Inferno: Canto XXVII

Now, having first erect and silent grown
(For it would say no more), from us the flame,
The Poet sweet consenting, had moved on;

And then our eyes were turned to one that came
Behind it on the way, by sounds that burst
Out of its crest in a confusèd stream.

As the Sicilian bull, which bellowed first
With his lamenting--and it was but right--
Who had prepared it with his tools accurst,

Roared with the howlings of the tortured wight,
So that although constructed all of brass
Yet seemed it pierced with anguish to the height;

So, wanting road and vent by which to pass
Up through the flame, into the flame's own speech
The woeful language all converted was.

But when the words at length contrived to reach
The top, while hither thither shook the crest
As moved the tongue at utterance of each,

We heard: 'Oh thou, to whom are now addressed
My words, who spakest now in Lombard phrase:
"Depart; of thee I nothing more request."

Though I be late arrived, yet of thy grace
Let it not irk thee here a while to stay:
It irks not me, yet, as thou seest, I blaze.

If lately to this world devoid of day
From that sweet Latian land thou art come down
Whence all my guilt I bring, declare and say

Has now Romagna peace? because my own
Native abode was in the mountain land
'Tween springs of Tiber and Urbino town.'

While I intent and bending low did stand,
My Leader, as he touched me on the side,
'Speak thou, for he is Latian,' gave command.

Whereon without delay I thus replied--
Because already was my speech prepared:
'Soul, that down there dost in concealment 'bide,

In thy Romagna wars have never spared
And spare not now in tyrants' hearts to rage;
But when I left it there was none declared.

No change has fallen Ravenna for an age.
There, covering Cervia too with outspread wing,
Polenta's Eagle guards his heritage.

Over the city which long suffering
Endured, and Frenchmen slain on Frenchmen rolled,
The Green Paws once again protection fling.

The Mastiffs of Verrucchio, young and old,
Who to Montagna brought such evil cheer,
Still clinch their fangs where they were wont to hold.

Cities, Lamone and Santerno near,
The Lion couched in white are governed by
Which changes party with the changing year.

And that to which the Savio wanders nigh
As it is set 'twixt mountain and champaign
Lives now in freedom now 'neath tyranny.

But who thou art I to be told am fain:
Be not more stubborn than we others found,
As thou on earth illustrious wouldst remain.'

When first the fire a little while had moaned
After its manner, next the pointed crest
Waved to and fro; then in this sense breathed sound:

'If I believed my answer were addressed
To one that earthward shall his course retrace,
This flame should forthwith altogether rest.

But since none ever yet out of this place
Returned alive, if all be true I hear,
I yield thee answer fearless of disgrace.

I was a warrior, then a Cordelier;
Thinking thus girt to purge away my stain:
And sure my hope had met with answer clear

Had not the High Priest--ill with him remain!
Plunged me anew into my former sin:
And why and how, I would to thee make plain.

While I the frame of bones and flesh was in
My mother gave me, all the deeds I wrought
Were fox-like and in no wise leonine.

Of every wile and hidden way I caught
The secret trick, and used them with such sleight
That all the world with fame of it was fraught.

When I perceived I had attainèd quite
The time of life when it behoves each one
To furl his sails and coil his cordage tight,

Sorrowing for deeds I had with pleasure done,
Contrite and shriven, I religious grew.
Ah, wretched me! and well it was begun

But for the Chieftain of the Pharisees new,
Then waging war hard by the Lateran,
And not with Saracen nor yet with Jew;

For Christian were his enemies every man,
And none had at the siege of Acre been
Or trafficked in the Empire of Soldàn.

His lofty office he held cheap, and e'en
His Sacred Orders and the cord I wore,
Which used to make the wearers of it lean.

As from Soracte Constantine of yore
Sylvester called to cure his leprosy,
I as a leech was called this man before

To cure him of his fever which ran high;
My counsel he required, but I stood dumb,
For drunken all his words appeared to be.

He said; "For fear be in thy heart no room;
Beforehand I absolve thee, but declare
How Palestrina I may overcome.

Heaven I unlock, as thou art well aware,
And close at will; because the keys are twin
My predecessor was averse to bear."

Then did his weighty reasoning on me win
Till to be silent seemed the worst of all;
And, "Father," I replied, "since from this sin

Thou dost absolve me into which I fall--
The scant performance of a promise wide
Will yield thee triumph in thy lofty stall."

Francis came for me soon as e'er I died;
But one of the black Cherubim was there
And "Take him not, nor rob me of him" cried,

"For him of right among my thralls I bear
Because he offered counsel fraudulent;
Since when I've had him firmly by the hair.

None is absolved unless he first repent;
Nor can repentance house with purpose ill,
For this the contradiction doth prevent."

Ah, wretched me! How did I shrinking thrill
When clutching me he sneered: "Perhaps of old
Thou didst not think I had in logic skill."

He carried me to Minos: Minos rolled
His tail eight times round his hard back; in ire
Biting it fiercely, ere of me he told:

"Among the sinners of the shrouding fire!"
Therefore am I, where thou beholdest, lost;
And, sore at heart, go clothed in such attire.'

What he would say thus ended by the ghost,
Away from us the moaning flame did glide
While to and fro its pointed horn was tossed.

But we passed further on, I and my Guide,
Along the cliff to where the arch is set
O'er the next moat, where paying they reside,

As schismatics who whelmed themselves in debt.