song and legend from the middle ages-第20部分

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he　earth。　When　Lucifer　fell　from　heaven　the　earth　retired　before　him；　making　this　hollow　cone。　This　is　divided　into　nine　circles；　in　which　the　lost　souls　suffer。　These　souls　are　grouped　into　three　main　classes：　the　incontinent；　the　violent；　and　the　fraudulent。　　The　first　circle　of　the　Inferno　is　Limbo；　where　are　the　souls　of　children　and　the　unbaptized；　of　the　heathen　philosophers　and　poets。　They　are　neither　in　pain　nor　glory；　they　do　not　shriek　nor　groan　but　only　sigh。


I。　The　Poets　in　Limbo。From　the　Inferno。

Broke　the　deep　slumber　in　my　brain　a　crash　Of　heavy　thunder；　that　I　shook　myself；　As　one　by　main　force　roused。　Risen　upright；　My　rested　eyes　I　moved　around；　and　search'd；　With　fixed　ken；　to　know　what　place　it　was　Wherein　I　stood。　For　certain；　on　the　brink　I　found　me　of　the　lamentable　vale；　The　dread　abyss；　that　joins　a　thundrous　sound　Of　plaints　innumerable。　Dark　and　deep；　And　thick　with　clouds　o'erspread；　mine　eye　in　vain　Explored　its　bottom；　nor　could　aught　discern。　　　　〃Now　let　us　to　the　blind　world　there　beneath　Descend；〃　the　bard　began；　all　pale　of　look：　　　〃I　go　the　first；　and　thou　shalt　follow　next。〃　　　　Then　I　his　alter'd　hue　perceiving；　thus：　　　　〃How　may　I　speed；　if　thou　yieldest　to　dread；　Who　still　art　wont　to　comfort　me　in　doubt？〃　　　　He　then：　〃The　anguish　of　that　race　below　With　pity　stains　my　cheek；　which　thou　for　fear　Mistakest。　Let　us　on。　Our　length　of　way　Urges　to　haste。〃　Onward；　this　said；　he　moved；　And　entering　led　me　with　him；　on　the　bounds　Of　the　first　circle　that　surrounds　the　abyss。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　。　　　　　　We　were　not　far　On　this　side　from　the　summit；　when　I　kenn'd　A　flame；　that　o'er　the　darken'd　hemisphere　Prevailing　shined。　Yet　we　a　little　space　Were　distant；　not　so　far　but　I　in　part　Discover'd　that　a　tribe　in　honour　high　That　place　possess'd。　〃O　thou；　who　every　art　And　science　valuest　I　who　are　these　that　boast　Such　honour；　separate　from　all　the　rest？〃　　　He　answer'd：　〃The　renown　of　their　great　names；　That　echoes　through　your　world　above；　acquires　Favour　in　heaven；　which　holds　them　thus　advanced。〃　Meantime　a　voice　I　heard：　〃Honour　the　bard　Sublime！＇1＇　his　shade　returns；　that　left　us　late！

No　sooner　ceased　the　sound；　than　I　beheld　Four　mighty　spirits　toward　us　bend　their　steps；　Of　semblance　neither　sorrowful　nor　glad。　　　When　thus　my　master　kind　began：　〃Mark　him；　Who　in　his　right　hand　bears　that　falchion　keen；　The　other　three　preceding；　as　their　lord。　This　is　that　Homer；　of　all　bards　supreme：　Flaccus　the　next；　in　satire's　vein　excelling；　The　third　is　Naso；　Lucan　is　the　last。　Because　they　all　that　appellation　own；　With　which　the　voice　singly　accosted　me；　Honouring　they　greet　me　thus；　and　well　they　judge。〃　　　So　I　beheld　united　the　bright　school　Of　him　the　monarch　of　sublimest　song；＇2＇

That　o'er　the　others　like　an　eagle　soars。　　　When　they　together　short　discourse　had　held；　They　turned　to　me；　with　salutation　kind　Beckoning　me；　at　the　which　my　master　smiled　Nor　was　this　all；　but　greater　honour　still　They　gave　me；　for　they　made　me　of　their　tribe；　And　I　was　sixth　amid　so　learn'd　a　band。

＇1＇　The　bard　sublimeVirgil。

＇2＇　The　monarch　of　sublimest　songHomer。


II。　Francesca　da　Rimini。＇1＇

＇1＇　Francesca　da　Polenta　was　given　in　marriage　by　her　father　to　Lanclotto　da　Rimini；　a　man　brave；　but　of　deformed　person。　His　brother　Paolo；　who　was　exceedingly　handsome；　won　her　affections。　They　were　both　put　to　death　by　Lagnciotto。


