But let the Malebranche cease a little, So that these may not their revenges fear, And I, down sitting in this very place, For one that I am will make seven come, When I shall whistle, as our custom is To do whenever one of us comes out." Cagnazzo at these words his muzzle lifted, Shaking his head, and said: "Just hear the trick Which he has thought of, down to throw himself!" Whence he, who snares in great abundance had, Responded: "I by far too cunning am, Unto the rest, said to him: "If thou dive, But I will beat my wings above the pitch; The height be left, and be the bank a shield, Planted his feet on land, and in a moment Leaped, and released himself from their design. Whereat each one was suddenly stung with shame, 100 105 110 115 120 125 Therefore he moved, and cried: "Thou art o'ertaken." But little it availed, for wings could not Outstrip the fear; the other one went under, And, flying, upward he his breast directed. Not otherwise the duck upon a sudden 130 Dives under, when the falcon is approaching, Infuriate at the mockery, Calcabrina Flying behind him followed close, desirous The other should escape, to have a quarrel. And when the barrator had disappeared, He turned his talons upon his companion, To clapperclaw him well; and both of them A sudden intercessor was the heat; But ne'ertheless of rising there was naught, 135 140 Lamenting with the others, Barbariccia 145 Made four of them fly to the other side This side and that they to their posts descended; They stretched their hooks towards the pitch-ensnared, 150 And in this manner busied did we leave them. CANTO XXIII. SILENT, alone, and without company We went, the one in front, the other after, As go the Minor Friars along their way. Upon the fable of Æsop was directed My thought, by reason of the present quarrel, Where he has spoken of the frog and mouse; For mo and issa are not more alike Than this one is to that, if well we couple Are laughed to scorn, with injury and scoff They will come after us more merciless Than dog upon the leveret which he seizes," I felt my hair stand all on end already With terror, and stood backwardly intent, I am in dread; we have them now behind us; And he: "If I were made of leaded glass Thine outward image I should not attract Sooner to me than I imprint the inner. Just now thy thoughts came in among my own, With similar attitude and similar face, So that of both one counsel sole I made. If peradventure the right bank so slope That we to the next Bolgia can descend, Not yet he finished rendering such opinion, My Leader on a sudden seized me up, Even as a mother who by noise is wakened, To turn the wheel of any land-built mill, Bearing me with him on his breast away, His feet had reached, ere they had reached the hill 35 40 45 50 For the high Providence, which had ordained To place them ministers of the fifth moat, A painted people there below we found, The power of thence departing took from all. Who went about with footsteps very slow, Weeping and in their semblance tired and vanquished. They had on mantles with the hoods low down Before their eyes, and fashioned of the cut Without, they gilded are so that it dazzles ; That Frederick used to put them on of straw. O everlastingly fatiguing mantle ! Again we turned us, still to the left hand Came on so tardily, that we were new Some one who may by deed or name be known, And one, who understood the Tuscan speech, 66 Wait, Perhaps thou'lt have from me what thou demandest." They scanned me without uttering a word. Then to each other turned, and said together: "He by the action of his throat seems living; And if they dead are, by what privilege Do not disdain to tell us who thou art." In the great town on the fair river of Arno, Along your cheeks such grief as I behold? Are made of lead so heavy, that the weights I Catalano, and he Loderingo Named, and together taken by thy city, As the wont is to take one man alone, For maintenance of its peace; and we were such "O Friars," began I, "your iniquitous. But said no more; for to mine eyes there rushed When me he saw, he writhed himself all over, Blowing into his beard with suspirations; Said to me: "This transfixed one, whom thou seest, As thou perceivest; and he needs must feel, Within this moat, and the others of the council, And thereupon I saw Virgilius marvel O'er him who was extended on the cross Then he directed to the Friar this voice: "Be not displeased, if granted thee, to tell us If to the right hand any pass slope down By which we two may issue forth from here, Without constraining some of the black angels There is a rock, that forth from the great circle Save that at this 'tis broken, and does not bridge it ; Once heard I at Bologna, and among them, Somewhat disturbed with anger in his looks; Whence from the heavy-laden I departed After the prints of his beloved feet. 125 130 135 140 145 CANTO XXIV. IN that part of the youthful year wherein The Sun his locks beneath Aquarius tempers, Rises, and looks, and seeth the champaign Like a poor wretch, who knows not what to do; In little time, and takes his shepherd's crook, |