Israelites. roccio and the Martinella of the Floren­ This vehicle is described, and also rep­ tines : — resented in ancient paintings, as a “ In order to give more dignity to four-wheeled oblong car, drawn by the national army and form a rallying two, four, or six bullocks: the car was point for the troops, there had been always red, and the bullocks, even to established a great car, called the Car- their hoofs, covered as above described, roccio, drawn by two beautiful oxen, but with red or white according to the which, carrying the Florentine stand­ faction ; the ensign staff was red, lofty, ard, generally accompanied them into and tapering, and surmounted by a cross the field. This car was painted ver­ or golden ball: on this, between two milion, the bullocks were covered with white fringed veils, hung the national scarlet cloth, and the driver, a man ox standard, and half-way down the mast, some consequence, was dressed in crim­ a crucifix. A platform ran out in front son, was exempt from taxation, and o f the car, spacious enough for a few served without pay ; these oxen were chosen men to defend it, while behind, maintained at the public charge in a on a corresponding space, the musicians public hospital, and the white and red with their military instruments gave banner of the city was spread above spirit to the com bat: mass was said on the car between two lofty spars. Those the Carroccio ere it quitted the city, taken at the battle o f Monteaperto are the surgeons were stationed near it, and still exhibited in Siena Cathedral as not unfrequently a chaplain also at­ trophies o f that fatal day. tended it to the field. T h e loss of “ Macchiavelli erroneously places the the Carroccio was a great disgrace, and Inferno x x i i . 299 betokened utter discomfiture ; it was 52. It is not very clear which King given to the most distinguished knight, Thibault is here meant, but it is proba­ who had a public salary and wore con­ bly King Thibault IV ., the crusader spicuous armor and a golden b e lt: the and poet, born 1201, died 1253. His best troops were stationed round it, poems have been published by Le- and there was frequently the hottest o f veque de la Ravalliere, under the title the fight...... o f Les Poesies du Roi de Navarre ; and “ Besides the Carroccio, the Floren­ in one o f his songs (Chanson 53) he tine army was accompanied by a great makes a*clerk address him as the Bons bell, called Martinella, or Campana Rois Thiebaut. Dante cites him two degli Asini, which, for thirty days be­ or three times in his Volg. Eloq., and fore hostilities began, tolled continually may have taken this expression from day and night from the arch of Porta his song, as he does afterwards, Canto Santa Maria, as a public declaration of XXVIII. 135, lo Re joves, the Re Gio- war, and, as the ancient chronicle hath vane, or Young King, from the songs it, ‘ for greatness of mind, that the o f Bertrand de Born. enemy might have full time to prepare 65. A Latian, that is to say, an Ital­ himself.* At the same time also, the ian. Carroccio was drawn from its place in 82. This Frate Gomita was a Sar­ the offices o f San Giovanni by the most dinian in the employ of Nino de’ Vis­ distinguished knights and noble vassals conti, judge in the jurisdiction of Gal- of the republic, and conducted in state lura, the “ gentle Judge N in o” o f Purg. to the Mercato Nuovo, where it was V III. 53. T h e frauds and peculations placed upon the circular stone still of the Friar brought him finally to the existing, and remained there until the gallows. Gallura is the northeastern army took the field. Then also the jurisdiction of the island. Martinella was removed from its sta­ 88. Don Michael Zanche was Sen­ tion to a wooden tower placed on an­ eschal of King Enzo of Sardinia, a nat­ other car, and with the Carroccio served ural son o f the Emperor Frederick II. to guide the troops by night and day. Dante gives him the title of Don, still ‘ And with these two pomps, of the used in Sardinia for Signore. After the Carroccio and Campana,’ says Males- death o f Enzo in prison at Bologna, pini, ‘ the pride of the old citizens, our in 1271, Don Michael won by fraud ancestors, was ruled.’ ” and flattery his widow Adelasia, and 15. Equivalent to the proverb,.“ Do became himself Lord of Logodoro, the in Rome as the Romans do.” northwestern jurisdiction, adjoining that 48. Giampolo, or , say all of Gallura. the commentators ; but nothing more T he gossip between the Friar and is known of him than his name, and the Seneschal, which is here described what he tells us here of his history. by Ciampolo, recalls the Vision o f the 300 Notes

Sardinian poet Araolla, a dialogue be­ “ Dulche, amara memoria de giornada* tween himself and Gavino Sambigucci, Fuggitivas cun doppia pena mia, Qui quanto plus 1’ istringo sunt passadas.” written in the soft dialect of Logodoro, a mixture of Italian, Spanish, and Latin, See Valery, Voyages en Corse et en • and beginning: — Sardaigne, II. 410.

CANTO X X I I I .

1. In this Sixth Bolgia the Hypo­ 63. Benvenuto speaks o f the cloaks crites are punished. o f the German monks as “ ill-fitting “ A painted people there below we found, and shapeless.” W ho went about with footsteps very slow, 66. T h e leaden cloaks which Fred­ Weeping and in their looks subdued and erick put upon malefactors were straw weary.” in comparison. T h e Emperor Fred­ Chaucer, Knightes Tale, 2780: — erick II. is said to have punished trai­ “ In his colde grave tors by wrapping them in lead, and Alone, withouten any compagnie.” throwing them into a heated caldron. And Gower, Conf. Amant. : — I can find no historic authority for this. “ T o muse in his philosophic It rests only on tradition ; and on the Sole withouten compaignie.” same authority the same punishment is 4. T h e Fables of uEsopy by Sir Roger said to have been inflicted in Scotland, L’Estrange, IV .: “ There fell out a and is thus described in the ballad of bloody quarrel once betwixt the Frogs “ Lord Soulis,” Scott’s Minstrelsy of the and the M ice, about the sovereignty of Scottish Border, IV . 256 : — the Fenns ; and whilst two of their “ On a circle o f stones they placed the pot, champions were disputing it at swords On a circle o f stones but barely nine j point, down comes a kite powdering They heated it red and fiery hot, upon them in the interim, and gobbles T ill the burnished brass did glimmer and shine. up both together, to part the fray.” 7. Both words signifying “ now” ; “ T hey roll’d him up in a sheet o f lead, mo, from the Latin modo; and issa, from A sheet of lead for a funeral pall, the Latin ipsa; meaning ipsa hora. And plunged him into the caldron red, “ T he Tuscans say mo,” remarks Ben­ And melted him, — lead, and bones, and all.” venuto, “ the Lombards issa” 37. “ When he is in a fright and W e get also a glimpse o f this punish­ hurry, and has a very steep place to go ment in Ducange, Glos. Capa Plumbea, down, Virgil has to carry him alto­ where he cites the case in which one gether,” says Mr. Ruskin. See Canto man tells another: “ I f our Holy Fa­ XII., Note 2. ther the Pope knew the life you are Inferno xxm. 301 leading, he would have you put to politics, that one should correct the death in a cloak o f lead.” other, and justice be equally adminis­ 67. Comedy of Errors, IV. 2 : — tered ; more especially as, in conjunc­ “ A devil in an everlasting garment hath him.” tion with the people, they were allowed to elect a deliberative council of thirty- 91. Bologna was renowned for its six citizens, belonging to the principal University ; and the speaker, who was trades without distinction o f party.” a Bolognese, is still mindful of his col­ Farther on he says that these two lege. Frati Gaudenti “ forfeited all public 95. Florence, the bellissima e famo- confidence by their peculation and sissima figlia di Romay as Dante calls it, hypocrisy.” And Villani, VII. 13: Convito, I. 3. “ Although they were of different par­ 103. 'An order of knighthood, es­ ties, under cover o f a false hypocrisy, tablished by Pope Urban IV. in 1261, they were of accord in seeking rather under the title o f “ Knights o f Santa their own private gains than the com­ Maria.” T h e name Frati Gaudenti, or mon good.” “ Jovial Friars,” was a nickname, be­ 108. A street in Florence, laid waste cause they lived in their own homes by the Guelfs. and were not bound by strict monastic 113. Hamlet, I. 2: — rules. Napier, Flor. Hist. I. 269, says:— “ A short time before this a new “ Nor windy suspiration o f forced breath.” order of religious knighthood under the 115. Caiaphas, the High - Priest, name of Frati Gaudenti began in Italy: who thought “ expediency ” the best it was not bound by vows of celibacy, thing. or any very severe regulations, but took 121. Annas, father-in-law of Caia­ the usual oaths to defend widows and phas. orphans and make peace between man 134. T he great outer circle surround­ and man: the founder was a Bolognese ing this division of the Inferno. gentleman, called Loderingo di Lian- 142. He may have heard in the lec­ dolo, who enjoyed a good reputation, tures o f the University an exposition and along with a brother of the same o f John viii. 44 : “ Ye are of your fa­ order, named Catalano di Malavolti, ther the devil, and the lusts of your one a Guelph and the other a Ghibel- father ye will do : he was a murderer line, was now invited to Florence by from the beginning, and abode not in Count Guido to execute conjointly the the truth, because there is no truth in office of Podestk. It was intended by him. When he speaketh a lie, he thus dividing the supreme authority speaketh of his own ; for he is. a liar, between two magistrates o f different and the father of it.” 302 Notes

CANTO XXIV.

1. The Seventh Bolgia, in which T h e Amphisbaena doubly armed appears Thieves are punished. A t either end a threatening head she rears j Raised on his active tail Pareas stands, 2. T h e sun enters Aquarius during And as he passes, furrows up the sands.” the last half of January, when the Equinox is near, and the hoar-frost in Milton, Par ad. Lost, X. 521 : — the morning looks like snow on the “ Dreadful was the din fields, but soon evaporates. I f Dante O f hissing through the hall, thick-swarming now had been a monk o f Monte Casino, W ith complicated monsters head and tail, illuminating a manuscript, he could not Scorpion, and asp, and amphisbaena dire, have made a more clerkly and scholas­ Cerastes horned, hydrus, and elops drear, tic flourish with his pen than this, nor And dipsas.” have painted a more beautiful picture O f the Phareas, Peter Comestor* than that which follows. T h e me­ Hist. Scholast., Gloss o f Genesis iii. 1, diaeval poets are full o f lovely descrip­ says : “ And this he (Lucifer) did by tions of Spring, which seems to blos­ means o f the serpent; for then it was som and sing through all their verses ; erect like man; being afterwards made but none is more beautiful or suggestive prostrate by the curse ; and it is said than this, though serving only as an the Phareas walks erect even to this illustration. day.’’ 21. In Canto I, O f the Amphisbasna, Brunetto La- 43. See what M r. Ruskin says o f tini, Tresor I. v. 140, says : “ The Dante as “ a notably bad climber,” Amphimenie is a kind o f serpent which Canto XII. Note 2. has two heads ; one in its right place, 55. T he ascent o f the Mount of and the other in the tail; and with each Purgatory. she can bite; and she runs swiftly, and 73. The next circular dike, dividing her eyes shine like candles.” the fosses. 93. Without a hiding-place, or the 86. This list o f serpents is from heliotrope, a precious stone o f great Lucan, Pbars. IX. 711, Rowe’s T r.: — virtue against poisons, and supposed to “ Slimy Chelyders the parched earth distain render the wearer invisible. Upon And trace a reeking furrow on the plain. this latter vulgar error is founded Boc­ Th e spotted Cenchris, rich in various dyes, caccio’s comical story o f Calandrino Shoots in a line, and forth directly flies. and his friends Bruno and Buffulmacco, Decam., Gior. V III., Nov.- 3. The Swimmer there the crystal stream pol­ 107. Brunetto Latini, Tresor I. v. lutes, And swift thro’ air the flying Javelin shoots. 164, says o f the Phoenix : “ He goeth to a good tree, savory and o f good Inferno xxiv. 303 odor/ and maketh a pile thereof, to away with two companions to the which he setteth fire, and entereth church o f San Giacomo, and, finding straightway into it toward the rising of its custodians absent, or asleep with the sun.” feasting and drinking, he entered the And Milton, Samson Agonist es> 1697: sacristy and robbed it o f all its pre­ “ So Virtue, given for lost, cious jewels. These he secreted in the Depressed and overthrown, as seemed, house of the notary, which was close at Like that self-begotten bird hand, thinking that on account of his In the Arabian woods embost, honest repute no suspicion would fall That no second knows nor third, And lay erewhile a holocaust, upon him. A certain Rampino was From out her ashy womb now teemed, arrested for the theft, and put to the Revives, reflourishes, then vigorous most torture ; when Vanni Fucci, having W hen most unactive deemed ; escaped to Monte Carelli, beyond the And, though her body die, her fame sur­ Florentine jurisdiction, sent a messen­ vives ger to Rampino’s father, confessing all A secular bird ages o f lives.” the circumstances of the crime. Here­ 114. Any obstruction, “ such as the upon the notary was seized “ on the epilepsy,” says Benvenuto. “ Gouts first Monday in Lent, as he was going and dropsies, catarrhs and oppilations,” to a sermon in the church o f the M i­ says Jeremy Taylor. norite Friars,” and was hanged for the 125. Vanni Fucci, who calls him­ theft, and Rampino set at liberty. self a mule, was a bastard son o f Fuc- No one has a good word to say for cio de’ Lazzari. A ll the commentators Vanni Fucci, except the Canonico paint him in the darkest colors. Dante Crescimbeni, who, in the Comentarj had known him as “ a man o f blood to the Istoria della Volg. Poesia, II. ii., and wrath,” and seems to wonder he is p. 99, counts him among the Italian here, and not in the circle o f the V io­ Poets, and speaks o f him as a man of lent, or of the Irascible. But his great great courage and gallantry, and a crime was the robbery o f a sacristy. leader of the Neri party of Pistoia, Benvenuto da Imola relates the story in in 1300. He smooths over Dante’s detail. He speaks o f him as a man of invectives by remarking that Dante depraved life, many o f whose misdeeds “ makes not too honorable mention of went unpunished, because he was of him in the Com edy” ; and quotes a noble family. Being banished from sonnet of his, which is pathetic from Pistoia for his crimes, he returned to its utter despair and self-reproach : — the city one night o f the Carnival, and “ For I have lost the good I might have had was in company with eighteen other Through little wit, and not o f mine own w ill.” revellers, among whom was Vanni della It is like the wail o f a lost soul, and Nona, a notary ; when, not content the same in tone as the words which with their insipid diversions, he stole Dante here puts into his mouth. Dante 3°4 Notes may have heard him utter similar self­ Malaspini, and the “ turbid clouds ” accusations while living, and seen on are the banished Neri'of Pistoia, whom his face the blush o f shame, which he is to gather about him to defeat covers it here. the Bianchi at Campo Piceno, the old 143. The Neri were banished from battle-field of Catiline. As Dante was Pistoia in 1301 ; the Bianchi, from of the Bianchi party, this prophecy of Florence in 1302. impending disaster and overthrow could 145. This vapor or lightning flash only give him pain. See Canto VI. from Val di Magra is the Marquis Note 65.

CANTO XXV.

1. The subject of the preceding Brunetto Latini, Tresor, I. i. 37, says: Canto is continued in this. “ T h ey found Catiline at the foot of 2. This vulgar gesture of contempt the mountains and he had-his army consists in thrusting the thumb between and his people in that place where the first and middle fingers. It is the is now the city of Pestoire. There same that the ass-driver made at Dante was Catiline conquered in battle, and in the street; Sacchetti, Nov. CX V .: he and his were slain; also a great “ When he was a little way off, he part o f the Romans were killed. And turned round to Dante, and, thrusting on account of the pestilence of that out his tongue and making a fig at him great slaughter the city was called Pes­ with his hand, said, ‘ Take that.’ ” toire.” Villani, V I. 5, says : “ On the Rock T h e Italian proverb says, Pistoia la of Carmignano there was a tower sev­ ferrigna, iron Pistoia, or Pistoia the enty yards high, and upon it two marble pitiless. arms, the hands of which were making 15. Capaneus, Canto XIV. 44. the figs at Florence.” Others say these 19. See Canto XIII. Note 9. hands were on a finger-post by the 25. Cacus was the classic .Giant road-side. Despair, who had his cave in Mount In the Merry Wives of Windsor, Aventine, and stole a part o f the herd 3, Pistol says : “ Convey, the wise it o f Geryon, which Hercules Tiad brought call; Steal! foh ; a fico for the phrase! ” to Italy. Virgil, JEneid, VIII., Dry- And Martino, in Beaumont and Fletch­ den’s T r.: — er’s Widow, V . 1 : — “ See yon huge cavern, yawning wide aiound, “ The fig o f everlasting obloquy Where still the shattered mountain spreads Go with him.” the ground : 10. Pistoia is supposed to have been That spacious hold grim Cacus once possessed, founded by the soldiers o f Catiline. Tremendous fiend ! half human, half a beast: Inferno xxv. 305

Deep, deep as hell, the dismal dungeon lay, “ Reason, in itself confounded, Dark and impervious to the beams o f day. Saw division grow together; W ith copious slaughter smoked the purple To themselves yet either neither, floor, Simple were so well compounded.” Pale heads hung horrid on the lofty door, 83. This black serpent is Guercio Dreadful to view ! and dropped with crimson gore.” Cavalcanti, who changes form with Buoso degli Abati. 28. Dante makes a Centaur o f Ca- 95. Lucan, Pbars., IX., Rowe’s cus, and separates him from the others T r. : — because he was fraudulent as well as “ But soon a fate more sad with new surprise violent. Virgil calls him only a mon­ From the first object turns their wondering ster, a half-man, Semibominis Caci fa ­ eyes. des. W retched Sabellus by a Seps was stung : 35. Agnello Brunelleschi, Buoso degli Fixed on his leg with deadly teeth it hung. Abati, and Puccio Sciancato. Sudden the soldier shook it from the wound, 38. The story of Cacus, which Vir­ Transfixed and nailed it to the barren ground. O f all the dire, destructive serpent race, gil was telling. None have so much of death, though none 43. Cianfa Donati, a Florentine no- • are less. bleman. He appears immediately, as a For straight around the part the skin w ith­ serpent with six feet, and fastens upon drew, Agnello Brunelleschi. Th e flesh and shrinking sinews backward flew, 65. Some commentators contend that And left the naked bones exposed to view. in this line papiro does not mean paper, Th e spreading poisons all the parts con­ but a lamp-wick made o f papyrus. This found, destroys the beauty and aptness o f the And the whole body sinks within the wound. image, and rather degrades Small relics of the mouldering mass were “ Th e leaf o f the reed, left, Which has grown through the clefts in the A t once o f substance as o f form bereft; ruins o f ages.” Dissolved, the whole in liquid poison ran, 73. These four lists, or hands, are And to a nauseous puddle shrunk the man. the fore feet o f the serpent and the arms of Agnello. So snows dissolved by southern breezes run, 76. Shakespeare, in the “ Additional So melts the wax before the noonday sun. Poems to Chester’s Love’s ,” Nor ends the wonder here j though flames are known Knight’s Shakespeare, V II. 193, speaks T o waste the flesh, yet still they spare the of “ Two distincts, division none ” ; and bone : continues: — Here none were left, no least remains were “ Property was thus appalled seen, That the self was not the same, No marks to show that once the man had Single nature’s double name been. Neither two nor one was called. 39 3°6 Notes

A fate of different kind Nasidius found,— ’ And V., Maynwaring’s T r.: — A burning Prester gave the deadly wound, “ T h e God so near, a chilly sweat possessed And straight a sudden flame began to spread, M y fainting limbs, at every pore expressed; And paint his visage with a glowing red. M y strength distilled in drops, my hair in W ith swift expansion swells the bloated skin,— dew, Naught but an undistinguished mass is seen, M y form was changed, and all my substance W hile the fair human form lies lost within j new ; Th e puffy poison spreads and heaves around, Each motion was a stream, and my whole Till all the man is in the monster drowned. frame * No more the steely plate his breast can stay, Turned to a fount, which still preserves my But yields, and gives the bursting poison way. name.’* No.t waters so, when fire the rage supplies, Bubbling on heaps, in boiling caldrons rise; See also Shelley’s Arethusa : — Nor swells the stretching canvas half so fast, “ Arethusa arose W hen the sails gather all the driving blast, From her couch o f snows Strain the tough yards, and bow the lofty mast. In the Acroceraunian mountains,— Th e various parts no longer now are known, From cloud and from crag One headless, formless heap remains alone.” With many a jag 97. Ovid, Metamorpb.y IV ., Eus- Shepherding her bright fountains. den’s T r.: — She leapt dowp the rocks, With her rainbow locks “ * Come, my , come, thy face recline Streaming among the streams ; Down to my face : still touch what still is Her steps paved with green mine. The downward ravine O let these hands, while hands, be gently W hich slopes to the western gleams; pressed, And gliding and springing, W hile yet the serpent has not all possessed.’ She went, ever singing, More he had spoke, but strove to speak in In murmurs as soft as sleep. vain, — The Earth seemed to love her, T h e forky tongue refused to tell his pain, And Heaven smiled above her, And learned in hissings only to complain. As she lingered towards the deep.*’ Then shrieked Harmonia, 4 Stay, my Cadmus, stay! 144. Some editions read la penna9 Glide not in such a monstrous shape away! the pen, instead o f la lingua, the Destruction, like impetuous waves, rolls on. tongue. Where are thy feet, thy legs, thy shoulders, 151. Gaville was a village in the gone ? Valdarno, where Guercio Cavalcanti Changed is thy visage, changed is all thy was murdered. T h e family took ven­ frame, — Cadmus is only Cadmus now in name. geance upon the inhabitants in the old Y e Gods ! my Cadmus to himself restore, Italian style, thus causing Gaville to Or me like him transform, — I ask no more.’ ” lament the murder. Inferno xxn. 307

C A N T O XXVI.

1. The Eighth Bolgia, in which o f San Piero Scheraggio, false to his Fraudulent Counsellors are punished. family and in concert with the Black 4. O f these five Florentine nobles, chiefs, consented to set fire to the dwell­ [Hianfa Donati, Agnello Brunelleschi, ings o f his own kinsmen in Orto-san- Buoso^ degli Abati, Puccio Sciancato, Michele ; the flames, assisted by fac­ md Guercio Cavalcanti, nothing is tion, spread rapidly over the richest cnown but what Dante tells us. Per- and most crowded part of Florence : laps that is enough. shops,warehouses, towers, private dwell­ 7. See Purg. IX . 13 : — ings and palaces, from the old to the “ Just at the hour when her sad lay begins new market-place, from Vacchereccia to . The little swallow, near unto the morning, Porta Santa Maria and the Ponte Vec- Perchance in -memory o f her former woes, chio, all was one broad sheet o f fire : And when the mind of man, a wanderer more than nineteen hundred houses More from tne flesh, and less by thought imprisoned, were consumed ; plunder and devasta­ Almost prophetic in its visions is.” tion revelled unchecked amongst the 9. The disasters soon to befall Flor- flames, whple races were reduced in ;nce, and in which even the neighbor- one moment to beggary, and vast ng town of Prato would rejoice, to magazines of the richest merchandise nention no others. These disasters were destroyed. T he Cavalcanti, one ,vere the fall of the wooden bridge of of the most opulent families in Flor­ Oarraia, with a crowd upon it, witness- ence, beheld their whole property con­ ng a M iracle^l^y on the ^rno ; the sumed, and lost all courage; they made strife of the Bianchi a n d ^ e r i; and the no attempt to save it, and, after almost jreat fire of 1304. See Villani, V III. gaining possession o f the city, were 70, 71. Napier, Florentine History, I. finally overcome by the opposite fac- J94, gives this account: — tion.” " Battles first began between the 10. Macbeth, I. 7 : — Cerchi and Giugni at their houses in “ If it were done when’t is done, then’t were :he Via del Garbo; they fought day well It were done quickly.” ind night, and with the aid o f the Ca­ valcanti and Antellesi the former sub- 23. See Parad. XII. 112: — lued all that quarter : a thousand rural “ O glorious stars ! O light impregnated idherents strengthened their bands, and With mighty virtue, from which I acknowl­ :hat day might have seen the N eri’s edge lestruction if an unforseen disaster had A ll o f my genius, whatsoe’er it be.” lot turned the scale. A certain dis­ 24. I may not balk or deprive my­ solute priest, called Neri Abati, prior self of this good. 3°8 Notes

34. T h e Prophet Elisha, 2 Kings 56. T h e most cunning o f the Greeks ii. 23 : — at the siege o f T ro y, now united in “ And he went up from thence unto their punishment, as before in warlike Bethel; and as he was going up by the wrath. way, there came forth little children 59. As Troy was overcome by the out of the city, and mocked him, and fraud of the wooden horse, it was in said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; a poetic sense the gateway by which go up, thou bald head. And he turned ^Eneas went forth to establish the Ro­ back, and looked on them, and cursed man empire in Italy. them in the name of the Lord : and 62. Deidamia was a daughter of Ly- there came forth two she-bears out of comedes of Scyros, at whose court the wood, and tare forty and two chil­ Ulysses found Achilles, disguised in dren of them.” woman’s attire, and enticed him away 35. 2 Kings ii. 1 1 : — to the siege of T ro y, telling him that, “ And it came to pass, as they still according to the oracle, the city could went on and talked, that, behold, there not be taken without him, but not appeared a chariot of fire, and horses telling him that, according to the o f fire, and parted them both asunder ; same oracle, he would lose his life and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into there. heaven.” 63. Ulysses and Diomed together 54. These two sons of CEdipus, Ete- stole the Palladium, or statue of Pallas, ocles and Polynices, were so hostile to at T ro y, the safeguard and protection each other, that, wLen after death their o f the city. bodies were burned on the same funeral 75. T h e Greeks scorned all other pile, the flames swayed apart, and the nations as “ outside barbarians.” Even ashes separated. Statius, Thebaid, X II. Virgil, a Latian, has to plead with 430, Lewis’s T r. : — Ulysses the merit of having praised him “ Again behold the brothers! When the in the ^Eneid. fire 108. The Pillars of Hercules at Pervades their limbs in many a curling the straits of Gibraltar ; Abyla on the spire, African shore, and Gibraltar on the The vast hill trembles, and the intruder’s corse Spanish; in which the -popular mind Is driven from the pile with sudden force. has lost its faith, except as symbolized The flames, dividing at the point, ascend, in the columns on the Spanish dollar, And at each other adverse rays extend. with the legend, Plus ultra. Thus when the ruler of the infernal state, Brunetto Latini, Tesor. IX. 119: — Pale-visaged Dis, commits to stern debate The sister-fiends, their brands, held forth to “ Appresso questo mare, fight, Vidi diritto stare Now clash, then part, and shed a transient Gran colonne, le quali light.” V i mise per segnali Inferno xxvi. 309

Ercules il potente, and without having acquired any no­ Per mostrare alia gente tions of astronomy, without any ac­ Che loco sia finata quaintance with the celestial charts of La terra e terminata.” Flamstead and De la Caille, he feels he 125. Odyssey, XI. 155: “ Well-fitted is not in Europe, when he sees the oars, which are also wings to ships.” immense constellation o f the Ship, or 127. Humboldt, Personal Narrative, the phosphorescent clouds of Magellan, II. 19, Miss Williams’s T r., has this arise on the horizon.” passage : “ From the time we entered 142. Compare Tennyson’s Ulysses: — the torrid zone, we were never wearied “ There lies the port; the vessel puffs her with admiring, every night, the beauty sail : of the Southern sky, which, as we ad­ There gloom the dark broad seas. M y ma­ vanced toward the south, opened new riners, Souls that have toiled, and wrought, and constellations to our view. W e feel thought with me,— an indescribable sensation, when, on That ever with a frolic welcome took approaching the equator, and particu­ Th e thunder and the sunshine, and opposed larly on passing from one hemisphere Free hearts, free foreheads, — you and I are to the other, we see those stars, which old} we have- contemplated from our in­ Old age hath yet his honor and his to il; Death closes a ll: but something ere the end, fancy, progressively sink, and finally Some work of noble note, may yet be done, disappear. Nothing awakens in the Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods. traveller a livelier remembrance of the The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks : immense distance by which he is sepa­ T h e long day wanes : the slow moon clim bs: rated from his country, than the aspect the deep of an unknown firmament. T h e group­ Moans round with many voices. Come, my ing of the stars o f the first magnitude, friends, ’T is not too late to seek a newer world. some scattered nebulae, rivalling in Push off, and, sitting well in order, smite splendor the milky way, and tracks o f T h e sounding furrows ; for my purpose holds space remarkable for their extreme T o sail beyond the sunset, and the baths blackness, give a particular physiog­ O f all the western stars, until I die. nomy to the Southern sky. This sight It may be that the gulfs will wash us down : fills with admiration even those who, It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the great Achilles, whom we knew. uninstructed in the branches of accurate T h o ’ much is taken, much abides ; and tho’ science, feel the same emotion of de­ W e are not now that strength which in old light in the contemplation of the days heavenly vault, as in the view of a Moved earth and heaven, that which we beautiful landscape, or a majestic site. are, we are; A traveller has no need of being a One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in botanist, to recognize the torrid zone will on the mere aspect o f its vegetation ; T o strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” 3io Notes

CANTO XXVII.

