قم But when his changed color I espy, "How shall I come," I said, "if thou do fear; To linger:" then he past and bore me on To the first circle, which engirds the abyss. There was no wailing, further than by sighs That shake the air of that eternal zone. And this proceeds from woe, sāns agonies, Inherent in a vast and numerous band Of manly, infantine, or female guise. Said my good master, "Dost thou not demand What people those are yonder whom we see? In them, yet these are without baptism vain, Because they lived before the Christian rei Are we undone, and but so far offended, Or other's, have gone out to join the blest Then he, who did my covert meaning heed, Replied, "When I was yet a novel guest In this domain, I saw a puissant One, That came with head in crown triumphal dr And our first parent's shade, Abel his son, And Noah, from among us forth did bring With Moses, who the law had given and don And Abraham patriarch, and David king, And Israel, his father and his race, And Rachel, whom he wrought so long to win, Set them; and I would teach thee, that before Still onward thro' the wood; that wood, I say, Of spirits thick and thronging evermore. 60 65 On this side from the summit, lo! a flame, 70 Say, who are these, that are so honored, That from the common life they stand apart?" "That honorable praise of them," he said, 75 "That sounds upon your land of living men, Wins grace from heaven that so lifts up their head." I heard a voice proclaiming even then, "Honor unto the most high poet yield; "See him that comes with sword in hand along, Horatius, the satirist, is nigh; Ovidius third, Lucanus last in throng. Because that each partaketh, as do I, The name, which from the single voice did sound, They do me honor, and do well thereby:" Thus all the fair assembled school I found, Of this the master of sublimest song, That like an eagle flies above their bound. They reasoned now among themselves not long, And turned to me with signs of courtesy, My gracious master smiling hereupon; 80 85 90 95 And far more honor they vouchsafed to me, As there to speak of them was meet again. A noble castle we arrived beside, That in the midst of seven high walls doth stand, And fair protecting waters round it glide; Over the which we passed, like to firm land; By seven gates these noble wits and I 100 105 110 Came through, where fresh and verdant swards expand. A tribe was there of grave and tardy eye; Semblance of great authority they wore, And spoke with voices soft unfrequently. Thus to a corner of the tract we bore, And reacht an open place full high and sheen, Whence all could be descried and well lookt o'er. There, in my front, upon the enamel green, Appeared the mighty shades without disguise, Whom in my soul I glory to have seen. 115 120 |