From　the　Inferno。　From　Limbo　the　poet　descends　into　the　second　circle；　where　the　sin　of　lust　is　punished。　The　souls　in　this　circle　are　driven　forever　round　in　a　tyrannous　gust　of　wind。　They　see　Cleopatra　and　Helen　and　Paris　and　Tristan　and　many　others　whom　Virgil　names　to　the　poet。　Finally　he　sees　two　spirits　approaching；　whom　he　asks　permission　to　address。　To　these　he　spoke：

〃O　wearied　spirits！　come；　and　hold　discourse　With　us；　if　by　none　else　restrain'd。〃　As　doves　By　fond　desire　invited；　on　wide　wings　And　firm；　to　their　sweet　nest　returning　home；　Cleave　the　air；　wafted　by　their　will　along；　Thus　issued；　from　that　troop　where　Dido　ranks；　They；　through　the　ill　air　speedingwith　such　force　My　cry　prevail'd；　by　strong　affection　urged。　　　〃O　gracious　creature　and　benign！　who　go'st　Visiting；　through　this　element　obscure；　Us；　who　the　world　with　bloody　stain　imbrued；　If；　for　a　friend；　the　King　of　all；　we　own'd；　Our　prayer　to　him　should　for　thy　peace　arise；　Since　thou　hast　pity　on　our　evil　plight。　Of　whatsoe'er　to　hear　or　to　discourse　It　pleases　thee；　that　will　we　hear；　of　that　Freely　with　thee　discourse；　while　e'er　the　wind；　As　now；　is　mute。　The　land＇1＇　that　gave　me　birth；　Is　situate　on　the　coast；　where　Po　descends　To　rest　in　ocean　with　his　sequent　streams。　　　〃Love；　that　in　gentle　heart　is　quickly　learnt；　Entangled　him　by　that　fair　form；　from　me　Ta'en　in　such　cruel　sort；　as　grieves　me　still！　Love；　that　denial　takes　from　none　beloved；　Caught　me　with　pleasing　him　so　passing　well；　That；　as　thou　seest'　he　yet　deserts　me　not。　Love　brought　us　to　one　death：　Caina＇2＇　waits　The　soul；　who　split　our　life。〃　Such　were　their　words；　At　hearing　which；　downward　I　bent　my　looks；　And　held　them　there　so　long；　that　the　bard　cried：　〃What　art　thou　pondering？〃　I　in　answer　thus：　〃Alas　I　by　what　sweet　thoughts；　what　fond　desire　Must　they　at　length　to　that　ill　pass　have　reach'd！〃　Then　turning；　I　to　them　my　speech　addressed；　And　thus　began：　〃Francesca！　your　sad　fate　Even　to　tears　my　grief　and　pity　moves。　But　tell　me；　in　the　time　of　your　sweet　sighs；　By　what；　and　how　Love　granted；　that　ye　knew　Your　yet　uncertain　wishes？〃　She　replied：　〃No　greater　grief　than　to　remember　days　Of　joy；　when　misery　is　at　hand。　That　kens　Thy　learn'd　instructor。　Yet　so　eagerly　If　thou　art　bent　to　know　the　primal　root；　From　whence　our　love　gat　being；　I　will　do　As　one；　who　weeps　and　tells　his　tale。　One　day；　For　our　delight　we　read　of　Lancelot；＇3＇　How　him　love　thrall'd。　Alone　we　were；　and　no　Suspicion　near　us。　Oft…times　by　that　reading　Our　eyes　were　drawn　together；　and　the　hue　Fled　from　our　alter'd　cheek。　But　at　one　point　Alone　we　fell。　When　of　that　smile　we　read；　The　wished　smile　so　rapturously　kiss'd　By　one　so　deep　in　love；　then　he；　who　ne'er　From　me　shall　separate；　at　once　my　lips　All　trembling　kiss'd。　The　book　and　writer　both　Were　love's　purveyors。　In　its　leaves　that　day　We　read　no　more。〃　While　thus　one　spirit　spake；　The　other　wailed　so　sorely；　that　heart…struck　I；　through　compassion　fainting；　seem'd　not　far　From　death；　and　like　a　corse　fell　to　the　ground。

＇1＇　The　land　that　gave　me　birthRavenna。

＇2＇　Caina；　the　place　to　which　murderers　are　doomed。

＇3＇　Lancelot；　one　of　the　knights　of　the　Round　Table；　the　lover　of　Queen　Guinevere。


III。　Farinata。From　the　Inferno。

The　poet　and　his　guide　descend　through　the　third　circle　where　the　sin　of　gluttony　is　punished；　through　the　fourth；　where　they　find　the　prodigal　and　avaricious；　through　the　fifth　where　immersed　in　a　filthy　pool　are　the　souls　of　the　irascible。　The　sixth　circle　is　the　city　of　Dis；　with　walls　of　heated　iron；　filled　within　with　open　fiery　tombs　from　which　issue　the　groans　of　the　heretics　who　are　punished　here。　With　two　of　these；　Farinata　degli　Uberti＇1＇　and　Cavaleante　Cavaleanti；＇2＇　Dante　holds　converse。