I. The subject of the preceding Whan he his peine shall beginne Canto is continued in this. Through fire, which that men put under. And all this did he for a wonder, 7. The story of the Brazen Bull of T hat whan a man for peine cride, Perillus is thus told in the Gesta Ro- T h e bull o f bras, which gapeth wide, manorum, Tale 48, Swan’s T r.: — It shulde seme, as though it were Dionysius records, that when Pe­ A bellewing in a mannes ere rillus desired to become an artificer o f And nought the crieng of a man. Phalaris, a cruel and tyrannical king But he, which alle sleightes can, who depopulated the kingdom, and was The devil, that lith in fast, Him that it cast hath overcast, guilty of many dreadful excesses, he That for a trespas, which he dede, presented to him, already too well He was put in the same stede. skilled in cruelty, a brazen bull, which And was him self the first o f alle, he had just constructed. In one o f its Which was into that peine falle sides there was a secret door, by which That he for other men ordeigneth.” those who were sentenced should enter 21. Virgil being a Lombard, Dante and be burnt to death. T h e idea was, suggests that, in giving Ulysses and that the sounds produced by the agony Diomed license to depart, he had o f the sufferer confined within should used the Lombard dialect, saying, resemble the roaring of a b u ll; and “ Issa /’ en va.” See Canto XXIII. thus, while nothing human struck the Note 7. ear, the mind should be unimpressed 28. T h e inhabitants o f the province by a feeling of mercy. The king of Romagna, of which Ravenna is the highly applauded the invention, and capital. said, * Friend, the value o f thy in­ 29. It is the spirit o f Guido da dustry is yet untried : more cruel even Montefeltro that speaks. T h e city of than the people account me, thou thy­ Montefeltro lies between Urbino and self shalt be the first victim.’ ” that part o f the Apennines in which Also in Gow er, Confes. Amant.> the Tiber rises. Count Guido was a V I I . : — famous warrior, and one o f the great

“ He had o f counseil many one, Ghibelline leaders. He tells his own Among the whiche there was one, story sufficiently in detail in what fol­ By name which Berillus hight. lows. And he bethought him how he might 40. Lord Byron, Don Juan> III. Unto the tirant do liking. 105, gives this description of Ravenna, And of his own ymagining with an allusion to Boccaccio’s Tale, Let forge and make a bulle o f bras, And on the side cast there was versified by Dryden under the title of A dore, where a man may inne, Theodore and Honoria : — Inferno xxvn. 3ii

“ Sweet hour of twilight! — in the solitude the French in 1282. See Canto XX. O f the pine forest, and the silent shore Note 118. W hich bounds Ravenna’s immemorial wood, 45. A Green Lion was the coat of Rooted where once the Adrian wave flow’d o’er, arms o f the Ordelaffi, then Lords of To where the last Caesarean fortress stood, Forli. Ever-green forest! which Boccaccio’s lore 46. Malatesta, father and son, ty­ And Dryden’s lay made haunted ground to rants o f Rimini, who murdered Mon­ me, tagna, a Ghibelline leader. Verrucchio How have I loved the twilight hour and thee! was their castle, near the city. Of

“ The shrill cicalas, people of the pine, this family were the husband and lover M aking their summer lives one ceaseless o f Francesca. Dante calls them mas­ song, tiffs, because o f their fierceness, making Were the sole echoes, save my steed’s and “ wimbles o f their teeth” in tearing and mine, devouring. And vesper-bell’s that rose the boughs 49. The cities of Faenza on the alon g; The spectre huntsman o f Onesti’s line, Lamone, and Imola on the Santerno. His hell-dogs, and their chase, and the T h ey were ruled by Mainardo, sur- fair throng, named “ the D evil,” whose coat of W hich learned from this example not to fly arms was a lion azure in a white field. From a true lover, shadowed my mind’s eye.” 52. The city of Cesena. Dryden’s Theodore and Honoria be­ 67. Milton, Parad. Lost, III. 479: — gins with these w ords: — “ Dying put on the weeds of Dominic, Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised.” “ O f all the cities in Romanian lands, The chief, and most renowned, Ravenna 70. Boniface VIII., who in line 85 stands, is called “ the Prince of the new Phari­ Adorned in ancient times with arms and sees.” arts, 81. Dante, Convito, IV . 28, quoting And rich inhabitants, with generous hearts.” Cicero, says ; “ Natural death is as it It was at Ravenna that Dante passed were a haven and rest to us after long the last years o f his life, and there he navigation. And the noble soul is died and was buried. like a good mariner; for he, when he 41. T h e arms o f Guido da Polenta, draws near the port, lowers his sails, Lord of Ravenna, Dante’s friend, and and enters it softly with feeble steer­ father (or nephew) o f Francesca da age.” Rimini, were an eagle half white in a 86. This Papal war, which was field of azure, and half red in a field of waged against Christians, and not against gold. Cervia is a small town some pagan Saracens, nor unbelieving Jews, twelve miles from Ravenna. nor against the renegades who had 43. The city of Forll, where Guido helped them at the siege of Acre, or da Montefeltro defeated and slaughtered given them aid and comfort by traffic, is 312 Notes thus described by M r. Norton, Travel Pope alone, but of the Church Uni­ and Study in Italy, p. 263 : — versal. Troops gathered against them “ This ‘ war near the Lateran* was a from all quarters o f Papal Italy. Their war with the great family of Colonna. lands were ravaged, and they them­ Two of the house were Cardinals. selves shut up within their stronghold; T h ey had been deceived in the elec­ but for a long time they held out in tion, and were rebellious under the rule their ancient high-walled mountain- of Boniface. The Cardinals of the town. It was to gain Palestrina that great Ghibelline house took no pains Boniface ‘ had war near the Lateran.’ to conceal their ill-will toward the T h e great church and palace of the Guelf Pope. Boniface, indeed, accused Lateran, standing on the summit of the them o f plotting with his enemies for * Ccelian H ill, close to the city wall, his overthrow. The Colonnas, finding overlooks the Campagna, which, in Rome unsafe, had withdrawn to their broken levels o f brown and green and strong town of Palestrina, whence they purple fields, reaches to the base of could issue forth at w ill for plunder, the encircling mountains. Twenty and where they could give shelter to miles away, crowning the top and those who shared in their hostility clinging to the side o f one o f the last toward the Pope. On the other hand, heights of the Sabine range, are the Boniface, not trusting himself in Rome, gray walls and roofs o f Palestrina. It withdrew to the secure height o f Or- was a far more conspicuous place at vieto, and thence, on the 14th o f D e­ the close o f the thirteenth century cember, 1297, issued a terrible bull than it is now ; for the great columns for a crusade against them, granting o f the famous temple o f Fortune still plenary indulgence to all, (such was rose above the town, and the ancient the Christian temper o f the times, and citadel kept watch over it from its high so literally were the violent seizing rbck. At length, in September, 1298, upon the kingdom of Heaven,) grant­ the Colonnas, reduced to the hardest ing plenary indulgence to all who extremities, became ready for peace. would take up arms against these rebel­ Boniface promised largely. The two lious sons of the Church and march Cardinals presented themselves before against their chief stronghold, their him at Rieti, in coarse brown dresses, (alto seggio ’ o f Palestrina. T h ey and and with ropes around their necks, in their adherents had already been ex­ token o f their repentance and submis­ communicated and put under the ban sion. T h e Pope gave them not only of the Church ; they had been stripped pardon and absolution, but hope of be­ o f all dignities and privileges ; their ing restored to their titles and posses­ property had been confiscated ; and sions. This was the ‘ lunga promessa they were now by this bull placed in con I1 attender corto for, while the the position of enemies, not of the Colonnas were retained near him, and Inferno xxvn. 3 i3 these deceptive hopes held out to them, vised that he should bathe himself in a Boniface sent the Bishop o f Orvieto to bath o f children’s blood, and three take possession o f Palestrina, and to thousand children were collected for destroy it utterly, leaving only the this purpose. And as he proceeded in church to stand as a monument above his chariot to the place where the bath its ruins. T h e work was done thor­ was to be prepared, the mothers of oughly ; — a plough was drawn across these children threw themselves in his the site of the unhappy town, and salt way with dishevelled hair, weeping, scattered in the furrow, that the land and crying aloud for mercy. Then might thenceforth be desolate. T h e Constantine was moved to tears, and inhabitants were removed from the he ordered his chariot to stop, and he mountain to the plain, and there forced * said to his nobles and ttf his attendants to build new homes for themselves, who were around him, ‘ Far better is which, in their turn, two years after­ it that I should die, than cause the wards, were thrown down and burned death of these innocents ! ’ And then by order of the implacable Pope. This he commanded that the children should last piece of malignity was accom­ be restored to their mothers with great plished in 1300, the year o f the Jubilee, gifts, in recompense of what they had the year in which Dante was in Rome, suffered; so they went away full of and in which he saw Guy o f Monte­ joy and gratitude, and the Emperor re­ feltro, the counsellor o f Boniface in turned to his palace. deceit, burning in H ell.” “ On that same night, as he lay 94. T he story of Sylvester and Con­ asleep, St. Peter and St. Paul appeared stantine is one o f the legends o f the at his bedside: and they stretched their Legenda Aurea. The part of it relat­ hands over him and said, ‘ Because ing to the Emperor’s baptism is thus thou hast feared to spill the innocent condensed by Mrs. Jameson in her blood, Jesus Christ has sent us to bring Sacred and Legendary Art, II. 313: — thee good counsel. Send to Sylvester, “ Sylvester was born at Rome of who lies hidden among the mountains, virtuous parents ; and af a time when and he shall show thee the pool in Constantine was still in the darkness which, having washed three times, thou of idolatry and persecuted the Chris­ shalt be clean from thy leprosy ; and tians, Sylvester, who had been elected henceforth thou shalt adore the God Bishop o f Rome, fled from the perse­ of the Christians, and thou shalt cease cution, and dwelt for some time in a to persecute and to oppress them.’ cavern, near the summit of Monte Then Constantine, awaking from this Calvo. While he lay there concealed, vision, sent his soldiers in search of the Emperor was attacked by a horri­ Sylvester. And when they took him, ble leprosy : and having called to him he supposed that it was to lead him the priests of his false gods, they ad- to death ; nevertheless he went cheer­ 40 3 H Notes fully : and when he appeared before Fro heven into the place come the Emperor, Constantine arose and Where that he toke his christendome, And ever amonge the holy tales saluted him, and said, * I would know Lich as they weren fisches scales o f thee who are those two gods who T h ey fellen from him now and efte, appeared to me in the visions o f the T ill that there was nothing belefte night?’ And Sylvester replied, ‘ They O f all this grete maladie.” were not gods, but the apostles of the 96. Montefeltro was in the Francis­ Lord Jesus Christ.’ Then Constantine can monastery at Assisi. desired that he would show him the 102. See Note 86 o f this Canto. effigies of these two apostles ; and Syl­ Dante calls the town Penestrino from vester sent for two pictures of St. Peter its Latin name Praeneste. and St. Paul, which were in the pos­ 105. Pope Celestine V., who made session o f certain pious Christians. “ the great refusal,” or abdication of tfie Constantine, having beheld them, saw papacy. See Canto III. Note 59. that they were the same who had ap­ 118. Gower, Confes. Amantis, I I .: — peared to him in his dream. Then Sylvester baptized him, and he came “ For shrifte stant of no value out o f the font cured o f his malady.” To him, that woll him nought vertue, Gower also, Confes. Amantis, II., To leve of vice the folie, For worde is wind, but the maistrie tells the story at length : — Is, that a man himself defende “ And in the while it was begunne O f thing whiche is nought to commende, A light, as though it were a sunne, Wherof ben fewe now a day.”

CANTO XXVIII.

i. T h e Ninth Bolgia, in which are

name o f “ Apostles,” and its chief, if coals were iron pincers, glowing at not only, heresy was a desire to bring white heat. These pincers were con­ back the Church to the simplicity of tinually applied to the various parts o f the apostolic times. In 1305 he with­ Dolcino’s naked body, all along his drew with his followers to the moun­ progress, till all his flesh was torn tains overlooking the Val Sesia in Pied­ piecemeal from his limbs : when every mont, where he was pursued and be­ bone was bare and the whole town sieged by the Church party, and, after was perambulated, they drove the stilt various fortunes of victory and defeat, living carcass back to the same arena, being reduced by “ stress o f snow ” and threw it on the burning mass in and famine, was taken prisoner, to­ which Margaret had been consumed.” gether with his companion, the beauti­ Farther on he adds : — ful Margaret of Trent. Both were “ Divested of all fables which igno­ burned at Vercelli on the 1st o f June, rance, prejudice, or open calumny in­ 1307. This “ last act o f the tragedy” volved it in, Dolcino’s scheme amount­ is thus described by M r. Mariotti, ed to nothing more than a reformation, Historical Memoir of Fra Dolcino and his not of religion, but of the Church; his Times, p. 290 : — aim was merely the destruction of the “ Margaret of Trent enjoyed the pre­ temporal power of the clergy, and he cedence due to her sex. She was first died for his country no less than for led out into a spot near Vercelli, bear­ his God. The wealth, arrogance, and ing the name o f ‘ Arena Servi,’ or more corruption of the Papal See appeared properly ‘ Arena Cervi,’ in the sands, to him, as it appeared to Dante, as it that is, of the torrent Cervo, which appeared to a thousand other patriots has its confluent with the Sesia at about before and after him, an eternal hin­ one mile above the city. A high stake drance to the union, peace, and welfare had been erected in a conspicuous part of Italy, as it was a perpetual check * o f the place. T o this she was fastened, upon the progress of the human race, and a pile o f wood was reared at her and a source of infinite scandal to the feet. The eyes of the inhabitants of piety o f earnest believers...... town and country were upon her. On “ To this clear mission of Italian her also were the eyes of Dolcino. protestantism Dolcino was true through­ She was burnt alive with slow fire. out. I f we bring the light of even the “ N ext came the turn o f Dolcino : clumsiest criticism to bear on his creed, he was seated high on a car drawn by even such as it has been summed up oxen, and thus paraded from street to by the ignorance or malignity of men street all over Vercelli. His torment­ who never utter his name without an ors were all around him. Beside the imprecation, we have reason to be as­ car, iron pots were carried, filled with tonished at the little we find in it that burning charcoals ; deep in the char­ may be construed into a wilful deviation 3i8 Notes from the strictest orthodoxy. Luther erine, as a steward or agent to the nuns, and Calvin would equally have repu­ and there accomplished the fascination diated him. He was neither a Pres­ and abduction o f the wealthy heiress.” byterian nor an Episcopalian, but an 59. Val Sesia, among whose moun­ uncompromising, stanch Papist. His tains Fra Dolcino was taken prisoner, was, most eminently, the heresy of is in the diocese o f Novara. those whom we have designated as 73. A Bolognese, who stirred up c literal Christians.’ He would have dissensions among the citizens. the Gospel strictly — perhaps blindly 74. The plain of Lombardy sloping — adhered to. Neither was that, in down two hundred miles and more, the abstract, an unpardonable offence from Vercelli in Piedmont to Marcabo, in the eyes o f the Romanism of those a village near Ravenna. times — witness St. Francis and his 76. Guido del Cassero and Angio- early flock — provided he had limited lello da Cagnano, two honorable citi­ himself to make Gospel-law binding zens of Fano, going to Rimini by upon himself and his followers only. invitation of Malatestino, were by his But Dolcino must needs enforce it upon order thrown into the sea and drowned, the whole Christian community, en­ as here prophesied or narrated, near force it especially on those who set up the village of Cattolica on the Adriatic. as teachers of the Gospel, on those 85. Malatestino had lost one eye. who laid claim to Apostolical succes­ 86. Rimini. sion. That was the error that damned 89. Focara is a headland near Cat­ him .” tolica, famous for dangerous winds, to O f Margaret he still farther says, be preserved from which mariners of­ referring to some old manuscript as fered up vows and prayers. These authority : — men will not need to do i t ; they will “ She was known by the emphatic not reach that cape. appellation of Margaret the Beautiful. 102. Curio, the banished Tribune, It is added, that she was an orphan, who, fleeing to Caesar’s camp on the heiress of noble parents, and had been Rubicon, urged him to advance upon placed for her education in a monastery Rome. Lucan, Pharsalia, I., Rowe’s o f St. Catherine in T r e n t; that there T r. : —

Dolcino — who had also been a monk, “ T o Caesar’s camp the busy Curio fled 5 or at least a novice, in a convent of Curio, a speaker turbulent and bold, the Order of the Humiliati, in the O f venal eloquence, that served for gold, same town, and had been expelled in And principles that might be bought and sold. consequence either of his heretic te­ T o Caesar thus, while thousand cares infest, nets, or of immoral conduct — suc­ Revolving round the warrior’s anxious breast, ceeded nevertheless in becoming do­ His speech the ready orator addressed. % mesticated in the nunnery of St. Cath­ Inferno xxvui. / ( l 319

* Haste, then, thy towering eagles on their way; 0f his inheritance, had^fcio't Jbeen for- W hen fair occasion calls, ’t is fatal to delay.’ ” the king of England. He was always • 106. Mosca degl’ Uberti, or dei at war with all his neighbors, with the Lamberti, who, by advising the mur­ Count o f Perigueux, and with the V is­ der o f Buondelmonte, gave rise to the count o f Limoges, and with his brother parties of Guelf and Ghibelline, which Constantine, and with Richard, when so long divided Florence. See Canto he was Count of Poitou. He was a X. Note 51. good cavalier, and a good warrior, and 134. Bertrand de Born, the turbu­ a good lover, and a good troubadour ; lent Troubadour o f the last half o f the and well informed and well spoken ; twelfth century, was alike skilful with and knew well how to bear good and his pen and his sword, and passed his evil fortune. Whenever he wished, he life in alternately singing and fighting, was master of King Henry of England and in stirring up dissension and strife and of his son; but always desired that among his neighbors. He is the author father and son should be at war with of that spirited war-song, well known each other, and one brother with the to all readers of Troubadour verse, be­ other. And he always wished that the ginning king of France and the king of Eng­ “ T h e beautiful spring delights me well, land should be at variance ; and if there W hen flowers and leaves are growing ; were either peace or truce, straightway And it pleases my heart to hear the swell he sought and endeavored by his sat­ O f the birds’ sweet chorus flowing ires to undo the peace, and to show In the echoing wood ; And I love to see, all scattered around, how each was dishonored by it. And Pavilions and tents on the martial ground ; he had great advantages and great mis­ And my spirit finds it good, fortunes by thus exciting feuds between T o see, on the level plains beyond them. H e wrote many satires, but Gay knights and steeds caparison’d ” ; — only two songs. T h e king of Aragon and ending with a challenge to Richard called the songs o f Giraud de Borneil Cceur de Lion, telling his minstrel Pa- the wives o f Bertrand de Born’s sat­ piol to go ires. And he who sang for him bore “ And tell the Lord of ‘ Yes and No ’ the name of Papiol. And he was Th at peace already too long has been.” handsome and courteous ; and called <( Bertrand de Born,” says the old the Count o f Britany, Rassa ; and the Provencal biography, published by king o f England, Yes and N o ; and his Raynouard, Cboix de Poesies Originates son, the young king, Marinier. And des Troubadours, V . 76, “ was a chate- he set his whole heart on fomenting lain of the bishopric of Perigueux, Vis­ w ar; and embroiled the father and son count of Hautefort, a castle with nearly of England, until the young king was a thousand retainers. H e had a broth­ killed by an arrow in a castle o f Ber­ er, and would have dispossessed him trand de Born. 320 Notes

“ And Bertrand used to boast that terest; beginning with the old castle in he had more wits than he needed. Gascony, “ the dames, the cavaliers, And when the king took him prisoner, the arms, the loves, the courtesy, the he asked him, ‘ Have you all your wits, bold emprise ” ; and ending in a Cis­ for you will need them now ? * And tercian convent, among friars and fast­ he answered, ‘ I lost them all when the ings and penitence and prayers. young king died.’ Then the king 135. A vast majority o f manuscripts wept, and pardoned him, and gave him and printed editions read in this line, robes, and lands, and honors. And he Re Giovanni, King John, instead of Re lived long and became a Cistercian Giovane, the Young King. Even Boc­ monk.” caccio’s copy, which he wrote out with Fauriel, Histoire de la Poesie Proven- his own hand for Petrarca, has Re Gio­ $ale, Adler’s Tr., p. 483, quoting part vanni. Out of seventy-nine Codici o f this passage, adds : — examined by Barlow, he says, Study of “ In this notice the old biographer the Divina Commedia, p. 153, “ Only indicates the dominant trait of Ber­ five were found with the correct read­ trand’s character very distinctly; it in g — re giovane...... T h e reading re was an unbridled passion for war. He giovane is not found in any of the early loved it not only as the occasion for editions, nor is it noticed by any of exhibiting proofs of valor, for acquir­ the early commentators.” See also ing power, ancf for winning glory, but Ginguen^, Hist. Litt. de V Italie, II. also, and even more on account o f its 586, where the subject is elaborately hazards, on account ot the exaltation o f discussed, and the note o f Biagioli, courage and of life which it produced, who takes the opposite side o f the nay, even for the sake o f the tumult, question. the disorders, and the evils which are Henry II. o f England had four sons, accustomed to follow in its train. Ber­ all of whom were more or less rebel­ trand de Born is the ideal of the un­ lious against him. T h ey were, Henry, disciplined and adventuresome warrior surnamed Curt-Mantle, and called by o f the Middle Age, rather than that of the Troubadours and novelists o f his the chevalier in the proper sense o f the time “ T h e Young K ing,” because he term.” was crowned during his father’s life ; See also M illot, Hist. Litt. des Trou- . Richard Coeur-de-Lion, Count of Gui- badours, I. 210, and Hist. Litt. de la enne and Poitou ; Geoffroy, Duke of France par les Benedictins de St. Maur, Brittany; and John Lackland. Henry continuation, XVII. 425. was the only one o f these who bore Bertrand de Born, if not the best of the title of king at the time in ques­ the Troubadours, is the most prominent tion. Bertrand de Born was on terms and striking character *&mong them. o f intimacy with him, and speaks o f His life is a drama fuli of romantic in­ him in his poems as lo Reys joves, Inferno xxvm. 321 sometimes lauding, and sometimes re­ or die ! ” I think we must answer as proving him. One o f the best o f these Shallow does, “ Under King Harry.” poems is his Complaintey on the death 137. See 2 Samuel xvii. 1, 2 : — of Henry, which took place in 1183, “ Moreover, Ahithophel said unto from disease, say some accounts, from Absalom, let me now choose out twelve the bolt o f a crossbow say others. He thousand men, and I w ill arise and pur­ complains that he has lost “ the best sue after David this night. And I w ill king that was ever born of mother” ; come upon him while he is weary and and goes on to say, “ King o f the cour­ weak-handed, and will make him afraid; teous, and emperor o f the valiant, you and all the people that are with him shall would have been Seigneur if you had flee; and I will smite the king only.” lived longer ; for you bore the name Dryden, in his poem of Absalom and o f the Young King, and were the chief Achitophely gives this portrait o f the and peer o f youth. A y ! hauberk and latter : — sword, and beautiful buckler, helmet “ Of these the false Achitophel was first; and gonfalon, and purpoint and sark, A name to all succeeding ages curst; For close designs and crooked counsels fit; and joy and love, there is none to Sagacious, bold, and turbulent o f wit j maintain them ! ” See Raynouard, Restless, unfix’d in principles and place ; Choix de Poesies, IV . 49. In power unpleas’d, impatient o f disgrace : In the Bible Guiot de Provins, Bar- A fiery soul, which, working out its way, bazan, Fabliaux et Contes, II. 518, he Fretted the pigmy body to decay, is spoken of as And o’er inform’d the tenement o f clay.” “ li jones Rois, Then he puts into the mouth o f Li proux, li saiges, li cortois.” Achitophel the following description In the Cento Novelle Antiche, X V III., of Absalom : — XIX., XXXV., he is called il Re Gio- a Auspicious prince, at whose nativity Some royal planet rul’d the southern sky; vane; and in Roger de Wendover’s T h y longing country’s darling and desire ; Flowers of History, A. D. 1179 - 1183, Their cloudy pillar and their guardian fire; “ Henry the Young King.” Their second Moses, whose extended wand It was to him that Bertrand de Born Divides the seas, and shows the promised “ gave the evil counsels,” embroiling lan d ; him^with his father and his brothers. W hose dawning day, in every distant age, Has exercised the sacred prophet’s rage; Therefore, when the commentators The people’s prayer, the glad diviner’s theme, challenge us as Pistol does Shallow, The young men’s vision, and the old men’s “ Under which king, Bezonian ? speak dream.”

4 1 322 Notes

CANTO XXIX.

j . T h e Tenth and last “ cloister of zo, was in Dante’s time marshy and Malebolge,” where pestilential. Now, by the effect of “ Justice infallible drainage, it is one o f the most beauti­ Punishes forgers,” ful and fruitful o f the Tuscan valleys. and falsifiers of all kinds. This Canto T h e Maremma was and is notoriously is devoted to the alchemists. unhealthy ; see Canto X III. Note 9, 27. Geri del Bello was a disrepu­ and Sardinia would seem to have shared table member of the Alighieri family, its ill repute. and was murdered by one of the 57. Forgers or falsifiers in a general Sacchetti. His death was afterwards sense. T h e “ false semblaunt ” o f avenged by his brother, who in turn Gower, Confes. Amant., I I . : — slew one o f the Sacchetti at the door “ O f fals semblaunt if I shall telle, o f his house. Above all other it is the welle 29. Bertrand de Born. Out of the which deceipte floweth.” 35. Like the ghost of Ajax in the T h ey are registered here on earth to Odyssey, XI. “ He answered me not be punished hereafter. at all, but went to Erebus amongst the 59. T h e plague o f JEgma. is de­ other souls o f the dead.” scribed by Ovid, Metamorpb. V II., 36. Dante seems to share the feeling Stonestreet’s T r .: — of the Italian vendetta, which required “ Their black dry tongues are swelled, and retaliation from some member o f the scarce can move, injured family. And short thick sighs from panting lungs “ Among the Italians of this age,” are drove. says Napier, Florentine Hist., I.C h .V II., T h ey gape for air, with flatt’ring hopes t’ abate “ and for centuries after, private offence Their raging flames, but that augments their was never forgotten until revenged, and heat. No bed, no cov’ring can the wretches bear, generally involved a succession of mu­ But on the ground, exposed to open air, tual injuries ; vengeance was not only T hey lie, and hope to find a pleasing^cool- considered lawful and just, but a posi­ ness there. tive duty, dishonorable to omit; and, T h e suff’ring earth, with that oppression curst, as may be learned from ancient private Returns the heat which they imparted firet. journals, it was sometimes allowed to sleep for five-and-thirty years, and then “ Here one, with fainting steps, does slowly creep suddenly struck a victim who perhaps O ’er heaps o f dead, and straight augments the had not yet seen the light when the heap 5 original injury was inflicted.” Another, while his strength and tongue pre­ 46. T he Val di Chiana, near Arez­ vailed, Inferno xxix. 323

Bewails bis friend, and falls him self bewailed 3 ment and penetration of their Floren­ This with imploring looks surveys the skies, tine neighbors; who, nationally severe, The last dear office of his closing eyes, call a nail without a head chiodo Sa- But finds the Heav’ns implacable, and dies.” nese. The accomplished Signora Ri- The birth of the Myrmidons, “ who nieri told me, that her father, while still retain the thrift o f ants, though Governor of Siena, was once stopped now transformed to men,” is thus given in his carriage by a crowd at Florence, in the same book : — where the mob, recognizing him, called

“ As many ants the num’rous branches bear, o u t: ‘ Lasciate passare il Governatore The same their labor, and their frugal care j de’ matti.' A native o f Siena is pres­ The branches too alike commotion found, ently known at Florence ; for his very And shook th’ industrious creatures on the walk, being formed to a hilly town, ground, detects him on the plain.” Who by degrees (what’s scarce to be be­ lieved) 125. The persons here mentioned A nobler form and larger bulk received, gain a kind of immortality from Dante’s And on the earth walked an unusual pace, verse. The Stricca, or Baldastricca, W ith manly strides, and an erected face; was a lawyer of Siena; and Niccolo dei Their num’rous legs, and former color lost, Salimbeni, or Bonsignori, introduced The insects could a human figure boast.” the fashion o f stuffing pheasants with 88. Latian, or Italian ; any one o f cloves, or, as Benvenuto says, o f roast­ the Latin race. ing them at a fire o f cloves. Though 109. T h e speaker is a certain Grif- Dante mentions them apart, they seem, folino, an alchemist of Arezzo, who like the two others named afterwards, practised upon the credulity of Albert, to have been members of the Brigata a natural son o f the Bishop o f Siena. Spendereccia, or Prodigal Club, of Siena, For this he was burned; but was “ con­ whose extravagances are recorded by demned to the last Bolgia o f the ten for Benvenuto da Imola. This club con­ 'alchemy.” sisted of “ twelve very rich young n 6. The inventor of the Cretan gentlemen, who took it into their heads labyrinth. Ovid, Metamorpb. V III.: — to do things that would make a great “ Great Daedalus of Athens was the man part of the world wonder.” Accord­ Who made the draught, and formed the ingly each contributed eighteen thou­ wondrous plan.” sand golden florins to a common fund, N.ot being able to find his way out o f amounting in all to two hundred and the labyrinth, he made wings for him­ sixteen thousand florins. T h ey built self and his son Icarus, and escaped by a palace, in which each member had a flight. splendid chamber, and they gave sump­ 122. Speaking of the people of Sie­ tuous dinners and suppers; ending their na, Forsyth, Italy, 532, says: “ Vain, banquets sometimes by throwing all the flighty, fanciful, they want the judg­ dishes, table-ornaments, and knives of 324 Notes gold and silver out o f the window. Quails struck i’ the flight; nags mettled to the “ This silly institution,” continues Ben­ whip ; Hart-hounds, hare-hounds, and blood-hounds venuto, “ lasted only ten months, the even so ; treasury being exhausted, and the And o’er that realm, a crown for Niccolo, wretched members became the fable Whose praise in Siena springs from lip to lip. and laughing-stock of all the world.” Tingoccio, Atuin di Togno, and Ancaian, In honor of this club, Folgore da Bartolo, and Mugaro, and Faenot, San Geminiano, a clever poet of the Who well might pass for children of King Ban, day (1260), wrote a series o f twelve Courteous and valiant more than Lancelot, — convivial sonnets, one for each month To each, God speed ! How worthy every o f the year, with Dedication and Con­ man clusion. A translation of these sonnets To hold high tournament in Camelot.” may be found in D. G. Rossetti’s Early 136. “ This Capocchio,” says the Italian Poets. T h e Dedication runs as Ottimoy “ was a very subtle alchemist; follows : — and because he was burned for prac­ “ Unto the blithe and lordly Fellowship, tising alchemy in Siena, he exhibits his (I know not where, but wheresoe’er, I know, Lordly and blithe,) be greeting; and thereto, hatred to the Sienese, and gives us to Dogs, hawks, and a full purse wherein to dip; understand that the author knew him.”

CANTO XXX.

1. In this Canto the same Bolgia is The helpless infant flung against the wall. continued, with different kinds of Falsi­ The same mad poison in the mother wrought; fiers. Young Melicerta in her arms she caught, And with disordered tresses, howling, flies, 4. Athamas, king of Thebes and ‘ O Bacchus, Evoe, Bacchus ! ’ loud she cries. husband of , daughter of Cadmus. The name of Bacchus Juno laughed to hear, His madness is thus described by Ovid, And said, ‘ Thy foster-god has cost thee Metamorpb. IV., Eusden’s T r.: — dear.’ A rock there stood, whose side the beating “ New Athamas cries out, his reason fled, waves ‘ Here, fellow-hunters, let the toils be spread. Had long consumed, and hollowed into I saw a lioness, in quest of- food, caves. W ith her two young, run roaring in this wood.’ The head shot forwards in a bending steep, Again the fancied savages were seen, And cast a dreadful covert o’er the deep. As thro’ his palace still he chased his queen; The wretched Ino, on destruction bent, Then tore Learchus from her breast: the child Climbed up the cliff, — such strength her fury Stretched little arms, and on its father len t : sm iled, — Thence with her guiltless boy, who wept in A father now no more, — who now begun vain, Around his head to whirl his giddy son, At one bold spring she plunged into the And, quite insensible to nature’s call, m ain.” Inferno xxx. 325

16. Hecuba, wife of Priam of Troy, illustrious house, was nevertheless like and mother o f Polyxena and Polydorus. other noblemen o f his time, and by Ovid, XIII., Stanyan’s T r .: — means o f thefts had greatly increased

“ When on the banks her son in ghastly hue his patrimony. When the hour of Transfixed with Thracian arrows strikes her death drew near, the sting of con­ view , science caused him to make a will in The matrons shrieked ; her big swoln grief which he gave fat legacies to many surpassed people; whereupon his son Simon, The power of utterance ; she stood aghast j She had nor speech, nor tears to give relief: (the Ottimo says his nephew,) think­ Excess of woe suppressed the rising grief. ing himself enormously aggrieved, sub­ Lifeless as stone, on earth she fix’d her eyes; orned Vanni Schicchi dei Cavalcanti, And then look’d up to Heav’n with wild who got into Buoso’s bed, and made surprise, a will in opposition to the other. Now she contemplates o’er with sad delight Gianni much resembled Buoso.” In Her son’s pale visage; then her aking sight dwells on his wounds : she varies thus by this will Gianni Schicchi did not for­ turns, get himself, while making Simon heir ; Till with collected rage at length she burns, for, according to the Ottimo, he put Wild as the mother-lion, when among this clause into it: “ T o Gianni Schic­ The haunts of prey she seeks her ravish&d chi I bequeath my mare.” This was young : Swift flies the ravisher; she marks his trace, the “ lady o f the herd,” and Benvenuto And by the print directs her anxious chase. adds, “ none more beautiful was to be So Hecuba with mingled grief and rage found in Tuscany; and it was valued at Pursues the king, regardless of her age. a thousand florins.” 61. Messer Adamo, a false-coiner Fastens her forky fingers in his eyes; Tears out the rooted balls ; her rage pursues, of Brescia, who at the instigation of And in the hollow orbs her hand imbrues. the Counts Guido, Alessandro, and ‘‘ The Thracians, fired at this inhuman Aghinolfo of Romena, counterfeited scene, the golden florin of Florence, which W ith darts and stones assail the frantic queen. bore on one side a lily, and on the She snarls and growls, nor in an human tone; other the figure of John the Baptist. Then bites impatient at the bounding stone; Extends her jaws, as she her voice would raise 64. Tasso, Gerusalemme, X III. 60, To keen invectives in her wonted phrase ; Fairfax’s T r.: —

But barks, and thence the yelping brute be­ “ He that the gliding rivers erst had seen trays.” Adown their verdant channels gently rolled, 31. GrifFolino d’Arezzo, mentioned Or falling streams, which to the valleys green, in Canto X X IX . 109. Distilled from tops of Alpine mountains cold, 42. T h e same “ mad sprite,” Gianni Those he desired in vain, new torments been Augmented thus with wish of comforts old; Schicchi, mentioned in line 32. “ Buo- Those waters cool he drank in vain conceit, so Donati of Florence,” says Benve­ Which more increased his thirst, increased nuto, “ although a nobleman and o f an his heat.” 326 Notes

65. The upper valley of the Arno fount was known only to so few, that is in the province of Cassentino. Dante, who wrote for the Italian peo­ Quoting these three lines, Ampbre, ple generally, can scarcely be thought Voyage Dantesque, 246, says : “ In to have meant this, when the famous these untranslatable verses, there is a Fonte Branda at Siena was, at least by feeling of humid freshness, which al­ name, familiar to them all, and formed most makes one shudder. I owe it to an image more in character with the truth to say, that the Cassentine was a insatiable thirst of Master Adam.” great deal less fresh and less verdant in Poetically the question is o f slight reality than in the poetry of Dante, importance ; for, as Fluellen says, and that in the midst o f the aridity “ There is a river in Macedon, and which surrounded me, this poetry, by there is also moreover a river at Mon­ its very perfection, made one feel mouth, ...... and there is salmons in something of the punishment of Master both.” Adam.” 86. This line and line 11 o f Canto 73. Forsyth, Italy, 116, says: “ The XXIX. are cited by Gabrielle Rossetti castle of Romena, mentioned in these in confirmation of his theory of the verses, now stands in ruins on a pre­ “ Principal Allegory of the Inferno,” cipice about a mile from our inn, and that the city of Dis is Rome. He not far off is a spring which the peas­ says, Spirito Antipapale, I. 62, Miss ants call Fonte Branda. Might I pre­ Ward’s Tr. : — sume to differ from his commentators, “ This well is surrounded by a high Dante, in- my opinion, does not mean wall, and the wall by a vast trench ; the great fountain o f Siena, but rather the circuit of the trench is twenty-two this obscure spring ; which, though miles, and that of the wall eleven less known to the world, was an object miles. Now the outward trench of more familiar to the poet himself, who the walls of Rome (whether real or took refuge here from proscription, imaginary we say not) was reckoned and an image more natural to the by Dante’s contemporaries to be ex­ coiner who was burnt on the spot.” actly twenty-two miles ; and the walls Ampere is of the same opinion, o f the city were then, and still are, Voyage Dantesque, 246: “ T h e Fonte eleven miles round. Hence it is Branda, mentioned by Master Adam, clear, that the wicked time which is assuredly the fountain thus named, looks into *Rome, as into a mirror, which still flows not far from the sees there the corrupt place which is tower of Romena, between the place the final goal to its waters or peo­ o f the crime and that o f its punish­ ple, that is, the figurative Rome, ment.” ( dread seat o f D is.’ ” On the other hand, Mr. Barlow, The trench here spoken of is the Contributions, remarks : “ This little last trench of Malebolge. Dante men­ Inferno xxxi. 327 tions no wall about' the well; only “ O false dissimilour, O Greek Sinon, giants standing round it like towers. That broughtest Troye at utterly to sorwe.” 97. Potiphar’s wife. 103. T h e disease o f tympanites is so 98. V irgil’s “ perjured Sinon,” the called “ because the abdomen is dis­ Greek who persuaded the Trojans to tended with wind, and sounds like a accept the wooden horse, telling them drum when struck.” it was meant to protect the city, in 128. Ovid, Metamorph. I I I .: — lieu o f the statue o f Pallas, stolen by “ A fountain in a darksome wood, Diomed and Ulysses. Nor stained with falling leaves nor rising Chaucer, Nonnes Preestes T a le: — m ud.”

