Paradiso: Canto XVI

Ah puny blood-nobility of ours! If thou makest folk glory in thee here below, where our affections sicken,

it shall be marvel to me never more; for there, where appetite is unwarped, I mean in heaven, I gloried me therein.

Yet verily thou art a mantle that soon shrinketh, so that, if day by day there be nought added, time goeth round with the shears.

With that ye that Rome was first to allow wherein her household doth least persevere, my words began again;

whereon Beatrice, who was a little sundered from us, smiled, and seemed to me like her who coughed at the first trespass writ of Guinivere.

I began: "Ye are my father, ye give me full boldness to speak, ye so uplift me, that I am more than I.

By so many streams my mind is filled with gladness, it giveth itself joy that it can bear it and yet not be rent.

Tell me, then, dear stock from which I spring, what was your ancestry, and what the years recorded in your boyhood.

Tell me of the sheepfold of St John, how great it then was, and who were the folk worthy of loftiest seats in it."

As a coal quickeneth into flame at the wind's breathing, so did I see that light glow forth at my caressing words;

and even as to my sight it grew more beauteous, so with a voice more sweet and gentle, but not in this our modern dialect,

he said: "From the day on which Ave was uttered, to the birth wherein my mother, now sainted, unburdened her of me with whom she was laden,

five hundred, fifty, and thirty times did this flame return to his own Lion to rekindle him beneath his feet.

My forebears and myself were born in the spot where he who runneth in your annual games doth first encounter the last sesto.

About my ancestors let it suffice so much to hear; of who they were and whence they hither came silence were comelier than discourse.

At that time all who were there, between Mars and the Baptist, capable of arms, were but the fifth of the now living ones.

But the citizenship, contaminated now from Campi, from Certaldo and from Fighine, saw itself pure down to the humblest artizan.

Oh, how much better were it for these folk of whom I speak to be your neighbours, and to have your boundary at Galluzzo and at Trespiano,

than to have them within, and bear the stench of the hind of Aguglion, and of him of Signa, who still for jobbery hath his eye alert!

Had the race, which goeth most degenerate on earth, not been to Caesar as a step-mother, but, as a mother to her son, benign,

one who is now a Florentine and changeth coin and wares, had been dispatched to Simifonte, where his own grandfather went round a-begging.

Still would Montemurlo pertain unto the Conti, still were the Cerchi in Acone parish, and perchance in Valdigreve were still the Buondelmonti.

Ever was mingling of persons the source of the city's woes, as piled on food is of the body's.

And a blind bull falleth more presently than a blind lamb, and many a time cutteth one sword better and more than five.

If thou regard Luni and Urbisaglia, how they have perished, and how are following them Chiusi and Sinigaglia;

it shall not seem a novel or hard thing to hear how families undo themselves, since even cities have their term.

Your affairs all have their death, even as have ye; but in such an one as long endureth, it escapeth note because your lives are short.

And as the rolling of the lunar heaven covereth and layeth bare the shores incessantly, so fortune doth to Florence;

wherefore it should appear no wondrous thing which I shall tell of the exalted Florentines whose fame lieth concealed by time.

I have seen the Ughi, seen the Catellini, Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi, illustrious citizens, already in decline;

I have seen, even as great as ancient, with him of the Sannella, him of the Area, and Soldanieri and Ardinghi and Bostichi.

Over the gate which is now laden with new felony of so great weight, that soon 'twill be the wrecking of the barque,

were the Ravignani, whence descendeth the County Guy, and whoso since hath taken lofty Bellincione's name.

The Delia Pressa knew already how to govern, and Galigaio in his mansion already had the hilt and pummel gilt.

Great already were the Vair column, Sacchetti, Giuochi, Fifanti, and Barucci; and Galli, and they who blush red for the bushel.

The stock whence the Calfucci sprang was great already, and already drawn to curule office were Sizii and Arrigucci.

Oh, how great have I seen those now undone by their pride! And the balls of gold adorned Florence in all her mighty feats.

So did their fathers who, whene'er your church is vacant, stand guzzling in consistory.

The outrageous tribe that playeth dragon after whoso fleeth, and to whoso showeth tooth — or purse — is quiet as a lamb,

was coming up already, but from humble folk, so that it pleased not Ubertin Donato when his father-in-law made him their relative.

Already Caponsacco had come down from Fiesole into the market-place; and good citizens already were Giuda and Infangato.

I will tell a thing incredible but true: the little circuit was entered by a gate named after them of Pera.

Each one who beareth aught of the fair arms of the great baron whose name and worth the festival of Thomas keepeth living,

from him derived knighthood and privilege; though he who fringeth it around hath joined him now unto the people.

Already there were Gualterotti and Importuni; and still were Borgo a more quiet spot, if from new neighbours they were still afasting.

The house from which your wailing sprang, because of the just anger which hath slain you and placed a term upon your joyous life,

was honoured, it and its associates. Oh Buondelmonte, how ill didst thou flee its nuptials at the prompting of another!

Joyous had many been who now are sad, had God committed thee unto the Ema the first time that thou earnest to the city.

But to that mutilated stone which guardeth the bridge 'twas meet that Florence should give a victim in her last time of peace.

With these folk, and with others with them, did I see Florence in such full repose, she had not cause for wailing;

with these folk I saw her people so glorious and so just, ne'er was the lily on the shaft reversed, nor yet by faction dyed vermilion."