Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]

So that the pregnant air to water changed;
Down fell the rain, and to the gullies came
Whate'er of it earth tolerated not;
And as it mingled with the mighty torrents,
Towards the royal river with such speed
It headlong rushed, that nothing held it back.
My frozen body near unto its outlet

The robust Archian found, and into Arno Thrust it, and loosened from my breast the cross I made of me, when agony o'ercame me;

It rolled me on the banks and on the bottom; Then with its booty covered and begirt me." "Ah, when thou hast returned unto the world,

And rested thee from thy long journeying,"
After the second followed the third spirit,
"Do thou remember me who am the Pia;
Siena made me, unmade me Maremma;
He knoweth it, who had encircled first,
Espousing me, my finger with his gem."

120

125

130

135

CANTO VI

WHENE'ER is broken up the game of Zara,
He who has lost remains behind despondent,
The throws repeating, and in sadness learns;
The people with the other all depart ;

One goes in front, and one behind doth pluck him,
And at his side one brings himself to mind;

He pauses not, and this and that one hears;

They crowd no more to whom his hand he stretches,

And from the strong he thus defends himself. Even such was I in that dense multitude,

Turning to them this way and that my face, And, promising, I freed myself therefrom. There was the Aretine, who from the arms

[ocr errors]

Untamed of Ghin di Tacco had his death, And he who fleeing from pursuit was drowned. 15 There was imploring with his hands outstretched Frederick Novello, and that one of Pisa Who made the good Marzucco seem so strong. I saw Count Orso; and the soul divided

By hatred and by envy from its body,

As it declared, and not for crime committed; Pierre de la Brosse I say; and here provide

While still on earth the Lady of Brabant, So that for this she be of no worse flock! As soon as I was free from all those shades

Line 9. And from the throng he thus defends himself.

20

25

« PreviousContinue »