CANTO XXXI.

1. This Canto describes the Plain yond the pass. This horn was en­ o f the Giants, between Malebolge and dued with such power, that all other the mouth of the Infernal Pit. horns were split by its sound ; and it 4. Iliad, XVI. : “ A Pelion ash, is said that Orlando at that time blew which Chiron gave to his (Achilles’) it with such vehemence, that he burst father, cut from the top of Mount the veins and nerves o f his neck. T h e Pelion, to be the death of heroes.” sound reached the king’s ears, who lay Chaucer, Squieres Tale : — encamped in the valley still called by

“ And of Achilles for his queinte spere, his name, about eight miles from Ron- For he coude with it bothe hele and drere.” ceval, towards Gascony, being carried so far by supernatural power. Charles And Shakespeare, in King Henry the would have flown to his succor, but Sixth, V. i. : — was prevented by Ganalon, who, con­ “ Whose smile and frown, like to Achilles* scious o f Orlando’s sufferings, insin­ spear, Is able with the change to kill and cure.” uated it was usual with him to sound his horn on light occasions. ‘ He is, 16. The battle of Roncesvalles, perhaps,’ said he, ‘ pursuing some wild When Charlemain with all his peerage fell beast, and the sound echoes through By Fontarabia.” the woods; it will be fruitless, there­ 18. Archbishop Turpih, Chronicle, fore, to seek him.’ O wicked traitor, X X III., Rodd’s T r., thus describes the deceitful as Judas I W hat dost thou blowing of Orlando’s horn : — merit ? ” “ He now blew a loud blast with his . Walter Scott in Marmion, V I. 33, horn, to summon any Christian con­ makes allusion to Orlando’s horn : — • cealed in the adjacent woods to his “ O for a blast of that dread horn, assistance, or to recall his friends be- On Fontarabian echoes borne, 328 'Notes

That to King Charles did come, remarks: “ Here Dante takes as a point When Rowland brave, and Olivier, o f comparison an object of determinate And every paladin and peer, size; the pigna is eleven feet high, the On Roncesvalles died ! ” giant then must be seventy ; it per­ Orlando’s horn is one of the favorite forms, in the description, the office of fictions o f old romance, and is sur­ those figures which are placed near passed in power only by that o f A lex­ monuments to render it easier for the ander, which took sixty men to blow eye to measure their height.” it and could be heard at a distance of Mr. Norton, Travel and Study in sixty miles ! Italy, 253, thus speaks o f the same ob­ 41. Montereggione is a picturesque ject : — old castle on an eminence near Siena. “ This pine-cone, of bronze, was Ampere, Voyage Dantesque, 251, re­ set originally upon the summit o f the marks : “ This fortress, as the com­ Mausoleum of Hadrian. After this mentators say, was furnished with tow­ imperial sepulchre had undergone many ers all round about, and had none in evil fates, and as its ornaments were the centre. In its present state it is stripped one by one from it, the cone still very faithfully described by the was in the sixth century taken down, verse, and carried off to adorn a fountain, ‘ Montereggion di torri si corona.’ ” which had been constructed for the 59. This pine-cone of bronze, which use o f dusty and thirsty pilgrims, in a is now in the gardens of the Vatican, pillared enclosure, called the Paradiso, was found in the mausoleum o f Ha­ in front of the old basilica of St. Peter. drian, and is supposed to have crowned Here it remained for centuries ; and its summit. “ I have looked daily,” when the old church gave way to the says Mrs. Kemble, Tear of Consolation, new, it was put where it now stands, 152, “ over the lonely, sunny gardens, useless and out o f place, in the trim open like the palace halls to me, where and formal gardens o f the Papal pal­ the wide-sweeping orange-walks end in ace.” some distant view o f the sad and noble And adds in a note : — Campagna, where silver fountains call “ At the present day it serves the to each other through the silent, over­ bronze-workers of Rome as a model arching cloisters of dark and fragrant for an inkstand, such as is seen in the green, and where the huge bronze pine, shop-windows every winter, and is by which Dante measured his great sold to travellers, few of whom know giant, yet stands in the midst o f grace­ the history and the poetry belonging ful vases and bass-reliefs wrought in to its original.” former ages, and the more graceful 67. “ The gaping monotony of this blossoms blown within the very hour.” jargon,” says Leigh Hunt, " full of the And Ampere, Voyage Dantesque, 277, vowel a, is admirably suited to the Inferno xxxi. 329 mouth o f the vast half-stupid speaker. nine cubits in width, and in height It is like a babble o f .the gigantic in­ they were nine fathoms. W ho even fancy o f the world.” threatened the immortals that they 77. Nimrod, the “ mighty hunter would set up a strife of impetuous war before the Lord,” who built the tower in Olympus. They attempted to place o f Babel, which, according to the Ital­ Ossa upon Olympus, and upon Ossa ian popular tradition, was so high that leafy Pelion, that heaven might be ac­ whoever mounted to the top o f it cessible. And they would have ac­ could hear the angels sing. complished it, if they had reached the Cory, Ancient Fragments, 51, gives measure o f yo u th ; but the son of this extract from the Sibylline Ora­ Jove, whom fair-haired Latona bore, cles : — destroyed them both, before the down

“ But when the judgments of the Almighty flowered under their temples and thick­ God ened upon their cheeks with a flower­ Were ripe for execution ; when the Tower ing beard.” Rose to the skies upon Assyria’s plain, 98. T h e giant with a hundred hands. And all mankind one language only knewj JEneid, X . : “ .^Egaeon, who, they say, A dread commission from on high was had a hundred arms and a hundred given To the fell whirlwinds, which with dire hands, and flashed fire from fifty mouths alarms and breasts; when against the thunder­ Beat on the Tower, and to its lowest base bolts o f Jove he on so many equal Shook it convulsed. And now all inter­ bucklers clashed ; unsheathed so many course, swords.” By some occult and overruling power, He is supposed to have been a fa­ Ceased among m en: by utterance they strove Perplexed and anxious to disclose their mind; mous pirate, and the fable of the hun­ But their lip failed them, and in lieu of dred hands arose from the hundred words sailors that manned his ship. Produced a painful babbling sound: the place 100. T h e giant Antaeus is here un­ * Was thence called Babel; by th’ apostate bound, because he had not been at “ the crew mighty war ” against the gods. Named from the event. Then severed far away 115. T h e valley of the Bagrada, one They sped uncertain into realms unknown ; of whose branches flows by Zama, the Thus kingdoms rose, and the gl^d world scene of Scipio’s great victory over was filled.” Hannibal, by which he gained his 94. Odyssey, XI., Buckley’s Tr. : greatest renown and his title of Afri- “ God-like Otus and far-famed Ephi- canus. altes ; whom the faithful earth nour­ Among the neighboring hills, ac­ ished, the tallest and far the most cording to Lucan, Pbarsalia, IV ., the beautiful, at least after illustrious Orion. giant Antaeus had his cave. Speaking For at nine years old they were also o f Curio’s voyage, he says : — 42 330 Notes

“ To Afric’s coast he cuts the foamy way, is extended over nine whole acres; Where low the once victorious lay. and a huge vulture, with her hooked There landing, to the well-known camp he beak, pecking at his immortal liver.” hies, Also Odyssey, X I., in similar words. Where from afar the distant seas he spies ; Where Bagrada’s dull waves the sands divide, Typhceus was a giant with a hun­ And slowly downward roll their sluggish tide. dred heads, like a dragon’s, who made From thence he seeks the heights renowned war upon the gods as soon as he was by fam e, born. He was the father of Geryon And hallowed by the great Cornelian name : and Cerberus. The rocks and hills which long, traditions 132. The battle between Hercules say, and Antasus is described by Lucan, 'W ere held by huge Antaeus’ horrid sway. Pharsalia, IV . : —

But greater deeds this rising mountain grace, “ Bright in Olympic oil Alcides shone, And Scipio’s name ennobles much the place, Antaeus with his mother’s dust is strown, W hile, fixing here his famous camp, he calls And seeks her friendly force to aid his own.” Fierce Hannibal from Rome’s devoted walls. 136. One of the leaning towers of As yet the mouldering works remain in view, Bologna, which Eustace, Classical Tour, Where dreadful once the Latian eagles flew.” I. 167, thinks are “ remarkable only 124. jEneid, VI. : “ Here too you for their unmeaning elevation and dan­ might have seen Tityus, the foster- gerous deviation from the perpendic­ child of all-bearing earth, whose body ular.’’

CANTO XXXII.

I. In this Canto begins the Ninth lyre ; and the prosaic interpretation, and last Circle of the Inferno, where that he did it by his persuasive elo­ Traitors are punished. quence.

“ Hence in the smallest circle, at the point 15. Matthew xxvi. 24: “ Woe unto O f all the Universe, where Dis is seated, that man by whom the Son of man is W hoe’er betrays forever is consumed.” betrayed ! it had been good for that 3. The word thrust is here used in man if he had not been born.” its architectural sense, as the thrust o f 28. Tambernich is a mountain o f a bridge against its abutments, and the Sclavonia, and Pietrapana another near like. Lucca. 9. Still using the babble o f child­ 55. These two “ miserable broth­ hood. ers ” are Alessandro and Napoleone, II. The Muses; the poetic tradi­ sons of Alberto degli Alberti, lord of tion being that Amphion built the Falterona in the valley of the Bisenzio. walls of Thebes by the sound of his After their father’s death they . quar- Inferno xxxn. 33i relied, and one treacherously slew the another kinsman* Carlino de’ Pazzi, other. who treacherously surrendered the cas­ 58. Caina is the first o f the four tle of Piano in Valdarno, wherein divisions o f this Circle, and takes its many Florentine exiles were taken and name from the first fratricide. put to death. 62. Sir Mordred, son o f King A r­ 81. The speaker is Bocca degli thur. See La Mort d*Artbure, III. Abati, whose treason caused the defeat ch. 167 : “ And there King Arthur o f the Guelfs at the famous battle of smote Sir Mordred under the shield Montaperti in 1260. See Note 86, with a foine o f his speare throughout Canto X. the' body more than a fadom.” “ Messer Bocca degli Abati, the Nothing is said here o f the sun’s traitor,” says Malispini, Storia, ch. 171, shining through the wound, so as to “ with his sword in hand, smote and break the shadow on the ground, but cut off the hand of Messer Jacopo de’ that incident is mentioned in the Ital­ Pazzi of Florence, who bore the stand­ ian version of the Romance of Laun- ard of the cavalry of the Commune of celot of the Lake, V illustre e famosa Florence. And the knights and the istoria di Lancillotto del Lago> III. ch. people, seeing the standard down, and 162: “ Behind the opening made by the treachery, were put to rout.” th e . lance there passed through the 88. T h e second division o f the wound a ray of the sun so manifestly, Circle, called Antenora, from Ante- that Girflet saw it.” nor, the Trojan prince, who betrayed 63. Focaccia was one of the Can- his country by keeping up a secret cellieri Bianchi, of Pistoia, and was correspondence with the Greeks. Vir­ engaged in the affair o f cutting off the gil, ^Eneid, I. 242, makes him founder hand of his half-brother. See Note 65, o f Padua. Canto V I. H e is said also to have 106. See Note 81 o f this Canto. kUled his uncle. 116. Buoso da Duera of Cremona, 65. Sassol Mascheroni, according to being bribed, suffered the French cav­ Benvenuto, was one of the Toschi fam­ alry under Guido da Monforte to pass ily of Florence. He murdered his through Lombardy on their way to nephew in order to get possession o f Apulia, without opposing them as he his property ; for which crime he was had been commanded. carried through the streets o f Flor­ 117. There is a double meaning in ence nailed up in a cask, and then be­ the Italian expression sta fresco, which headed. is well rendered by the vulgarism, left 68. Camicion de’ Pazzi'of Valdarno, out in tbe cold, so familiar in American who murdered his kinsman Ubertino. politics. But his crime will seem small and ex­ 119. Beccaria of Pavia, Abbot of cusable when compared with that o f Vallombrosa, and Papal Legate at Flor­ 332 Notes ence, where he was beheaded in 1258 o f Thebes and was himself mortally for plotting against the Guelfs. wounded. Statius, Thebaid, V III., 121. Gianni de’ Soldanieri, of Flor­ thus describes what followed : — ence, a Ghibelline, who betrayed his “ O’ercome with joy and anger, Tydeus tries party. Villani, VII. 14, says: “ Mes­ To raise himself, and meets with eager eyes ser Gianni de’ Soldanieri put himself The deathful object, pleased as he surveyed at the head o f the populace from mo­ His own condition in his foe’s portrayed. tives of ambition, regardless of con­ The severed head impatient he demands, And grasps with fervor in his trembling sequences which were injurious to the hands, Ghibelline party, and to his own det­ W hile he remarks the restless balls of sight riment, which seems always to have That sought and shunned alternately the been the case in Florence with those lig h t. who became popular leaders.” Contented now, his wrath began to cease, 122. The traitor Ganellon, or Ga- And the fierce warrior had expired in peace; nalon, who betrayed the Christian cause But the fell fiend a thought of vengeance bred, at Roncesvalles, persuading Charle­ Unworthy of himself and of the dead. magne not to go to the assistance Meanwhile, her sire unmoved, Tritonia came> of Orlando. See Canto X X X I. Note To crown her .hero with immortal fame ; 18. But when she saw his jaws besprinkled o’er Tebaldello de’ Manfredi treacher­ W ith spattered brains, and tinged with living ously opened the gates of Faenza to the gore, W hilst his imploring friends attempt in vain French in the night. To calm his fury, and his rage restrain, 130. Tydeus, son o f the king of Again, recoiling from the loathsome view, Calydon, slew Menalippus at the siege The sculptur’d target o’er her face she threw.”

CANTO XXXIII.

1. In this Canto the subject o f the compromise was for the moment effect­ preceding is continued. ed, by which Visconte retired to the 13. Count Ugolino della Gherar- absolute o f Sardinia. But desca was Podestk o f Pisa. “ Raised to Ugolino, still dissatisfied, sent his son the highest offices of the republic for to disturb the island ; a deadly feud ten years,” says Napier, Florentine His­ was the consequence, Guelph against to r y I. 318, “ he would soon have be­ Guelph, while the latent spirit of come absolute, had not his own nephew, Ghibellinism, which filled the breasts Nino Visconte, Judge of Gallura, con­ of the citizens and was encouraged by tested this supremacy and forced him­ priest and friar, felt its advantage ; the self into conjoint and equal authority ; Archbishop Ruggiero Rubaldino was this could not continue, and a sort of its real head, but he worked with hid­ Inferno x x x i i i . 333 den caution as the apparent friend of Ugolino della Gherardesca, whose tra­ either chieftain. In 1287, after some gic story after five hundred years still sharp contests, both of them abdicated, sounds in awful numbers from the lyre for the sake, as it was alleged, o f public of Dante, was stained with the ambi­ tranquillity; but, soon perceiving their tion and darker vices of the age ; like error, again united, and, scouring the other potent chiefs, he sought to en­ streets with all their followers, forcibly slave his country, and checked at noth­ re-established their authority. Rug- ing in his impetuous career ; he was gieri seemed to assent quietly to this accused of many crimes ; of poisoning new outrage, even looked without his own nephew, of failing in war, emotion on the bloody corpse o f his making a disgraceful peace, of flying favorite nephew, who had been stabbed shamefully, perhaps traitorously, at by Ugolino ; and so deep was his dis­ Meloria, and o f obstructing all nego­ simulation, that he not only refused to tiations with Genoa for the return of believe the murdered body to be his his imprisoned countrymen. Like most kinsman’s, but zealously assisted the others o f his rank in those frenzied Count to establish himself alone in the times he belonged more to faction than government, and accomplish Visconte’s his country, and made the former sub­ ruin. T h e design was successful; servient to his own ambition ; but all Nino was overcome and driven from these accusations, even if well founded, the town, and in 1288 Ugolino en­ would not draw him from the general tered Pisa in triumph from his villa, standard ; they would only prove that where he had retired to await the he shared the ambition, the cruelty, catastrophe. The Archbishop had the ferocity, the recklessness of human neglected nothing, and Ugolino found life and suffering, and the relentless himself associated with this prelate in pursuit of power in common with the public government; events now other chieftains of his age and country. began to thicken; the Count could not Ugolino was overcome, and suffered a brook a competitor, much less a Ghib- cruel death ; his family was dispersed, elline priest: in the month of July and his memory has perhaps been both parties flew to arms, and the blackened with a darker coloring to Archbishop was victorious. After a excuse the severity of his punishment; feeble attempt to rally in the public but his sons, who naturally followed palace, Count Ugolino, his two sons, their parent’s fortune, were scarcely Uguccione and Gaddo, and two young implicated in his crimes, although they grandsons, Anselmuccio and Brigata, shared his fate ; and his grandsons, surrendered at discretion, and were im­ though not children, were still less mediately imprisoned in a tower, after­ guilty, though one o f these was not wards called the Torre della fame, and unstained with blood. T h e Arch­ there perished by starvation. Count bishop had public and private wrongs 334 Notes to revenge, and had he fallen, his sa­ Dampned was he to die in that prison, cred character alone would probably For Roger, which that bishop of Pise, Had on him made a false suggestion, have procured for him a milder des­ Thurgh which the peple gan upon him rise, tiny.” And put him in prison, in swiche a wise, - Villani, VII. 128, gives this account As ye han herd; and mete and drinke he had of the imprisonment: — So smale, that wel unnethe it may suffise, “ The Pisans, who had imprisoned And therwithal it was ful poure and bad. Count Ugolino and his two sons and two grandsons, children of Count Guel- And on a day befell, that in that houre, fo, as we have before mentioned, in a Whan that his mete wont was to be brought, The gailer shette the dores of the toure ; tower on the Piazza degli Anziani, He hered it wel, but he spake right nought. ordered the door of the tower to be And in his herte anon ther fell a thought, locked, and the keys to be thrown That they for hunger wolden do him dien j into the Arno, and forbade any food Alas ! quod he, alas that I was wrought! should be given to the prisoners, who Therwith the teres fellen fro his eyen. in a few days died of hunger. And the five dead bodies, being taken to­ His yonge sone, that three yere was of age, Unto him said, fader, why do ye wepe ? gether out o f the tower, were igno- Whan will the gailer bringen our potage ? miniously buried ; and from that day Is ther no morsel bred that ye do kepe ? forth the tower was called the Tower I am so hungry, that I may not slepe. o f Famine, and shall be forever more. Now wolde God that I might slepen ever, For this cruelty the Pisans were much Than shuld not hunger in my wombe crepe ; blamed through all the world where it Ther n’is no thing, sauf bred, that me were lever. was known ; not so much for the Count’s sake, as on account, o f his Thus day by day this childe began to crie, crimes and treasons he perhaps de­ T il in his fadres barme adoun it lay, served such a death, but for the sake And saide, farewel, fader, I mote die ; of his children and grandchildren, who And kist his fader, and dide the same day. were young and innocent boys ; and And whan the woful fader did it sey, this sin, committed by the Pisans, did For wo his armes two he gan to bite, And saide, alas ! fortune, and wala wa ! not remain unpunished.” Thy false whele my wo all may I wite. Chaucer’s version of the story in the

Monkes Tale is as follows : — His children wenden, that for hunger it was “ O f the erl Hugelin of Pise the langour That he his armes gnowe, and not for wo, Ther may no tonge tellen for pitee. And sayden : fader, do not so, alas ! But litel out of Pise stant a tour, But rather ete the flesh upon us two. In whiche tour in prison yput was he, Our flesh thou yaf us, take our flesh us fro, And with him ben his litel children three, And ete ynough: right thus they to him The eldest scarsely five yere was of age : seide, Alas ! fortune, it was gret crueltee And after that, within a day or two, Swiche briddes for to put in swiche a cage. T h e y laide hem in his lappe adoun, and deide» Inferno xxxm. 335

Himself dispeired eke for hunger starf. The brazen-gated temples, and the bowers Thus ended is this mighty Erl of Pise : O f solitary wealth ! The tempest-proof From high estat fortune away him carf. Pavilions of the dark Italian air O f this tragedie it ought ynough suffice j Are by its presence dimmed, — they stand W ho so wol here it in a longer wise, • aloof, Redeth the grete poete of Itaille, And are withdrawn, — so that the world is That highte Dante, for he can it devise bare, Fro point to point, not o word wol he faille.” As if a spectre, wrapt in shapeless terror, Buti, Commento, says : “ After eight Amid a company of ladies fair Should glide and glow, till it became a days they were removed from prison m irror and carried wrapped in matting to the O f all their beauty, and their hair and hue, church of the Minor Friars at San The life of their sweet eyes, with all its Francesco, and buried in the monu­ error, ment, which is on the side o f the steps Should be absorbed till they to marble grew.” leading into the church near the gate 30. Monte San Giuliano, between of the cloister, with irons on their Pisa and Lucca. legs, which irons I myself saw taken Shelley, Poems, III. 166 : — out o f the monument.” “ It was that hill whose intervening brow 22. T h e remains o f this tower,” Screens Lucca from the Pisan’s envious eye, says Napier, Florentine History, I. 319, W hich the circumfluous plain waving below, note, “ still exist in the Piazza de’ Ca- Like a wide lake of green fertility, valieri, on the right of the archway W ith streams and fields and marshes bare, as the spectator looks toward the Divides from the far Apennine, which lie Islanded in the immeasurable air.” clock.” According to Buti it was called the Mew, “ because the eagles 31. T h e hounds are the Pisan m ob; of the Commune were kept there to the hunters, the Pisan noblemen here moult.” mentioned; the w olf and whelps, Ugo- Shelley thus sings o f it, Poems, III. lino' and his sons. 91 : — 46. It is a question whether in this “ Amid the desolation of a city, line chiavar is to be rendered nailed up W hich was the cradle, and is now the grave or locked. Villani and Benvenuto say the O f an extinguished people, so that pity tower was locked, and the keys thrown Weeps o’er the shipwrecks of oblivion’s wave, into the Arno ; and I believe most of There stands the Tower of Famine. It is built the commentators interpret the line in Upon some prison-homes, whose dwellers rave this way. But the locking of a prison For bread, and gold, and blood: pain, linked door, which must have been a daily to gu ilt, occurrence, could hardly have caused Agitates the light flame of their hours, the dismay h ere- portrayed, unless it U n til its vital oil is spent or spilt j can be shown that the lower door of There stands the pile, a tower amid the towers the tower was usually left unlocked. And sacred domes j each marble-ribbed roof, “ T h e thirty lines from Ed io sent? 336 Notes are unequalled,” says Landor, Penta- by the continued captivity of so many meroriy 40, “ by any other continuous of his countrymen, by the banishment thirty in the whole dominions of o f the adverse faction, and by the poetry.” friendship and support o f Florence.” 80. Italy ; it being an old custom 87. Thebes was renowned for its to call countries by the affirmative par­ misfortunes and grim tragedies, from ticle of the language. the days of the sowing of the dragon’s 82. Capraia and Gorgona are two teeth by Cadmus, down to the destruc­ islands opposite the mouth o f the Arno. tion of the city by Alexander, who Ampere, Voyage Dantesques 217, re­ commanded it to be utterly demolished, marks : “ This imagination may appear excepting only the house in which the grotesque and forced if one looks at poet was born. Moreover, the the map, for the isle of Gorgona is at tradition runs that Pisa was founded some distance from the mouth o f the by Pelops, son of King of Arno, and I had always thought so, Thebes, although it derived its name until the day when, having ascended from fS the Olym pic Pisa on the banks the tower of Pisa, I was struck with of the Alpheus.” *he aspect which the Gorgona present­ 118. Friar Alberigo, of the family ed from that point. It seemed to shut of the Manfredi, Lords of Faenza, was jp the Arno. I then understood how one of the Frati Gaudenti, or Jovial Dante might naturally have had this Friars, mentioned in Canto XXIII. idea, which had seemed strange to 103. The account which the Ottimo me, and his imagination was justified gives o f his treason is as follows : m my eyes. He had not seen the “ Having made peace with certain hos­ Gorgona from the Leaning T ow er, tile fellow-citizens, he betrayed them which did not exist in his time, but in this wise. One evening he invited from some one of the numerous towers them to supper, and had armed re­ which protected the ramparts o f Pisa. tainers in the chambers round the sup- This fact alone would be sufficient to per-room. It was in summer-time, show what an excellent interpretation and he gave orders to his servants that, of a poet travelling is.” when after the meats he should order 86. Napier, Florentine Historys I. the fruit, the chambers should be 313 : “ He without hesitation surren­ opened, and the armed men should dered Santa Maria a Monte, Fuccechio, come forth and should murder all the Santa Croce, and Monte Calvole to guests. And so it was done. And he Florence ; exiled the most zealous did the like the year before at Castello Ghibellines from Pisa, and reduced it delle Mura at Pistoia. These are the to a purely Guelphic republic ; he was fruits o f the Garden o f Treason, of accused of treachery, and certainly his which he speaks.” Benvenuto says own objects were admirably forwarded that his guests were his brother Man­ Inferno xxxiv. 337 fred and his (Manfred’s) son. Other held the distaff, Lachesis spun the commentators say they were certain thread, and Atropos cut it. members of the Order of Frati Gau- Odyssey, XI. : “ After him I per­ denti. In 1300, the date of the poem, ceived the might of Hercules, an im­ Alberigo was still living. age ; for he himself amongst the im­ 120. A Rowland for an Oliver. mortal gods is delighted with banquets, 124. This division of Cocytus, the and has the fair-legged Hebe, daughter Lake of Lamentation, is called Ptolo- of mighty Jove, and golden-sandalled maea from Ptolomeus, 1 Maccabees xvi. Juno.” 11, where “ the captain o f Jericho in- 137. Ser Branca d’ Oria was a Gen­ viteth Simon and two o f his sons into oese, and a member of the celebrated his castle, and there treacherously mur- Doria family of that city. Neverthe­ dereth them for “ when Simon and less he murdered at table his father-in- his sons had drunk largely, Ptolomee law, Michel Zanche, who is mentioned and his men rose up, and took their Canto XXII. 88. weapons, and came upon Simon into 151. This vituperation of the Gen­ the banqueting-place, and slew him, and oese reminds one o f the bitter Tuscan his two sons, and certain of his servants.” proverb against them : “ Sea without Or perhaps from Ptolemy, who mur­ fish ; mountains without trees; men dered Pompey after the battle o f Phar­ without faith; and women without salia. shame.” 126. Of the three Fates, Clotho 154. Friar AlberigOo

C A N T O XXXIV.

1. T h e fourth and last division o f “ Vexilla regis prodeunt, the Ninth Circle, the Judecca,— Fulget crucis mysterium, Quo carne carnis conditor, “ the smallest circle, at the point Suspensus est patibulo.” O f all the Universe, where Dis is seated.” T h e first line, “ T h e banners o f See Konigsfeld, Lateinische Hymnen the king of Hell come forth,” is a und Gesange aus dem Mittelalter, 64. parody o f the first line o f a Latin 18. Milton, Parad. Lost, V . 708: — hymn o f fhe sixth century, sung in “ His countenance as the morning star, that the churches during Passion week, and guides The starry flock.” written by Fortunatus, an Italian by birth, but who died Bishop of Poitiers 28. Compare Milton’s descriptions in 600. T h e first stanza o f this hymn o f Satan, Parad. Lost, I. 192, 589, II. is ,— 636, IV . 985 : — 33§ Notes

Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, u On the other side, Satan, alarmed, W ith head uplift above the wave, and eyes Collecting all his might, dilated stood, That sparkling blazed ; his other parts besides Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved : Prone on the flood, extended long and large, His stature reached the sky, and on his crest Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge Sat horror plumed ; nor wanted in his grasp As whom the fables name of monstrous size, W hat seemed both spear and shield.” Titanian, or Earth-born, that warred on Jove, JBriareus, or T yp h on , w hom the den 38. T h e Ottimo and Benvenuto both By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast interpret the three faces as symboliz­ Leviathan, which God of all his works ing Ignorance, Hatred, and Impotence. Created hugest that swim the ocean stream : Others interpret them as signifying the Him, haply, slumbering on the Norway foam, three quarters of the then known The pilot of some small night-foundered world, Europe, Asia, and Africa. skiff, Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, 45. Ethiopia; the region about the W ith fixed anchor in his scaly rind Cataracts of the Nile. Moors by his side under the lee, while night 48. Milton, Parad. Lost, II. 527:— Invests the sea, and wished morn delays. “ A t last his sail-broad vans So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke lay Uplifted spurns the ground.” Chained on the burning lake.” 55. Landor in his Pentameron, 527, “ He, above the rest ^n shape and gesture proudly eminent, makes Petrarca sa y : “ This is atro­ Stood like a tower : his form had yet not lost cious, not terrific nor grand. Alighieri A ll her original jjrightness, nor appeared is grand by his lights, not by his shad­ Less than archartgel ruined, and the excess ows ; by his human affections, not by Of glory obscured : as when the sun new- his infernal. As the minutest sands risen are the labors of some profound sea, Looks through the horizontal misty air, or the spoils of some vast mountain, Shorn of his beams j or from behind the m oon, in like manner his horrid wastes and In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds wearying minutenesses are the chafings On half the nations, and with fear of change of a turbulent spirit, grasping the lof­ Perplexes monarchs : darkened so, yet shone tiest things, and penetrating the deep­ Above them all the Archangel.” est, and moving and moaning on the earth in loneliness and sadness.” “ As when far off at sea a fleet descried Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds 62. Gabriele Rossetti, Spirito Anti- Close sailing from Bengala or the isles papale, I. 75, Miss W ard’s T r., says : Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants ct T h e three spirits, who hang from bring the mouths of his Satan, are Judas, Their spicy drugs : they on the trading flood Brutus, and Cassius. T h e poet’s rea­ Through the wide .^Ethiopian to the Cape son for selecting those names has never Ply, stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed yet been satisfactorily accounted for ; Far off the flying fiend.” but we have no hesitation in pronoun­ Inferno xxxiv. 339

cing it to have been this, — he con­ in length with the change o f season. sidered the Pope not only a betrayer " These hours,” says Dante, Convitoy and seller of Christ, — ‘ Where gain­ III. 6, “ are short or lo n g ...... ac­ ful merchandise is made o f Christ cording as day and night increase or throughout the livelong day,* (Parad. diminish.” Tcrza was the first divis­ 17,) and for that reason put Judas into ion after sunrise ; and at the equinox his centre mouth ; but a traitor and would be from six till nine. Conse­ rebel to Caesar, and therefore placed quently mezza terza} or middle tierce, Brutus and Cassius in the other two would be half past seven. mouths; for the Pope, who was origi­ 114. Jerusalem. nally no more than Cassar’s vicar, „ 125. The Mountain of Purgatory, became his enemy, and usurped the rising out o f the sea at a point directly capital o f his empire, and the supreme opposite Jerusalem, upon the other side authority. His treason to Christ was o f the globe. It is an island in the not discovered by the world in general; South Pacific Ocean. hence the face o f Judas is hidden,— 130. This brooklet is Lethe, whose ‘ He that hath his head within, and source is on the summit o f the Moun­ plies the feet without ’ (Inf. 34) ; his tain o f Purgatory, flowing down to treason to Caesar was open and mani­ mingle with Acheron, Styx, and Phle- fest, therefore Brutus and Cassius show gethon, and form Cocytus. See Canto their faces.” X IV . 136. He adds in a note : “ T h e situation 138. It will be observed that each o f Judas is the same as that o f the of the three divisions of the Divine Popes who were guilty of simony.” Comedy ends with the word “ Stars,” 68. T h e evening o f H oly Satur­ suggesting and symbolizing endless as­ day. piration. At the end of the Inferno 77. Iliad, V . 305 : “ W ith this he Dante “ re-beholds the stars” ; at the struck the hip of iEneas, where the- end of the Purgatorio he is “ ready to thigh turns on the hip.” ascend to the stars ” ; at the end o f the 95. T h e canonical day, from sun­ Paradiso he feels the power of “ that rise to sunset, was divided into four Love which moves the sun and other equal parts, called in Italian Terzat stars.” He is now looking upon the Sesta, Nona, and Vesprot and varying morning stars of Easter Sunday.

ILLUSTRATIONS

ILLUSTRATIONS

L’ OTTI MO COMENTO.

Inferno X. 85.

I, the writer, heard Dante say that a time and oft he had made words say never a rhyme had led him to say in his rhymes what they were not other than he would, but that many wont to express for other poets.

VILLANP S NOTICE OF DANTE.

Cronica, Lib. IX. cap. 136.. Tr. in Napier’s Florentine History, Book I. ch. 16.

