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。
As Alexander； in those torrid parts
Of 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 vapour
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
Of miserable hands； now there； now here；
Shaking away from off them the fresh gleeds。
〃Master；〃 began I； 〃thou who overcomest
All things except the demons dire； that issued
Against us at the entrance of the gate；
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；
Cried： 〃Such as I was living； am I； dead。
If Jove 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
In Mongibello at the swarthy forge；
Vociferating； 'Help； good Vulcan； help！'
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。〃
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；
Would be unto thy fury pain complete。〃
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 have 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 the little flames above it quenches。〃
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；〃
Said he thereafterward； 〃whose name is Crete；
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 'tis deserted； as a thing worn out。
Rhea once chose it for the faithful cradle
Of her own son； and to conceal him better；
Whene'er he cried； she there had clamours made。
A grand old man stands in the mount erect；
Who holds his shoulders turned tow'rds Damietta；
And looks at Rome as if it were his mirror。
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；
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；
Which gathered together perforate that cavern。
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 'tis 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；
When sin repented of has been removed。〃
Then said he： 〃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 vapours are extinguished。〃
Inferno： Canto XV
Now 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；
When we a company of souls encountered；
Who came beside the dike； and every one
Gazed at us； as at evening we are wont
To eye each other under a new moon；
And so towards us sharpened they their brows
As an old tailor at the needle's eye。
Thus scrutinised by such a family；
By some one I was recognised； who seized
My garment's hem； and cried out； 〃What a marvel！〃
And I； when he stretched forth his arm to me；
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？〃
And he： 〃May'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；
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；
And afterward will I rejoin my band；
Which goes lamenting its eternal doom。〃
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 one appeared to me； returning thither；
And homeward leadeth me along this road。〃
And he to me： 〃If 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；
Will make itself； for thy good deeds； thy foe；
And it is right； for among crabbed sorbs
It ill befits the sweet fig to bear fruit。
Old rumour 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 honour doth reserve thee；
One party and the other shall be hungry
For thee； but far from goat shall be the grass。
Their litter let the beasts of Fesole
Make of themselves； nor let them touch the plant；
If any still upon their dunghill rise；
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 to him； 〃not yet would you be
In banishment from human nature placed；
For in my mind is fixed； and touches now
My heart the dear and good paternal image
Of you； when in the world from hour to hour
You taught me how a man becomes eternal；
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。
This much will I have manifest to you；
Provided that my conscience do not chide me；
For whatsoever Fortune I am ready。
Such handsel is not new unto mine ears；
Therefore let Fortune turn her wheel around
As it may please her； and the churl his mattock。〃
My Master thereupon on his right cheek
Did backward turn himself； and looked at me；
Then said： 〃He listeneth well who noteth it。〃
Nor speaking less on that account； I go
With Ser Brunetto； and I ask who are
His most known and most eminent companions。
And he to me： 〃To know of some is well；
Of others it were laudable to be silent；
For short would be the time for so much speech。
Know them 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 wret