The Divine Comedy by Dante: The Vision of Hell, Or The Inferno: 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     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     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: "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     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     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     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.     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,     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     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, 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, second of that name,     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,     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.