In the month of July, 13 2 1, died its place been mentioned. T h e said the Poet of Florence, Dante was o f the supreme governors in the city of Ravenna in Romagna, o f our city, and o f that party although after his return from an embassy to a G u e lf; and therefore without any Venice for the Lords of Polenta with other crime was with the said White whom he resided; and in Ravenna party expelled and banished from Flo­ before the door of the principal church rence ; and he went to the University he was interred with high honor, in o f Bologna, and into- many parts of the the habit o f a poet and great philoso­ world. This was a great and learned pher. He died in banishment from person in almost every science, although the community o f Florence, at the age a layman ; he was a consummate poet of about fifty-six. This Dante was an and philosopher and rhetorician; as honorable and ancient citizen of Porta perfect in prose and verse as he was in San Piero at Florence, and our neigh­ public speaking a most noble orator ; bor ; and his exile from Florence was in rhyming excellent, with the most on the occasion of Charles of Valois, polished and beautiful style that ever of the house of France, coming to appeared in our language up to his time Florence in 1301, and the expulsion or since. He wrote in his youth the o f the W hite party, as has already, in book o f The Early Life of Love, and 344 Illustrations afterwards when in exile made twenty do so. He also wrote the Monorchia, moral and amorous canzonets very ex­ where he treats of the office o f popes cellent, and amongst other things three and emperors. And he began a com­ noble epistles: one he sent to the Flor­ ment on fourteen o f the above-named entine government, complaining of his moral canzonets in the vulgar tongue, undeserved exile ; another to the Em­ which in consequence of his death is peror Henry when he was at the siege found imperfect except on three, Which of Brescia, reprehending him for his to judge from what is seen would have delay, and almost prophesying; the proved a lofty, beautiful, subtile, and third to the Italian cardinals during the most important w o rk ; because it is vacancy after the death of Pope Clem­ equally ornamented with noble opin­ ent, urging them to agree in electing ions and fine philosophical and astro­ an Italian Pope ; all in Latin, with logical reasoning. Besides these he noble precepts and excellent senten­ composed a little book which he en­ ces and authorities, which were much titled , of which commended by the wise and learned. he promised to make four books, but And he wrote the Commedia, where, in only two are to be found, perhaps in polished verse and with great and sub­ consequence of his early death; where, tile arguments, moral, natural, astro­ in powerful and elegant Latin and good logical, philosophical, and theological, reasoning, he rejects all the vulgar with new and beautiful figures, similes, tongues of Italy. This Dante, from and poetical graces, he composed and his knowledge, was somewhat presump­ treated in a hundred chapters or cantos tuous, harsh, and disdainful, like an o f the existence of hell, purgatory, and ungracious philosopher; he scarcely paradise ; so loftily as may be said of deigned to converse with laymen; but it, that whoever is of subtile intellect for his other virtues, science, and worth may by his said treatise perceive and as a citizen, it seems but reasonable to understand. He was well pleased in give him perpetual remembrance in this this poem to blame and cry out, in the our chronicle; nevertheless, his noble manner o f poets, in some places per­ works, left to us in writing, bear true haps more than he ought to have done; testimony o f him, and honorable fame but it may be that his exile made him to our city.

LETTER OF FRATE ILARIO.

Arrivabene, Comento Storico, p. 379. *

...... Hither he came, passing through other feeling. And seeing him, as yet the diocese of Luni, moved either by unknown to me and to all my brethren, the religion of the place, or by some I questioned him o f his wishings and Letter of Frate Ilario 3 4 5 his seekings there. He moved n o t; o f these matters, perhaps inspired by but stood silently contemplating the Heaven, began to bud, I chose that columns and arches of the cloister. language which was most worthy o f And again I asked him what he wished, them : and not alone chose it, but be­ and whom he sought. Then, slowly gan forthwith to poetize therein, after turning his head, and looking at the fri­ this w ise: ars and at me, he answered: “ Peace! ” ‘ Ultima regna canam fluido conterminamundo, Thence kindling more and more the Spiritibus quae lata p a te n t5 quae praemia sol- wish to know him and who he might vunt be, I led him aside somewhat, and, Pro meritis cuicumque suis.’ having spoken a few words with him, But when I recalled the condition of I knew him; for although I had never the present age, and saw the songs of seen him till that hour, his fame had the illustrious poets esteemed almost long since reached me. And when he as naught, and knew that the generous saw that I hung upon his countenance, men, for whom in better days these and listened to him with strange affec­ things were written, had abandoned, tion, he drew from his bosom a book, ah me 1 the liberal arts unto vulgar did gently open it, and offered it to hands, I threw aside the delicate lyre, me, saying : “ Sir Friar, here is a por­ which had armed my flank, and attuned tion of my work, which peradventure another more befitting the ear o f mod­ thou hast not seen. This remem­ erns ; — for the food that is hard we brance I leave with thee. Forget me hold in vain to the mouths o f suck­ not.” And when he had given me lings.” the book, I pressed it gratefully to my Having said this, he added with emo­ bosom, and in his presence fixed my tion, that, if the occasion served, I eyes upon it with great love. But I should make some brief annotations beholding there the vulgar tongue, and upon the work, and, thus apparailed, showing by the fashion of my coun­ should forward it to you. W hich task tenance my wonderment thereat, he in truth, although J may not have ex­ asked the reason o f the same. I an­ tracted all the marrow of his words, swered, that I marvelled he should I have nevertheless performed with sing in that language ; for it seemed fidelity ; and the work required o f me a difficult thing, nay, incredible, that I frankly send you, as was enjoined those most high conceptions could be upon me by that most friendly man ; expressed in common language; nor in which work, if it appear that any did it seem to me right that such and ambiguity still remains, you must im­ so worthy a science should be clothed pute it to my insufficiency, for there is in such plebeian garments. “ You think no doubt that the text is perfect in all aright,” he said, “ and I myself have points...... thought so. And when at first the seeds 44 34-6 Illustrations

PASSAGE FROM THE CONVITO, I. in.

Leigh Hunt, Stories from the Italian Poets, p. 12.

A h! would it had pleased the Dis­ almost a beggar, exposing against my penser of all things that this excuse had will the wounds given me by fortune, never been needed; that neither others too often unjustly imputed to the suf­ had done me wrong, nor myself under­ ferer’s fault. T ruly I have been a gone penalty undeservedly, — the pen­ vessel without sail and without rudder, alty, I say, o f exile and o f poverty. driven about upon different ports and For it pleased the citizens of the fairest shores by the dry wind that springs out and most renowned daughter o f Rome of dolorous poverty ; and hence have — Florence — to cast me out o f her I appeared vile in the eyes of many, most sweet bosom, where I was born, who, perhaps, by some better report and bred, and passed half o f the life had conceived of me a different im­ o f man, and in which, with her good pression, and in whose sight not only leave, I still desire with all my heart has my person become thus debased, to repose my weary spirit, and finish but an unworthy opinion created of the days allotted me ; and so I have everything which I did, or which I wandered in almost every place to had to do. which our language extends, a stranger,

DANTE’S LETTER TO A FRIEND.

Leigh Hunt, Stories from the Italian Poets, p. 13.

From your letter, which I received many other friends, that by a decree with due respect and affection, I ob­ concerning the exiles I am allowed to serve how much you have at heart my return to Florence, provided I pay a restoration to my country. I am bound certain sum o f money’, and submit to to you the more gratefully, inasmuch the humiliation o f asking and receiving as an exile rarely finds a friend. But absolution : wherein, my father, I see after mature consideration I must, by two propositions that are ridiculous and my answer, disappoint the wishes of impertinent. I speak of the imperti­ some little minds; and I confide in the nence o f those who mention such con­ judgment to which your impartiality ditions to me ; fo? in your letter, dic­ and prudence will lead you. Your tated by judgment and discretion, there nephew and mine has written to me, is no such thing. Is such an invita­ what indeed had been mentioned by tion, then, to return to his country Portraits of Dante 347 glorious to Dante Alighieri, after suffer­ country. I will return with hasty ing in exile almost fifteen years ? Is it steps, if you or any other can open to thus they would recompense innocence me a way that shall not derogate from which all the world knows, and the the fame and honor o f Dante ; but if labor and fatigue of unremitting study ? by no such way Florence can be en­ Far from the man who is familiar with tered, then Florence I shall never enter. philosophy be the senseless baseness of W hat! shall I not everywhere enjoy a heart of earth, that could act like a the light of the sun and stars ? and may little sciolist, and imitate the infamy o f I not seek and contemplate, in every some others, by offering himself up as corner of the earth, under the canopy it were in chains: far from the man o f heaven, consoling and delightful who cries aloud for. justice, this com­ truth, without first rendering myself promise by his money with his perse­ inglorious, nay infamous, to the people cutors. N o, my father, this is not the and republic o f Florence ? Bread, I way that shall lead me back to my hope, will not fail me.

PORTRAITS OF DANTE.

By Charles E. Norton.

In his Life of Dante> Boccaccio, the more courteous and civil than any one earliest of the biographers of the poet, else.” describes him in these words : “ Our Such was Dante as he appeared in poet was o f middle height, and after his later years to those from whose rec­ reaching mature years he went some­ ollections of him Boccaccio drew this what stooping ; his gait was grave and description. sedate; always clothed in most becom­ But Boccaccio, had he chosen so to ing garments, his dress was suited to do, might have drawn another portrait the ripeness of his years ; his face was of Dante, not the author of the Divine long, his nose aquiline, his eyes rather Comedy, but the author of the New large than small, his jaw heavy, and his Life. T h e likeness o f the youthful under lip prominent; his complexion Dante was familiar to those Florentines was dark, and his hair and beard thick, who had never looked on. the living black, and crisp, and his countenance presence of their greatest citizen. was always sad and thoughtful...... On the altar-wall of the chapel of His manners, whether in public or at the Palace of the Podestk (now the home, were wonderfully composed and Bargello) Giotto had painted a grand restrained, and in all his ways he was religious composition, in which, after 34§ Illustrations

the fashion o f the times, he exalted the began when they were young is certain, glory of Florence by the introduction and that it lasted till death divided them of some o f her most famous citizens is a tradition which finds ready accept­ into the assembly o f the blessed in ance. Paradise. “ The head of Christ, full It was probably between 1290 and of dignity, appears above, and lower 1300, when Giotto was just rising to down, the escutcheon of Florence, sup­ unrivalled fame, that this painting was ported by angels, with two rows of executed. There is no contemporary saints, male and female, attendant to record of it, the earliest known refer­ the right and left, in front o f whom ence to it being that by Filippo Vil- stand a company o f the magnates o f the lani, who died about 1404. Gianozzo city, headed by two crowned person­ Manetti, who died in 1459, also men­ ages, close to one of whom, to the tions it, and Vasari, in his Life of Giotto, right, stands Dante, a pomegranate in published in 1550, says, that Giotto his hand, and wearing the graceful fall­ “ became so good an imitator o f nature, ing cap of the day.” * T h e date when that he altogether discarded the stiff this picture was painted is uncertain, Greek manner, and revived the modern but Giotto represented his friend in it and good art o f painting, introducing as a youth, such as he may have been exact drawing from nature of living in the first flush o f early fame, at the persons, which for more than two hun­ season of the beginning o f their mem­ dred years had not been practised, or orable friendship. if indeed any one had tried it, he had O f all the portraits o f the revival of not succeeded very happily, nor any­ Art, there is none comparable in in­ thing like so well as Giotto. And he terest to this likeness of the supreme portrayed among other persons, as may poet by the supreme artist o f mediaeval even now be seen, in the chapel o f the Europe. It was due to no accident o f Palace of the Podestk in Florence, fortune that these men were contem­ Dante Alighieri, his contemporary and poraries, and of the same country ; but greatest friend, who was not less fa­ it was a fortunate and delightful in­ mous a poet than Giotto was painter cident, that they were so brought to­ in those days...... In the same chapel gether by sympathy o f genius and by is the portrait by the same hand o f Ser favoring circumstance as to become Brunetto Latini, the master of Dante, friends, to love and honor each other and of Messer Corso Donati, a great in life, and to celebrate each other citizen of those times.” through all time in their respective One might have supposed that such works. The story of their friendship a picture as thi's would have been is known only in its outline, but that it among the most carefully protected and

* Lord Lindsay’s History o f Christian A r t, jealously prized treasures o f Florence. V o l. II. p. 174. But such was not the case. T h e Portraits of Dante 349

shameful neglect o f many o f the best o f such historic and artistic interest, and most interesting works o f the ear­ would again be sought for, and 'at lier period of Art, which accompanied length recovered. Stimulated by these and was one o f the symptoms o f the words, three gentlemen, one an Ameri­ moral and . political decline of Italy can, Mr. Richard Henry Wilde, one * during the sixteenth and seventeenth an Englishman, Mr. Seymour Kirkup, centuries, extended to this as to other and one an Italian, Signor G . Aubrey of the noblest paintings of Giotto. Bezzi, all scholars devoted to the study Florence, in losing consciousness of of Dante, undertook new researches, present worth, lost care for the me­ in 1840, and, after many hinderances morials of her past honor, dignity, and on the part of the government, which distinction. The Palace of the Po- were at length successfully overcome, destk, no longer needed for the dwell­ the work o f removing the crust of ing of the chief magistrate of a free plaster from the walls of the ancient city, was turned into a jail for common chapel was intrusted to the Florentine criminals, and what had once been its painter, Marini. This new and well- beautiful and sacred chapel was occu­ directed search did not fail. After pied as a larder or store-room. The some months’ labor the fresco was walls, adorned with paintings more found, almost uninjured, under the precious than gold, were covered with whitewash that had protected while whitewash, and the fresco of Giotto concealing it, and at length the likeness was swept over by the brush of the of Dante was uncovered. plasterer. It was not only thus hidden “ But,” says M r. Kirkup, in a letter from the sight o f those unworthy in­ published in the Spectator (London), deed to behold it, but it almost dis­ M ay 11, 1850, “ the eye of the beauti­ appeared from memory also; and from ful profile was wanting. There was a the time of Vasari down to that of hole an inch deep, or an inch and a Moreni, a Florentine antiquary, in the half. Marini said it was a nail. It early part of the present century, hardly did seem precisely the damage of a nail a mention of it occurs. In a note drawn out. A fterw ards...... Marini found among his papers, Moreni la­ filled the hole, and made a new eye, ments that he had spent two years of too little and ill designed, and then he his life in unavailing efforts to recover retouched the whole face and clothes, the portrait o f Dante, and the other to the great damage of the expression portions of the fresco of Giotto in the and character. The likeness of the Bargello, mentioned by Vasari ; that face, and the three colors in which* others before him had made a like Dante was dressed, the same with effort, and had failed in like manner ; those of Beatrice, those of young Italy, and that he hoped that better times white, green, and red, stand no m ore; would come, in which this painting, the green is turned to chocolate-color ; 350 Illustrations

moreover, the form o f the cap is lost te’s death. In his Life of Andrea de and confounded. Verrocchio, Vasari says that this art “ I desired to make a drawing...... began to come into use in his time, It was denied to me...... But I ob­ that is, about the middle o f the fifteenth tained the means to be shut up in the century; and Bottari refers to the like­ prison for a m orning; and not only ness o f Brunelleschi, who died in 1446, « did I make a drawing, but a tracing which was taken in this manner, and also, and with the two I then made a was preserved in the office o f the Works fac-simile sufficiently careful. Luckily of the Cathedral at Florence. It is not it was before the rifacimento.” impossible that so simple an art may This fac-simile afterwards passed into have Been sometimes practised at an the hands of Lord Vernon, well known earlier period ; and if so, there is no for his interest in all Dantesque studies, inherent improbability in the supposi­ and by his permission it had been admi­ tion that Guido Novello, the friend rably reproduced in chromo-lithogra­ and protector of Dante at Ravenna, phy under the auspices of the Arundel may, at the time of the poet’s death, Society. The reproduction is entirely have had a mask taken to serve as a satisfactory as a presentation o f the au­ model for the head o f a statue intended thentic portrait of the youthful Dante, to form part o f the monument which in the state in which it was when Mr. he proposed to erect in honor o f Dante. Kirkup was so fortunate as to gain ad­ And it may further be supposed, that, mission to it...... this design failing, owing to the fall o f This portrait by Giotto is the only Guido from power before its accom­ likeness of Dante known to have been plishment, the mask may have been made of the poet during his life, and is preserved at Ravenna, till we first o f inestimable value on this account. catch a trace of it nearly three centu­ But there exists also a mask, concern­ ries later. ing which there is a tradition that it There is in the Magliabecchiana L i­ was taken from the face o f the dead brary at Florence an autograph manu­ poet, and which, if its genuineness script by Giovanni Cinelli, a Florentine could be established, would not be o f antiquary who died in 1706, entitled inferior interest to the early portrait. La Toscana letterata, ovvero Istoria degli But there is no trustworthy historic Scrittori Fiorentinif which contains a testimony concerning it, and its author­ life of Dante. In the course o f the ity as a likeness depends upon the evi­ biography Cinelli states that the Arch­ dence of truth which its own character bishop of Ravenna caused the head affords. On the very threshold of the of the poet which had adorned his inquiry concerning it, we are met with sepulchre to be taken therefrom, and the doubt whether the art of taking that it came into the possession o f the casts was practised at the time o f Dan­ famous sculptor, Gian Bologna, who Portraits o f Dante 35i left it at his death, in 1606, to his fords, however, the only really satis­ pupil Pietro Tacca. “ One day Tacca factory ground for confidence in the showed it, with other curiosities, to truth of the tradition concerning it. It the Duchess Sforza, who, having wrap­ was plainly taken as a cast from a face ped it in a scarf of green cloth, carried after death. It has none of the charac­ it away, and God knows into whose teristics which a fictitious and imagi­ hands the precious object has fallen, or native representation o f the sort would where it is to be found...... On ac­ be likely to present. It bears no trace count o f its singular beauty, it had often of being a work o f skilful and decep­ been drawn by the scholars of Tacca.” tive art. T h e difference in the fall o f It has been supposed that this head the two half-closed eyelids, the differ­ was the original mask from which the ence between the sides of the face, the casts now existing are derived. Mr. slight deflection in the line of the nose, Seymour Kirkup, in a note on this pas­ the droop of the corners of the mouth, sage from Cinelli, says that “ there are and other delicate, but none the less three masks o f Dante at Florence, all convincing indications, combine to of which have been judged by the show that it was in all probability first Roman and Florentine sculptors taken directly from nature. T h e coun­ to have been taken from life, [that is, tenance, moreover, and expression, are from the face after death,]— the slight worthy o f Dante; no ideal forms could differences noticeable between them so answer to the face of him who had being such as might occur in casts led a life apart from the world in which made from the original mask.” One he dwelt, and had been conducted by o f these casts was given to M r. Kirkup love and faith along hard, painful, and by the sculptor Bartolini, another be­ solitary ways, to behold longed to the late sculptor Professor “ L’ alto trionfo del regno verace.” Ricci, and the third is in the possession T h e mask conforms entirely to the o f the Marchese Torrigiani...... description by Boccaccio of the poet’s In the absence of historical evidence countenance, save that it is beardless, in regard to this mask, some support is and this difference is to be accounted given to the belief in its genuineness for by the fact that to obtain the cast by the fact that it appears to be the the beard must have been removed. type of the greater number of the por­ T h e face is one of the most pathetic traits o f Dante executed from the four­ upon which human eyes ever looked, teenth to the sixteenth century, and for it exhibits in its expression the was adopted by Raffaelle as the original conflict between the strong nature of from which he drew the likeness which the man and the hard dealings of for­ has done most to make the features o f tune, — between the idea o f his life the poet familiar to the world. and its practical experience. Strength T h e character o f the mask itself af­ is the most striking attribute of the 352 Illustrations countenance, displayed alike in the light and shade, is unsatisfactory. But broad forehead, the masculine nose, by taking a photograph from the mask, the firm lips, the heavy jaw and wide in the same position as that in which ch in ; and this strength, resulting from the face is painted by Giotto, and plac­ the main forms of the features, is en­ ing it alongside of the fac-simile from forced by the strength of the lines o f the paiiiting, a very remarkable simi­ expression. T h e look is grave and larity becomes at once apparent...... stern almost to grimness ; there is a T h e differences are only such as must scornful lift to the eyebrow, and a exist between the portrait o f a man in contraction of the forehead as from the freshness o f a happy youth, and the painful thought ; but obscured under portrait of him in his age, after much this look, yet not lost, are the marks experience and many trials. Dante o f tenderness, refinement, and self- was fifty-six years old at the time of mastery, which, in combination with his death, when the mask was taken ; the more obvious characteristics, give the portrait by Giotto represents him to the countenance of the dead poet as not much past twenty. There is an an ineffable dignity and melancholy. interval of at least thirty years between There is neither weakness nor failure the two. And what years they had here. It is the image o f the strong been for him ! fortress o f a strong soul “ buttressed on The interest of this comparison lies conscience and impregnable w ill,” bat­ not only in the mutual support which tered by the blows of enemies without the portraits afford each other, in the and within, bearing upon its walls the assurance each gives that the other is dints of many a siege, but standing firm genuine, but also in their joint illustra­ and unshaken against all attacks until tion of the life and character of Dante. the warfare was at end. As Giotto painted him, he is the lover The intrinsic evidence for the truth of Beatrice, the gay companion of prin­ o f this likeness, from its correspond­ ces, the friend o f poets, and himself ence, not only with the description of already the most famous writer o f love the poet, but with the imagination that verses in Italy. There is an almost we form of him from his life and works, feminine softness in the lines o f the is strongly confirmed by a comparison face, with a sweet and serious tender­ o f the mask with the portrait by Giotto. ness well befitting the lover, and the So far as I am aware, this comparison author o f the sonnets and canzoni which has not hitherto been made in a manner were in a few years to be gathered into to exhibit effectively the resemblance the incomparable record of his New between the two. A direct compari­ Life. It is the face of Dante in the son between the painting and the mask, May-time o f youthful hope, in that owing to the difficulty of reducing the serene season o f promise and o f joy, forms o f the latter to a plain surface o f which was so soon to reach its fore- Boccaccio’s Account, etc.

ordained close in the death o f her who Upon those boughs which shake against the had made life new and beautiful for cold, him, and to the love and honor of whom Bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.” he dedicated his soul and gave all his future years. It is the same face with The face of the youth is grave, as that o f the mask ; but the one is the with the shadow o f distant sorrow ; face o f a youth, “ with all triumphant the face o f the man is solemn, as of splendor on his brow,” the other o f a one who had gone man, burdened with “ the dust and in­ “ Per tutti i cerchj del dolente regno.” jury o f age.” T h e forms and features The one is the young poet of Flor­ are alike, but as to the later face, ence, the other the supreme poet of the “ That time of year thou mayst in it behold world, — • When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do “ che al divino dall’ umano, hang A ll’ eterno dal tempo era venuto.”

BOCCACCIO’S ACCOUNT OF THE COMMEDIA.

Balbo, Life of Dante. Tr. by Mrs. Bunbury, II. 61, 269, 290.

It should be known that Dante had and was one o f its great leaders ; and a sister who was married to one o f our when Messer Vieri and many o f his citizens, called Leon Poggi, by whom followers left Florence, Dante left that she had several children. Among these city also and went to Verona. And on was one called Andrew, who wonder­ account o f this departure, through the fully resembled Dante in the outline of solicitation of the opposite party, Mes­ his features, and in his height and fig­ ser Vieri, and all who had left Flor­ ure ; and he also walked rather stoop­ ence, especially the principal persons, ing, as Dante is said to have done. He were considered as rebels, and had their was a weak man, but with naturally persons condemned and their property good feelings, and his language and con­ confiscated. When the people heard duct were regular and praiseworthy. this, they ran to the houses o f those And I having become intimate with proscribed, and plundered all that was him, he often spoke to me of Dante’s within them. It is true that Dante’s habits and w a ys; but among those wife, Madonna Gemma, fearing this, things which I delight most in recol­ and by the advice o f some of her friends lecting, is what he told me relating to and relations, had withdrawn from his that o f which we are now speaking. house some chests containing certain He said then, that Dante belonged to precious things, and Dante’s writings the party of Messer Vieri de’ Cerchi, along with them, and had put them in 45 354 Illustrations a place o f safety. And not satisfied o f it, still it appeared to him a very fine with having plundered the houses of thing; and therefore he determined, in the proscribed, the most powerful par­ order to know what it was, to carry it tisans o f the opposite faction occupied to an esteemed man o f our city, who their possessions, — some taking one .in those times was a much celebrated and some another, — and thus Dante’s reciter of verses, whose name was Dino, house was occupied. the son of Messer Lambertuccio Fresco- But after five years or more had baldi. elapsed, and the city was more ration­ It pleased Dino marvellously ; and ally governed, it is said, than it was having made copies of it for several of when Dante was sentenced, persons his friends, and knowing that the com­ began to question their , on dif­ position was merely begun, and not ferent grounds, to what had been the completed, he thought that it would b6 property of the exiles, and they were best to send it to Dante, and at the heard. Therefore Madonna Gemma same time to beg him to follow up his was advised to demand back Dante’s design, and to finish it; and having in­ property, on the ground that it was quired, and ascertained that Dante was her dowry. She, to prepare this busi­ at this time in the Lunigiana, with a ness, required certain writings and noble man of the family of Malaspina, documents which were in one o f the called the Marquis Moroello, who was chests, which, in the violent plunder a man of understanding, and who had a o f the effects, she had sent away, nor singular friendship for him, he thought had she ever since removed them from of sending it, not to Dante himself, but the place where she had deposited to the Marquis, in order that he should them. For this purpose, this Andrew show it to him: and so Dino did, beg­ said, she had sent for him, and as Dan­ ging him that, as far as it lay in his te’s nephew had entrusted him with power, he would exert his good offices the keys of these chests, and had sent to induce Dante to continue and finish him with a lawyer to search for the his work. required papers ; while the lawyer T h e seven aforesaid cantos having searched for these, he, Andrew, among reached the Marquis’s hands, and hav­ other of Dante’s writings, found many ing marvellously pleased him, he showed sonnets, canzoni, and such similar pie­ them to Dante; and having heard from ces. But among them what pleased him that they were his composition, he him the most was a sheet in which, entreated him to continue the work. in Dante’s handwriting, the seven pre­ T o this it is said that Dante answered: ceding cantos were written; and there­ “ I really suppose'd that these, along fore he took it and carried it off with with many of my other writings and him, and read it over and over again ; effects, were lost when my house was and although he understood but little plundered, and therefore I had given Boccaccio's Account, etc. 355 up all thoughts of them. But since it — and not only this, but another’ canto has pleased God that they should not after it ? . . . . be lost, and he has thus restored them And those friends he left behind to me, I shall endeavor, as far as I am him, his sons and his disciples, having able, to proceed with them according searched at many times and for several to my first design.” And recalling his months everything of his writing, to old thoughts, and resuming his inter­ see whether he had left any conclusion rupted work, he speaks thus in the be­ to his work, could find in nowise any ginning o f the eighth canto : “ M y o f the remaining cantos ; his friends wondrous history I here renew.” generally being much mortified that N ow precisely the same story, al­ God had not at least lent him so long most without any alteration, has been to the world, that he might have been related to me by a Ser Dino Perino, able to complete the small remaining one of our citizens and an intelligent part of his work ; and having sought man, who, according to his own ac­ so long and never found it, they re­ count, had been on the most friendly mained in despair. Jacopo and Piero and familiar terms with D ante; but he were sons of Dante, and each o f them so far alters the story, that he says, being rhymers, they were induced by “ It was not Andrea Leoni, but I my­ the persuasions of their friends to en­ self, who was sent by the lady to the deavor to complete, as far as they were chests for the papers, and that found able, their father’s work, in order that these seven cantos and took thenl to it should not remain imperfect; when Dino, the son of Messer Lambertuc- to Jacopo, who was more eager about cio.” I do not know to which o f it than his brother, there appeared a these I ought to give most credit, but wonderful vision, which not only in­ whichever of them spoke the truth, duced him to abandon such presump­ still a doubt occurs to me in what they tuous folly, but showed him where say, which I cannot in any manner the thirteen cantos were which were solve to my satisfaction; and my doubt wanting to the Divina Commedia, and is this. T h e poet introduces Ciacco which they had not been able to into the sixth canto, and makes him find...... prophesy, that before three years had A worthy man of Ravenna, whose elapsed from the moment he was speak­ name was Pier Giardino, and who had ing, the party to which Dante belonged long been Dante’s disciple, grave in his should fall, and so it happened. But manner and worthy o f credit, relates we know the removal of the Bianchi that, after the eighth month from the from office, and their departure from day o f his master’s death, there came 'Florence, all happened at once; and to his house before dawn Jacopo di therefore, if the author departed at that Dante, who told him that that night, time, how could he have written this, while he was asleep, his father Dante 356 Illustrations had appeared to him, clothed in the place thus pointed out to him, which whitest garments, and his face resplen­ he had retained excellently in his dent with an extraordinary light; that memory, and to see whether this had he, Jacopo, asked him if he liyed, and been pointed out by a true spirit, or that Dante replied : “ Yes, but in the a false delusion. For which purpose, true life, not our life.” Then he, Ja­ although it was still far. in the night, copo, asked him if he had completed they set off together, and went to the his work before passing into the true house in which Dante resided at the life, and, if he had done so, what had time, of his death. Having called up become of that part of it which was its present owner, he admitted them, missing, which they none of them had and they went to the place thus pointed been able to find. To this Dante out; there they found a blind fixed to seemed to answer, “ Yes, I finished the wall, as they had alv/ays been used i t ” ; and then took him, Jacopo, by to see it in past days ; they lifted it the hand, and led him into that cham­ gently up, when they found a little ber in which he, Dante, had been ac­ window in the wall, never before seen customed to sleep when he lived in by any of them, nor did they even this life, and, touching one of the know it was there. In it they found walls, he said, “ What you have sought several writings, all mouldy from the for so much, is here ” ; and at these dampness of the walls, and had they words both Dante and sleep fled from remained there longer, in a little while Jacopo at once. For which reason they would have crumbled away. Hav­ Jacopo said he could not rest without ing thoroughly cleared away the mould, coming to explain what he had seen they found them to be the thirteen can­ to Pier Giardino, in order that they tos that had been wanting to complete should go together and search out the the Commedia.

THE POSTHUMOUS DANTE.

B y J. R. Lowell in the American Cyclopaedia, V I. 251.

