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returning into water； Soon as it mounts where cold condenses it。 That evil
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THE VISION
will； which in his intellect Still follows evil； came； and rais'd the wind And
smoky mist； by virtue of the power Given by his nature。 Thence the
valley； soon As day was spent； he cover'd o'er with cloud From
Pratomagno to the mountain range； And stretch'd the sky above； so that the
air Impregnate chang'd to water。 Fell the rain； And to the fosses came all
that the land Contain'd not； and； as mightiest streams are wont； To the
great river with such headlong sweep Rush'd； that nought stay'd its course。
My stiffen'd frame Laid at his mouth the fell Archiano found； And dash'd
it into Arno； from my breast Loos'ning the cross； that of myself I made
When overcome with pain。 He hurl'd me on； Along the banks and
bottom of his course； Then in his muddy spoils encircling wrapt。〃 〃Ah！
when thou to the world shalt be return'd； And rested after thy long road；〃
so spake Next the third spirit； 〃then remember me。 I once was Pia。
Sienna gave me life； Maremma took it from me。 That he knows； Who
me with jewell'd ring had first espous'd。〃
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THE VISION
CANTO VI
When from their game of dice men separate； He； who hath lost；
remains in sadness fix'd； Revolving in his mind； what luckless throws He
cast： but meanwhile all the company Go with the other； one before him
runs； And one behind his mantle twitches； one Fast by his side bids him
remember him。 He stops not； and each one； to whom his hand Is stretch'd；
well knows he bids him stand aside； And thus he from the press defends
himself。 E'en such was I in that close…crowding throng； And turning so my
face around to all； And promising； I 'scap'd from it with pains。 Here of
Arezzo him I saw； who fell By Ghino's cruel arm； and him beside； Who in
his chase was swallow'd by the stream。 Here Frederic Novello； with his
hand Stretch'd forth； entreated； and of Pisa he； Who put the good Marzuco
to such proof Of constancy。 Count Orso I beheld； And from its frame a
soul dismiss'd for spite And envy； as it said； but for no crime： I speak of
Peter de la Brosse； and here； While she yet lives； that Lady of Brabant Let
her beware； lest for so false a deed She herd with worse than these。 When
I was freed From all those spirits； who pray'd for others' prayers To hasten
on their state of blessedness； Straight I began： 〃O thou； my luminary！ It
seems expressly in thy text denied； That heaven's supreme decree can
never bend To supplication； yet with this design Do these entreat。 Can
then their hope be vain； Or is thy saying not to me reveal'd？〃 He thus to
me： 〃Both what I write is plain； And these deceiv'd not in their hope； if
well Thy mind consider； that the sacred height Of judgment doth not stoop；
because love's flame In a short moment all fulfils； which he Who sojourns
here； in right should satisfy。 Besides； when I this point concluded thus； By
praying no defect could be supplied； Because the pray'r had none access to
God。 Yet in this deep suspicion rest thou not Contented unless she assure
thee so； Who betwixt truth and mind infuses light。 I know not if thou take
me right； I mean Beatrice。 Her thou shalt behold above； Upon this
mountain's crown； fair seat of joy。〃 Then I： 〃Sir！ let us mend our
speed； for now I tire not as before； and lo！ the hill Stretches its shadow
far。〃 He answer'd thus： 〃Our progress with this day shall be as much As
we may now dispatch； but otherwise Than thou supposest is the truth。
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THE VISION
For there Thou canst not be； ere thou once more behold Him back
returning； who behind the steep Is now so hidden； that as erst his beam
Thou dost not break。 But lo！ a spirit there Stands solitary； and toward
us looks： It will instruct us in the speediest way。〃 We soon approach'd it。
O thou Lombard spirit！ How didst thou stand； in high abstracted mood；
Scarce moving with slow dignity thine eyes！ It spoke not aught； but let us
onward pass； Eyeing us as a lion on his watch。 I3ut Virgil with entreaty
mild advanc'd； Requesting it to show the best ascent。 It answer to his
question none return'd； But of our country and our kind of life Demanded。
When my courteous guide began； 〃Mantua；〃 the solitary shadow quick
Rose towards us from the place in which it stood； And cry'd； 〃Mantuan！
I am thy countryman Sordello。〃 Each the other then embrac'd。 Ah
slavish Italy！ thou inn of grief； Vessel without a pilot in loud storm； Lady
no longer of fair provinces； But brothel…house impure！ this gentle spirit；
Ev'n from the Pleasant sound of his dear land Was prompt to greet a fellow
citizen With such glad cheer； while now thy living ones In thee abide not
without war； and one Malicious gnaws another； ay of those Whom the
same wall and the same moat contains； Seek； wretched one！ around thy
sea…coasts wide； Then homeward to thy bosom turn； and mark If any part
of the sweet peace enjoy。 What boots it； that thy reins Justinian's hand
Befitted； if thy saddle be unpress'd？ Nought doth he now but aggravate thy
shame。 Ah people！ thou obedient still shouldst live； And in the saddle let
thy Caesar sit； If well thou marked'st that which God commands Look
how that beast to felness hath relaps'd From having lost correction of the
spur； Since to the bridle thou hast set thine hand； O German Albert！ who
abandon'st her； That is grown savage and unmanageable； When thou
should'st clasp her flanks with forked heels。 Just judgment from the stars
fall on thy blood！ And be it strange and manifest to all！ Such as may strike
thy successor with dread！ For that thy sire and thou have suffer'd thus；
Through greediness of yonder realms detain'd； The garden of the empire to
run waste。 Come see the Capulets and Montagues； The Philippeschi and
Monaldi！ man Who car'st for