Inferno: Canto XVI

Already was I where was heard the din
Of water falling to the circle near,
Like hum of bees the busy hive within,

When shadows three forth starting did appear.
With haste advancing from a crowd which passed
Beneath the rain of torture sharp and drear:

And each one cried, as they drew near us fast,
"Halt, thou who seem'st in fashion of thy dress
To have thy lot in our corrupt land cast."

Ah me! what scars, old, new, and numberless,
The burning flames on all their limbs had made!
E'en to remember still works sore distress.

Unto their cries good heed my Master paid,
And turned his face to me and spake: " Now hold!
Tis meet we courteous be to these," he said;

And if it were not for the flames that fold
The region all around us, I would say
Thy steps, not theirs, should be at full speed told."

Thus, as we halted, their old wailing they
Began again, and when they near us drew,
All three of them went whirling on their way.

As wrestlers stripped and oiled are wont to do.
Watching for vantage where they best may seize,
Ere they with blows and thrusts the fight pursue.

Then wheeling round, his visage each of these
So turned toward me, that his neck did take
Another course than that his feet did please.

O if the torture of this deep pit wake
Scorn in thy soul of us and of our prayer,"
Then one began, "and dark, scorched features make

Thee shrink, our fame may yet prevail to share
The knowledge who thou art whose living feet
Through paths of Hell so safely seem to fare.

He in whose footprints now I follow fleet.
Though naked now he go and scorched all bare,
Had higher birth than would thy credence meet.

Grandson he was to good Gualdrada fair;
His name was Guido Guerra, and from birth
With mind and sword he wrought his own full share.

The other who beside me treads the earth
Was Aldobrandi Tegghiaio named;
High in the world should still resound his worth.

And I who with them am thus pained and shamed,
Jacopo Rusticucci was; and know,
My haughty wife was chiefly to be blamed."

Could I have found some fire-screened way to go
I had myself below among them thrown,
And think my Teacher had not said me No;

But lest I too as burnt and baked should run,
My terror overmastered my goodwill,
That made me eager to embrace each one.

Then I began: " Not scorn, but sorrow still,
So fixed your sad condition in my mind,
That slowly ceaseth it my thoughts to fill.

Soon as my Master here had cause assigned,
In words which quickly made me deem that you
Who came were of such worth as now I find.

Your countryman am I; with reverence due
Your deeds and names, that honour well may suit,
I evermore of old both heard and knew;

I leave the gall and seek the pleasant fruit,
Which my true Leader promiseth to me,
But first I must plunge down to earth's deep root."

"As thou wouldst have thy soul live long to be
Thy body's guide," to me was answer given,
"And thy high fame shine long years after thee,

Valour and courtesy, say, have they thriven
Within our city as they used of old.
Or have they into exile both been driven?

For Guglielmo Borsier, who doth hold,
New-come, his place of torment with his train,
Much grieves our souls with what his words have told."

The upstart race and over-rapid gain
Have so given birth to pride and luxury
In thee, Firenze, that thou weep'st for pain."

So I exclaimed with face upturned on high,
And then the three, with look as those that hear
The truth, so looked on hearing that reply.

'If thou dost elsewhere pay no price more dear,"
Replied they all, " to grant what others pray,
Happy art thou, who canst at will speak clear;

If then from this dark world thou take thy way,
And turn once more the beauteous stars to spy.
When thou 'I have been there! ' shalt joy to say,

Still keep us in our people's memory."
The circle then they broke, and legs less slow
Did seem than wings, so swiftly did they fly.

Not sooner from our lips " Amen " could flow
Than they in that far distance disappeared;
Wherefore my Master deemed it best to go.

I followed him, and soon a spot we neared,
Where sound of falling waters came so hoarse.
That when we spake our voices scarce were heard.

E'en as that stream which takes its separate course,
And from Mount Veso eastward first doth flow,
And down the Apennino's left slope pours.

Which men above as Acquacheta know,
Ere it rush down into its torrent bed,
And lose that name at Forli far below.

Above San Benedetto murmurs dread
From Alps, whence it in single leap doth run.
Where should be room for full a thousand head;

Thus headlong, from a bank or broken down.
We heard those waters dark so loudly roar,
That soon they had had power our ears to stun.

I had a cord which round my waist I wore.
And with it once of old I thought to take
The panther with its skin all dappled o'er;

And after I its coil all loose did make,
Obeying so the bidding of my Guide,"
Coiled and entwined, I gave it as he spake.

Then turned he to the right, and from the side
A little distance hurled its full extent,
And flung it down the abyss profound and wide.

"To this new sign some new and strange event
Must answer," to myself I made reply,
"Since on it thus my Guide looks so intent."

Ah me! how careful men should be when nigh
To those who see not outward act alone.
But inward thoughts discern with wisdom high I

He said to me, " Soon upward cometh on
What I await, and what thy fancies dream
Soon to thine eyes full clearly will be shown."

Aye to that truth which doth as falsehood seem
A man should close his lips as best he may,
Since him, though blameless, men may base esteem.

But here I cannot, and by this my lay.
This Comedy, dear Reader, do I swear,
(So may it win to lengthened fame its way!),

I saw, through that thick air obscure and drear,
A swimming form that upward seemed to sweep.
Which well might fill each careless heart with fear.

As one doth turn who diveth in the deep
To clear an anchor which or rock's rough crest.
Or what the sea hides else, below doth keep,

Who upward stretches, feet close to him pressed.