Looked at outwardly, the life of Dante upon earth, and continually baffled and seems to have been an utter and disas­ misunderstood, the far greater part of trous failure. What its inward satis­ his mature life must have been labor and faction must have been, we, with the sorrow. We can see how essential all Paradiso open before us, can form some that sad experience was to him, can un­ faint conception. To him, longing derstand why all the fairy stories hide with an intensity which only the word the luck in the ugly black casket; but Dantesque will express to realize an ideal to him, then and there, how seemed it? The Posthumous Dante

Thou shalt relinquish everything of thee Dante puts n the mouth of St. Peter, Beloved most d early ; this that arrow is who declares his seat vacant {Parad. Shot from the bow of exile first of a ll; xxvii.), whose damnation the poet him­ And thou shalt prove how salt a savor hath self seems to prophesy (Inf. xi.), and The bread of others, and how hard a path To climb and to descend the stranger’s against whose election he had endeav­ stairs! ored to persuade the cardinals, in a Parad. xvii. vehement letter. In 1350 the republic Come sa di sale ! Who never wet his of Florence voted the sum of ten gold­ bread with tears, says Goethe, knows en florins to be paid by the hands of ye not, ye heavenly powers! Our Messer to Dante’s nineteenth century made an idol of the daughter Beatrice, a nun in thq convent noble lord who broke his heart in of Santa Chiara at Ravenna. In 1396 verse once every six months, but the Florence voted a monument, and begged fourteenth was lucky enough to pro­ in vain for the metaphorical ashes of duce and not to make an idol of that the man of whom she had threatened rarest earthly phenomenon, a man of to make literal cinders if she could genius who could hold heart-break at catch him alive. In 1429 she begged bay for twenty years, and would not again, but Ravenna, a dead city, was let himself die till he had done his tenacious of the dead poet. In 1519 task. At the end of the Vita Nuova, Michael Angelo would have built the his first work, Dante wrote down that monument, but X . refused to allow remarkable aspiration that God would the sacred dust to be removed. Fi­ take him to himself after he had written nally, in 1829, five hundred and eight of Beatrice such things as were never years after the death of Dante, Florence yet written of woman. It was literally got a cenotaph fairly built in Santa fulfilled when the Commedia was fin­ Croce (by Ricci), ugly beyond even ished, twenty-five years later. Scarce the usual lot of such, with three colos­ was Dante at rest in his grave when sal figures on it, Dante in the middle, Italy felt instinctively that this was her with Italy on one side and Poesy on great man. Boccaccio tells us that in the other. The tomb at Ravenna, 13.29 Cardinal Poggetto (du Poiet) built originally in 1483, by Cardinal caused Dante’s treatise De Monarchic Bembo, was restored by Cardinal Corsi to be publicly burned at Bologna, and in 1692, and finally rebuilt in its pres­ proposed further to dig.up and burn ent form by Cardinal Gonzaga, in the bones of the poet at Ravenna, as 1780, all three of whom commemo­ having been a heretic ; but so much rated themselves in Latin inscriptions. opposition was roused that he thought It is a little shrine covered with a better of it. Yet this was during the dome, not unlike the tomb of a Mo­ pontificate of the Frenchman, John hammedan saint, and is now the chief •XXII., the reproof of whose simony magnet which draws foreigners and 358 Illustrations

their gold to Ravenna. The valet de of sceptical dilettantism, only three; place says that Dante is not buried un­ during the eighteenth, thirty-four; and der it, but beneath the pavement of the already, during the first half of the street in front of it, where also, he nineteenth, at least eighty. The first says, he saw my Lord Byron kneel and translation was into Spanish, in 1428. weep. Like everything in Ravenna, M. St. Rene Taillandier says that the it is dirty and neglected. In 1373 Commedia was condemned by the In­ (Aug. 9) Florence instituted a chair quisition in Spain, but this seems too of the Divina Commedia, and Boccaccio general a statement, for, according to was named first professor. He accord­ Foscolo ("D ante,” Vol. IV . p. 116), ingly began his lectures on Sunday, it was the commentary of Landino and Oct. 3, following, but his comment Vellutello, and a few verses in the In­ was broken off abruptly at the seven­ ferno and Paradiso, which were con­ teenth verse of the seventeenth canto demned. The first French translation of the Inferno, by the illness which was that of Grangier, 1596, but the ended in his death, Dec. 21, 1375. study of Dante struck no root there till Among his successors was Filippo Vil- the present century. Rivarol, who lani and Filelfo. Bologna was the first translated the Inferno in 1783, was the to follow the example of Florence, first Frenchman who divined the won­ Benvenuto da Imola having begun his derful force and vitality o f the Com­ lectures, according to Tiraboschi, as media. The expressions of early as 1375. Chairs were established represent very well the average opinion also at Pisa, Venice, Piacenza, and M i­ of cultivated persons in respect of lan before the close of the century. Dante in the middle of the eighteenth The lectures were delivered in the century. He says: “ The Italians call churches and on feast days, which him divine; but it is a hidden divinity; shows their popular character. Balbo few people understand his oracles. He reckons (but that is guesswork) that the has commentators, which, perhaps, is manuscript copies of the Divina Com­ another reason for his not being under­ media made during the fourteenth cen­ stood. His reputation will go on in­ tury, and now existing in the libraries creasing, because scarce anybody reads of Europe, are more numerous than him.” (Diet. Phil., art. “ Dante.” ) those of all other works, ancient and T o Father Bettinelli he writes: “ I modern, made during the same period. estimate highly the courage with which Between the invention of printing and you have dared to say that Dante was the year 1500, more than twenty edi­ a madman and his work a monster.” tions were published in Italy, the ear­ But he adds, what shows that Dante liest in 1472. During the sixteenth had his admirers even in that flippant century th.ere were forty editions; dur­ century: “ There are found among us, ing the seventeenth, a period, for Italy, and in the eighteenth century, people The Posthumous Dante 359

who strive to admire imaginations so have been many of these historical pan- stupidly extravagant and barbarous.” dars, of which some of obscure fame, ( Corresp. gen., GZtivres, Tom. LVII. as iEneas Sylvius, Dantes, and Petrarch, pp. 80, 81.) Elsewhere he says that Boccace, Pontanus,” &c. The first Ger­ the Commedia was "a n odd poem, but man translation was that of Kannegiesser gleaming with natural beauties, a work (1809). Versions by Streckfuss, Ko- in which the author rose in parts above pisch, and Prince John (now king) of the bad taste of his age and his subject, Saxony followed. Goethe seems never and full of passages written as purely to have given that attention to Dante as if they had been of the time of which his ever-alert intelligence might Ariosto and Tasso.” (Essai sur les have been expected to bestow on so Mceurs, (Euvres, Tom. XVII. pp. 371, imposing a moral and aesthetic phenom­ 372.) It is curious to see this antipa­ enon. Unless the conclusion of the thetic fascination which Dante exercised second part of “ Faust ” be an inspira­ over a nature so opposite to his own. tion of the Paradiso, we remember no At the beginning of this century Cha­ adequate word from him on this theme. teaubriand speaks of Dante vvith vague His remarks on one of the German commendation, evidently from a very translations are brief, dry, and without superficial acquaintance, and that only that breadth which comes only of thor­ with the Inferno, probably from Riva- ough knowledge and sympathy. But rol’s version. Since then there have German scholarship and constructive been four or five French versions in criticism, through Witte, Kopisch, We- prose or verse, including one by La- gele, Ruth, and others, have been of pre­ mennais. But the austerity of Dante eminent service in deepening the under­ will not condescend to the convention­ standing and facilitating the study of the al elegance which makes the charm of poet. In England, the first recognition French, and the most virile of poets of Dante is by Chaucer in the “ Huge- cannot be adequately rendered in the lin of Pisa” of the “ Monkes Tale,” most feminine of languages. Yet in the and an imitation of the opening verses works of Fauriel, Ozanam, Ampere, and of the third canto of the Inferno (“ As­ Villemain, France has given a greater sembly of Foules” ). In 1417 Gio­ impulse to the study of Dante than any vanni da Serravalle, Bishop of Fermo, other country except Germany. Into completed a Latin prose translation of Germany the Commedia penetrated later. the Commedia, a copy of which, as he How utterly Dante was unknown there made it at the request of two English in the sixteenth century is plain from bishops whom he met at the Council a passage in the “ Vanity of the Arts of Constance, was doubtless sent to and Sciences ” of Cornelius Agrippa, England. Later we find Dante now where he is spoken of among the au­ and then mentioned, but evidently from thors of lascivious stories : “ There hearsay only, till the time of Milton, 360 Illustrations who shows that he has read his works by Boyd, of the Inferno, 1785, of the closely. Thenceforward for more than whole poem, 1802. There have been a century Dante became a mere name, six other complete translations, begin­ used without meaning by literary scio­ ning with Cary’s in 1814, four since lists. Lord Chesterfield echoes Vol­ 1850, beside several of the Inferno sin­ taire, and Dr. Drake in his “ Literary gly. It is only within the last twenty Hours” could speak of Darwin’s “ Bo­ years, however, that the study of Dante, tanic Garden” as showing the “ wild in any true sense, became at all gen­ and terrible sublimity of Dante ” ! The eral. Even Coleridge seems to have first complete English translation was been familiar only with the Inferno.

THE SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY.

From Milman’s History of Latin Christianity, Book XIV. Ch. III.

Now came the great age of the and its religious patience to monastic Schoolmen. Latin Christianity raised discipline : it was the work of a small up those vast monuments of Theology oligarchy, monks, of neces­ which amaze and appall the mind with sity, in mind and habits ; for it im­ the enormous accumulation of intellect­ periously required absolute seclusion ual industry, ingenuity, and toil ; but either in the monastery or in the uni­ of which the sole result to posterity versity, a long life under monastic rule. is this barren amazement. The tomes No Schoolman could be a great man of Scholastic Divinity may be com­ but as a Schoolman. William of .Ock­ pared with the Pyramids of Egypt, ham alone was a powerful demagogue, which stand in that rude majesty — scholastic even in his political writ­ which is commanding from the display ings, but still a demagogue. It is sin­ of immense human power, yet oppres­ gular to see every kingdom in Latin* sive from the sense of the waste of that , every order in the social power for no discoverable use. Who­ state, furnishing the great men, not ever penetrates within finds himself merely to the successive lines of Doc­ bewildered and lost in a labyrinth o f tors, who assumed the splendid titles small, dark, intricate passages and cham­ of the Angelical, the Seraphic, the Ir­ bers, devoid of grandeur, devoid of so­ refragable, the most Profound, the most lemnity : he may wander without end, Subtile, the Invincible, even the Per­ and find nothing ! It was not indeed spicuous, but to what may be called the the enforced labor of a slave popula- supreme Pentarchy of Scholasticism. lation : it was rather voluntary slavery, Italy sent Thomas of Aquino and Bo- submitting in its intellectual ambition naventura; Germany, Albert the Great; The Scholastic Philosophy 361

the British Isles (they boasted also of ligious impulse of the times could not Alexander Hales and Bradwardine)Duns but seize on all the fervent and power­ Scotus and ; France ful minds which sought satisfaction for alone must content herself with names their devout yearnings. No one who somewhat inferior (she had already had strong religious ambition could be given Abelard, Gilbert de la Poree, anything but a Dominican or a Francis­ Amauri de Bene, and other famous or can ; to be less was to be below the suspected names), now William of highest standard. Hence on one hand Auvergne, at a later time Durandus. the Orders aspired to rule the Univer­ Albert and Aquinas were of noble sities, contested the supremacy with all houses, the Counts of Bollstadt and the great established authorities in the Aquino ; Bonaventura of good parent­ schools; and having already drawn in­ age at Fidenza ; of Scotus the birth to their vortex almost all who united was so obscure as to be untraceable ; powerful abilities with a devotional Ockham was of humble parents in the temperament, never wanted men who village of that name in Surrey. But cou'ld enter into this dreary but highly France may boast that the University rewarding service, — men who could of Paris was the great scene of their rule the schools, as others of their studies, their labors, their instruction : brethren had begun to rule the Coun­ the University of Paris was the ac­ cils and the minds of kings. It may be knowledged awarder of the fame and strange to contrast the popular simple authority obtained by the highest preaching — for such must have been Schoolmen. It is no less remarkable that of St. Dominic and St. Francis, that the new Mendicant Orders sent such that of their followers, in order to forth .these five Patriarchs, in dignity, contend with success against the plain of the science. Albert and Aquinas and austere sermons of the heretics — were Dominicans ; Bonaventura, Duns with the Sum of Theology of Aquinas, Scotus, Ockham, . It might which of itself (and it is but one vol­ have been supposed that the populariz­ ume in the works of Thomas) would, ing of religious teaching, which was as it might seem, occupy a whole life the express and avowed object of the of the most secluded study to write, Friar Preachers and of the Minorites, almost to read. The unlearned, un­ would have left the higher places of reasoning, only profoundly passionately abstruse and learned Theology to the loving and dreaming St. Francis, is still older Orders, or to the more dignified more oppugnant to the intensely sub­ secular ecclesiastics. Content with be­ tile and dry Duns Scotus, at one time ing the vigorous antagonists of heresy carried by his severe logic into Pela- in all quarters, they would not aspire gianism ; or to William of Ockham, also to become the aristocracy of theo- perhaps the hardest and severest intel- logic erudition. But the dominant re- lectualist of all, — a political fanatic, not 4 6 Illustrations like his visionary brethren, who brood­ of so much moment in the history of ed over the Apocalypse and their own religion, for their theology was long prophets, but for the Imperial against before rooted in the veneration and the Papal sovereignty. awe of Christendom ; nor in th-t of As then in these five men culminates philosophy, for except what may be the age of genuine Scholasticism, the called mythological subtilties, questions rest may be left to be designated and relating to the world of angels and spir­ described to posterity by the names as­ its, of which, according to them, we signed to them by their own wonder­ might suppose the revelation to man as- ing disciples. full and perfect as that of God or of We would change, according to our the Redeemer, there is hardly a ques­ notion, the titles which discriminated tion which has not been examined in this distinguished pentarchy. Albert other language and in less dry and the Great would be the Philosopher, syllogistic form. There is no acute Aquinas the Theologian, Bonaventura Observation on the workings of the the Mystic, Duns Scotus the Dialecti­ human mind, no bringing to bear ex­ cian, Ockham the Politician. It may traordinary facts on the mental, or min­ be said of Scholasticism, as a whole, gled mental and corporeal, constitution that whoever takes delight in what of our being. With all their researches may be called gymnastic exercises of into the unfathomable they have fath­ the reason or the reasoning powers, omed nothing; with all their vast logi­ efforts which never had, and hardly cal apparatus, they have proved nothing cared to have, any bearing on the life, to the satisfaction of the inquisitive or even on the sentiments and opinions mind. Not only have they not solved of mankind, may study these works, any of the insoluble problems of our the crowning effort of Latin, of Sacer­ mental being, our primary conceptions, dotal, and Monastic Christianity, and our relations to God, to the Infinite, may acquire something like respect for neither have they (a more possible these forgotten athletes in the intellect­ task) shown them to be insoluble. ual games of antiquity. They are not

HOMER'S ODTSSET.

Book XI. Buckley’s Translation.

But when we were come down to ship. And takings the sheep we put the ship and the sea, we first of all them on board ; and we ourselves also drew the ship into the divine sea ; and embarked grieving, shedding the warm we placed a mast and sails in the black tear. And fair-haired Circe, an awful Homer s Odyssey 363

goddess, possessing human speech, sent arately to Tiresias alone a sheep all behind our dark-blue-prowed ship a black, which excels amongst our sheep. moist wind that filled the sails, an But when I had besought them, the excellent companion. And we sat nations of the dead, with vows and down, making use of each of the in­ prayers, then taking the sheep, I cut struments in the ship ; and the wind off their heads into the trench, and and the pilot directed it. And the the black blood flowed : and the souls sails of it passing over the sea were of the perished dead were assembled stretched out the whole day ; and the forth from Erebus, betrothed girls and sun set, and all the ways were over­ youths, and much-enduring old men, shadowed. And it reached the ex­ and tender virgins, having a newly- treme boundaries of the deep-flowing grieved mind, and many Mars-re­ ocean ; where are the people and city nowned men wounded with brass- of the Cimmerians, covered with shad­ tipped spears, possessing gore-smeared ow and vapor, nor does the shining sun arms, who, in great numbers, were behold them with his beams, neither wandering about the trench on differ­ when he goes towards the starry heav­ ent sides with a divine clamor : and en, nor when he turns back again from pale fear seized upon me. Then at heaven to earth ; but pernicious night length exhorting my companions, I is spread over hapless mortals. Hav­ commanded them, having skinned the ing come there, we drew up our ship ; sheep which lay there, slain with the and we took out the sheep ; and we cruel brass, to burn them, and to in­ ourselves went again to the stream of voke the gods, both Pluto and dread the ocean, until we came to the place Proserpine. But I, having drawn my which Circe mentioned. There Peri- sharp sword from my thigh, sat down, medes and Eurylochus made sacred nor did I suffer the powerless heads offerings; but I, drawing my sharp of the dead to draw nigh the blood, sword from my thigh, dug a trench, before I inquired of Tiresias. And the width of a cubit each way ; and first the soul of my companion Elpe- around it we poured libations to all nor came ; for he was not yet buried the dead, first with mixed honey, then beneath the wide-wayed earth ; for with sweet wine, again a third time we left his body in the palace of Circe with water; and I sprinkled white unwept for and unburied, since an­ meal over it. And I much besought other toil then urged us. Beholding the unsubstantial heads of the dead, him, I wept, and pitied him in my promising that, when I came to Itha­ mind, and addressing him, spoke wing­ ca, I would offer up in my palace a ed words : “ O Elpenor, how didst barren heifer, whichever is the best, thou come under the dark west? Thou and would fill a pyre with excellent hast come sooner, being on foot, than things; and that I would sacrifice sep­ I with a black ship.” 3 6 4 Illustrations

Thus I spoke ; but he, groaning, image of my companion on the other answered me in discourse, “ O Jove- side spoke many things. And after­ born son of Laertes, much-contriving wards there came on the soul of my Ulysses, the evil destiny of the deity deceased mother, Anticlea, daughter of and the abundant wine hurt me. L y­ magnanimous Autolycus, whom I left ing down in the palace of Circe, I did alive, on going to sacred Ilium. I in­ not think to go down backwards, hav­ deed wept beholding her, and pitied . ing come to the long ladder, but I fell her in my mind ; but not even thus, downwards from the roof; and my although grieving very much, did I neck was broken from the vertebrae, suffer her to go forward near to the and my soul descended to Hades. Now, blood, before I inquired of Tiresias. I entreat thee by those who are left But at length the soul of Theban T i­ behind, and not present, by thy wife resias came on, holding a golden scep­ and father, who nurtured thee when tre, but me he knew and addressed : little, and Telemachus, whom thou “ O Jove-born son of Laertes, why, O didst leave alone in thy palace ; for I wretched one, leaving the light of the know that, going hence from the house sun, hast thou come, that thou mayest of Pluto, thou wilt moor thy well- see the dead and this joyless region ? wrought ship at the island of M aea : but go back from the trench, and hold there then, O king, I exhort thee to off thy sharp sword, that I may drink be mindful of me, nor, when thou de- the blood and tell thee what is uner­ partest, leave me behind, unwept for, ring.” unburied, going at a distance, lest I Thus he spoke; but I, retiring back, should become some cause to thee of fixed my silver-hiked sword in the the wrath of the gods : but burn me sheath ; but when he had drunk the with whatever arms are mine, and build black blood, then at length the blame­ on the shore of the hoary sea a monu­ less prophet addressed me with words: ment for me, a wretched man, to be “ Thou seekest a pleasant return, O heard of even by posterity ; perform illustrious Ulysses ; but the deity will these things for me, and fix upon the render it difficult for thee ; for I do tomb the oar with which I rowed not think that thou wilt escape the whilst alive, being with my compan­ notice of Neptune, who has set wrath ions.” in his mind against thee, enraged be­ Thus he spoke ; but I, answering, cause thou hast blinded his dear son. addressed him : “ O wretched one, I But still, even so, although suffering will perform and do these things for ills, thou mayest come, if thou art will­ thee.” ing to restrain thy longing, and that of Thus we sat answering one another thy companions, when thou shalt first with bitter words ; I indeed holding drive thy well-wrought ship to the my sword off over the blood, but the Trinacrian island, escaping from the Homer s Odyssey 365

azure main, and find the beeves'pastur­ come upon thee away from the sea, ing, and the fat cattle of the sun, who gentle, very much such a one, as will beholds all things, and hears all things; kill thee, taken with gentle old age ; if indeed thou shalt leave these un­ and the people around thee will be harmed, and art careful of thy return, happy : these things I tell thee true.” even then thou mayest come to Ithaca, Thus he spoke : but I, answering, although suffering ills : but if thou addressed him : “ O Tiresias, the gods harmest them, then I foretell to thee themselves have surely decreed these destruction for thy ship and thy com­ things. But come, tell me this, and panions; but even if thou shouldst thy­ relate it truly. I behold this the soul self escape, thou wilt return late, in of my deceased^ mother; she sits near calamity, having lost all thy compan­ the blood in silence, nor does she dare ions, in a foreign ship; and thou wilt to look openly at her son, nor to speak find troubles in thine house, overbear­ to him. Tell me, O king, how she ing men, who consume thy livelihood, can know me, being such a one.” wooing thy goddess-like wife, and of­ Thus I spoke ; but he, immediately fering thyself for her dowry gifts. But answering, addressed me : " I will tell certainly when thou comest thou wilt thee an easy word, and will place it in revenge their violence ; but when thou thy mind ; whomever of the deceased slayest the suitors in thy palace, either dead thou sufferest to come near the by deceit, or openly with sharp brass, blood, he will tell thee the truth ; but then go, taking a well-fitted oar, until whomsoever thou grudgest it, he will thou comest to those men, who are not go back again.” acquainted with the sea, nor eat food Thus having spoke, the soul of King mixed with salt, nor indeed are ac­ Tiresias went within the house of Plu­ quainted with crimson-cheeked ships, to, when he had spoken the oracles : nor well-fitted oars, which also, are but I remained there firmly, until my wings to ships. But I will tell thee a mother came and drank of the blood ; very manifest sign, nor will it escape but she immediately knew me, and, thee : when another traveller, now lamenting, addressed to me winged meeting thee, shall say that thou hast words : “ My son, how didst thou a winnowing-fan on thine illustrious come under the shadowy darkness, be­ shoulder, then at length having fixed ing alive ? but it is difficult for the liv­ thy well-fitted oar in the earth, and ing to behold these things ; for in the having offered beautiful sacrifices to midst there are mighty rivers and ter­ King Neptune, a ram, and bull, and rible streams, first indeed the ocean, boar, the mate of swine, return home, which it is not possible to pass, being and offer up sacred hecatombs to the on foot, except any one having a well- immortal gods, who possess the wide built ship. Dost thou now come here heaven, to all in order : but death will wandering from Troy, with thy ship 366 Illustrations and companions, after a long time? nor . nor dotes he come to the city ; nor has hast thou yet reached Ithaca ? nor hast he beds, and couches, and clothes, and thou seen thy wife in thy palace ? ” variegated rugs. But he sleeps indeed, Thus she spoke ; but I, answering, during the winter, where the servants addressed her : “ O my mother, ne­ sleep, in the house, in the dust, near cessity led me to Hades, to consult the the fire, and he puts sad garments soul of Theban Tiresias. For I have about his body : but when summer ar­ not yet come near Achaia, nor have I rives, and flourishing autumn, his bed ever stept upon my own land, but I is strewn on the ground, of the leaves still wander about, having grief, since that fall on every side of his wine-pro­ first I followed divine Agamemnon to ducing vineyard. Here he lies sorrow­ steed-excelling Ilium, that I might fight ing, and he cherishes great grief in his with the Trojans. But come, tell mind, lamenting thy fate ; and severe me this, and relate it truly, what fate old age comes upon him : for so I also of long-sleeping death subdued thee ? perished and drew on my fate. Nor Whether a long disease ? or did shaft- did the well-aiming,. shaft-delighting rejoicing Diana, coming upon thee with goddess, coming upon me with her her mild weapons, slay thee? And tell mild weapons, slay me in the palace. me of my father and my son, whom I Nor did any disease come upon me, left, whether my property is still with which especially takes away the mind them, or does some other of men now from the linjbs with hateful consump­ possess it, and do they think that I tion. But regret for thee, and cares shall not any more return ? And tell for thee, O illustrious Ulysses, and me the counsel and mind of my wooed kindness for thee, deprived me of my wife, whether does she remain with sweet life.” her son, and guard.all things safe? or Thus she spoke ; but I, meditating now has one of the Grecians, whoever in my mind, wished to lay hold of the is the best, wedded her ? ” soul of my departed mother. Thrice Thus I spoke ; but my venerable indeed I essayed it, and my mind urged mother immediately answered me : me to lay hold of it, but thrice it flew “ She by all means remains with an from my hands, like unto a shadow, or enduring mind in thy palace : and her even to a dream : but sharp grief arose miserable nights and days are continu­ in my heart still more ; and addressing ally spent in tears. But no one as yet her, I spoke winged words : “ Mother possesses thy noble property : but Te- mine, why dost thou not remain for lemachus manages thy estates in quiet, me, desirous to take hold of thee, that and feasts upon equal feasts, which it even in Hades, throwing around our is fit for a man who is a prince to dear hands, we may both be satiated prepare ; for all invite him: but thy with sad grief? Has illustrious Pro­ father remains there in the country, serpine sent forth this an image for Odyssey 367 me, that I may lament still more, - streams of the Enipeus. Earth-shaking mourning ? ” Neptune, therefore, likened unto him, Thus I spoke; my venerable mother lay with her at the mouth of the eddy­ immediately answered me: “ Alas! my ing river : and the purple wave sur­ son, unhappy above all mortals, Pro­ rounded them, like unto a mountain, serpine, the daughter of Jove, by no arched, and concealed the god, and the means deceives thee, but this is the mortal woman; and he loosed her condition of mortals, when they are virgin zone, and shed sleep over her. dead. For their nerves no longer have But when the god had accomplished flesh and bones, but the strong force of the deeds of love, he laid hold of her burning fire subdues them, when first hand, and spoke and addressed her : the mind leaves the white bones, but “ Rejoice, O woman, on account of the soul, like as a dream, flittering, our love ; for when a year has rolled flies away. But hasten as quick as round, thou shalt bring forth illustrious possible to the light; and know all children ; since the beds of the im­ these things, that even hereafter thou mortals are not in vain ; but do thou mayest tell them to thy wife.” take care of them, and bring them up, Thus we twain answered each other but now go to thine house, and re­ with words ; but the women came, — strain thyself, nor mention i t ; but I for illustrious Proserpine excited them, am Earth-shaking Neptune.” — as many as were the wives and Thus having spoke, he dived be­ daughters of chiefs. And they were neath the billowy sea; but she, having assembled together around the black conceived, brought forth Pelias and blood. And I took counsel how I Neleus, who both became noble ser­ might inquire of each ; and this plan vants of Jove. Pelias, indeed, abound­ in my mind appeared to me to be the ing in cattle, dwelt* in spacious Iolcus ; best: having drawn my long sword but the other in sandy Pylos. And from my stout thigh, I did not suffer the queen of women brought forth the them all to drink the black blood at others to Cretheus, ^Eson, and Pheres, the same time. But they came one af­ and steed-rejoicing Amithaon. ter another, and each related her race ; After her I beheld , the but I inquired of all. There then I daughter of Asopus, who also boasted saw Tyro first, born of a noble father, to have slept in the arms of Jove ; and who said that she was the offspring of she brought forth two sons, Amphion blameless . And she said and Zethus, who first laid the founda­ that she was the wife of Cretheus, son tions of seven-gated Thebes, and sur­ of ^Eolus. She loved the divine river rounded it with turrets ; since they Enipeus, which flows far the fairest were not able, although they were of rivers upon the earth ; and she was strong, to dwell in spacious Thebes, constantly walking near the beautiful without turrets. 368 Illustrations

After her I beheld Alcmene, the blameless seer alone promised that he wife of Amphitryon, who, mingled in would drive these away; but the severe the arms of great Jove, brought forth Fate of the gods hindered him, and bold, lion-hearted Hercules. And Me- difficult fetters, and rustic herdsmen. gara, daughter of high-minded Creon, But when the months and days were whom the son of Amphytrion, ever un­ now completed, a year having again wasted in strength, wedded. gone round, and the hours came on, And I beheld the mother of GEdipus, then at length the mighty Iphicles beautiful Epicaste, who committed a loosed him, having told all the oracles; dreadful deed in the ignorance of her and the counsel of Jove was fulfilled. mind, having married her own son ; And I beheld Leda, the wife of and he, having slain his father, married Tyndareus, who brought forth two her : but the gods immediately made noble-minded sons from Tyndareus, it public amongst men. Then he, suf­ steed-subduing Castor, and Pollux who fering grief in delightful Thebes, ruled excelled in pugilism; both of these the over the Cadmeians, through the per­ fruitful earth detains alive ; who, even nicious counsels of the gods ; but she beneath the earth, having honor from went to the dwellings of strong-gated Jove, sometimes live on alternate days, Hades, suspending the cord on high and sometimes again are dead, and they from the lofty house, held fast by her have obtained by lot honor equally own sorrow ; but she left behind for with the gods. him very many griefs, as many as the After her I beheld Iphimedia, wife Furies of a mother accomplish. of Aloeus, who said that she had been And I saw the very beautiful Chlo- united to Neptune : and bore two ris, whom Neleus once married, on sons, but they were short-lived, god­ account of her beauty, when he had like Otus, and far-famed Ephialtes; given her countless dowries, the young­ whom the fruitful earth nourished, the est daughter of Amphion, son of Iasus: tallest, and far the most beautiful, at who once ruled strongly in Minyean least after illustrious Orion. For at ; and he reigned over Py- nine years old they were also nine cu­ los ; and she bore to him noble chil­ bits in width, but in height they were dren, Nestor, and Chromius, and proud nine fathoms. Who even threatened Periclymenus; and besides these she the immortals that they would set up brought forth strong Pero, a marvel to a strife of impetuous war in Olympus : mortals, whom all the neighboring in­ they attempted to place Ossa upon habitants wooed; nor did Neleus at all Olympus, and upon Ossa leafy Pelion, offer her to any one, who could not that heaven might be accessible. And drive away from Phylace the crumple- they would have accomplished it, if horned oxen of mighty Iphicles, with they had reached the measure of youth: wide foreheads, and troublesome ; a but the son of Jove, whom fair-haired Homer’s Odyssey 369

Latona bore, destroyed them both, ing an immense blast of cruel winds ? before the down flowered under their Or did unjust men injure thee on land, temples, and thickened upon their cheek while thou wert cutting off their oxen, with a flowering beard. and beautiful flocks of sheep, or con­ And I beheld Phaedra and Procris, tending for a city, or for women ? ” and fair Ariadne, the daughter of wise Thus I spoke ; but he immediately Minos, whom Theseus once led from addressed me, answering: “ O Jove- Crete to the soil of sacred Athens, but born son of Laertes, much-planning he did not enjoy her ; for Diana first Ulysses, neither did Neptune subdue slew her in the island Dia, on account me in my ships, raising an immense of the testimony of Bacchus. blast of cruel winds, nor did unjust And I beheld Maera and Clymene, men injure me on land; but iEgisthus, and hateful Eriphyle, who received having contrived death and Fate for precious gold for her dear husband. me, slew me, conspiring with my But I cannot relate nor name all, how pernicious wife, having invited me to many wives and daughters of heroes I his house, entertaining me at a feast, as beheld : for even the immortal night any one has slain an ox at the stall. would first waste away. Thus I died by a most piteous death ; and my other companions were cruelly When chaste Proserpine had dis­ slain around me, as swine with white persed the souls of women in different tusks, which are slain either at the places, the soul of Agamemnon, son of marriage, or collation, or splendid ban­ Atreus, came up, sorrowing : and the quet of a wealthy, very powerful man. rest were assembled around him, as Thou hast already been present at the many as died, and drew on their fate slaughter of many men, slain separately, in the house of ^Egisthus together with and in hard battle ; but if thou hadst him ; and he immediately knew me, seen those things, thou wouldst have when he had drunk the black blood ; especially lamented in thy mind, how and he wept shrilly, shedding the warm we lay in the palace about the cups tear, holding out his hands to me, de­ and full tables ; and the whole ground siring to lay hold of me. But he had reeked with blood. And I heard the no longer firm strength, nor power at most piteous voice of the daughter of all, such as was before in his bending Priam, Cassandra, whom deceitful Cly- limbs. I wept indeed, beholding him, temnestra slew near me ; but I, raising and pitied him in my mind, and ad­ my hands from the earth, dying, laid dressing him I spoke winged words : them on my sword; but she, impudent “ O most glorious son of Atreus, Aga­ one, went away, nor did she endure memnon, king of men, what fate of to close my eyes with her hands, and long-sleeping death subdued thee ? Did shut my mouth, although I was -going Neptune subdue thee in thy ships, rais- to Hades. So there is nothing else 47 37o Illustrations more terrible and impudent than a his sire, as is right; but she m^ wife woman, who indeed casts about such did not suffer me to be satiated in mine deeds in her mind : what an unseemly eyes with my son, for she first slew deed has she indeed contrived, having even me myself. But I will tell thee prepared murder for her husband, whom something else, and do thou lay it up she lawfully married ! I thought in­ in thy mind ; hold thy ship towards deed that I should return home wel­ thy dear paternal land secretly, not come to my children and my servants ; openly ; since confidence is no longer but she, above all acquainted with to be placed upon women. But come, wicked things, has shed disgrace over tell me this and relate it truly ; if thou herself, and female women about to hearest of my son anywhere yet alive, be hereafter, even upon one who is a either somewhere in Orchomenus, or worker of good.” in sandy Pylos, or somewhere near Thus he spoke ; but I addressed Menelaus in wide Sparta ? for divine him, answering : “ O gods ! of a truth Orestes has not yet died upon the wide - thundering Jove most terribly earth.” hates the. race of Atreus, on account of Thus he spoke; but I addressed him women’s plans, from the beginning: in answer : “ O son of Atreus, why many of us indeed perished for the sake dost thou inquire these things of me ? of Helen ; and Clytemnestra has con­ I do not know at all whether he is trived a stratagem for thee when thou alive or dead; and it is wrong to utter wast at a distance.” vain words.” Thus I spoke ; but he immediately We twain stood thus mourning, an­ addressed me in answer: “ Now there­ swering one another with sad words, fore do not thou ever be mild to thy shedding the warm tear. And the soul wife, nor inform her of everything with of Achilles, son of Peleus, came on, which thou art well acquainted : but and of Patroclus, and spotless Anti- tell one thing, and let another be con­ lochus, and Ajax, who was the most cealed. But for thee indeed there will excellent as to his form and person of not be murder at the hands of thy wife, all the Danaans after the blameless son O Ulysses : for prudent Penelope, the of Peleus. And the soul of the swift­ daughter of Icarus, is very wise, and is footed descendant of ^Eacus knew me, well acquainted with counsels in her and, lamenting, addressed me in wing­ mind. We left indeed her, when we ed words : “ O Jove-born son of Laer­ came to the war, a young bride ; and tes, much-contriving Ulysses, wretched she had an infant boy at her breast, one, why dost thou meditate a still who now probably sits amongst the greater work in thy. mind ? how didst number of men, happy one ; for his thou dare to descend to Orcus, where dear father will surely behold him, dwell the witless dead, the images of when returning, and he will embrace deceased mortals ? ” Homer s Odyssey 37i

