按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to crave His pity for the fardel that I bear。 I was of Latiun； of a Tuscan
horn A mighty one： Aldobranlesco's name My sire's； I know not if ye e'er
have heard。 My old blood and forefathers' gallant deeds Made me so
haughty； that I clean forgot The common mother； and to such excess；
Wax'd in my scorn of all men； that I fell； Fell therefore； by what fate
Sienna's sons； Each child in Campagnatico； can tell。 I am Omberto； not me
only pride Hath injur'd； but my kindred all involv'd In mischief with her。
Here my lot ordains Under this weight to groan； till I appease God's angry
justice； since I did it not Amongst the living； here amongst the dead。〃
List'ning I bent my visage down： and one （Not he who spake） twisted
beneath the weight That urg'd him； saw me； knew me straight； and call'd；
Holding his eyes With difficulty fix'd Intent upon me； stooping as I went
Companion of their way。 〃O！〃 I exclaim'd； 〃Art thou not Oderigi；
art not thou Agobbio's glory； glory of that art Which they of Paris call the
limmer's skill？〃 〃Brother！〃 said he； 〃with tints that gayer smile；
Bolognian Franco's pencil lines the leaves。 His all the honour now； mine
borrow'd light。 In truth I had not been thus courteous to him； The whilst I
liv'd； through eagerness of zeal For that pre…eminence my heart was bent
on。 Here of such pride the forfeiture is paid。 Nor were I even here； if； able
still To sin； I had not turn'd me unto God。 O powers of man！ how vain
your glory； nipp'd E'en in its height of verdure； if an age Less bright
succeed not！ Cimabue thought To lord it over painting's field； and now
The cry is Giotto's； and his name eclips'd。 Thus hath one Guido from the
other snatch'd The letter'd prize： and he perhaps is born； Who shall drive
either from their nest。 The noise Of worldly fame is but a blast of wind；
That blows from divers points； and shifts its name Shifting the point it
blows from。 Shalt thou more Live in the mouths of mankind； if thy flesh
Part shrivel'd from thee； than if thou hadst died； Before the coral and the
pap were left； Or ere some thousand years have passed？ and that Is； to
eternity compar'd； a space； Briefer than is the twinkling of an eye To the
heaven's slowest orb。 He there who treads So leisurely before me； far
and wide Through Tuscany resounded once； and now Is in Sienna scarce
33
… Page 34…
THE VISION
with whispers nam'd： There was he sov'reign； when destruction caught
The madd'ning rage of Florence； in that day Proud as she now is
loathsome。 Your renown Is as the herb； whose hue doth come and go；
And his might withers it； by whom it sprang Crude from the lap of earth。〃
I thus to him： 〃True are thy sayings： to my heart they breathe The kindly
spirit of meekness； and allay What tumours rankle there。 But who is he
Of whom thou spak'st but now？〃 〃This；〃 he replied； 〃Is Provenzano。
He is here； because He reach'd； with grasp presumptuous； at the sway Of
all Sienna。 Thus he still hath gone； Thus goeth never…resting； since he
died。 Such is th' acquittance render'd back of him； Who； beyond measure；
dar'd on earth。〃 I then： 〃If soul that to the verge of life delays
Repentance； linger in that lower space； Nor hither mount； unless good
prayers befriend； How chanc'd admittance was vouchsaf'd to him？〃
〃When at his glory's topmost height；〃 said he； 〃Respect of dignity all cast
aside； Freely He fix'd him on Sienna's plain； A suitor to redeem his
suff'ring friend； Who languish'd in the prison…house of Charles； Nor for his
sake refus'd through every vein To tremble。 More I will not say； and
dark； I know； my words are； but thy neighbours soon Shall help thee to a
comment on the text。 This is the work； that from these limits freed him。〃
34
… Page 35…
THE VISION
CANTO XII
With equal pace as oxen in the yoke； I with that laden spirit journey'd
on Long as the mild instructor suffer'd me； But when he bade me quit him；
and proceed （For 〃here；〃 said he； 〃behooves with sail and oars Each man；
as best he may； push on his bark〃）； Upright； as one dispos'd for speed； I
rais'd My body； still in thought submissive bow'd。 I now my leader's
track not loth pursued； And each had shown how light we far'd along
When thus he warn'd me： 〃Bend thine eyesight down： For thou to ease
the way shall find it good To ruminate the bed beneath thy feet。〃 As in
memorial of the buried； drawn Upon earth…level tombs； the sculptur'd form
Of what was once； appears （at sight whereof Tears often stream forth by
remembrance wak'd； Whose sacred stings the piteous only feel）； So saw I
there； but with more curious skill Of portraiture o'erwrought； whate'er of
space From forth the mountain stretches。 On one part Him I beheld；
above all creatures erst Created noblest； light'ning fall from heaven： On th'
other side with bolt celestial pierc'd Briareus： cumb'ring earth he lay
through dint Of mortal ice…stroke。 The Thymbraean god With Mars； I
saw； and Pallas； round their sire； Arm'd still； and gazing on the giant's
limbs Strewn o'er th' ethereal field。 Nimrod I saw： At foot of the
stupendous work he stood； As if bewilder'd； looking on the crowd Leagued
in his proud attempt on Sennaar's plain。 O Niobe！ in what a trance of
woe Thee I beheld； upon that highway drawn； Sev'n sons on either side
thee slain！ O Saul！ How ghastly didst thou look！ on thine own sword
Expiring in Gilboa； from that hour Ne'er visited with rain from heav'n or
dew！ O fond Arachne！ thee I also saw Half spider now in anguish
crawling up Th' unfinish'd web thou weaved'st to thy bane！ O
Rehoboam！ here thy shape doth seem Louring no more defiance！ but
fear…smote With none to chase him in his chariot whirl'd。 Was shown
beside upon the solid floor How dear Alcmaeon forc'd his mother rate That
ornament in evil hour receiv'd： How in the temple on Sennache