Open without impediment it flew.

"Outcasts of heav'n! O abject race and scorn'd!" 90 Began he on the horrid grunsel standing,

"Whence doth this wild excess of insolence

Lodge in you? wherefore kick you 'gainst that will
Ne'er frustrate of its end, and which so oft

Hath laid on you enforcement of your pangs?
What profits at the fays to but the horn?

Your Cerberus, if ye remember, hence

Bears still, peel'd of their hair, his throat and maw."
This said, he turn'd back o'er the filthy way,

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And syllable to us spake none, but wore

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The semblance of a man by other care

Beset, and keenly press'd, than thought of him

Who in his presence stands. Then we our steps
Toward that territory mov'd, secure

After the hallow'd words. We unoppos'd
There enter'd; and my mind eager to learn
What state a fortress like to that might hold,
I soon as enter'd throw mine eye around,

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And see on every part wide-stretching space
Replete with bitter pain and torment ill.

110.

As where Rhone stagnates on the plains of Arles,

Or as at Pola, near Quarnaro's gulf,

That closes Italy and laves her bounds,

The place is all thick spread with sepulchres;

So was it here, save what in horror here

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Excell'd for 'midst the graves were scattered flames,

Wherewith intensely all throughout they burn'd,

That iron for no craft there hotter needs.
Their lids all hung suspended, and beneath

From them forth issu'd lamentable moans,
Such as the sad and tortur'd well might raise.
I thus: "Master! say who are these, interr'd
Within these vaults, of whom distinct we hear
The dolorous sighs?" He answer thus return'd:
"The arch-heretics are here, accompanied
By every sect their followers; and much more,
Than thou believest, tombs are freighted: like
With like is buried; and the monuments

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Are different in degrees of heat." This said,
He to the right hand turning, on we pass'd
Betwixt the afflicted and the ramparts high.

CANTO X.

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 rais'd, and none

O'er them keeps watch." He thus in answer spake
They shall be closed all, what-time they here

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From Josaphat 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,
Which thou conceal'st in silence." I replied:
"I keep not, guide belov'd! 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 issu'd from a vault, whereat in fear

I somewhat closer to my leader's side

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Approaching, he thus spake: "What dost thou? Turn. Lo, Farinata, there! who hath himself

Uplifted from his girdle upwards all

Expos'd 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,
Ey'd me a space, then in disdainful mood

Address'd me: 66

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

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From whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad
Scatter'd them." "Though driv'n 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, high as the chin,
Leaning, methought, upon its knees uprais'd.
It look'd around, as eager to explore

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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." Already had his words
And mode of punishment read me his name,
Whence I so fully answer'd. He at once

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Exclaim'd, up starting, "How! said'st thou he had?
No longer lives he? Strikes not on his eye

The blessed daylight?" Then of some delay

I made ere my reply aware, down fell

Supine, not after forth appear'd he more.

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Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom
I yet was station'd, chang'd not count'nance stern,
Nor mov'd the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.

"And if," continuing the first discourse,

They in this art," he cried, "small skill have shown, 75 That doth torment me more e'en than this bed. But not yet fifty times shall be relum'd Her aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm, 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 slaughter and great havoc," I replied,

"That colour'd Arbia's flood with crimson stain-
To these impute, that in our hallow'd dome
Such orisons 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, 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

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Then wholly fails, nor of your human state

Except what others bring us know we aught.

Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all

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Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,
When on futurity the portals close."

Then conscious of my fault, 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

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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:

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"More than a thousand with me here are laid.

Within is Frederick, second of that name,

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And the Lord Cardinal, 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,

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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,
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.

CANTO XI.

UPON the utmost verge of a high bank,

By craggy rocks environ'd round, we came,

Where woes beneath more cruel yet were stow'd:
And here to shun the horrible excess

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Of fetid exhalation, upward cast

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From the profound abyss, behind the lid

Of a great monument we stood retir'd,

Whereon this scroll I mark'd: "I have in charge

Pope Anastasius, whom Photinus drew

From the right path."-Ere our descent behoves

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We make delay, that somewhat first the sense,