＇1＇　Farinata　degli　Uberti；　a　Florentine　of　great　military　ability；　a　leader　of　the　Ghibelline；　or　imperial；　party。

＇2＇　Cavaleante　Cavaleanti；　a　Florentine；　of　the　Guelph；　or　Papal；　party。


Now　by　a　secret　pathway　we　proceed；　Between　the　walls　that　hem　the　region　round；　And　the　tormented　souls：　my　master　first；　I　close　behind　his　steps。　〃Virtue　supreme！〃　I　thus　began：　〃who　through　these　ample　orbs　In　circuit　lead'st　me；　even　as　thou　will'st；　Speak　thou；　and　satisfy　my　wish。　May　those；　Who　lie　within　these　sepulchres；　be　seen？　Already　all　the　lids　are　raised；　and　none　O'er　them　keeps　watch。〃　He　thus　in　answer　spake：　〃They　shall　be　closed　all；　what…time　they　here　From　Josaphat＇1＇　return'd　shall　come；　and　bring　Their　bodies；　which　above　they　now　have　left。　The　cemetery　on　this　part　obtain；　With　Epicurus；　all　his　followers；　Who　with　the　body　make　the　spirit　die。　Here　therefore　satisfaction　shall　be　soon；　Both　to　the　question　ask'd；　and　to　the　wish　＇2＇　Which　thou　conceal'st　in　silence。〃　I　replied：　〃I　keep　not；　guide　beloved　I　from　thee　my　heart　Secreted；　but　to　shun　vain　length　of　words；　A　lesson　erewhile　taught　me　by　thyself。〃　　　〃O　Tuscan！　thou；　who　through　the　city　of　fire　Alive　art　passing；　so　discreet　of　speech：　Here；　please　thee；　stay　awhile。　Thy　utterance　Declares　the　place　of　thy　nativity　To　be　that　noble　land；　with　which　perchance　I　too　severely　dealt。〃　Sudden　that　sound　Forth　issued　from　a　vault；　whereat；　in　fear；　I　somewhat　closer　to　my　leader's　side　Approaching；　he　thus　spake：　〃What　dost　thou？　Turn：　Lo！　Farinata；　there；　who　hath　himself　Uplifted：　from　his　girdle　upwards；　all　Exposed；　behold　him。〃　On　his　face　was　mine　Already　fix'd：　his　breast　and　forehead　there　Erecting；　seem'd　as　in　high　scorn　he　held　E'en　hell。　Between　the　sepulchres；　to　him　My　guide　thrust　me；　with　fearless　hands　and　prompt；　This　warning　added：　〃See　thy　words　be　clear。〃　　　He；　soon　as　there　I　stood　at　the　tomb's　foot；　Eyed　me　a　space；　then　in　disdainful　mood　Address'd　me：　〃Say　what　ancestors　were　thine。〃　　　I；　willing　to　obey　him；　straight　reveal'd　The　whole；　nor　kept　back　aught：　whence　he；　his　brow　Somewhat　uplifting；　cried：　〃Fiercely　were　they　Adverse　to　me；　my　party；　and　the　blood　From　whence　I　sprang：　twice；　therefore；　I　abroad　Scatter'd　them。〃　〃Though　driven　out；　yet　they　each　time　From　all　parts；〃　answer'd　I；　〃return'd；　an　art　Which　yours　have　shown　they　are　not　skill'd　to　learn。〃　　　Then；　peering　forth　from　the　unclosed　jaw；　Rose　from　his　side　a　shade；＇3＇　high　as　the　chin；　Leaning；　methought；　upon　its　knees　upraised。　It　look'd　around；　as　eager　to　explore　If　there　were　other　with　me；　but　perceiving　That　fond　imagination　quench'd；　with　tears　Thus　spake：　〃If　thou　through　this　blind　prison　go'st；　Led　by　thy　lofty　genius　and　profound；　Where　is　my　son？　and　wherefore　not　with　thee？　　　I　straight　replied：　〃Not　of　myself　I　come；　By　him；　who　there　expects　me；　through　this　clime　Conducted；　whom　perchance　Guido　thy　son　Had　in　contempt。〃＇4＇　Already　had　his　words　And　mode　of　punishment　read　me　his　name；　Whence　I　so　fully　answer'd。　He　at　once　Exclaim'd'　up　starting；　〃How！　said'st　thou'　he　HAD？　No　longer　li