CANTO XXIV. Nor speech the going, nor the going that And shadows, that appeared things doubly dead, Said: "Peradventure he goes up more slowly Among this folk that gazes at me so." "My sister, who, 'twixt beautiful and good, I know not which was more, triumphs rejoicing Already in her crown on high Olympus.' 66 99 So said he first, and then: ""T is not forbidden 15 20 Beyond him there, more peaked than the others, Has held the holy Church within his arms; From Tours was he, and purgeth by his fasting Bolsena's eels and the Vernaccia wine." He named me many others one by one; And all contented seemed at being named, I saw for hunger bite the empty air Ubaldin dalla Pila, and Boniface, Who with his crook had pastured many people. Line 23. From Tours was he, and purges by his fasting 25 I saw Messer Marchese, who had leisure 37 Once at Forlì for drinking with less dryness, And he was one who ne'er felt satisfied. But as he does who scans, and then doth prize One more than others, did I him of Lucca, Who seemed to take most cognizance of me. He murmured, and I know not what Gentucca From that place heard I, where he felt the wound Of justice, that doth macerate them so. 66 "O soul," I said, "that seemest so desirous To speak with me, do so that I may hear thee, And with thy speech appease thyself and me." "A maid is born, and wears not yet the veil," Began he, "who to thee shall pleasant make 40 45 50 If by my murmuring thou hast been deceived, True things hereafter will declare it to thee. But say if him I here behold, who forth Evoked the new-invented rhymes, beginning, Ladies, that have intelligence of love?" And I to him: "One am I, who, whenever Love doth inspire me, note, and in that measure Which he within me dictates, singing go." "O brother, now I see," he said, "the knot Which me, the Notary, and Guittone held Short of the sweet new style that now I hear. I do perceive full clearly how your pens Go closely following after him who dictates, Which with our own forsooth came not to pass; & And he who sets himself to go beyond, No difference sees from one style to another"; And as if satisfied, he held his peace. 55 Even as the birds, that winter tow'rds the Nile, 65 70 Pass by, and came with me behind it, saying, 74 "When will it be that I again shall see thee?" "How long," I answered, "I may live, I know not; Yet my return will not so speedy be, But I shall sooner in desire arrive ; Because the place where I was set to live 80 85 From day to day of good is more depleted, And unto dismal ruin seems ordained." "Now go," he said, "for him most guilty of it At a beast's tail behold I dragged along Towards the valley where is no repentance. Faster at every step the beast is going, Increasing evermore until it smites him, And leaves the body vilely mutilated. Not long those wheels shall turn," and he uplifted His eyes to heaven, "ere shall be clear to thee That which my speech no farther can declare. 94 Now stay behind; because the time so precious Is in this kingdom, that I lose too much By coming onward thus abreast with thee." As sometimes issues forth upon a gallop A cavalier from out a troop that ride, And seeks the honor of the first encounter, 95 So he with greater strides departed from us; And on the road remained I with those two, Who were such mighty marshals of the world. And when before us he had gone so far Mine eyes became to him such pursuivants As was my understanding to his words, Appeared to me with laden and living boughs Another apple-tree, and not far distant, From having but just then turned thitherward. People I saw beneath it lift their hands, And cry I know not what towards the leaves, Like little children eager and deluded, Who pray, and he they pray to doth not answer, But, to make very keen their appetite, Holds their desire aloft, and hides it not. Then they departed as if undeceived; 100 104 110 115 And now we came unto the mighty tree Which prayers and tears so manifold refuses. “Pass farther onward without drawing near; The tree of which Eve ate is higher up, And out of that one has this tree been raised." Thus said I know not who among the branches; Whereat Virgilius, Statius, and myself Went crowding forward on the side that rises. 120 "Be mindful," said he, " of the accursed ones Formed of the cloud-rack, who inebriate Combated Theseus with their double breasts; And of the Jews who showed them soft in drinking, Whence Gideon would not have them for com panions, When he tow'rds Midian the hills descended." Thus, closely pressed to one of the two borders, On passed we, hearing sins of gluttony, 125 Followed forsooth by miserable gains; A thousand steps and more we onward went, So that I turned me back unto my Teachers, Like one who goeth as his hearing guides him. And as, the harbinger of early dawn, 130 135 140 145 The air of May doth move and breathe out fra grance, Impregnate all with herbage and with flowers, So did I feel a breeze strike in the midst 150 My front, and felt the moving of the plumes That breathed around an odor of ambrosia; And heard it said: "Blessed are they whom grace So much illumines, that the love of taste Excites not in their breasts too great desire, Hungering at all times so far as is just." CANTO XXV. Now was it the ascent no hindrance brooked, |