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pale Their visage； and so lean withal； the bones Stood staring thro' the skin。
I do not think Thus dry and meagre Erisicthon show'd； When pinc'ed by
sharp…set famine to the quick。 〃Lo！〃 to myself I mus'd； 〃the race； who
lost Jerusalem； when Mary with dire beak Prey'd on her child。〃 The
sockets seem'd as rings； From which the gems were drops。 Who reads
the name Of man upon his forehead； there the M Had trac'd most plainly。
Who would deem； that scent Of water and an apple； could have prov'd
Powerful to generate such pining want； Not knowing how it wrought？
While now I stood Wond'ring what thus could waste them （for the cause
Of their gaunt hollowness and scaly rind Appear'd not） lo！ a spirit turn'd
his eyes In their deep…sunken cell； and fasten'd then On me； then cried
with vehemence aloud： 〃What grace is this vouchsaf'd me？〃 By his looks
I ne'er had recogniz'd him： but the voice Brought to my knowledge what
his cheer conceal'd。 Remembrance of his alter'd lineaments Was kindled
from that spark； and I agniz'd The visage of Forese。 〃Ah！ respect This
wan and leprous wither'd skin；〃 thus he Suppliant implor'd； 〃this
macerated flesh。 Speak to me truly of thyself。 And who Are those twain
spirits； that escort thee there？ Be it not said thou Scorn'st to talk with me。〃
〃That face of thine；〃 I answer'd him； 〃which dead I once bewail'd； disposes
me not less For weeping； when I see It thus transform'd。 Say then； by
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Heav'n； what blasts ye thus？ The whilst I wonder； ask not Speech from
me： unapt Is he to speak； whom other will employs。 He thus： 〃The
water and tee plant we pass'd； Virtue possesses； by th' eternal will Infus'd；
the which so pines me。 Every spirit； Whose song bewails his gluttony
indulg'd Too grossly； here in hunger and in thirst Is purified。 The odour；
which the fruit； And spray； that showers upon the verdure； breathe；
Inflames us with desire to feed and drink。 Nor once alone encompassing
our route We come to add fresh fuel to the pain： Pain； said I？ solace
rather： for that will To the tree leads us； by which Christ was led To call
Elias； joyful when he paid Our ransom from his vein。〃 I answering thus：
〃Forese！ from that day； in which the world For better life thou changedst；
not five years Have circled。 If the power of sinning more Were first
concluded in thee； ere thou knew'st That kindly grief； which re…espouses
us To God； how hither art thou come so soon？ I thought to find thee lower；
there； where time Is recompense for time。〃 He straight replied： 〃To drink
up the sweet wormwood of affliction I have been brought thus early by the
tears Stream'd down my Nella's cheeks。 Her prayers devout； Her sighs
have drawn me from the coast； where oft Expectance lingers； and have set
me free From th' other circles。 In the sight of God So much the dearer is
my widow priz'd； She whom I lov'd so fondly； as she ranks More singly
eminent for virtuous deeds。 The tract most barb'rous of Sardinia's isle；
Hath dames more chaste and modester by far Than that wherein I left her。
O sweet brother！ What wouldst thou have me say？ A time to come
Stands full within my view； to which this hour Shall not be counted of an
ancient date； When from the pulpit shall be loudly warn'd Th' unblushing
dames of Florence； lest they bare Unkerchief'd bosoms to the common
gaze。 What savage women hath the world e'er seen； What Saracens； for
whom there needed scourge Of spiritual or other discipline； To force them
walk with cov'ring on their limbs！ But did they see； the shameless ones；
that Heav'n Wafts on swift wing toward them； while I speak； Their mouths
were op'd for howling： they shall taste Of Borrow （unless foresight cheat
me here） Or ere the cheek of him be cloth'd with down Who is now rock'd
with lullaby asleep。 Ah！ now； my brother； hide thyself no more； Thou
seest how not I alone but all Gaze； where thou veil'st the intercepted sun。〃
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Whence I replied： 〃If thou recall to mind What we were once together；
even yet Remembrance of those days may grieve thee sore。 That I forsook
that life； was due to him Who there precedes me； some few evenings past；
When she was round； who shines with sister lamp To his； that glisters
yonder；〃 and I show'd The sun。 〃Tis he； who through profoundest night
Of he true dead has brought me； with this flesh As true； that follows。
From that gloom the aid Of his sure comfort drew me on to climb； And
climbing wind along this mountain…steep； Which rectifies in you whate'er
the world Made crooked and deprav'd I have his word； That he will bear
me company as far As till I come where Beatrice dwells： But there must
leave me。 Virgil is that spirit； Who thus hath promis'd；〃 and I pointed
to him； 〃The other is that shade； for whom so late Your realm； as he arose；
exulting shook Through every pendent cliff and rocky bound。〃
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CANTO XXIV
Our journey was not slacken'd by our talk； Nor yet our talk by
journeying。 Still we spake； And urg'd our travel stoutly； like a ship When
the wind sits astern。 The shadowy forms； That seem'd things dead and
dead again； drew in At their deep…delved orbs rare wonder of me；
Perceiving I had life； and I my words Continued； and thus spake； 〃He
journeys up Perhaps more tardily then else he would； For others' sake。
But tell me； if thou know'st； Where is Piccarda？ Tell me； if I see Any of
mark； among this multitude； Who eye me thus。〃〃My sister （she for
whom； 'Twixt beautiful and good I cannot say Which name was fitter ）
wears e'en now her crown； And triumphs in Olympus。〃 Saying this； He
added： 〃Since spare diet hath so worn Our semblance out； 't is lawful here
to name Each one 。 This；〃 and his fin