Inferno: Canto VIII

I SAY, my tale continuing, that long while
Ere we had reached the foot of that high tower.
Our eyes towards the summit of the pile

Were drawn by flamelets twain that hovered o'er,
While from afar another made reply, —
So far, that scarce the eye to see had power;

And to the sea of wisdom then turned I,
And said, " What meaneth this? and yonder fire,
What answers it? and who such converse ply?

And he to me: " Across these waves of mire
What there they wait for may be clearly seen.
If the pit's reek hide not thine eyes' desire."

Never did bowstring wing an arrow keen
That took its way so swift athwart the air,
As then I saw a little boat between

The waters glide towards us then and there,
Under one boatman's guidance, and no more,
Who cried, " Thou felon soul, art thou come here?"

"Ah! Phlegyas! Phlegyas! vainly dost thou roar,"
Then spake my Master: " at this present turn
Thine are we only till the pool's passed o'er."

And e'en as one who some great fraud doth learn
Done to him, sullenly the wrong doth note,
So Phlegyas' wrath within his breast did burn

My Leader first embarked in that small boat,
Then made me also come and with him stand.
Nor, till I came, as laden did it float.

Soon as my Guide and I the bark had manned,
That ancient prow starts, cutting deeper wake
Than is its wont with other travelling band."

While we the stillness of that dead stream brake,
Before me rose one foul with miry clay.
And said, " Who'rt thou who ere the time dost take

Thy way? " And I: " I come, but do not stay.
But who art thou that art so filthy grown?
And he: " Thou see'st I'm one who weeps alway."

And I to him: " With tears and many a groan,
Thou cursed spirit, mayst thou still abide;
Foul as thou art, thy face to me is known."

Then both his hands he laid on our boat's side,
Whereat my Master wise thrust him away.
And said, " Off, off, where other hounds do hide!"

Then he his arms around my neck did lay,
My face he kissed and said, " Indignant soul!
Blest is the womb that brought thee to the day!

Proud wight was he on earth beyond control;
Good act is none his fair fame to attest;
So through his ghost wrath's fiery tempests roll.

How many, there as mighty kings addressed,
Shall here as swine be wallowing in the mire,"
Leaving a name on which dread shame shall rest!

And I: " O Master, great is my desire
To see him soused in this foul turbid sea.
Before our footsteps from the lake retire."

And he to me: " Ere thou the shore can'st see,"
Thy eager craving shall be satisfied;
'Tis meet such wish should be fulfilled for thee."

Soon after this such havoc I descried
Made of him by that mire-besmeared crew.
That still I praise God, still my thanks abide."

"Have at Filipp' Argenti!" was their new
Wild cry, and then the spectre Florentine through.
Turned in wild wrath and gnawed his own flesh

And there we left him; not another line
I write of him; but groans fell on mine ears,
Wherefore before me straight I fixed mine eyne.

And my good Master said, " My son, now nears
The city which by name of Dis is known.
Where a great throng of townsmen stern appears."

And I: " O Master, even now are shown
Its minarets, far off in yonder dale;
Vermeil, as if from out a furnace thrown.

They rise." And he to me: " The fire of bale
Within, eternal, casts that lurid glow,
As thou mayst see, in this infernal vale."

Then we arrived within the fosses low
That compass round that land disconsolate;
The walls to me as iron seemed to show.

Not without making first a circuit great.
We reached a point at which our boatman cried"
With loud harsh voice, "Out with you! see the gate!"

More than a thousand at those gates I spied.
Rained down from Heaven, who, hot with anger, said,
"Who then is this, who, though he hath not died.

Now passes through the kingdom of the dead?"
And then my prudent Master made a sign
That he to speak in secret purposed.

Then they their great wrath somewhat did confine,
And said, " Come thou alone, and let him go
Who hath so rashly crossed this kingdom's line,"

Alone retracing his mad path below;
Let him his power test; here shalt thou remain,
Who hast his guide been through this land of woe."

Think, Reader, how my soul was filled with pain
On hearing of those cursed words the sound;
For ne'er I thought our earth to see again.

O my dear Teacher, more than seven times found
My safety and defence, who me hast freed
From peril great that compassed me around,

O leave me not," I said, " in such sore need;
If going farther be to us denied,
Let us go back together with all speed."

Then that dear Lord, who thus far had been guide,
Said, " Fear thou not; our journey none can stay,
By such a high One is it ratified;

But wait thou here for me, and thy dismay
Comfort, and feed thy soul with hope's bright smile;
I will not leave thee in this dark world's way."

So he departs and leaves me there awhile.
My gentlest Father; I in doubt remain,"
For ' Yes ' and ' No ' my wildered brain beguile.

What he spake to them I could not hear plain.
But with them he but little while did rest,
Ere all went helter-skelter back again.

They shut the gates against my Master's breast,"
Those enemies of ours, while he outside
Turned to me, and with slow steps onward pressed.

His eyes he had cast down, his forehead wide
Shorn of all boldness, and with sighs he said,
Who hath to me these homes of woe denied?"

And then to me: " Nay, be not thou afraid
Because my wrath is hot; I'll win the day,
Whatever plans are for resistance made.

Not new this haughty malice they display;
They tried it once at far less secret door,
Which ever since without its bolts doth stay:

Thou saw'st that writing dread the portals o'er:
Already thence comes one adown the slope
Without an escort, by each circle's shore.

Through whom this land a way for us shall ope."