the divine comedy(神曲)-第57章
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There to repose thy panting breath expect;
No more I answer; and this I know for true。〃
And as he finished uttering these words;
A voice close by us sounded: 〃Peradventure
Thou wilt have need of sitting down ere that。〃
At sound thereof each one of us turned round;
And saw upon the left hand a great rock;
Which neither I nor he before had noticed。
Thither we drew; and there were persons there
Who in the shadow stood behind the rock;
As one through indolence is wont to stand。
And one of them; who seemed to me fatigued;
Was sitting down; and both his knees embraced;
Holding his face low down between them bowed。
〃O my sweet Lord;〃 I said; 〃do turn thine eye
On him who shows himself more negligent
Then even Sloth herself his sister were。〃
Then he turned round to us; and he gave heed;
Just lifting up his eyes above his thigh;
And said: 〃Now go thou up; for thou art valiant。〃
Then knew I who he was; and the distress;
That still a little did my breathing quicken;
My going to him hindered not; and after
I came to him he hardly raised his head;
Saying: 〃Hast thou seen clearly how the sun
O'er thy left shoulder drives his chariot?〃
His sluggish attitude and his curt words
A little unto laughter moved my lips;
Then I began: 〃Belacqua; I grieve not
For thee henceforth; but tell me; wherefore seated
In this place art thou? Waitest thou an escort?
Or has thy usual habit seized upon thee?〃
And he: 〃O brother; what's the use of climbing?
Since to my torment would not let me go
The Angel of God; who sitteth at the gate。
First heaven must needs so long revolve me round
Outside thereof; as in my life it did;
Since the good sighs I to the end postponed;
Unless; e'er that; some prayer may bring me aid
Which rises from a heart that lives in grace;
What profit others that in heaven are heard not?〃
Meanwhile the Poet was before me mounting;
And saying: 〃Come now; see the sun has touched
Meridian; and from the shore the night
Covers already with her foot Morocco。〃
Purgatorio: Canto V
I had already from those shades departed;
And followed in the footsteps of my Guide;
When from behind; pointing his finger at me;
One shouted: 〃See; it seems as if shone not
The sunshine on the left of him below;
And like one living seems he to conduct him。〃
Mine eyes I turned at utterance of these words;
And saw them watching with astonishment
But me; but me; and the light which was broken!
〃Why doth thy mind so occupy itself;〃
The Master said; 〃that thou thy pace dost slacken?
What matters it to thee what here is whispered?
Come after me; and let the people talk;
Stand like a steadfast tower; that never wags
Its top for all the blowing of the winds;
For evermore the man in whom is springing
Thought upon thought; removes from him the mark;
Because the force of one the other weakens。〃
What could I say in answer but 〃I come〃?
I said it somewhat with that colour tinged
Which makes a man of pardon sometimes worthy。
Meanwhile along the mountain…side across
Came people in advance of us a little;
Singing the Miserere verse by verse。
When they became aware I gave no place
For passage of the sunshine through my body;
They changed their song into a long; hoarse 〃Oh!〃
And two of them; in form of messengers;
Ran forth to meet us; and demanded of us;
〃Of your condition make us cognisant。〃
And said my Master: 〃Ye can go your way
And carry back again to those who sent you;
That this one's body is of very flesh。
If they stood still because they saw his shadow;
As I suppose; enough is answered them;
Him let them honour; it may profit them。〃
Vapours enkindled saw I ne'er so swiftly
At early nightfall cleave the air serene;
Nor; at the set of sun; the clouds of August;
But upward they returned in briefer time;
And; on arriving; with the others wheeled
Tow'rds us; like troops that run without a rein。
〃This folk that presses unto us is great;
And cometh to implore thee;〃 said the Poet;
〃So still go onward; and in going listen。〃
〃O soul that goest to beatitude
With the same members wherewith thou wast born;〃
Shouting they came; 〃a little stay thy steps;
Look; if thou e'er hast any of us seen;
So that o'er yonder thou bear news of him;
Ah; why dost thou go on? Ah; why not stay?
Long since we all were slain by violence;
And sinners even to the latest hour;
Then did a light from heaven admonish us;
So that; both penitent and pardoning; forth
From life we issued reconciled to God;
Who with desire to see Him stirs our hearts。〃
And I: 〃Although I gaze into your faces;
No one I recognize; but if may please you
Aught I have power to do; ye well…born spirits;
Speak ye; and I will do it; by that peace
Which; following the feet of such a Guide;
From world to world makes itself sought by me。〃
And one began: 〃Each one has confidence
In thy good offices without an oath;
Unless the I cannot cut off the I will;
Whence I; who speak alone before the others;
Pray thee; if ever thou dost see the land
That 'twixt Romagna lies and that of Charles;
Thou be so courteous to me of thy prayers
In Fano; that they pray for me devoutly;
That I may purge away my grave offences。
From thence was I; but the deep wounds; through which
Issued the blood wherein I had my seat;
Were dealt me in bosom of the Antenori;
There where I thought to be the most secure;
'Twas he of Este had it done; who held me
In hatred far beyond what justice willed。
But if towards the Mira I had fled;
When I was overtaken at Oriaco;
I still should be o'er yonder where men breathe。
I ran to the lagoon; and reeds and mire
Did so entangle me I fell; and saw there
A lake made from my veins upon the ground。〃
Then said another: 〃Ah; be that desire
Fulfilled that draws thee to the lofty mountain;
As thou with pious pity aidest mine。
I was of Montefeltro; and am Buonconte;
Giovanna; nor none other cares for me;
Hence among these I go with downcast front。〃
And I to him: 〃What violence or what chance
Led thee astray so far from Campaldino;
That never has thy sepulture been known?〃
〃Oh;〃 he replied; 〃at Casentino's foot
A river crosses named Archiano; born
Above the Hermitage in Apennine。
There where the name thereof becometh void
Did I arrive; pierced through and through the throat;
Fleeing on foot; and bloodying the plain;
There my sight lost I; and my utterance
Ceased in the name of Mary; and thereat
I fell; and tenantless my flesh remained。
Truth will I speak; repeat it to the living;
God's Angel took me up; and he of hell
Shouted: 'O thou from heaven; why dost thou rob me?
Thou bearest away the eternal part of him;
For one poor little tear; that takes him from me;
But with the rest I'll deal in other fashion!'
Well knowest thou how in the air is gathered
That humid vapour which to water turns;
Soon as it rises where the cold doth grasp it。
He joined that evil will; which aye seeks evil;
To intellect; and moved the mist and wind
By means of power; which his own nature gave;
Thereafter; when the day was spent; the valley
From Pratomagno to the great yoke covered
With fog; and made the heaven above intent;
So that the pregnant air to water changed;
Down fell the rain; and to the gullies came
Whate'er of it earth tolerated not;
And as it mingled with the mighty torrents;
Towards the royal river with such speed
It headlong rushed; that nothing held it back。
My frozen body near unto its outlet
The robust Archian found; and into Arno
Thrust it; and loosened from my breast the cross
I made of me; when agony o'ercame me;
It rolled me on the banks and on the bottom;
Then with its booty covered and begirt me。〃
〃Ah; when thou hast returned unto the world;
And rested thee from thy long journeying;〃
After the second followed the third spirit;
〃Do thou remember me who am the Pia;
Siena made me; unmade me Maremma;
He knoweth it; who had encircl