Thus he spoke; but I addressed him father, so I would make my strength in answer : “ Achilles, son of Peleus, and unconquerable hands terrible to by far the most excellent of the Gre­ any who treat him with violence and cians, I came for the advice of Tire- keep him from honor.” sias, if he could tell me how by any Thus he spoke ; but I, answering, plan I may come to craggy Ithaca. addressed him : " I have not indeed For I have not yet come anywhere heard anything of blameless Peleus. near Greece, nor have I ever gone on But I will tell thee the whole truth, as my land anywhere, but I still have thou biddest me, about thy dear son troubles : but there was no man before Neoptolemus ; for I myself led him more blessed than thou, O Achilles, in an equal hollow ship from Scyros nor will there be hereafter. For for­ to the well-greaved Grecians. O f a merly we Argives honored thee when truth, when we were taking counsels alive equally with the gods, and now concerning the city Troy, he always again, when thou art here, thou hast spoke first, and did not err in his great power amongst the deceased ; words : and godlike Nestor and myself do not therefore when dead be sad, O alone contended with him. But when Achilles. ” we were fighting about the city of the Thus I spoke ; but he immediately Trojans, he never remained in the addressed me in answer : “ Do not, O number of men, nor in the crowd, but illustrious Ulysses, speak to me of ran on much before, yielding to no one death ; I would wish, being on earth, in his might; and many men he slew to serve for hire with another man of in the terrible contest: but I could not no estate, who had not much liveli­ tell nor name all, how great a people hood, rather than rule over all the de­ he slew, defending the Greeks. But parted dead. But come, tell me an I will relate how he slew the hero account of my noble son ; did he fol­ Eurypylus, son of Telephus, with the low to the war so as to be a chief or brass, and many Cetean companions not ? and tell me if thou hast heard were slain around him, on account of anything of blameless Peleus; whether gifts to a woman : him certainly I be­ has he still honor amongst the many held as the most beautiful, after divine Myrmidonians ? or do they dishonor Memnon. But when we, the chief­ him in Greece and Phthia, because old tains of the Grecians, ascended into age possesses his hands and feet? for the horse which Epeus made, and all I am not assistant to him under the things were committed to me, both to beams of the sun, being such a one as open the thick ambush and to shut it, when I slew the best of the people in there the other leaders and rulers of wide Troy, fighting for the Grecians. the Greeks both wiped away their tears, If I should come as such a one even and the limbs of each trembled under for a short time to the house of my them; but him I never saw at all with 372 Illustrations my eyes, either turning pale as to his gods made them a harm unto the Gre­ beauteous complexion, or wiping away cians. For thou, who was such a the tears from his cheeks; but he im­ fortress to them, didst perish ; for plored me very much to go out of the thee, when dead, we Greeks altogether horse; and grasped the hilt of his mourned, equally ‘as for the person of sword, and his brass-heavy spear, and Achilles, the son of Peleus; nor was he meditated evil against the Trojans. any one else the cause ; but Jupiter ve­ But when we had sacked the lofty city hemently hated the army of the warrior of Priam, having his share and excel­ Greeks; and he laid fate upon you. lent reward, he embarked unhurt on a But come hither, O king, that thou ship, neither stricken with the sharp mayest hear our word and speech; and brass, nor wounded in fighting hand subdue thy strength and haughty mind.” to hand, as oftentimes happens in war; Thus I spoke ; but he answered me for Mars confusedly raves.” not at all, but went to Erebus amongst Thus I spoke ; but the soul of the the' other souls of the deceased dead. swift-footed son of ^Eacus went away, There however, although angry, he taking mighty steps through the mead­ would have spoken to me, or I to him, ow of asphodel, in joyfulness, because but my mind in my breast wished to I had said that his son was very illus­ behold the souls of the other dead. trious. But the other souls of the de­ There then I beheld Minos, the il­ ceased dead stood sorrowing, and each lustrious son of Jove, having a golden related their griefs. But the soul of sceptre, giving laws to the dead, sitting Ajax, son of Telamon, stood afar off, down ; but the others around him, the angry on account of the victory in king, pleaded their causes, sitting and which I conquered him, contending in standing through the wide-gated house trial at the ships concerning the arms of Pluto. of Achilles ; for his venerable mother After him I beheld vast Orion, hunt­ proposed them : but the sons of the ing beasts at the same time, in the Trojans and Pallas Minerva adjudged meadow of asphodel, which he had them. How I wish that I had not himself killed in the desert mountains, conquered in such a contest ; for the having an all-brazen club in his hands, earth contained such a person on ac­ forever unbroken. count of them, Ajax, who excelled in And I beheld Tityus, the son of the form and in deeds the other Greeks, very renowned earth, lying on the after the blameless son of Peleus ; -him ground; and he lay stretched over nine indeed I addressed with mild words : acres; and two vultures sitting on each

of Jove, as she was going to Pythos, bow, and an arrow at the string, look­ through the delightful . ing about terribly, was always like unto And I beheld Tantalus suffering se­ one about to let fly a shaft. And there vere griefs, standing in a lake ; and it was a fearful belt around his breast, the approached his chin. But he stood thong was golden: on which wondrous thirsting, and he could not get anything forms were wrought, bears, and wild to drink ; for as often as the old man boars, and terrible lions, and contests, stooped, desiring to drink, so often the and battles, and slaughters, and slayings water, being sucked up, was lost to him; of men ; he who devised that thong and the black earth appeared around with his art, never having wrought his feet, and the deity dried it up. And such a one before, could not work any lofty trees shed down fruit from the other such. But he immediately knew top, pear-trees, and apples, and pome­ me, when he saw me with his eyes, and, granates producing glorious fruit, and pitying me, addressed winged words : sweet figs, and flourishing olives : of “ O Jove-born son of Laertes, much- which, when the old man raised him­ contriving Ulysses, ah! wretched one, self up to pluck some with his hands, thou too art certainly pursuing some the wind kept casting them away to evil fate, which I also endured under the dark clouds. the beams of the sun. I was indeed And I beheld Sisyphus, having vio­ the son of Jove, the son of Saturn, but lent griefs, bearing an enormous stone I had infinite labor ; for I was sub­ with both his hands: he indeed lean­ jected to a much inferior man, who ing with his hands and feet kept thrust­ enjoined upon me difficult contests: ing the stone up to the top : but when and once he sent me hither to bring it was about to pass over the summit, the dog, for he did not think that there then strong force began to drive it back was any contest more difficult than this. again, then the impudent stone rolled I indeed brought it up and led it from to the plain ; but he, striving, kept Pluto, but Mercury and blue-eyed M i­ thrusting it back, and the sweat flowed nerva escorted me.” down from his limbs, and a dirt arose Thus having spoken, he went again from his head. within the house of Pluto. But I re­ After him I perceived the might of mained there firmly, if by chance any Hercules, an image ; for he himself one of the heroes, who perished in amongst the immortal gods is delighted former times, would still come ; and I with banquets, and has the fair-legged should now still have seen former men, Hebe, daughter of mighty Jove and whom I wished, Theseus, and Piri- golden-sandalled Juno. And around thoiis, glorious children of the gods; him there was a clang of the dead, as but first myriads of nations of the dead of birds, frighted on all sides; but he, were assembled around me with a fine like unto dark night, havin.g a naked clamor ; and pale fear seized me, lest 374 Illustrations to me illustrious Proserpine should send loose the halsers. But they quickly em­ a Gorgon head of a ■ terrific monster barked, and sat down on the benches. from Orcus. Going then immediately And the wave of the stream carried it to my ship, I ordered my companions through the ocean river, first the row­ to go on board themselves, and to ing and afterwards a fair wind.

VIR G IL'S MN E ID.

Book VI. Davidson’s Tr., revised by Buckley.

...... Ye gods, to whom the empire of having her viperous locks bound with ghosts belongs, and ye silent shades, and bloody fillets. Chaos, and Phlegethon, places where In the midst a gloomy elm displays silence reigns around in night ! permit its boughs and aged arms, which seat me to utter the secrets I have heard ; vain Dreams are commonly said to may I by your divine will disclose haunt, and under every leaf they dwell, things buried in deep earth and dark- Many monstrous savages, moreover, of ness. They moved along amid the various forms, stable in the gates, the gloom under the solitary night through Centaurs and double-formed Scyllas, the shade, and through the desolate and Briareus with his hundred hands, halls and empty realms of Pluto ; such and the enormous snake of Lerma hiss- as is a journey in woods beneath the ing dreadful, and Chimasra armed with unsteady moon, under a faint, glimmer- flames ; Gorgons, Harpies, and the ing light, when Jupiter hath wrapped form of Geryon’s three-bodied ghost, the heavens in shade, and sable night Here ^Eneas, disconcerted with sudden had stripped objects of color. fear, grasps his sword, and presents the Before the vestibule itself, and in the naked point to each approaching shade: first jaws of hell, Grief and vengeful and had not his skilful guide put him Cares have placed their couches, and in mind that they were airy unbodied pale Diseases dwell, and disconsolate phantoms, fluttering about under an Old Age, and Fear, and the evil coun- empty form, he had rushed in and with sellor Famine, and vile, deformed Indi- his sword struck at the ghosts in vain, gence, forms ghastly to the sight! and' Hence is a path which leads to the Death, and T o il; then Sleep, akin to floods of Tartarean Acheron: here a Death, and criminal Joys of the mind ; gulf turbid and impure boils up with and in the opposite threshold murder- mire and vast whirlpools, and disgorges ous War, and the iron bedchambers all its sand into Cocytus. A grim of the Furies, and frantic Discord, ferryman guards these floods and rivers, Virgil’s JEneid 37 5

Charon, of frightful slovenliness ; on of Cocytus, and the Stygian lake, by whose chin a load of gray hair neg­ whose divinity the gods dread to swear lected lies; his eyes are flame : his and violate their oath. All that crowd vestments hang from his shoulders by which you see consists of naked and un­ a knot, with filth overgrown. Himself buried persons : that ferryman is Cha­ thrusts on the barge with a pole, and ron : these, whom the stream carries, tends the sails, and wafts over the bod­ are interred ; for it is not permitted to ies in his iron-colored boat, now in transport them over the horrid banks, years: but the god is of fresh and green and hoarse waves, before their bones are old age. Hither the whole tribe in quietly lodged in a final abode. They swarms come pouring to the banks, wander a hundred years, and flutter matrons and men, the souls of magnan­ about these shores : then, at length ad­ imous heroes who had'gone through '; mitted, they visit the wished-for lakes. life, boys and unmarried maids, and ; ' The offspring of Anchises paused young men who had been stretched and repressed his steps, deeply musing, on the funeral pile before the eyes of and pitying from his soul their unkind their parents; as numerous as withered lot. There he espies Leucaspis, and leaves fall in the woods with the first Orontes, the commander of the Lycian cold of autumn, or as numerous as fleet, mournful, and bereaved of the birds flock to the land from the deep honors of the dead : whom as they oce^n, when the chilling year drives sailed from Troy, over the stormy seas, them beyond sea, and sends them to the south wind sunk together, whelm­ sunny climes. They stood praying ing both ship and crew in the waves. to cross the flood the first, and were Lo ! the pilot Palinurus slowly ad­ stretching forth their hands with fond vanced, who lately in his Libyan voy­ desire to gain the farther bank : but age, while he was observing the stars, the sullen boatman admits sometimes had fallen from the stern, plunged in these, sometimes those ; while others the midst of the waves. When with to a great distance removed, he debars difficulty, by reason of the thick shade, from the banks. ^£neas knew him in this mournful ^neas (for he was amazed and mood, he thus first accosts him: What moved with the tumult) thus speaks : god, O Palinurus, snatched you from O virgin, say, what means that flocking us, and overwhelmed you in the middle to the river ? what do the ghosts de­ of the ocean? Come, tell me. For sire? or by what distinction must these Apollo, whom I never before found recede from the banks, those sweep false, .in this one response deceived my with oars the livid flood? To him mind, declaring that you should be safe the aged priestess thus briefly replied : on the sea, and arrive at the Ausonian Son of Anchises, undoubted offspring coasts. Is this the amount of his plight­ of the gods, you see the deep pools ed faith ? 376 Illustrations

But he answers : Neither the oracle wretch, and bear me with you over the of Phoebus beguiled you, prince of the waves, that in death at least I may rest line of Anchises, nor a god plunged me in peaceful seats. in the sea; for, falling headlong, I Thus he spoke, when thus the proph­ drew along with me the helm, which etess began : Whence, O Palinurus, I chanced with great violence to tear rises in thee this so impious desire? away, as I clung to it and steered our Shall you unburied behold the Stygian course, being appointed pilot. By the floods, and the grim river of the Furies, rough seas I swear that I was not so or reach the bank against the command seriously apprehensive for myself, as of heaven ? Cease to hope that the that thy ship, despoiled of her rudder, decrees of the gods are to be altered by dispossessed of her pilot, might sink prayers ; but mindful take these pre­ while such high billows were rising. dictions as the solace of your hard fate. The. south wind drove me violently on For the neighboring people, compelled the water over the spacious sea, three by portentous plagues from heaven, wintry nights : on the fourth day I shall through their several cities far descried Italy from the high ridge of a and wide offer atonement to thy ashes, wave whereon I was raised aloft. I erect a tomb, and stated anniversary was swimming gradually toward land, offerings on that tomb present; and and should have been out of danger, the place shall forever retain the name had not the cruel people fallen upon of Palinurus. By these words his cares me with the sword (encumbered with were removed, and grief was for a time my wet garment, and grasping with banished from his disconsolate heart: crooked hands the rugged tops of a he rejoices in the land that is to bear mountain), and ignorantly taking me his name. for a rich prey. Now the waves pos- < They therefore accomplish their sess me, and the winds toss me about journey begun, and approach the river: the shore. But by the pleasant light whom when the boatman soon from of heaven, and by the vital air, by the Stygian wave beheld advancing him who gave thee birth, by the hope through the silent grove, and stepping of rising lulus, I thee implore, invin­ forward to the bank, thus he first ac­ cible one, release me from these woes : costs them in words, and chides them either throw on me some earth (for unprovoked: Whoever thou mayest be, thou canst do so), and seek out the who art now advancing armed to our Veline port; or, if there be any means, rivers, say quick for what end thou if thy goddess mother point out any, comest; and from that very spot re­ (for thou dost not, I presume, without press thy step. This is the region of the will of the gods, attempt to cross Ghosts, of Sleep, and drowsy N ight: such mighty rivers and the Stygian to waft over the bodies of the living lake,) lend your hand to an unhappy in my Stygian boat is not permitted. Virgil’s Alneid 377

Nor indeed Was it joy to me that I re­ weed. Huge Cerberus makes these ceived Alcides on the lake when he realms to resound with barking from came, or Theseus and Pirithous, though his triple jaws, stretched at his enor­ they were the offspring of the gods, mous length in a den that fronts the and invincible in might. One with gate. T o whom the prophetess, see­ his hand put the keeper of ing his neck now bristle with hor­ in chains, and dragged him trembling rid snakes, flings a soporific cake of from the throne of our king himself; honey and medicated grain. He, in the others attempted to carry off our the mad rage of hunger, opening his queen from Pluto’s bedchamber. three mouths, snatches the offered mor­ In answer to which the Amphrysian sel, and, spread on the ground, relaxes prophetess spoke : No such plots are his monstrous limbs, and is extended at here, be not disturbed ; nor do these vast length over all the cave. ^Eneas, weapons bring violence : the huge now that the keeper of hell is buried porter may bay in his den forever, ter­ in sleep, seizes the passage, and swift rifying the incorporeal shades : chaste overpasses the bank of that flood whence Proserpine may remain in her uncle’s there is no return. palace. Trojan ^Eneas, illustrious for Forthwith are heard voices, loud piety and arms, descends to the deep wailings, and weeping ghosts of in­ shades of Erebus to his sire. If the fants, in the first opening of the gate : image of such piety makes no impres­ whom, bereaved of sweet life out of sion on you, own a regard at least to the course of nature, and snatched from this branch (she shows the branch that the breast, a black day cut off, and bur­ was concealed under her robe). Then ied in an untimely grave. his heart from swelling rage is stilled : Next to those are such as had been nor passed more words than these. He, condemned to death by false accusations. with wonder gazing on the hallowed Nor yet were those seats assigned them present of the fatal branch, beheld after without a trial, without a judge. Mi­ a long season, turns toward them his nos, as inquisitor, shakes the urn : he lead-colored barge, and approaches the convokes the council of the silent, and bank. Thence he dislodges the other examines their lives and crimes. souls that sat on the long benches, and The next places in order those mourn­ clears the hatches; at the same time re­ ful ones possess who, though free from ceives into the hold the mighty ^Eneas. crime, procured death to themselves The boat of sewn hide groaned under with their own hands, and, sick of the the weight, and, being leaky, took in light, threw away their lives. How much water from the lake. At length gladly would they now endure pov­ he lands the hero and the prophetess erty and painful toils in the upper re­ safe on the other side of the river, gions ! Fate opposes, and the hateful on the foul, slimy strand and sea-green lake imprisons them with its dreary 378 Illustrations waves, and Styx, nine times rolling be­ nor could I believe that I should bring tween, confines them. upon you such deep anguish by my de­ Not far from this part, extended on parture. Stay your steps, and withdraw every side, are shown the fields of not yourself from my sight. Whom mourning : so they call them by name. do you fly ? This is the last time Here by-paths remote conceal, and myr- fate allows me to address you. With tle-groves cover those around, whom these words ^neas thought to soothe unrelenting love, with his cruel venom, her soul inflamed, and eying him with consumed away. Their cares leave stern regard, and provoked his tears to them not in death itself. In these flow. She, turned away, kept her eyes places he sees Phaedra and Procris, and fixed on the ground ; nor alters her disconsolate Eriphyle pointing to the looks more, in consequence of the con­ wounds she had received from her versation he had begun, than if she cruel son ; Evadne also, and Pasiphae : were fixed immovable like a stubborn these Laodamia accompanies, and Cae- flint or rock of Parian marble. At neus, once a youth, then a woman, and length she abruptly retired, and in de­ again by fate transformed into his pris­ testation fled into a shady grove, where tine shape. Among whom Phoenician Sichaeus, her first lord, answers her with Dido, fresh from her wound, was wan­ amorous cares, and returns her love for dering in a spacious wood ; whom as love. ^Eneas, nevertheless, in com­ soon as the Trojan hero approached, motion for her disastrous fate, with and discovered faintly through the weeping eyes, pursues her far, and pit­ shades, (in like manner as one sees, or ies her as she goes. thinks he sees, the moon rising through Hence he holds on his destined way; the clouds in the beginning of her and now they had reached the last monthly course,) he dropped tears, and fields, which by themselves apart re­ addressed her in love’s sweet accents : nowned warriors frequent. Here T y ­ Hapless Dido, was it then a true re­ deus appears to him, here Partheno- port I had of your being dead, and pceus illustrious in arms, and the ghost that you had finished your own destiny of pale Adrastus. Here appear those by the sword? Was I, alas! the cause Trojans who had died in the field of of your death ? I swear by the stars, battle, much lamented in the upper by the powers above, and by whatever world : whom when he beheld all to­ faith may be under the deep earth, that gether in a numerous body, he in­ against my will, O queen, I departed wardly groaned ; , Medon, from your coast. But the mandates of Thersilochus, the three sons of An- the gods, which now compel me to tenor, and Polybastes devoted to Ceres, travel through these shades, through and Idaeus still handling his chariot, noisome dreary regions and deep night, still his armor. The ghosts in crowds drove me from you by their authority ; around him stand on the right and lcfc: Virgil’s Aineid 379 nor are they satisfied with seeing him discharged every duty to Deiphobus, once ; they wish to detain him long, and to the shadow of a corpse. But to come into close conference with my own fate, and the cursed wicked­ him, and learn the reasons of his visit. ness of Helen, plunged me in these But as soon as the Grecian chiefs and woes : she hath left me these monu­ Agamemnon’s battalions saw the hero, ments of her love. For how we passed and his arms gleaming through the that last night amid ill-grounded joys shades, they quaked with dire dismay : you know, and must remember but too some turned their backs, as when they well, when the fatal horse came bound­ fled once to their ships ; some raise ing over our lofty walls, and pregnant their slender voices; the scream begun brought armed infantry in its womb. dies in their gasping throats. She, pretending a dance, led her train And here he espies Deiphobus, the of Phrygian matrons yelling around the son of Priam, mangled in every limb, orgies: herself in the midst held a his face and both his hands cruelly large flaming torch, and called to the torn, his temples bereft of the ears Greeks from the lofty tower. I, being cropped off, and his nostrils slit with at that time oppressed with care, and a hideously deformed wound. Thus overpowered with sleep, was lodged he hardly knew him, quaking for agi­ in my unfortunate bedchamber : rest, tation, and seeking to hide the marks balmy, profound, and the perfect im­ of his dreadful punishment; and he age of a calm, peaceful death, pressed first accosts him with well-known me as I lay. Meanwhile my incom­ accents : Deiphobus, great in arms, parable spouse removes all arms from sprung from Teucer’s noble blood, who my palace, and had withdrawn my could choose to inflict such cruelties ? trusty sword from my head : she calls Or who was allowed to exercise such Menelaus into the palace, and throws power over you ? To me, in that last open the gates; hoping, no doubt, that night, a report was brought that you, would be a mighty favor to her amo­ tired with the vast slaughter of the rous husband, and that thus the infamy Greeks, had fallen at last on a heap of of her former wicked deeds might be mingled carcasses. Then, with my extinguished. In short, they burst own hands, I raised to you an empty into my chamber : that traitor of the tomb on the Rhcetean shore, and thrice race of iEolus, the promoter of vil- with loud voice I invoked your manes. lany, is joined in company with them. Your name and arms possess the place. Ye gods, requite these cruelties to the Your body, my friend, I could not Greeks, if I supplicate vengeance with find, or, at my departure, deposit in pious lips ! But come now, in your your native land. And upon this the turn, say what adventure hath brought son of Priam said: Nothing, my friend, you hither alive. Do-you come driven has been omitted by you ; you have by the casualties of the main, or by 380 Illustrations

the direction of the gods ? or what for­ day. Hence groans are heard; the tune compels you to visit these dreary cruel lashes resound ; the grating too mansions, troubled regions where the of iron, and clank of dragging chains. sun never shines ? iEneas stopped short, and, starting, lis­ In this conversation the sun in his tened to the din. What scenes of rosy chariot had now passed the merid­ guilt are these? O virgin, say; or with ian in his ethereal course ; and they what pains are they chastised ? what perhaps would in this manner have hideous yelling ascends to the skies ! passed the whole time assigned them ; Then thus the prophetess began : Re­ but the Sibyl, his companion, put him nowned leader of the Trojans, no holy in mind, and thus briefly spoke: ^Ene­ person is allowed to tread the accursed as, the night comes on apace, while we threshold ; but Hecate, when she set waste the hours in lamentations. This me over the groves of Avernus, herself is the place where the path divides it­ taught me the punishments appointed self in two : the right is what leads by the gods, and led me through every beneath great. Pluto’s walls ; by this part. Cretan. possesses our way to Elysium lies : but the left these most ruthless realms ; examines carries on the punishments of the and punishes frauds ; and forces every wicked, and conveys to cursed Tarta­ one to confess what crimes committed rus. On the other hand, Deiphobus in the upper world he had left un­ said : Be not incensed, great priestess ; atoned till the late hour of death, I shall be gone ; I will fill up the hugging himself in secret crime of no number of the ghosts and be rendered avail. Forthwith avenging Tisiphone, back to darkness. Go, go, thou glory armed with her whip, scourges the of our nation ; mayest thou find fates guilty with cruel insult, and in her left more kind ! This only he spoke, and hand shaking over them her grim at the word turned his steps. snakes, calls the fierce troops of her ^Eneas on a sudden looks back, and. sister Furies. under a rock on the left sees vast pris­ Then at length the accursed gates, ons enclosed with a triple wall, which grating on their dreadful-sounding hinges, Tartarean Phlegethon’s rapid flood are thrown open. See you what kind environs with torrents of flame, and of watch sits in the entry ? what fig­ whirls roaring rocks along. Fronting ure guards the gate? An overgrown is a huge gate, with columns of solid Hydra, more fell than any Fury, with adamant, that no strength of men, nor fifty black gaping mouths, has her seat the gods themselves, can with steel within. Then Tartarus itself sinks demolish. An iron tower rises aloft ; deep down, and qjttends toward the and there wakeful Tisiphone, with her shades twice as far as is the pros­ bloody robe tucked up around her, sits pect upward to the ethereal throne of to watch the vestibule both night and Heaven. Here Earth’s ancient pro­ Virgil’s Alm id

geny, the Titanian youth, hurled down shine, and full in their view are ban­ with thunderbolts, welter in the pro­ quets furnished out with regal magnif­ found abyss. Here too I saw the two icence ; the chief of the Furies sits by sons of Aloeus, gigantic bodies, who them, and debars them from touching attempted with their might to overturn the provisions with their hands ; and the spacious heavens, and thrust down starts up, lifting her torch on high, and Jove from his exalted kingdom. Sal- thunders over them with her voice. moneus likewise I beheld suffering-se­ Here are those who, while life re­ vere punishment, for having imitated mained, had been at enmity with their Jove’s flaming bolts, and the sounds of brothers, had beaten a parent, or heaven. He, drawn in his chariot by wrought deceit against a client ; or four horses, and brandishing a torch, who alone brooded over their acquired rode triumphant among the nations of wealth, nor assigned a portion to their Greece, and in the midst of the city own, which class is the most numer­ Elis, and claimed to himself the honor ous : those too who were slain for of the gods : infatuate.! who, with adultery, who joined in impious wars, brazen car, and the prancing of his and did not scruple to violate the faith horn-hoofed steeds, would needs coun­ they had plighted to their masters : terfeit the storms and inimitable thun­ shut up, they await their punishment. der. But the almighty Sire amid the But what kind of punishment seek not thick clouds threw a bolt (not fire­ to be informed, in what shape of mis­ brands he, nor smoky light from torch­ ery, or in what state they are involved. es), and hurled him down headlong in Some roll a huge stone, and hang fast a vast whirlwind. Here too you might bound to the spokes of wheels. There have seen Tityus, the foster-child of sits, and to eternity shall sit, the un­ all-bearing Earth : whose body is ex­ happy Theseus : and Phlegyas most tended over nine whole acres ; and a wretched is a monitor to all, and with huge vulture, with her hooked beak, loud voice proclaims through the shades: pecking at his immortal liver, and his “ Warned by example, learn righteous­ bowels, the fruitful source of punish­ ness, and not to contemn the gods.” ment, both searches them for her ban­ One sold his country for gold, and im­ quet, and dwells in the deep recesses posed on it a domineering tyrant; made of his breast ; nor is any respite given and unmade laws for money. Another to his fibres still springing up afresh. invaded his daughter’s bed, and an Why should I mention that Lapithas, unlawful wedlock : all of them dared Ixion, and Pirithous, over whom hangs some heinous crime, and accomplished a black flinty rock, every moment what they dared. Had I a hundred threatening to tumble down, and seem­ tongues, and a hundred mouths, a voice ing to be actually falling ? Golden of iron, I could not comprehend all pillars supporting lofty genial couches the species of their crimes, nor enu­ 3 82 Illustrations merate the names of all their -punish­ afar, ^neas views with wonder the ments. arms and empty chariots of the chiefs. When the aged priestess of Phoebus Their spears stand fixed in the ground, had uttered these words, she adds, But and up and down their horses feed at come now, set forward, and finish the large through the plain. The same task you have undertaken ; let us haste fondness they had when alive for chari­ on : I see the walls of Pluto, wrought ots and arms, the same concern for in the forges of the Cyclops, and the training up shining steeds, follows them gates with their arch full in our view, when deposited beneath the earth. where our instructions enjoin us to de­ Lo ! he beholds others on the right posit this our offering. She said; and, and left feasting upon the grass, and with equal pace advancing through the singing the joyful pasan to Apollo in gloomy path, they speedily traverse the concert, amid a fragrant grove of laurel; intermediate space, and approach the whence from on high the river Erida- gates. ^Eneas springs forward to the nus rolls in copious streams through the entry, sprinkles his body with fresh wood. Here, is a band of those who water, and fixes the bough in the front­ sustained wounds in fighting for their ing portal. country ; priests who preserved them­ Having finished these rites, and per­ selves pure and holy, while life re­ formed the offering to the goddess, they mained ; pious poets, who sang in strains came at length to the regions of joy, worthy of Apollo; those who improved delightful green retreats, and blessed life by the invention of arts, and who abodes in groves, where happiness by their worthy deeds made others abounds. A freer and purer sky here remember them : all these have their cloches the fields with sheeny light : temples crowned with a snow-white they know their own sun, their own fillet. Whom, gathered around, the stars. Some exercise their limbs on Sibyl thus addressed, Musaeus chiefly ; the grassy green, in sports contend, and for a numerous crowd had him in wrestle on the tawny sand: some strike their centre, and looked up with rever­ the ground with their feet in the dance, ence to him, raised above them by the and sing hymns. Orpheus, too, the height of his shoulders : Say, blessed Thracian priest, in his long robe, re­ souls, and thou, best of poets, what re­ plies in melodious numbers to the seven gion, what place contains Anchises ? distinguished notes ; and now strikes on his account we have come, and the same with his fingers, now with crossed the great rivers of hell. And his ivory quill. Here may be seen thus the hero briefly returned her an Teucer’s ancient race, a most illustri­ answer: None of us have a fixed abode; ous line, magnanimous heroes, born in in shady groves we dwell, or lie on happier times, — Ilus, Assaracus, and couches all along the banks, and on Dardanus, the founder of Troy. From meadows fresh with rivulets: but do Virgil’s Alneid 383 you, if so your heart’s inclination leads, he at the same time bedewed his cheeks overpass this eminence, and I will set with a Hood of tears. There thrice he you in the easy path. He said, and attempted to throw his arms around his advances his steps on before, and shows neck ; thrice the phantom, grasped in them from a rising ground the shining vain, escaped his hold, like the fleet plains; then they descend from the sum- gales, or resembling most a iugitive mit of the mountain. But Father An- ^ dream. chises, deep in a verdant dale, was - Meanwhile ./Eneas sees in the retired surveying with studious care the souls vale a grove situate by itself, shrubs there enclosed, who were to revisit the rustling in the woods, and the river light above ; and happened to be re­ Lethe, which glides by those peaceful viewing the whole number of his race, dwellings. Around this, unnumbered his dear descendants, their fates and tribes and nations of ghosts were flut­ fortunes, their manners and achieve­ tering ; as in meadows on a serene ments. As soon as he beheld iEneas summer’s day, when the bees sit on the advancing toward him across the meads, various blossoms, and swarm around the he joyfully stretched out both his hands, snow-white lilies, all the plain buzzes and tears poured down his cheeks, and with their humming noise. ^Eneas, these words dropped from his mouth : confounded, shudders at the unexpected Are you come at length, and has that sight, and asks the causes, — what are piety, experienced by your sire, sur­ those rivers in the distance, or what mounted the arduous journey ? Am I ghosts have in such crowds filled the permitted, my son, to see your face, to banks ? Then Father Anchises said : hear and return the well-known ac­ Those souls, for whom other bodies cents ? So indeed I concluded in my are destined by fate, at the stream mind, and reckoned it would happen, of Lethe’s flood quaff care-expelling computing the time; nor have my anx­ draughts and lasting oblivion. Long ious hopes deceived me. Over what indeed have I wished to give you a lands, O son, and over what immense detail of these, and to point them out seas have you, I hear, been tossed ! before you, and enumerate this my with what dangers harassed ! how I future race, that you may rejoice the dreaded lest you had sustained harm more with me in the discovery of Italy. from Libya’s realms ! But he said : O father, is it to be imagined that any Your ghost, your sorrowing ghost, my souls of an exalted nature will go hence sire, oftentimes appearing, compelled to the world above, and enter again me to set forward to these thresholds. into inactive bodies ? What direful M y fleet rides in the Tyrrhene Sea. love of the light possesses the miser­ Permit me, father, to join my right able beings ? I, indeed, replies An­ hand with yours ; and withdraw not chises, will inform you, my son, nor yourself from my embrace. So saying, hold you longer in suspense : and 3 8 4 Illustrations

