The Divine Comedy (Illustrated Edition). Dante Alighieri

aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,9

      Ere thou shalt know the full weight of that art.

      So to the pleasant world mayst thou return,

      As thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,

      Against my kin this people is so fell?”

“The slaughter10 and great havoc,” I replied,

      “That colour’d Arbia’s flood with crimson stain—

      To these impute, that in our hallow’d dome

Such orisons11 ascend.” Sighing he shook

      The head, then thus resum’d: “In that affray

      I stood not singly, nor without just cause

      Assuredly should with the rest have stirr’d;

But singly there I stood,12 when by consent

      Of all, Florence had to the ground been raz’d,

      The one who openly forbad the deed.”

      “So may thy lineage find at last repose,”

      I thus adjur’d him, “as thou solve this knot,

      Which now involves my mind. If right I hear,

      Ye seem to view beforehand, that which time

      Leads with him, of the present uninform’d.”

      “We view, as one who hath an evil sight,”

      He answer’d, “plainly, objects far remote:

      So much of his large spendour yet imparts

      The’ Almighty Ruler; but when they approach

      Or actually exist, our intellect

      Then wholly fails, nor of your human state

      Except what others bring us know we aught.

      Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all

      Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,

      When on futurity the portals close.”

Then conscious of my fault,13 and by remorse

      Smitten, I added thus: “Now shalt thou say

      To him there fallen, that his offspring still

      Is to the living join’d; and bid him know,

      That if from answer silent I abstain’d,

      ’Twas that my thought was occupied intent

      Upon that error, which thy help hath solv’d.”

      But now my master summoning me back

      I heard, and with more eager haste besought

      The spirit to inform me, who with him

      Partook his lot. He answer thus return’d:

      “More than a thousand with me here are laid

Within is Frederick,14 second of that name,

And the Lord Cardinal,15 and of the rest

      I speak not.” He, this said, from sight withdrew.

      But I my steps towards the ancient bard

      Reverting, ruminated on the words

      Betokening me such ill. Onward he mov’d,

      And thus in going question’d: “Whence the’ amaze

      That holds thy senses wrapt?” I satisfied

      The’ inquiry, and the sage enjoin’d me straight:

      “Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard

      To thee importing harm; and note thou this,”

      With his rais’d finger bidding me take heed,

“When thou shalt stand before her gracious beam,16

      Whose bright eye all surveys, she of thy life

      The future tenour will to thee unfold.”

      Forthwith he to the left hand turn’d his feet:

      We left the wall, and tow’rds the middle space

      Went by a path, that to a valley strikes;

      Which e’en thus high exhal’d its noisome steam.

      Footnotes

1 “Josaphat.” It seems to have been a common opinion among the Jews, as well as among many Christians, that the general judgment will be held in the valley of Josaphat, or Jehoshaphat. “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people, and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land.”—Joel, iii. 2.

2 “The wish.” The wish that Dante had not expressed was to see and converse with the followers of Epicurus; among whom, we shall see, were Farinata degli Uberti and Cavalcante Cavalcanti

3 “Farinata.” Farinata degli Uberti, a noble Florentine, was the leader of the Ghibelline faction, when they obtained a signal victory over the Guelfi at Montaperto, near the river Arbia. Macchiavelli calls him “a man of exalted soul, and great military talents.”—“Hist. of Flor.” b. ii. His grandson, Bonifacio, commonly called Fazio degli Uberti, wrote a poem, entitled the “Dittamonodo,” in imitation of Dante.

4 “Twice.” The first time in 1248, when they were driven out by Frederick the Second. See G. Villani, lib. vi. c. xxxiv.; and the second time in 1260. See note to v. 83.

5 “A shade.” The spirit of Cavalcante Cavalcanti, a noble Florentine, of the Guelf party.

6 “My son.” Guido, the son of Cavalcante Cavalcanti; “he whom I call the first of my friends,” says Dante in his “Vita Nuova” where the commencement of their friendship is related. From the character given of him by contemporary writers, his temper was well formed to assimilate with that of our Poet. “He was,” according to G. Villani, lib. viii. c. xli., “of a philosophical and elegant mind, if he had not been too delicate and fastidious.”

7 “———Guido they soon Had in contempt.” Guido Cavalcanti, being more given to philosophy than poetry, was perhaps no great admirer of Virgil.

8 “Not yet fifty times.” “Not fifty months shall