Valor and courtesy, say if they dwell Within our city, as they used to do, Or if they wholly have gone out of it; For Guglielmo Borsier, who is in torment With us of late, and goes there with his comrades, Doth greatly mortify us with his words." "The new inhabitants and the sudden gains, Pride and extravagance have in thee engendered, Florence, so that thou weep'st thereat already!" In this wise I exclaimed with face uplifted; And the three, taking that for my reply, Looked at each other, as one looks at truth. "If other times so little it doth cost thee," Replied they all, "to satisfy another, Happy art thou, thus speaking at thy will! Then they broke up the wheel, and in their flight It seemed as if their agile legs were wings. Not an Amen could possibly be said So rapidly as they had disappeared; 70 75 80 85 90 I followed him, and little had we gone, Before the sound of water was so near us, That speaking we should hardly have been heard. Even as that stream which holdeth its own course The first from Monte Veso tow'rds the East, Upon the left-hand slope of Apennine, Which is above called Acquacheta, ere It down descendeth into its low bed, From Alps, by falling at a single leap, Thus downward from a bank precipitate, We found resounding that dark-tinted water, So that it soon the ear would have offended. I had a cord around about me girt, And therewithal I whilom had designed To take the panther with the painted skin. After I this had all from me unloosed, As my Conductor had commanded me, I reached it to him, gathered up and coiled, And at a little distance from the verge, 95 100 105 110 "It must needs be some novelty respond," I said within myself, " to the new signal The Master with his eye is following so.' Ah me! how very cautious men should be With those who not alone behold the act, But with their wisdom look into the thoughts! Aye to that truth which has the face of falsehood, Sometimes to clear an anchor, which has grappled Reef, or aught else that in the sea is hidden, Who upward stretches, and draws in his feet. 115 120 125 130 135 CANTO XVII. "BEHOLD the monster with the pointed tail, Who cleaves the hills, and breaketh walls and weapons, Thus unto me my Guide began to say, And beckoned him that he should come to shore, 5 Near to the confine of the trodden marble; And that uncleanly image of deceit Came up and thrust ashore its head and bust, Two Its semblance outwardly was so benign, With colors more, groundwork or broidery Never in cloth did Tartars make nor Turks, 15 As sometimes wherries lie upon the shore, That part are in the water, part on land; And as among the guzzling Germans there, The beaver plants himself to wage his war; So that vile monster lay upon the border, . Which is of stone, and shutteth in the sand His tail was wholly quivering in the void, Contorting upwards the envenomed fork, That in the guise of scorpion armed its point. The Guide said: "Now perforce must turn aside Our way a little, even to that beast Malevolent, that yonder coucheth him.” We therefore on the right-hand side descended, And made ten steps upon the outer verge, Completely to avoid the sand and flame And after we are come to him, I see A little farther off upon the sand A people sitting near the hollow place. Then said to me the Master: "So that full ; Experience of this round thou bear away, go and see what their condition is. There let thy conversation be concise; 20 25 30 35 40 Till thou returnest I will speak with him, That he concede to us his stalwart shoulders." |