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 of the Servants
From Arno was transferred to Bacchiglione；
Where he has left his sin…excited nerves。
More would I say； but coming and discoursing
Can be no longer； for that I behold
New 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。〃
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。
Inferno： Canto XVI
Now was I where was heard the reverberation
Of 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；
He turned his face towards me； and 〃Now wait；〃
He said； 〃to these we should be courteous。
And if it were not for the fire that darts
The nature of this region； I should say
That haste were more becoming thee than them。〃
As soon as we stood still； they recommenced
The old refrain； and when they overtook us；
Formed of themselves a wheel； all three of them。
As champions stripped and oiled are wont to do；
Watching for their advantage and their hold；
Before they come to blows and thrusts between them；
Thus； wheeling round； did every one his visage
Direct to me； so that in opposite wise
His neck and feet continual journey made。
And； 〃If the misery of this soft place
Bring in disdain ourselves and our entreaties；〃
Began one； 〃and our aspect black and blistered；
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；
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；
Tegghiaio Aldobrandi is； whose fame
Above there in the world should welcome be。
And I； who with them on the cross am placed；
Jacopo Rusticucci was； and truly
My savage wife； more than aught else； doth harm me。〃
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 labours and your honourable 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；
Valour and courtesy； say if they dwell
Within our city； as they used to do；
Or if they wholly have gone out of it；
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 will！
Therefore； if thou escape from these dark places；
And come to rebehold the beauteous stars；
When it shall pleasure thee to say； 'I was；'
See 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。
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
The 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；
We 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；
He cast it down into that deep abyss。
〃It must needs be some novelty respond；〃
I said within myself； 〃to the new signal
The Master with his eye is following so。〃
Ah me！ how very cautious men should be
With those who not alone behold the act；
But with their wisdom look into the thoughts！
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；
Because without his fault it causes shame；
But here I cannot； and； Reader； by the notes
Of this my Comedy to thee I swear；
So may they not be void of lasting favour；
Athwart that dense and darksome atmosphere
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；
Who upward stretches； and draws in his feet。
Inferno： Canto XVII
〃Behold the monster with the pointed tail；
Who 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；
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；
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。
With colours more； groundwork or broidery
Never in cloth did Tartars make nor Turks；
Nor were such tissues by Arachne laid。
As sometimes wherries lie upon the shore；
That part are in the water； part on land；
And as among the guzzling Germans there；
The beaver plants himself to wage his war；
So that vile monster lay upon the border；
Which is of 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： 〃Now perforce must turn aside
Our way a little； even to that beast
Malevolent； that yonder coucheth him。〃
We therefore on the right 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；
Now 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。〃
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 hands
Now 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
Of 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 colour 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： 〃What dost thou in this moat？
Now get thee gone； and since thou'rt still alive；
Know that a neighbour of mine； Vitaliano；
Will have his seat here on my left…hand side。
A Paduan am I with these Florentines；
Full many a time they thunder in mine ears；
Exclaiming； 'Come the sovereign cavalier；
He who shall bring the satchel