thus he unfolds each particular in or­ fixed period is elapsed, hath done away der. the inherent stain, and hath left the In the first place, the spirit within pure celestial reason, and the fiery nourishes the heavens, the earth, and energy of the simple spirit. All these, watery plains, the moon’s enlightened after they have rolled away a thousand orb, and the Titanian stars ; and the years, are summoned forth by the god mind, diffused through all the mem­ in a great body to the river Lethe ; to bers, actuates the whole frame, and the intent that, losing memory of the mingles with the vast body of the uni­ past, they may revisit the vaulted realms verse. Thence the race of men and above, and again become willing to re­ beasts, the vital principles of the flying turn into bodies. Anchises thus spoke, kind, and the monsters which the ocean and leads his son, together with the breeds under its smooth plain. These Sibyl, into the midst of the assembly principles have the active force of fire, and noisy throng ; thence chooses a and are of a heavenly original, so far as rising ground, whence he may survey they are not clogged by noxious bodies, them all as they stand opposite to him blunted by earth-born limbs and dy­ in a long row, and discern their looks ing members. Hence they fear and de­ as they approach. sire, grieve and rejoice ; and, shut up Now come, I will explain to you in darkness and a gloomy prison, lose what glory shall henceforth attend the sight of their native skies. Even when Trojan race, what descendants await with the last beams of light their life them of the Italian nation, distin­ is gone, yet not every ill, nor all cor­ guished souls, and who shall succeed to poreal stains, are quite removed from our name ; yourself too I will instruct the unhappy beings; and it is abso­ in your particular fate. See you that lutely necessary that many imperfec­ youth who leans on his pointless spear? tions which have long been joined to He by destiny holds a station nearest the soul should be in marvellous ways to the light; he shall ascend to the increased and riveted therein. There­ upper world the first of your race who fore are they afflicted with punish­ shall have a mixture of Italian blood in ments, and pay the penalties of their his veins, Silvius, an Alban name, your former ills. Some, hung on high, are last issue ; whom late your consort La- spread out to the empty winds; in vinia shall in the woods bring forth to others, the guilt not done away is you in your advanced age, himself a washed out in a vast watery abyss, or king, and the father of kings; in whom burned away in fire. We each endure our line shall reign over Alba Longa. his own manes, thence are we conveyed The next is Procas,, the glory of the along the spacious Elysium, and we, Trojan nation ; then Capys and Nu- the happy few, possess the fields of micor follow, and -/Eneas Silvius, who bliss ; till length of time, after the shall represent thee in name, equally Virgil’s Aineid 385 distinguished for piety and arms, if lish the golden age in Latium, through ever he receive the crown of Alba. those lands where Saturn reigned of See what youths are these, what manly old, and shall extend his empire over force they show ! and bear their tem­ the Garamantes and Indians : their ples shaded with civic oak ; these to land lies without the signs of the zo­ thy honor shall build Nomentum, Ga- diac, beyond the sun’s annual course, bii, and the city Fidena ; these on the where Atlas, supporting heaven on his mountains shall raise the Collatjne shoulders, turns the axle studded with towers, Pometia, the fort of Inuus, flaming stars. Against his approach, Bola, and Cora. These shall then be even now both the Caspian realms and famous names; now they are lands the land about the Palus Masotis are without names. Further, martial Rom­ dreadfully dismayed at the responses ulus, whom Ilia of the line Assaracus of the gods, and the quaking mouths of shall bear, shall add himself as com­ seven-fold Nile hurry on their troubled panion to his grandsire Numitor. See waves. Even Hercules did not run you not how the double plumes stand over so many countries, though he trans­ on his head erect, and how the father fixed the brazen-footed hind, quelled of the gods himself already marks him the forests of Erymanthus, and made out with his distinguished honors! Lo, Lerna tremble with his bow : nor Bac­ my son, under his auspicious influence, chus, who in triumph drives his car Rome, that city of renown, shall meas­ with reins wrapped about with vine- ure her dominion by the earth, and her leaves, driving the tigers from Nyssa’s valor by the skies, and that one city shall lofty top. And doubt we yet to ex­ for herself wall around seven strong tend our glory by our deeds ? or is fear hills, happy in a race of heroes; like a bar to our settling in the Ausonian Mother Berecynthia, when crowned land ? with turrets she rides in her chariot ['■ But who is he at a distance, distin­ through the Phrygian towns, joyful in guished by the olive boughs, bearing a progeny of gods, embracing a hun­ the sacred utensils ? I know the locks dred grandchildren, all inhabitants of and hoary beard of the Roman king, heaven, all seated in the high celestial who first shall establish this city by abodes. This way now bend both laws, sent from little Cures and a poor your eyes; view this lineage, and your estate to vast empire. Whom Tullus own Romans. This is Caesar, and shall next succeed, who shall break the these are the yvhole race of lulus, who peace of his country, and rouse to arms shall one day rise to the spacious axle his inactive subjects, and troops now of the sky. This, this is the man unused to triumphs. Whom follows whom you have often heard promised next vainglorious Ancus, even now to you, Augustus Caesar, the offspring too much rejoicing in the breath of of a god ; who once more shall estab- popular applause. Will you also see 49 3 8 6 Illustrations the Tarquin kings, and the haughty des himself, the descendant of valorous soul of Brutus, the avenger of his coun­ Achilles; avenging his Trojan ances­ try’s wrongs, and the recovered fasces? tors, and the violated temple of Mi­ He first shall receive the consular nerva. Who can in silence pass over power, and the axe of justice inflexibly thee, great Cato, or thee, Cossus ? who severe ; and the sire shall, for the sake the family of Gracchus, or both the of glorious liberty, summon to death Scipios, those two thunderbolts of war, his own sons, raising an unknown kind the bane of Africa, and Fabricius in of war. Unhappy he ! however pos­ low fortune exalted? or thee, Serranus, terity shall interpret that action, love sowing in the furrow which thy own to his country, and the unbounded de­ hands had made ? Whither, ye Fabii, sire of praise, will prevail over pater­ do you hurry me tired ? Thou art nal affection. See besides at some that Fabius justly styled the Greatest, distance the Decii, Drusi, Torquatus, who alone shall repair our state by inflexibly severe with the axe, and Ca- delay. Others, I grant indeed, shall millus recovering the standards. But with more delicacy mould the breathing those two ghosts whom you observe to brass ; from marble draw the features shine in equal arms, in perfect friend­ to the life ; plead causes better ; de­ ship now, and while they remain shut scribe with the rod the courses of the up in night, ah ! what war, what bat­ heavens, and explain the rising stars : tles and havoc, will they between them to rule the nations with imperial sway raise, if once they have attained to the be your care, O Romans ; these shall light of life! the father-in-law de­ be your arts; to impose terms of peace, scending from the Alpine hills, and to spare the humbled, and crush the the tower of Moncecus ; the son-in- proud. law furnished with the troops of the Thus Father Anchises, and, as they East to oppose him. Make not, my are wondering, subjoins : Behold how sons, make not such unnatural wars adorned with triumphal spoils Marcel- familiar to your minds ; nor turn the lus stalks along, and shines victor above powerful strength of your country the heroes all ? He, mounted on his against its bowels. And thou, Caesar, steed, shall prop the Roman state in first forbear, thou who derivest thy the rage of a formidable insurrection ; origin from heaven ; fling those arms the Carthaginians he shall humble, out of thy hand, O thou, my own and the rebellious Gaul, and dedicate blood ! That one, having triumphed to Father Quirinus the third spoils. over Corinth, shall drive his chariot And upon this iEneas says; for he be­ victorious to the lofty Capitol, illus­ held marching with him a youth dis­ trious from the slaughter of Greeks. tinguished by his beauty and shining The other shall overthrow Argos, and arms, but his countenance of little joy, Mycens, Agamemnon’s seat, and Eaci- and his eyes sunk and dejected : What Virgil’s AHneid 387 youth is he, O father, who thus accom­ a Marcellus. Give me lilies in hand­ panies the hero as he walks ? is he a fuls ; let me strew the blooming flow­ son, or one of the illustrious line of ers ; these offerings at least let me his descendants ? What bustling noise heap upon my descendant’s shade, and of attendants round him ! How great discharge this unavailing duty. Thus resemblance in him to the other ! but up and down they roam through all sable Night with her dreary shade the Elysian regions in spacious airy hovers around his head. Then Father fields, and survey every object: through Anchises, while tears gushed forth, be­ each of which when Anchises had con­ gan : Seek not, my son, to know the ducted his son, and fired his soul with deep disaster of thy kindred ; him the the love of coming fame, he next re­ Fates shall just show on earth, nor suf­ counts to the hero what wars he must fer long to exist. Ye gods, Rome’s hereafter wage, informs him of the sons had seemed too powerful in your Laurentine people, and of the city of eyes, had these your gifts been per­ Latinus, and by what means he may manent. What groans of heroes shall shun or surmount every toil. that field near the imperial city of Tw o gates there are of Sleep, where­ Mars send forth ! what funeral pomp of the one is said to be of horn ; by shall you, O Tiberinus, see, when you which an easy egress is given to true glide by his recent tomb ! Neither visions; the other shining, wrought shall any youth of the Trojan line in of white ivory ; but through it the in­ hope exalt the Latin fathers so high ; fernal gods send up false dreams to the nor shall the Land of Romulus ever upper world. When Anchises had ad­ glory so much in any of her sons. Ah dressed this discourse to his son and piety ! ah that faith of ancient times ! the Sibyl together, and dismissed them and that right hand invincible in war ! by the ivory gate, the hero speeds his none with impunity had encountered way to the ships, and revisits his him in arms, either when on foot he friends ; then steers directly along the rushed upon the foe, or when he coast for the port of Ca'i'eta : where, pierced with his spur his foaming when he had arrived, the anchor is courser’s flanks. Ah youth, meet sub­ thrown out from the forecastle, the ject for pity ! if by any means thou J sterns rest upon the shore. canst burst -rigorous fate, thou shalt be ^ 388 Illustrations.

CICERO'S VISION OF SCIPIO.

Translated by Cyrus R. Edmonds.

When I had arrived in Africa as happens that our thoughts and conver­ military tribune of the fourth legion, sations beget something analogous in as you know, under the Consul Lucius our sleep, just as Ennius writes about Manlius, nothing was more delightful Homer, of whom assuredly he was ac­ to me than having an interview with customed most frequently to think and Massinissa, a prince who, for good rea­ talk when awake,) Africanus presented sons, was most friendly to our family. himself to me in that form which was When I arrived, the old man shed tears more known from his statue than from as he embraced me. Soon after, he his own person. raised his eyes up to heaven and said, No sooner did I know him than I I thank thee, most glorious sun, and ye shuddered. “ Draw near,” said he, the other inhabitants of heaven, that “ with confidence, lay aside your dread, before I depart from this life I see in and commit what I say to your memory. my kingdom, and under this roof, Pub­ You see that city, which by me was lius Cornelius Scipio, by whose very forced to submit to the people of Rome, name I am refreshed, for never does but is now renewing its former wars, the memory of that greatest, that most and cannot remain at peace,” (he spoke invincible of men vanish from my these words pointing to Carthage from mind. After this I informed myself an eminence that was full of stars, bright from him about his kingdom, and he and glorious,) “ which you are now from me about our government; and come, before you are a complete soldier, that day was consumed in much con­ to attack. Within two years you shall versation on both sides. be Consul, and shall overthrow it; and Afterward, having been entertained you shall acquire for yourself that sur­ with royal magnificence, we prolonged name that you now wear, as bequeathed our conversation to a late hour of the by me. After you have destroyed Car­ night ; while the old man talked of thage, performed a triumph, and been nothing but of Africanus, and remem­ censor; after, in the capacity of legate, bered not only all his actions, but all you have visited Egypt, Syria, Asia, his sayings. Then, when we departed and Greece, you shall, in your absence, to bed, owing to my journey and my be chosen a second time Consul; then sitting up to a late hour, a sleep sounder you shall finish a most dreadful war, than ordinary came over me. In this, and utterly destroy Numantia. But (I suppose from the subject on which when you shall be borne into the capi- we had been talking, for it commonly tol in your triumphal ,chariot, you shall Vision of Scipio 389 find the government thrown into con­ cils and assemblies of men bound to­ fusion by^the machinations of my grand­ gether by law, which are termed states; son ; and here, my Africanus, you must the governors and preservers of these display to your country the lustre of go from hence, and hither do they re­ your spirit, genius, and wisdom. turn.” Here, frightened as I was, not “ But at this period I perceive that so much from the dread of death as of the path of youf destiny is a doubtful the treachery of my friends, I never­ one ; for when your life, has passed theless asked him whether my father through seven times eight oblique jour­ Paulus, and others, whom we thought neys and returns of the sun, and when to be dead, were yet alive ? “ To be these two numbers (each of which is sure they are alive,” replied Africanus, regarded as a complete one — one on “ for they have escaped from the fetters one account and the other on another) of the body as from a prison ; that shall, in their natural circuit, have which is called your life is really death. brought you to the crisis of your fate, But behold your father Paulus approach­ then will the whole state turn itself ing you.” No sooner did I see him, toward you and your glory; the Sen­ than I poured forth a flood of tears ; ate, all virtuous men, our allies, and the but he, embracing and kissing me, for­ Latins, shall look up to you. Upon bade me to weep. And when, having your single person the preservation of suppressed my tears, I began first to be your country will depend; and, in able to speak, “ W hy,” said I, “ thou short, it is your part, as dictator, to most sacred and excellent father, since settle the government, if you can but this is life, as I hear Africanus affirm, escape the impious hands of your kins­ why do I tarry on earth, and not hasten m e n .( H e r e , when Laelius uttered an to come to you ? ” exclamation, and the rest groaned with “ Not so, my son,” he replied; “ un­ great excitement, Scipio said, with a less that God, whose temple is all this gentle smile, “ I beg that you will not which you behold, shall free you from waken me out of my dream, give a little this imprisonment in the body, you can time and listen to the sequel.” ) have no admission to this place ; for “ But that you may be more earnest men have been created under this con­ in the defence of your country, know dition, that they should keep that globe from me, that a certain place in heaven which you see in the middle of this is assigned to all who have preserved, temple, and which is called the earth. or assisted, or improved their country, And a soul has been supplied to them where they are to enjoy an endless du­ from those eternal fires which you call ration of happiness. For there is noth­ constellations and stars, and which, be­ ing which takes place on earth more ing globular and round, are animated acceptable to that Supreme Deity who with divine spirit, and complete their governs all this world, than those coun­ cycles and with amazing 390 Illustrations rapidity. Therefore you, my Publius, your attention be fixed upon the earth? and all good men, must preserve your Do you not see into what temples you souls in the keeping of yoyr bodies ; have entered ? All things are connect­ nor are you, without the order of that ed by nine circles, or rather spheres ; Being who bestowed them upon you, one of which (which is the outermost) to depart from mundane life, lest you is heaven, and comprehends all the rest, seem to desert the duty of a man, inhabited by that all-powerful God, which has been assigned you by God. who bounds and controls the others ; Therefore, Scipio, like your grand­ and in this sphere reside the original father here, and me who begot you, principles of those endless revolutions cultivate justice and piety ; which, which the planets perform. Within while it should be great toward your this are contained seven other spheres, parents and relations, should be greatest that turn round backward, that is, in a toward your country. Such a life is contrary direction to that of the heaven. the path to heaven and the assembly O f these, that planet which on earth of those who have lived before, and you call Saturn occupies one sphere. who, having been released from their That shining body which you see next bodies, inhabit that place which thou is called Jupiter, and is friendly and beholdest.” salutary to mankind. Next the lucid Now the place my father spoke of one, terrible to the earth, which you was a radiant circle of dazzling bright­ call Mars. The Sun holds the next ness amid the flaming bodies, which place, almost under the middle region ; you, as you have learned from the he is the chief, the leader, and the di­ Greeks, term the Milky Way ; from rector of the other luminaries ; he is which position all other objects seemed the soul and guide of the world, and to me, as I surveyed them, marvellous of such immense bulk, that he illu­ and glorious. There were stars which minates and fills all other objects with we never saw from this place, and their his light. He is followed by the orbit magnitudes were such as we never im­ of Venus, and that of Mercury, as at­ agined; the smallest of which was that tendants ; and the Moon rolls in the which, placed upon the extremity of lowest sphere, enlightened by the rays the heavens, but nearest to the earth, of the Sun. Below this there is noth­ shone with borrowed light. But the ing but what is mortal and transitory, globular bodies of the stars greatly ex­ excepting those souls which are given ceeded the magnitude of the earth, to the human race by the goodness of which now to me appeared so small, the gods. Whatever lies above the that I was grieved to see our empire con­ Moon is eternal. For the earth, which tracted, as it were, into a very point. is the ninth sphere, and is placed in Which, while I was too eagerly gaz­ the centre of the whole system, is im­ ing on, Africanus said, “ How long will movable and below all the rest; and Cicero’s Vision of Scipio 3 9 1 all bodies, by their natural gravitation, done, who, endued with pre-eminent tend toward it.” qualities, have cultivated in their mor­ Which as I was gazing at in amaze­ tal life the pursuits of heaven. ment I said, as I recovered myself, “ The ears of mankind, filled with From whence proceed these sounds, so these sounds, have become deaf, for of strong and yet so sweet, that fill my all your senses it is the most blunted. ears ? “ The melody,” replies he, Thus, the people who live near the “ which you hear, and which, though place where the Nile rushes down composed in unequal time, is neverthe­ from very high mountains to the parts less divided into regular harmony, is which are called Catadupa, are desti­ effected by the impulse and motion of tute of the sense'of hearing, by reason the spheres themselves, which, by a of the greatness of the noise. Now happy temper of sharp and grave notes, this sound, which is effected by the regularly produces various harmonic ef­ rapid rotation of the whole system of fects. Now it is impossible that such nature, is so powerful that human hear­ prodigious movements should pass in ing cannot comprehend it, just as you silence ; and nature teaches that the cannot look directly upon the sun, be­ sounds which the spheres at one ex­ cause your sight and sense are over­ tremity utter must be sharp, and those come by his beams.” on the other extremity must be grave; Though admiring these scenes, yet on which account, that highest revolu­ I still continued directing my eyes in tion of the star-studded heaven, whose the same direction toward the earth. motion is more rapid, is carried on On this Africanus said, “ I perceive with a sharp and quick sound ; where­ that even now you are contemplating as this of the moon, which is situated the abode and home of the human the lowest, and at the other extremity, race. And as this appears to you di­ moves with the gravest sound. For minutive, as it really is, fix your regard the earth, the ninth sphere, remaining upon these 'celestial scenes, and despise motionless, abides invariably in the those abodes of men. What celebrity innermost position, occupying the cen­ are you able to attain to in the dis­ tral spot in the universe. course of men, or what glory that “ Now these eight directions, two ought to be desired ? You perceive of which have the same powers, effect that men dwell on but few and scanty seven sounds, differing in their modu­ portions of the earth, and that amid lations, which number is the connect­ these spots, as it were, vast solitudes ing principle of almost all things. are interposed. As to those who in­ Some learned men, by imitating this habit the earth, not only are they so harmony with strings and vocal melo­ separated that no communication can dies, have opened a way for their re­ circulate among them from the one to turn to this place ; as all others have the other, but part lie upon one side, 392 Illustrations

part upon another, and part are dia­ within what narrow limits your glory metrically opposite to you, from whom would fain expand itself. As to those you assuredly can expect no glory. who speak of you, how long will they “ You are now to observe that the speak ? same earth is encircled and encom­ t( Let me even suppose that a future passed as it were by certain zones, race of men shall be desirous of trans­ of which the two that are most distant mitting to their posterity your renown from one another, and lie as it were or mine, as they received it from their toward the vortexes of the heavens in fathers; yet when we consider the both directions, are rigid as you see convulsions and conflagrations that must with frost, while the middle and the necessarily happen at some definite pe­ largest zone is burned up with the heat riod, we are unable to attain not only of the sun. Tw o of these are habit­ to an eternal, but even to a lasting able ; of which the southern, whose fame. Now of what consequence is it inhabitants imprint their footsteps in to you ’to be talked of by those who an opposite direction to you, have no are born after you, and not by those relation to your race. As to this other, who were born before you, who cer­ lying toward the north, which you in­ tainly were as numerous and more vir­ habit, observe what a small portion of tuous,— especially as among the very it falls to your share ; for all that part men who are thus to celebrate our re­ of the earth which is inhabited by you, nown not a single one can preserve which narrows toward the south and the recollections of a single year? For north, but widens from east to west, mankind ordinarily measure their year is no other than a little island sur­ by the of the sun, that is, rounded by that sea which on earth o f a single heavenly body. But when you call the Atlantic, sometimes the all the planets shall return to the same great sea, and sometimes the ocean; position which they once had, and and yet, with so grand a name, you see bring back after a long rotation the how diminutive it is ! Now do you same aspect of the entire heavens, then think it possible for your renown, or the year may be said to be truly com­ that of any one of us, to move from pleted ; in which I do not venture to those cultivated and inhabited spots of say how many ages of mankind will ground, and pass beyond that Caucasus, be contained. For, as of old, when or swim across yonder Ganges ? What the spirit of Romulus entered these inhabitant of the other parts of the temples, the sun disappeared to mor­ east, or of the extreme regions of the tals and seemed to be extinguished; setting sun, of those tracts that run so whenever the sun be eclipsed at the toward the south or toward the north, same time with alY the stars and con­ shall ever hear of your name ? Now, stellations, brought back to the same supposing them cut off, you see at once starting-point, shall again disappear, Ciceros Vision of Scipio 393 then you are to reckon the year to be but the mind of every man is the man, complete. But be assured that the and not that form which may be de­ twentieth part of such a year is not yet lineated with a finger. Know there­ elapsed. fore that you are a divine person. “ If, therefore, you hope to return to Since it is divinity that has conscious­ this place, toward which all the aspi­ ness, sensation, memory, and foresight, rations of great and good men are tend­ — that governs, regulates, and moves ing, what must be the value of that that body over which it has been ap­ human fame that endures for but a little pointed, just as the Supreme Deity rules part of a single year ? If, then, you this world ; and in like manner as an would fain direct your regards on high, eternal God guides this world, which and aspire to this mansion and eternal in some respect is perishable, so an eter­ abode, you neither will devote yourself nal spirit animates your frail body. to the rumors of the vulgar, nor will “ For that which is ever moving is you rest your hopes and your interest eternal; now that which communi­ on human rewards. Virtue herself cates to another object a motion which ought to attract you by her own charms it received elsewhere, must necessarily to true glory; what others may talk of cease to live as soon as its motion is at you, for talk they will, let themselves an end. Thus the being which is consider. But all such talk is confined self-motive is the only being that is to the narrow limits of those regions eternal, because it never is abandoned which you see. None respecting any by its own properties, neither is this man was everlasting. It is both ex­ self-motion ever at an end; nay, this is tinguished by the death of the indi­ the fountain, this is the beginning of vidual, and perishes altogether in the motion to all things that are thus sub­ oblivion of posterity.” jects of motion. Now there can be on Which, when he had said, I replied, commencement of what is aboriginal, “ Truly, O Africanus, since the path for all things proceed from a beginning; to heaven lies open to those who have therefore a beginning can rise from no deserved well of their country, though other cause, for if it proceeded from an­ from my childhood I have ever trod in other cause it would not be aboriginal, your and my father’s footsteps without which, if it have no commencement, cer­ disgracing your glory, yet now, with tainly never has an end; for the prime­ so noble a prize set before me, I shall val principle, if extinct, can neither be strive with much more diligence.” reproduced from any other source, nor ‘‘ Do so strive,” replied he, “ and do produce anything else from itself, be­ not consider yourself, but your body, cause it is necessary that all things should to be mortal. For you are not the be­ spring from some original source.” ing which this corporeal figure evinces; 5° . 394 Illustrations

HELL, PURGAT OR T, AND HEAVEN.

Milman’s History of Latin Christianity. Book XIV. ch. 2.

Throughout the Middle Ages the unrivalled truth. In Dante meet un­ world after death continued to re^- reconciled (who thought of or cared veal more and more fully its awful for their reconciliation ?) those strange secrets. Hell, Purgatory, Heaven be­ contradictions, immaterial souls sub­ came more distinct, if it may be so ject to material torments: spirits which said, more visible. Their site, their had put off the mortal body, cognizable topography, their torments, their trials, by the corporeal sense. The mediae­ their enjoyments, became more con­ val Hell had gathered from all ages, all ceivable, almost more palpable to sense: lands, all races, its imagery, its deni­ till Dante summed up the whole of zens, its site, its access, its commin­ this traditional lore, or at least, with gling horrors; from the old Jewish a Poet’s intuitive sagacity, seized on traditions, perhaps from the regions all which was most imposing, effec­ beyond the sphere of the Old Testa­ tive, real, and condensed it in his three ment ; from the Pagan poets, with co-ordinate poems. That Hell had a their black rivers, their Cerberus, their local existence, that immaterial spirits boatman and his crazy vessel ; perhaps suffered bodily and material torments, from the Teutonic Hela, through some none, or scarcely one hardy specula­ of the earlier visions. Then came the tive mind, presumed to doubt. Hell great Poet, and reduced all this wild had admitted, according to legend, chaos to a kind of order, moulded it up more than one visitant from this upper with the cosmical notions of the times, world, who returned to relate his fear­ and made it, as it were, one with the ful journey to wondering man : St. prevalent mundane system. Above all, Farcy, St. Vettin, a layman Bernilo. he brought it to the very borders of But all these early descents interest us our world ; he made the life beyond only as they may be supposed or ap­ the grave one with our present life ; pear to have been faint types of the he mingled in close and intimate re­ great Italian Poet. • Dante is the one lation the present and the future. authorized topographer of the mediae­ Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, were but an val Hell. His originality is no more immediate expansion and extension of called in question by these mere signs the present world. And this is among and manifestations of the popular be­ the wonderful causes of Dante’s power, lief, than by the existence and reality the realizing the dnreal by the admix­ of those objects or scenes in external ture of the real: even as in his imagery nature which he describes with such the actual, homely, every-day language Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven

or similitude mingles with and height­ dary lore which realized Purgatory to ens the fantastic, the vague, the trans- the sordid invention of the Churchman mundane. What effect had Hell pro­ or the Monk, as it would be unhistori- duced, if peopled by ancient, almost cal to deny the use which was made of immemorial objects of human detesta­ this superstition to exact tribute from tion, Nimrod or Iscariot, or Julian or the fears or the fondness of mankind. Mohammed ? It was when Popes all But the abuse grew out of the belief; but living, Kings but now on their the belief was not slowly, subtly, de­ thro'nes, Guelfs who had hardly ceased liberately instilled into the mind for to walk the streets of Florence, Ghibel- the sake of the abuse. Purgatory, pos­ lines almost yet in exile, revealed their sible with St. Augustine, probable with awful doom, — this it was which, as Gregory the Great, grew up, I am per­ it expressed the passions and the fears suaded, (its growth is singularly indis­ of mankind of an instant, immediate, tinct and untraceable,) out of the mercy actual, bodily, comprehensible place and modesty of the Priesthood. To of torment; so, wherever it was read, the eternity of Hell torments there is it . deepened that notion, and made it and ever must be — notwithstanding more distinct and natural. This was the peremptory decrees of dogmatic the Hell, conterminous to the earth, theology and the reverential dread in but separate, as it were, by a gulf so many religious minds of tampering . passed by almost instantaneous tran­ with what seems the language of the sition, of which the Priesthood held New Testament — a tacit repugnance. the keys. These keys the audacious But when the doom of every man Poet had wrenched from their hands, rested on the lips of the Priest, on his and dared to turn on many of them­ absolution or refusal o f absolution, that selves, speaking even against Popes the Priest might well tremble with some sentence of condemnation. O f that natural awe — awe not confessed to which Hell, Purgatory, Heaven, were himself— at dismissing the soul to an in popular opinion during the Middle irrevocable, unrepealable, unchange­ Ages, Dante was but the full, deep, able destiny. He would not be averse concentred expression ; what he em­ to pronounce a more mitigated, a re­ bodied in verse, all men believed, versible sentence. The keys of Heaven feared, hoped. and of Hell were a fearful trust, a ter­ Purgatory had now its intermediate rible responsibility ; the key of Pur­ place between Heaven and Hell, as gatory might be used with far less unquestioned, as undisturbed by doubt; presumption, with less trembling con­ its existence was as much an article of fidence. Then came naturally, as it uncontested popular belief as Heaven might seem, the strengthening and or Hell. It were as unjust and un- exaltation of the efficacy of prayer, philosophical to attribute all the legen­ of the efficacy of the religious ceremo­ 396 Illustrations nials, of the efficacy of the sacrifice o f1 to return and to reveal the secrets the altar, and the efficacy of the inter­ of remote and terrible Hell, there cession of the Saints : and these all were those too who were admitted within the province, within the power, in vision, or in actual life to more of the Sacerdotal Order. Their au­ accessible Purgatory, and brought back thority, their influence, their interven­ intelligence of its real local existence, tion, closed not with the grave. The and of the state of souls within its departed soul was still to a certain de­ penitential circles. There is a le­ gree dependent upon the Priest. They gend of St. Paul himself; of the had yet a mission, it might be of French monk St. Farcy ; of Drit- mercy ; they had still some power of helm, related by ; of the Em­ saving the soul after it had departed peror Charles the Fat, by William from the body. Their faithful love, of Malmesbury. Matthew Paris re­ their inexhaustible interest, might yet lates two or three journeys of tha rescue the sinner; for he had not Monk of Evesham, of Thurkill, an reached those gates — over which Essex peasant, very wild and fantastic. alone was written, “ There is no The Purgatory of St. Patrick, the Pur­ Hope ” — . That gatory of Owen Miles, the vision of which was a mercy, a consolation, be­ Alberic of Monte Casino, were among came a trade, an inexhaustible source the most popular and wide-spread le­ of wealth. Praying souls out of Pur­ gends of the ages preceding Dante; and gatory by masses said on their behalf, as in Hell, so in Purgatory, Dante became an ordinary office, an office sums up in his noble verses the whole which deserved, which could demand, theory, the whole popular belief as to which did demand, the most prodigal this intermediate sphere. remuneration. It was later that the If Hell and Purgatory thus dimly Indulgence, originally the remission of divulged their gloomy mysteries, if so much penance, of so many days, they had been visited by those who weeks, months, years, or of that which returned to actual life, Heaven was was the commutation for penance, so unapproached, unapproachable. T o much almsgiving or munificence to be wrapt to the higher Heaven re­ churches or Churchmen, in sound at mained the privilege of the Apostle ; least extended (and mankind, the high the popular conception was content to and low vulgar of mankind, are gov­ rest in modest ignorance. Though erned by sound) its significance : it was the Saints might descend on beneficent literally understood as the remission missions to the world of man ; of the of so many years, sometimes centuries, site of their beatitude, of the state of of Purgatory. the Blessed, of the joys of the supernal If there were living men to whom world, they brought but vague and in­ it had been vouchsafed to visit and definite tidings. • In truth, the notion Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven 397 of Heaven was inextricably mingled ♦ and the firmament above, or the Pri- up with the astronomical and cosmo- mum Mobile — with those who are gonical as well as with the theological admitted to a progressively advancing notions of the age. Dante’s Paradise state of glory and blessedness. All blends the Ptolemaic system with the this, it should seem, is below the as­ nine angelic circles of the Pseudo Dio­ cending circles of the Celestial Hie- nysius ; the material heavens in their ' rarchies, that immediate vestibule or nine circles ; above and beyond them, fore-court of the Holy of Holies, the in the invisible heavens, the nine Hi­ Heaven of Heavens, into which the erarchies ; and yet higher than the most perfect of the Saints are admitted. highest heavens the dwelling of the They are commingled with, yet unab­ Ineffable Trinity. The Beatific Vis­ sorbed by, the Redeemer, in mystic un­ ion, whether immediate or to await ion; yet the mysticism still reverently the Last Day, had been eluded rather endeavors to maintain some distinction than determined, till the rash and in regard to this Light, which, as it has presumptuous theology of Pope John descended upon earth, is drawn up XXII. compelled a declaration from again to the highest Heavens, and has the Church. But yet this ascent to a kind of communion with the yet In­ the Heaven of Heavens would seem communicable Deity. That in all the from Dante, the b'est interpreter of the Paradise of Dante there should be a dominant conceptions, to have been an dazzling sameness, a mystic indistinct­ especial privilege, if it may be so said, ness, an inseparable blending of the of the most Blessed of the Blessed, the real and the unreal, is not wonderful, Saint of Saints. There is a manifest if we consider the nature of the subject, gradation in Beatitude and Sanctity. and the still more incoherent and in­ According to the universal cosmical congruous popular conceptions which theory, the Earth, the round and level he had to represent and to harmonize. earth, was the centre of the whole sys­ It is more wonderful that, with these tem. It was usually supposed to be few elements, Light, Music, and Mys­ encircled by the vast, circumambient, ticism, he should, by his singular talent endless ocean ; but beyond that ocean of embodying the purely abstract and (with a dim reminiscence, it should metaphysical thought in the liveliest seem, of the Elysian Fields of the poets) imagery, represent such things with was placed a Paradise, where the souls the most objective truth, yet without of men hereafter to be blest awaited disturbing their fine spiritualism. The the final resurrection. Dante takes the subtilest scholasticism is not more sub­ other theory : he peoples the nine ma­ tile than Dante. It is perhaps a bold terial heavens— that is, the cycle of assertion, but what is there on these the Moon, Venus, Mercury, the Sun, transcendent subjects in the vast the­ Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the fixed stars, ology of Aquinas, of which the essence 398 Illustrations and sum is not in the Paradise of Dante? of Heaven, is as much by his innate Dante, perhaps, though expressing to sublimity above it, as St. Thomas him- a great extent the popular conception self.

THE VISION OF FRATE ALBERICO.

Wright, S t Patrick’s Purgatory, p. 118.

Alberic, when he wrote his vision, sumed them like fire ; these were adul­ was a monk of Monte Cassino. His terers, and people who had led impure father was a baron, lord of the castle lives. Then they approached a still de’ Sette Fratelli, in the Campagna of more fearful valley, filled with trees, Rome. In his tenth year, the child the branches of which were long Alberic was seized with a languor, and spikes, on which hung women trans­ lay nine days and nine nights in a fixed through their breasts, while ven­ trance, to all appearance dead. As omous serpents were sucking them; soon as he had fallen into this con­ these were women who had refused dition, a white bird, like a dove, came pity to orphans. Other women, who and put its bill into his mouth, and had been faithless to the marriage bed, seemed to lift him up, and then he saw were suspended by the hair over raging St. Peter and two angels, who carried fires. Next he saw an iron ladder, him to the lower regions. St. Peter three hundred and sixty cubits long, told him that he would see the least red hot, and under it a great boiler of torments first, and afterwards, succes­ melted oil, pitch, and 'resin; married sively, the more terrible punishments persons who had not been continent of the other world. They came first on sabbaths and holy days were com­ to a place filled with red-hot burning pelled to mount this ladder, and ever cinders and boiling vapor, in which as they were obliged to quit their hold little children were purged; those of by the heat, they dropped into the boiler one year old being subjected to this below. Then they beheld vast fires in torment during seven days ; those of which were burnt the souls of tyranni­ two years, fourteen days ; and so on, cal and cruel lords, and of women who in proportion to their age. Then they had destroyed their offspring. Next entered a terrible valley, in which A l­ was a great space full of fire like blood, beric saw a great number of persons in which homicides were thrown; and plunged to different depths, according after this there stoojl an immense vessel to their different degrees of criminality, filled with boiling brass, tin, lead, sul­ in frost, and cold, and ice, which con­ phur, and resin, in which were im­ The Vision of Frate Alberico 399 mersed during three years those who and at every breath the souls before had encouraged wicked priests. They them were wafted each into the pe­ next came to the mouth of the infernal culiar punishment appropriated to him. pit, (os infernalis baratri,) a vast gulf, The visitor was here left for a moment dark, and emitting an intolerable stench, by his conductors ; and the demons and full of screaming and howling. By seized upon him, and would have the pit was a serpent of infinite magni­ thrown him into the fire, had not St. tude, bound by a great chain, the one Peter suddenly arrived to rescue him. end of which seemed to be fastened He was carried thence to a fair plain, in the p it; before the mouth of this where he saw thieves carrying heavy serpent stood a multitude of souls, collars of iron, red hot, about their which he sucked in like flies at each necks, hands, and feet. He saw here breath, and then, with the return of a great burning pitchy river, issuing respiration, blew them out scorched to from hell, and an iron bridge over it, sparks ; and this process continued till which appeared very broad and easy the souls were purged of their sins. for the virtuous to pass; but when sin­ The pit was so dark that Alberic could ners attempted it, it became narrow as not see what was going on in hell. a thread,-and they fell over into the After quitting this spot, Alberic was river, and afterwards attempted it again, conducted first to a valley in which but were not allowed to pass until they persons who had committed sacrilege had been sufficiently boiled to purge were burnt in a sea of flames; then to them of their sins. After this the a pit of fire in which simonists were Apostle showed Alberic an extensive punished ; next to a place filled with plain, three days’ and three nights* flames, and with serpents and dragons, journey in breadth, covered with thorns in which were tormented those who, and brambles, in which souls were having embraced the monastic profes­ hunted and tormented hy a demon sion, had quitted it and returned to a mounted on a great and swift dragon, secular life; and afterwards to a great and their clothing and limbs torn to black lake of sulphureous water, full pieces by the thorns as they endeavored of serpents and scorpions, in which the to escape from him ; by degrees they souls of detractors and false witnesses were purged of their sins, and became were immersed to the chin, and their lighter, so that they could run faster, faces continually flogged with serpents until at last they escaped into a very by demons who hovered over them. pleasant plain, filled with purified souls, On the borders of hell, Alberic saw where their torn members and gar­ two “ malignant spirits ** in the form ments were immediately restored ; and of a dog and a lion, which he was told here Alberic saw monks and martyrs, blew out from their fiery mouths all and good people, in great joy. He the torments that were outside of hell, then proceeded through the habita­ 400 Illustrations tions' of the blessed. In the midst of bidden to tell what he had seen on the a beautiful plain, covered with flowers, other side. They subsequently car­ rose the mountain of paradise, with the ried him through the different regions tree at the top. After having con­ of the world, and showed him many ducted the visitor through the seven extraordinary things, and, among the heavens, the last of which was held by- rest, some persons subjected to purga­ Saturn, they brought him to a wall, torial punishments in different places and let him look over, but he was for­ on the earth.

