CANTO III INASMUCH as the instantaneous flight Had scattered them asunder o'er the plain, I pressed me close unto my faithful comrade, O noble conscience, and without a stain, After his feet had laid aside the haste Which mars the dignity of every act, And I my sight directed to the hill That highest tow'rds the heaven uplifts itself. 5 ΤΟ 15 The sun, that in our rear was flaming red, Was broken in front of me into the figure Which had in me the stoppage of its rays; Unto one side I turned me, with the fear Of being left alone, when I beheld Only in front of me the ground obscured. "Why dost thou still mistrust? my Comforter Began to say to me turned wholly round; “Dost thou not think me with thee, and that I guide thee? 'Tis evening there already where is buried The body within which I cast a shadow; 20 25 'T is from Brundusium ta'en, and Naples hath it. Now if in front of me no shadow fall, Marvel not at it more than at the heavens, Bodies like this that Power provides, which wills Insane is he who hopeth that our reason 30 35 Which the one Substance in three Persons follows! Mortals, remain contented, at the Quia; For if ye had been able to see all, No need there were for Mary to give birth; Those whose desire would have been quieted, I speak of Aristotle and of Plato, 40 45 And others many; - and here he bowed his head, And more he said not, and remained disturbed. We came meanwhile unto the mountain's foot; There so precipitate we found the rock, That nimble legs would there have been in vain. 'Twixt Lerici and Turbia, the most desert, The most secluded pathway is a stair. 50 "Who knoweth now upon which hand the hill Slopes down," my Master said, his footsteps stay ing, "So that who goeth without wings may mount?" Line 27. 'T is from Brundusium ta'en, and Naples has it. 55 Examining the nature of the path, And I was looking up around the rock, On the left hand appeared to me a throng Of souls, that moved their feet in our direction, And did not seem to move, they came so slowly. After a thousand steps of hours I say, 61 66 Of the high bank, and motionless stood and close, As he stands still to look who goes in doubt, "O happy dead! O spirits elect already!" Virgilius made beginning, "by that peace Which I believe is waiting for you all, Tell us upon what side the mountain slopes, So that the going up be possible, 70 75 For to lose time irks him most who most knows." As sheep come issuing forth from out the fold By ones and twos and threes, and the others stand Timidly, holding down their eyes and nostrils, And what the foremost does the others do, Huddling themselves against her, if she stop, So moving to approach us thereupon I saw the leader of that fortunate flock, 81 85 As soon as those in the advance saw broken And all the others, who came after them, Not knowing why nor wherefore, did the same. "Without your asking, I confess to you This is a human body which you see, Whereby the sunshine on the ground is cleft. Marvel ye not thereat, but be persuaded 90 95 That not without a power which comes from Heaven Doth he endeavor to surmount this wall." The Master thus; and said those worthy people: 100 E'er having seen him, "Now behold!" he said, And showed me high upon his breast a wound. Then said he with a smile: "I am Manfredi, The grandson of the Emperess Costanza; Therefore, when thou returnest, I beseech thee Go to my daughter beautiful, the mother Of Sicily's honor and of Aragon's, And the truth tell her, if aught else be told. 105 109 115 After I had my body lacerated By these two mortal stabs, I gave myself Weeping to Him, who willingly doth pardon. Horrible my iniquities had been ; 120 125 But Infinite Goodness hath such ample arms, That it receives whatever turns to it. Had but Cosenza's pastor, who in chase Of me was sent by Clement at that time, In God read understandingly this page, The bones of my dead body still would be At the bridge-head, near unto Benevento, Under the safeguard of the heavy cairn. Now the rain bathes and moveth them the wind, Beyond the realm, almost beside the Verde, Where he transported them with tapers quenched. By malison of theirs is not so lost Eternal Love, that it cannot return, So long as hope has anything of green. True is it, who in contumacy dies Of Holy Church, though penitent at last, In his presumption, unless such decree 130 135 140 145 |