Читать книгу The Divine Comedy - Dante Alighieri - Страница 11

MY theme pursuing, I relate that ere

We reach'd the lofty turret's base, our eyes

Its height ascended, where two cressets hung

We mark'd, and from afar another light

Return the signal, so remote, that scarce

The eye could catch its beam. I turning round

To the deep source of knowledge, thus inquir'd:

"Say what this means? and what that other light

In answer set? what agency doth this?"

"There on the filthy waters," he replied,

"E'en now what next awaits us mayst thou see,

If the marsh-gender'd fog conceal it not."

Never was arrow from the cord dismiss'd,

That ran its way so nimbly through the air,

As a small bark, that through the waves I spied

Toward us coming, under the sole sway

Of one that ferried it, who cried aloud:

"Art thou arriv'd, fell spirit?"—"Phlegyas, Phlegyas,

This time thou criest in vain," my lord replied;

"No longer shalt thou have us, but while o'er

The slimy pool we pass." As one who hears

Of some great wrong he hath sustain'd, whereat

Inly he pines; so Phlegyas inly pin'd

In his fierce ire. My guide descending stepp'd

Into the skiff, and bade me enter next

Close at his side; nor till my entrance seem'd

The vessel freighted. Soon as both embark'd,

Cutting the waves, goes on the ancient prow,

More deeply than with others it is wont.

While we our course o'er the dead channel held.

One drench'd in mire before me came, and said;

"Who art thou, that thou comest ere thine hour?"

I answer'd: "Though I come, I tarry not;

But who art thou, that art become so foul?"

"One, as thou seest, who mourn:" he straight replied.

To which I thus: "In mourning and in woe,

Curs'd spirit! tarry thou. I know thee well,

E'en thus in filth disguis'd." Then stretch'd he forth

Hands to the bark; whereof my teacher sage

Aware, thrusting him back: "Away! down there,

"To the other dogs!" then, with his arms my neck

Encircling, kiss'd my cheek, and spake: "O soul

Justly disdainful! blest was she in whom

Thou was conceiv'd! He in the world was one

For arrogance noted; to his memory

No virtue lends its lustre; even so

Here is his shadow furious. There above

How many now hold themselves mighty kings

Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,

Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!"

I then: "Master! him fain would I behold

Whelm'd in these dregs, before we quit the lake."

He thus: "Or ever to thy view the shore

Be offer'd, satisfied shall be that wish,

Which well deserves completion." Scarce his words

Were ended, when I saw the miry tribes

Set on him with such violence, that yet

For that render I thanks to God and praise

"To Filippo Argenti:" cried they all:

And on himself the moody Florentine

Turn'd his avenging fangs. Him here we left,

Nor speak I of him more. But on mine ear

Sudden a sound of lamentation smote,

Whereat mine eye unbarr'd I sent abroad.

And thus the good instructor: "Now, my son!

Draws near the city, that of Dis is nam'd,

With its grave denizens, a mighty throng."

I thus: "The minarets already, Sir!

There certes in the valley I descry,

Gleaming vermilion, as if they from fire

Had issu'd." He replied: "Eternal fire,

That inward burns, shows them with ruddy flame

Illum'd; as in this nether hell thou seest."

We came within the fosses deep, that moat

This region comfortless. The walls appear'd

As they were fram'd of iron. We had made

Wide circuit, ere a place we reach'd, where loud

The mariner cried vehement: "Go forth!

The entrance is here!" Upon the gates I spied

More than a thousand, who of old from heaven

Were hurl'd. With ireful gestures, "Who is this,"

They cried, "that without death first felt, goes through

The regions of the dead?" My sapient guide

Made sign that he for secret parley wish'd;

Whereat their angry scorn abating, thus

They spake: "Come thou alone; and let him go

Who hath so hardily enter'd this realm.

Alone return he by his witless way;

If well he know it, let him prove. For thee,

Here shalt thou tarry, who through clime so dark

Hast been his escort." Now bethink thee, reader!

What cheer was mine at sound of those curs'd words.

I did believe I never should return.

"O my lov'd guide! who more than seven times

Security hast render'd me, and drawn

From peril deep, whereto I stood expos'd,

Desert me not," I cried, "in this extreme.

And if our onward going be denied,

Together trace we back our steps with speed."

My liege, who thither had conducted me,

Replied: "Fear not: for of our passage none

Hath power to disappoint us, by such high

Authority permitted. But do thou

Expect me here; meanwhile thy wearied spirit

Comfort, and feed with kindly hope, assur'd

I will not leave thee in this lower world."

This said, departs the sire benevolent,

And quits me. Hesitating I remain

At war 'twixt will and will not in my thoughts.

I could not hear what terms he offer'd them,

But they conferr'd not long, for all at once

To trial fled within. Clos'd were the gates

By those our adversaries on the breast

Of my liege lord: excluded he return'd

To me with tardy steps. Upon the ground

His eyes were bent, and from his brow eras'd

All confidence, while thus with sighs he spake:

"Who hath denied me these abodes of woe?"

Then thus to me: "That I am anger'd, think

No ground of terror: in this trial I

Shall vanquish, use what arts they may within

For hindrance. This their insolence, not new,

Erewhile at gate less secret they display'd,

Which still is without bolt; upon its arch

Thou saw'st the deadly scroll: and even now

On this side of its entrance, down the steep,

Passing the circles, unescorted, comes

One whose strong might can open us this land."