THE VISION OF WALK E L IN.

Odericus Vitalis, Ecclesiastical History, Book VIII. ch. 17. Tr. by Thomas Forester.

I consider that I ought not to sup­ was young, undaunted, and bold, and press and pass over in silence what of a powerful and active frame of happened to a certain priest of the dio­ body. However, he hesitated when cese of Lisieux in the beginning of Jan­ • the sounds, which seemed to proceed uary. In a village called Bonneval from troops on the march, first reached there was a priest named Walkelin who his ears, and began to consider whether served the church of St. Aubin of An­ he should take to flight to avoid being jou, who from a monk became bishop laid hold of and discourteously stripped and confessor. At the commencement by the worthless camp followers, or of the month of January, 1091, this manfully stand on his defence if any priest was summoned in the night-time, one molested him. Just then he espied as the occasion required, to visit a sick four medlar-trees in a field at a good man who lived at the farthest extremity distance from the path, and determined of his parish. As he was pursuing his to seek shelter behind them, as fast as solitary road homewards, far from any he could, until the cavalry had passed. habitation of man, he heard a great But as he was running he was stopped noise like the tramp of a numerous by a man of enormous stature, armed body of troops, and thought within with a massive club, who, raising his himself that the sounds proceeded from weapon above his head, shouted to the army of Robert de Belesme on him, “ Stand! Take not a step far­ their march to lay siege to the castle ther!” The priest, frozen with ter­ of Courci. The moon, being in her ror, stood motionless, leaning on his eighth day in the constellation of the staff. The gigantic? club-bearer also Ram, shed a clear light, so that it was stood close to him, and, without offer­ easy to find the way. Now the priest ing to do him any injury, quietly waited The Vision of Walkelin 401 for the passage of the troop. And with women’s saddles which were stuck now, behold, a great crowd of people with red-hot nails. The wind often came by on foot, carrying on their lifted them a cubit from their saddles, heads and shoulders sheep, clothes, and then let them drop again on the furniture, and movables of all descrip­ sharp points. Their haunches thus tions, such as robbers are in the habit punctured with the burning nails, and of pillaging. All were making great suffering horrible torments from the lamentations, and urging one another wounds and the scorching heat, the to hasten their steps. Among them women pitiably ejaculated, Woe ! woe ! the priest recognized a number of his and made open confession of the sins neighbors who had lately died, and for which they were punished, under­ heard them bewailing the excruciating going in this manner fire and stench sufferings with which they were tor­ and unutterable tortures for the obscene mented for their evil deeds. They allurements and filthy delights to which were followed by a troop of corpse- they had abandoned themselves when bearers, who were joined by the giant living among men. In this company already mentioned. These carried as the priest recognized several noble many as fifty biers, each of which was ladies, and beheld the palfreys and borne by two bearers. On these were mules with the women’s litters of seated a number of men of the size of others who were still alive. dwarfs, but whose heads were as large The priest stood fixed to the spot as barrels. Tw o Ethiopians also car­ at this spectacle, his thoughts deeply ried an immense trunk of a tree, to engaged in the reflections it suggested. which a poor wretch was rudely bound, Presently, however, he saw pass before who, in his tortures, filled the air with him a numerous company of clergy and fearful cries of anguish ; for a horrible monks, with their rulers and judges, demon sat on the same trunk and the bishops and abbots carrying cro­ goaded his loins and back with red-hot siers in their hands. The clergy and spurs until the blood streamed from bishops wore black copes, and the ab­ them. Walkelin distinctly recognized bots and monks cowls of the same in this wretch the assassin of Stephen hue. They all groaned and wailed, the priest, and was witness to the in­ and some of them called to Walkelin, tolerable tortures he suffered for the and implored him, in the name of their innocent blood he shed two years be­ former friendship, to pray for them. fore, since which he had died without The priest reported that he saw among penance for so foul a crime. them many who were highly esteemed, Then followed a crowd of women and who, in human estimation, were who seemed to the priest to be innu­ now associated with the saints in heav­ merable. They* were mounted on en. He recognized in the number horseback, riding in female fashion, Hugh, Bishop of Lisieux, and those 51 402 Illustrations eminent abbots, Manier of Evroult and was Landri of Orbec, who was killed Gerbert of Fontenelles, with many the same year, and who accosted the others whose names I either forget, or priest, and, uttering horrible cries, have no desire to publish. Human charged him with his commissions, judgment is often fallible, but the eye urgently begging him to carry a mes­ of God seeth the inmost thoughts; sage to his wife. Upon this the troops for man looks only to outward appear­ who marched before and after him ances, God searcheth the heart. In interrupted his cries, and said to the the realms of eternal bliss the clear light priest: “ Believe not Landri, for he is of an endless day is shed on all around, a deceiver.” This man had been a and the children of the kingdom tri­ viscount and a lawyer, and had raised umph in the joys which attend perfect himself from a very low origin by his holiness. Nothing that is unrighteous talents and merit. He decided causes is done there ; nothing that is polluted and affairs according to his own pleas­ can enter there ; no uncleanness, no ure, and perverted judgment for bribes; impurity, is there found. All the dross actuated more by avarice and duplicity of carnal desires is therefore consumed than by a sense of what was right. He in the fires of purgatory, and purified was therefore justly devoted to flagrant by sufferings of various degrees as the punishment, and publicly denounced Judge eternal ordains. So that as a ves­ by his associates as a liar. In this sel cleansed from rust and thoroughly company no one flattered him, and no polished is laid up in a treasury, so the one had recourse to his cunning lo­ soul, purified from all taint of sin, is quacity. He, who while it was in his admitted into Paradise, where it enjoys power had shut his ears to the cries perfect happiness unalloyed by fear or of the poor, was now in his torments, care. treated as an execrable wretch who The priest, trembling at these ap­ was unfit to be heard. palling scenes, still rested on his staff, Walkelin having seen these countless expecting apparitions still more terri­ troops of soldiers pass, on reflection, ble. And. now there followed an im­ said within himself: “ Doubtless these mense army in which no color was are Harlequin’s people ;. I have often visible, but only blackness and fiery heard of their being seen, but I laughed flames. All were mounted on great at the stories, having never had any war-horses, and fully armed as if they certain proofs of such things. Now, were prepared for immediate battle, indeed, I assuredly behold the ghosts and they carried black banners. There of the departed, but no one will be­ were seen Richard and Baldwin, the lieve me when I tell the tale, unless sons of Count Gilbert, who were lately I can exhibit to -'mortal eyes some dead, with so many others that I can­ tangible proof of what I have seen. not enumerate them. Among the rest I will therefore mount one of the The Vision of Walkelin horses which are following the troop my wife and children.” He then said without any riders, and will take it to the priest, who stood trembling home and show it my neighbors to with fright: “ Listen to me, I beseech convince them that I speak the truth.” you, and tell my wife what I say.” Accordingly, he forthwith snatched the The priest replied: “ I know not who reins of a black steed ; but the animal you are, or who is your wife.” The bjirst violently from his hold, and gal­ knight then said : “ I am William de loped away among the troops of Ethi­ Glos, son of Barno, and was once the opians. The priest was disappointed renowned steward of William de Bre- at the failure of his enterprise ; but he teuil and his father William, Earl of was young, bold, and light-hearted, as Hereford ? While in the world I well as agile and strong. He therefore abandoned myself to evil deeds and stationed himself in the middle of the plunder, and was guilty of more crimes path, prepared for action, and, the mo­ than can be recounted. But, above all, ment a horse came up, laid his hand I am tormented for my usuries. I once upon it. The horse stopped, ready lent money to a poor man, and re­ for him to mount without difficulty, ceived as security a mill which be­ at the same time snorting from his nos­ longed to him, and, as he was not able trils a cloud of vapor as large as a full- to discharge the debt, I kept the mort­ grown oak. The priest then placed gage property and left it to my heirs, his left foot in the stirrup, and, seizing disinheriting my debtor’s family. You the reins, laid his hand on the saddle ; see that I have in my mouth a bar of but he instantly felt that his foot rested hot iron from the mill, the weight of on. red-hot iron, and the hand with which I feel to be more oppressive which he held the bridle was frozen than the tower of Rouen. Tell, there­ with insupportable cold which pene­ fore, my wife Beatrice, and my son trated to his vitals. Roger, to afford me relief by speedily While this was passing, four terrific restoring to the right heir the pledge, knights came up, and, uttering horrible from which they have received more cries, shouted to him : “ What do you than I advanced.” The priest replied: want with our horses ? You shall “ William de Glos died long ago, and come with us. No one of our com­ this is a commission which no Chris­ pany had injured you, when you began tian man can undertake. I know laying your hands on what belongs to neither who you are, nor who are your us.” The priest, in great alarm, let heirs. If I should venture to tell such go the horse, and three of the knights a tale to Roger de Glos, or his broth­ attempting to seize him, the fourth ers, or to their mother, they would said to them : “ Let him go, and allow laugh me to scorn, as one out of his me to speak with him, for I wish to wits.” However, William continued make him the bearer of a message to still to persist in his earnest entreaties, Illustrations and furnished him with many sure and you not know me ? ” The priest an­ well-known tokens of his identity. swered, “ No.” The other said: “ I am The priest understood very well all he Robert, son of Ralph le Blond, and your heard, but pretended not to compre­ brother.” The priest was much as­ hend it. At length, overcome by im­ tonished at this unexpected occurrence, portunities, he consented to what the and much troubled at what he had knight requested, and engaged to do seen and heard, as we have just related, what was required. Upon this, W il­ when the knight began to remind him liam repeated again all he had said, of a number of things which happened and impressed it upon his companion in their youth, and to give him many during a long conversation. The priest, well-known tokens. The priest had a however, began to consider that he durst clear recollection of all that was told not convey to any one the execrable him, but not daring to confess it, he message of a damned spirit. “ It is stoutly denied all knowledge of the not right,” he said, “ to publish such circumstances. At length the knight things ; I will on no account tell to said to him : “ I am astonished at your any one what you require of me.” hardness of heart and stupidity; it was Upon this, the knight was filled with I who brought you up on our parents’ rage, and, seizing him by the throat, death, and loved you more than any dragged him along on the ground, one living. I sent you to school in uttering terrible imprecations. The France, supplied you plentifully with prisoner felt the hand which grasped clothes and money, and did all in my him burning like fire, and in this deep power to benefit you in every way. extremity cried aloud : “ Help me, O You seem now to have forgotten all holy Mary, the glorious mother of this, and will not even' condescend to Christ! ” No sooner had he invoked recognize me.” At length the priest, the compassionate mother than the aid after being abundantly furnished with of the Son of God was afforded him, exact particulars, became convinced by according to the Almighty’s disposing such certain proofs, and, bursting into will. For a horseman immediately tears, openly admitted the truth of rode up, with a sword in his right what he had heard. His brother then hand, and, brandishing it over Roger’s said : “ You deserve to die, and to be head, exclaimed : “ W ill ye kill my dragged with us to partake of the tor­ brother, ye accursed ones ? Loose ments we suffer, because you have him and begone ! ” The knights in­ rashly laid hands on things which be­ stantly fled and followed the black long to our reprobate crew ; no other troops. living man ever dared to make such an When they had all passed by, the attempt. But the 'mass you sang to­ horseman, remaining alone in the road day has saved you from perishing. It with Walkelin, said to him, “ Do is also permitted me thus to appear to The Vision of Walkelin 405 you, and unfold to you my wretched on these things without ceasing, and to condition. After I had conferred with dread and beware, lest they, for their you in Normandy, I took leave of you sins, should undergo such chastise­ and crossed over to England, where, ments. I am not permitted, my broth­ by the Creator’s order, my life ended, er, to converse longer with you, for and I have undergone intense suffering I must hasten to follow this unhappy for the grievous- sins with which I was troop. Remember me, I pray you, burdened. It is flaming armor which and give me the succor of your prayers you see us bear, it poisons us with an and alms. In one year after Palm infernal stench, weighs us down with Sunday I trust to be saved, and by the its intolerable weight, and scorches us mercy of the Creator released from all with heat which is inextinguishable! my torments. And you, consider well Hitherto I have been tormented with your own state, and prudently mend unutterable sufferings, but when you your life, which is blemished by many were ordained in England, and sang vices, for know, it will not be very your first mass for the faithful departed, long. Now be silent, bury in your your father Ralph was released from own bosom the things you have so un­ Purgatory, and my shield, which was expectedly seen and heard, and do not a great torment to me, fell from my venture to tell them to any one for arm. I still, as you see, carry a sword, three days.” but I confidently expect to be relieved With these words the knight has­ of that burden in the course of a year.” tened away. The priest was seriously While the knight was thus talking, ill for a whole week ; as soon as he the priest, attentively listening to him, began to recover his strength, he went espied a mass of clotted gore, in the to Lisieux and related all that had shape of a man’s head, at the other’s happened to Bishop Gilbert in regular heels, round his spurs, and in great order, and obtained, on his petition, amazement said to him : “ Whose is the salutary remedies he needed. He this clotted blood which clings to your afterwards lived in good health almost spurs ? ” The knight replied : “ It is fifteen years, and I heard what I have not blood, but fire ; and it weighs me written, and more which has escaped down more than if I had Mount St. my memory, from his own mouth, and' Michael to carry. Once I used sharp saw the mark on his face left by the and bright spurs when I was hurrying hand of the terrible knight. I have to shed blood, and now I justly carry committed the account to writing for this enormous weight at my heels, the edification of my readers, that the which is so intolerably burdensome, righteous may be confirmed in their that I am, unable to express the severity good resolutions, and the wicked re­ of my sufferings. Men ought to reflect pent of their evil deeds. Illustrations

FROM THE LIFE OF ST. BRAND JN.

Edited by Thomas Wright

Saynt Brandon, the holy man, was of the besynesse of the worlde, for to a monke, and borne in Yrlonde, and serve God quyetly with more devo- there he was abbot of an hous wherein cyon ; and I counseyled hym to sayle were a thousand monkes, and there he into an ylonde ferre in the see, be- ladde a full strayte and holy lyfe, in sydes the Mountaynes of Stones, whiche grete penaunce and abstynence, and he is ful well knowen, and than he made governed his monkes ful vertuously. hym redy and sayled thyder with his And than within shorte tyme after, monkes. And whan he came thyder, there came to hym an holy abbot that he lyked that place full well, where he hyght Beryne to vysyte hym, and eche and his monkes served our Lorde full of them was joyfull of other; and than devoutly.” And than Beryne sawe in saynt Brandon began to tell to the ab­ a visyon that this monke Meruoke was bot Beryne of many wonders that he sayled ryght ferre eestwarde into the had seen in dyverse londes. And whan see more than thre dayes saylynge, and Beryne herde that of saynt Brandon, sodeynly to his semynge there came a he began to sygh, and sore wepte. derke cloude and overcovered them, And saynt Brandon comforted him in that a grete parte of the daye they sawe the best wyse he coude, sayenge, “ Ye no lyght; and as our Lorde wold, the come hyther for to be joyfull with me, cloude passed awaye, and they sawe a and therfore for Goddes love leve your full fayr ylond, and thyderwarde they mournynge, and tell me what mervayles drewe. In that ylonde was joye and ye have seen in the grete see occean, myrth ynough, and all the erth of that that compasseth all the worlde aboute, ylonde shyned as bryght as the sonne, and all other waters comen out of hym, and there were the fayrest trees and whiche renneth in all the partyes of herbes that ever ony man sawe, and the erth.” there were many precyous stones shyn- And than Beryne began to tell to ynge bryght, and every herbe there saynt Brandon and to his monkes the was ful of fygures, and every tree ful mervaylles that he had seen, full sore of fruyte ; so that it was a glorious wepynge, and sayd, “ I have a sone, his sight, and an hevenly joye to abyde name is Meruoke, and he was a monke there. And than there came to them of grete fame, whiche had grete desyre a fayre yonge man, and full curtoysly to seke aboute by shyppe in dyverse he welcomed them all^ and called every countrees, to fynde a solytary place monke by his name, and sayd that wherein he myght dwell secretly out they were much bounde to prayse the From the Life of St. Brandan 407 name of our Lorde Jesu, that wold of toke his leve of all his bretherne, and his grace shewe to them that glorious toke xij. monkes with him. But or place, where is ever day, and never they entred into the shyppe they fast­ night, and this place is called paradyse ed xl. dayes, and lyved devoutly, and terrestre. But by this ylonde is an eche of them receyved the sacrament. other ylonde wherein no man may And whan saynt Brandon with his xij. come. And this yonge man sayd to monkes were entred into the shyppe, them, “ Ye have ben here halfe a yere there came other two of his monkes, without meet, drynke, or slepe.” And and prayed hym that they myght sayle they supposed that they had not ben with hym. And than he sayd, “ Ye there the space of half an houre, so may sayle with me, but one of you mery and joyfull they were there. And shall go to hell, or ye come agayn.” the yonge man tolde them that this is But not for that they wold go with the place that dwelte hym. in fyrst, and ever should have dwelled And than saynt Brandon badde the here, y f that they had not broken the shypmen to wynde up the sayle, and commaundement of God. And than forth they sayled in Goddes name, so the yonge man brought them to theyr that on the morow they were out of shyppe agayn, and sayd they might no syght of ony londe ; and xl. dayes and lenger abyde there ; and whan they xl. nightes after they sayled playn eest, were all shypped, sodeynly this yonge and than they sawe an ylonde ferre fro man vanysshed away out of theyr sight. them, and they sayled thyder-warde as And than within shorte tyme after, by fast as they coude, and they sawe a the purveyaunce of our Lorde Jesu, grete roche of stone appere above all they came to the abbey where saynt the water, and thre dayes they sayled Brandon dwelled, and than he with his aboute it or they coude gete in to the bretherne receyved them goodly, and place. But at the last, by the purvey­ demaunded where they had ben so aunce of God, they founde a lytell ha­ longe ; and they sayd, “ We have ben ven; and there went a-londe everych- in the Londe of Byheest, to-fore the one...... gates of Paradyse, where as is ever And than they sayled forth, and daye, and never night.” And they came soone after to that lond ; but by­ sayd all that the place is full delecta­ cause of lytell depthe in some place, ble, for yet all theyr clothes smelled and in some place were ‘grete rockes, of the swete and joyfull place. And but at the last they wente upon an than saynt Brandon purposed soone af­ ylonde, wenynge to them they had ter for to seke that place by Goddes ben safe, and made theron a fyre for helpe, and anone began to purvey for to dresse theyr dyner, but saynt Bran­ a good shyppe, and a stronge, and vy- don abode styll in the shyppe. And taylled it for vij. yere ; and than he whan the fyre was ryght hote, and the Illustrations meet nygh soden, than this ylonde be­ were aungels in heven, but whan our gan to move; wherof the monkes were mayster Lucyfer fell down into hell for aferde, and fledde anone to the shyppe, his hygh pryde, we fell with hym for and lefte the fyre and meet behynde our offences, some hyther, and some them, and mervayled sore of the mov- lower, after the qualyte of theyr tres- yng. And saynt Brandon comforted pace; and bycause our trespace is but. them, and sayd that it was a grete fisshe lytell, therfore our Lorde hath set us named Jasconye, whiche laboureth nyght here out of all pyane in full grete joye and daye to put his tayle in his mouth, and myrth, after his pleasynge, here to but for gretnes he may not. And than serye hym on this tree in the best anone they sayled west thre dayes and maner that we can. The Sonday is thre nyghtes or they sawe ony londe, a day of rest fro all worldly occu- wherfore they were ryght hevy. But pacyon, and, therfore, that daye all we soone after, as God wold, they sawe a be made as whyte as ony snow, for to fayre ylonde, full of floures, herbes, prayse our Lorde in the best wyse we and trees, wherof they thanked God may.” And than this byrde sayd to of his good grace, and anone they went saynt Brandon, “ It is xij. monethes on londe. And whan they had gone past that ye departed fro your abbey, longe in this, they founde a full fayre and in the vij. yere hereafter ye shall well, and therby stode a fayre tree, se the place that ye desyre to come, full of bowes, and on every bough sate and all this vij. yere ye-shal kepe your a fayre byrde, and they sate so thycke Eester here with us every yere, and in on the tree that unneth ony lefe of the the ende of the vij. yere ye shal come tree myght be seen, the nombre of into the Londe of Byhest.” And this them was so grete, and they songe so was on Eester daye that the byrde sayd meryly that it was an hevenly noyse to these wordes to saynt Brandon. And here. Wherfore saynt Brandon kneled than this fowle flewe agayn to his down on his knees, and wepte for joye, felawes that sate on th£ tree. And and made his prayers devoutly unto our than all the byrdes began to synge Lord God to knowe what these byrdes evensonge so meryly, that it was an ment. And than anone one of the hevenly noyse to here; and after soup- byrdes fledde fro the tree to saynt Bran­ er saynt Brandon and his felawes wente don, and he with flykerynge of his to bedde, and slepte well, and on the wynges made a full mery noyse lyke a morowe they arose betymes, and than fydle, that hym semed he herde never those byrdes began matyns, pryme, so joyfull a melodye. And than saynt and houres, and all suche service as Brandon commaunded the byrde to tell Chrysten men use to synge...... hym the cause why they sate so thycke And seven dayes they sayled alwaye on the tree, and sange so meryly. And in that clere water. And than there than the byrde sayd, Somtyme we came a south wynde and drove the From the Life of St. Brandan 409

shyppe north-warde, where as they where they sawe an hyll all on fyre, sawe an ylonde full derke and full of and a foule smoke and stenche comyng stenche and smoke; and there they from thens, and the fyre stode on eche herde grete blowynge and blastyng of syde of the hyll lyke a wall all bren­ belowes, but they myght se no thynge, nynge. And than one of his monkes but herde grete thondrynge, wherof began to crye and wepe ful sore, and they were sore aferde and blyssed them sayd that his ende was comen, and ofte. And soone after there came one that he might abyde no lenger in the stertynge out all brennynge in fyre, shyppe, and anone he lepte out of and stared full gastly on them with the shyppe into the see, and than he grete staryng eyen, of whome the cryed and rored full pyteously, curs- monkes were agast, and at his depart- ynge the tyme that he was borne, and yng from them he made the horryblest also fader and moder that bygate him, crye that myght be herde. And soone bycause they sawe no better to his cor- there came a grete nombre of fendes reccyon in his yonge age, “ for now and assayled them with hokes and I must go to perpetual payne.” And brennynge yren malles, whiche ranne than the sayenge of saynt Brandon was on the water, folowyng fast theyr veryfyed that he sayd to hym whan he shyppe, in suche wyse that it semed entred into the shyppe. Therfore it all the see to be on a fyre ; but by the is good a man to do penaunce and for­ wyll of God they had no power to sake synne, for the houre of deth is hurte ne to greve them, ne theyr incertayne. shyppe. Wherfore the fendes began And than anone the wynde turned to rore and crye, and threwe theyr into the north, and drove the shyppe hokes and malles at them. And they into the south, whiche sayled vij. dayes than were sore aferde, and prayed to contynually ; and they came to a grete God for comforte and helpe; for they rocke standynge in the see, and theron sawe the fendes all about the shyppe, sate a naked man in full grete mysery and them semed that all the ylonde and payne ; for the wawes of the see and the see to be on a fyre. And with had so beten his body that all the a sorowfull crye all the fendes depart­ flesshe was gone of, and nothynge lefte ed fro them and returned to the place but synewes and bare bones. And that they came fro. And than saynt whan the wawes were gone, there was Brandon tolde to them that this was a a canvas that henge over his heed parte of hell, and therfore he charged whiche bette his body full sore with them to be stedfast in the fayth, for the blowynge of the wynde ; and also they shold yet se many a dredefull there were two oxe tongues and a grete place or they came home agayne. stone that he sate on, whiche dyd hym And than came the south wynde and full grete ease. And than saynt Bran­ drove them ferther into the north, don charged hym to tell hym what he 52 410 Illustrations was. And he sayd, " My name is Ju­ this stone that I syt on laye somtyme das, that solde our Lorde Jesu Chryst in a desolate place where it eased no for xxx. pens, whiche sytteth here man ; and I toke it thens and layd it moche wretchedly, how be it I am in a foule waye, where it dyd moche worthy to be in the gretest payne that ease to them that went by that waye, is ; but our Lorde is so mercyfull that and therfore it easeth me n ow ; for he hath rewarded me better than I every good dede shall be rewarded, have deserved, for of ryght my place and every evyll dede shal be pun- is in the brennynge h ell; but I am ysshed.” And the Sondaye agaynst here but certayne tymes of the yere, even there came a grete multitude of that is, fro Chrystmasse to twelfth daye, fendes blastyng and rorynge, and badde and fro Eester tyll Whytsontyde be saynt Brandon go thens, that they past, and every feestfull daye of our myght have theyr servaunt Judas, " for lady, and every Saterdaye at noone tyll we dare not come in the presence of Sonday that evensonge be done ; but our mayster, but y f we brynge hym to all other tymes I lye styll in hell in ful hell with us.” And saynt Brandon brennynge fyre with Pylate, Herode, sayd, “ I lette not you do your mays- and Cayphas; therfore accursed be the ters commaundement, but by the pow­ tyme that ever I knewe them.” And er of our Lorde.Jesu Chryst I charge than Judas prayed saynt Brandon to you to leve hym this nyght tyll to abyde styll there all that nyght, and morow.” “ How darest thou helpe that he wolde kepe hym there styll hym that so solde his mayster for that the fendes sholde not fetche hym xxx. pens to the Jewes, and caused to hell. And he sayd, (t With Goddes hym also to dye the moost shamefull helpe thou shalt abyde here all this deth upon the crosse ? ” And than nyght.” And than he asked Judas saynt Brandon charged the fendes by what cloth that was that henge over his passyon that they sholde not noy his heed. And he sayd it was a cloth hym that nyght. And than the fendes that he gave unto a lepre, whiche was went theyr way rorynge and cryenge bought with the money that he stale towarde hell to theyr mayster, the grete fro our Lorde whan he bare his purse, devyll. And than Judas thanked saynt <( wherfore it dothe to me grete payne Brandon so rewfully that it was pite now in betyng my face with the blow- to se, and on the morowe the fendes ynge of the wynde ; and these two came with an horryble noyse, sayenge oxe tongues that hange here above me, that they had that nyght suffred grete I gave them somtyme to two preestes payne bycause they brought not Judas, to praye for me. I bought them with and sayd that he shold suffre double myne owne money, and therfore they payne the sixe dayes folowynge. And ease me, bycause the fysshes of the see they toke than Judas tremblynge for knawe on them and spare me. And fere with them to payne. i Icelandic Vision 411

ICELANDIC VISION.

From the Poetic Edda. Tr. by Wright, St. Patrick’s Purgatory, p. 177.

In the Norm’s seat The wind became quiet, sat I nine days ; the waters ceased to flow; thence I was carried on a horse j then heard I a fearful sound : the sun of the Gygiars for their husbands shone grimly shameless women out of the apertures of the clouds. ground earth to food.

Without and within Bloody stones I seemed to go through all those dark women the seven lower worlds j dragged sorrowfully; above and below their bleeding hearts hung sought I a better way, out of their breasts, where I might have a more agreeable journey. weary with much grief.

I must relate Many men saw I what I first saw, wounded go when I was come into the places of torment j in the ways strewed with hot cinders ; scorched birds, their faces which were souk, seemed to me all to be fled numerous as flies. red’ with smoking blood.

From the west saw I fly Many men saw I the dragons of expectation, go on the ground and open the way of the fire-powerful; who had been unable to obtain the Lord’s meal j they beat their wings, heathen stars so that everywhere it appeared to me stood over their heads, that earth and heaven burst. painted with fearful characters.

T h e sun’s hart Those men saw I, I saw go from the south, who cherish much him led two together : envy at other’s fortune j his feet bloody runes stood on the ground, were on their breasts and his horns touched heaven. marked painfully.

From the north saw I ride Men saw I there the people’s sons, many, without joy, and they were seven together j who all wandered pathless; With full horns that he purchases for himself, they drunk the pure mead who of this world from the fountain of heaven’s lord. is infatuated with the vices. 412 Illustrations

Those men saw I, clear candles who in many ways were over their heads laid their hands on other’s property j burning brightly. they went in flocks

to Fegiarn’s (Satan’s) city, Those men saw I, and had burthens of lead. who magnanimously improved the condition of the poor; Those men saw I, angels read who many had the holy books deprived of money and life j over their heads. through their breasts

suddenly pierced Those men saw I, strong venomous dragons. who had much their body lean with fasting; Those men saw I, God’s angels who would not bowed before all these ; keep holy d ays; that is the greatest pleasure. their hands were on hot stones Those men saw I, nailed tight. who to their mother had put food in the mouth j Those men saw I, their resting-places were who in much pride in the beams of heaven magnified themselves too much j placed agreeably. their garments were in derision Holy virgins with fire surrounded. had purely washed the soul of sins, Those men saw I, of those men who had many w ho m any a day words against another lied : punish themselves. hell’s ravens out of their heads L ofty cars cruelly tore their eyes. I saw go midst heaven, which had the roads to God j All the horrors men guide them you cannot know who were slain which the hell-goers have. entirely without fault. Sw eet sins go to cruel recompenses; 0 mighty Father, ever cometh moan after pleasure. most great Son, Holy Ghost of heaven, Those men saw I 1 pray thee to save * who much had (who didst create) given according to God’s laws ; us all from miseries ! •Description o f Paradise. 413

ANGLO-SAXON DESCRIPTION OF PARADISE.

From T h e Phoenix, a Paraphrase of the Carmen de Phcenice, ascribed to * Codex Exoniensis. Tr. by B. Thorpe, p. 197.

I have heard tell, nor hills nor mountains there that there is far hence stand steep, in eastern parts nor stony cliffs a land most noble, tower high, am ongst men renowned. as here w ith us ; T h a t tract o f earth is not nor dells nor dales, over mid-earth nor mountain-caves, fellow to many risings nor hilly chains j peopled lands ; nor thereon rests but it is w ithdraw n aught unsmooth, through the Creator’s might but the noble field from wicked doers. flourishes under the skies Beauteous is all the plain, with delights blooming. with delights blessed, That glorious land is with the sweetest higher by twelve of earth’s odors : fold of fathom measure, unique is that island, (as us the skilful have informed, noble the Maker, sages through wisdom lofty, in powers abounding, in writings show,) who the land founded. than any of those hills T h ere is oft open that brightly here with us towards the happy, tower high, unclosed, (delight of sounds !) under the stars of heaven. heaven-kingdom’s door. Serene is the glorious plain, That is a pleasant plain, the sunny bower glitters, green wolds, the woody holt, joyously ; spacious under heaven ; the fruits fall not, there may not rain nor snow, the bright products, nor rage of frost, but the trees ever nor fire’s blast, stand green, nor fall of hail, as them G od hath com m anded; nor descent of rime, in winter and in summer nor heat o f sun, the forest is alike nor perpetual cold, hung with fruits, nor warm weather, never fade nor winter shower, the leaves in air, aught injure 5 nor will flame them injure, but the plain rests ever throughout ages, happy and healthful. ere that an end That noble land is to the world shall be. with blossoms flowered : W hat time of old the water’s mass 4 i4 Illustrations

all mid-earth, wells spring forth the sea-flood decked with fair bubblings from earth; the earth’s circumference, o’er the soil glide then the noble plain pleasant waters in all ways secure from the wood’s midst j against the billowy course there each month stood preserved, from the turf of earth of the rough waves, sea-cold they burst, happy, inviolate, all the grove pervade through God’s favor: at times abundantly. it shall abide thus blooming, I t is G od ’s behest, until the coming of the fire that twelve times of the Lord’s doom j the glorious land when the death-houses, sports over men’s dark chambers, the joy of water-floods. shall be opened. The groves are There is not in that land with produce hung, hateful enmity, with beauteous fruits ; nor wail nor vengeance, there wane not evil-token none, holy under heaven old age nor misery, the holt’s decorations, nor the narrow death, nor fall there on earth nor loss o f life, the fallow blossoms, nor coming of enemy, beauty of forest-trees, nor sin nor strife, but there wonderously nor painful exile, on the trees ever nor poor one’s toil, the laden branches, nor desire of wealth, the renovated fruit, nor care nor sleep, at all times nor grievous sickness, on the grassy plain nor winter’s darts, stand green, nor dread of tempests gloriously adorned rough under heaven, through the Holy’s might, nor the hard frost brightest of groves ! with cold chill icicles N o t broken is striketh any. the wood in aspect: There nor hail nor rime there a holy fragrance on the land descend, rests o’er the pleasant land. nor windy cloud, That shall not be changed nor there water falls forever throughout ages, ' agitated in air, until shall end but there liquid streams his wise work of yore wonderously curious, he who at first created it.

END OF VOL. I.