Because I parted persons so united, Parted do I now bear my brain, alas! From its beginning, which is in this trunk. Thus is observed in me the counterpoise." 140 23 CANTO XXIX. THE many people and the divers wounds That they were wishful to stand still and weep; Why is thy sight still riveted down there Thou hast not done so at the other Bolge; Consider, if to count them thou believest, That two-and-twenty miles the valley winds, And now the moon is underneath our feet; Henceforth the time allotted us is brief, And more is to be seen than what thou seest." "If thou hadst," I made answer thereupon, "Attended to the cause for which I looked, Perhaps a longer stay thou wouldst have pardoned." 15 Meanwhile my Guide departed, and behind him I went, already making my reply, And superadding: "In that cavern where I held mine eyes with such attention fixed, I think a spirit of my blood laments The sin which down below there costs so much." Then said the Master: "Be no longer broken Thy thought from this time forward upon him; For him I saw below the little bridge, Pointing at thee, and threatening with his finger So wholly at that time wast thou impeded As I imagine, without speaking to me, Upon the crag, which the next valley shows Down to the bottom, if there were more light. Of Malebolge, so that its lay-brothers 20 25 30 35 40 Divers lamentings pierced me through and through, Of Valdichiana, 'twixt July and September, All the diseases in one moat were gathered, 45 Such was it here, and such a stench came from it 50 As from putrescent limbs is wont to issue. We had descended on the furthest bank From the long crag, upon the left hand still, Down tow'rds the bottom, where the ministress Of the high Lord, Justice infallible, I do not think a sadder sight to see Was in Ægina the whole people sick, (When was the air so full of pestilence, The animals, down to the little worm, All fell, and afterwards the ancient people, Were from the seed of ants restored again,) Than was it to behold through that dark valley 55 60 65 This on the belly, that upon the back One of the other lay, and others crawling Shifted themselves along the dismal road. We step by step went onward without speech, Gazing upon and listening to the sick Who had not strength enough to lift their bodies. I saw two sitting leaned against each other, As leans in heating platter against platter, By stable-boy for whom his master waits, As every one was plying fast the bite 70 75 Of nails upon himself, for the great rage 80 85 Of itching which no other succor had. In fashion as a knife the scales of bream, Or any other fish that has them largest. "O thou, that with thy fingers dost dismail thee," Began my Leader unto one of them, "And makest of them pincers now and then, Tell me if any Latian is with those Who are herein; so may thy nails suffice thee |