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第57章

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

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