Cried out my sage, "suppose thyself to see, That great Athenian duke returned once more, Of thy half-sister is not led below; He breaketh from his bonds, and, impotent At which my guide said, "Hasten to the road; Best make, while he is raging, thy descent." And so along these outshot stones we trode Downwards, and oftentimes they were dispelled Beneath my feet, from their unwonted load. 16 20 25 30 Then said he while I mused, "Thy thoughts are filled, This bestial anger, which I lately quelled. That rock had not yet fallen from on high. 35 Certes not long, if I remember well, Before he came, who did from Pluto's reign, From the upper zone so large a prey compel, On all sides round the deep and putrid glen 40 So trembled, that the universe, I thought, At which time in the ancient rock, both here That spurrest us within our short life so, I saw an ample moat, and curved, as though A quarry, Centaurs ran with arrows dight, 45 50 55 And suddenly they stopped, as we in sight To give to Chiron yonder presently, Thy hasty will has wrought mischance of yore." "Lo, that is Nessus," quoth he, prompting me, "Who died in lovely Dejanira's quest, And brought about his own revenge; and he That great one is who did Achilles rear; Transfixing every soul, that flinches more And having got his large mouth clear, he said Forthwith to his companions, "Mark not you Yon hinder one moves that which meets his tread? Now feet of dead men use not so to do." By this, my master, standing by his chest, Where his two natures to each other grew, Replied, "He lives, indeed, and 'tis my 'hest To show him, thus alone, this valley dun; Our need, not pleasure, puts us on this quest. From singing Halleluiahs went forth one, Who did this novel charge to me commend; No guileful ghost am I, thief is he none. Now by that puissance, through which I bend My steps along so wild a thoroughfare, Out of thy company, we pray thee, send To Nessus, "Go, and thou shalt be their guide, G Then forth we moved our trusty guard beside I saw a nation that was covered 100 Up to the eyes, and, "These are tyrants, who Have dealt in blood and blows," the Centaur said. 105 "Here all dispiteous injuries they rue; Here Alexander and stern Dennis bide, Is Azzolino, and the blond one here I then drew closer to my guide, but he Came over some, that upwards-from the throat A spirit all apart he bade us note, And said, "The heart which over Thames is yet Revered, he in God's own bosom smote." 110 115 120 |