CANTO XXIII. SILENT, alone, and without company We went, the one in front, the other after, 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 End and beginning with a steadfast mind. Thus did I ponder: "These on our account Are laughed to scorn, with injury and scoff So great, that much I think it must annoy them. If anger be engrafted on ill-will, They will come after us more merciless Than dog upon the leveret which he seizes," 5 10 15 I felt my hair stand all on end already With terror, and stood backwardly intent, When said I: "Master, if thou hidest not Thyself and me forthwith, of Malebranche I am in dread; we have them now behind us; I so imagine them, I already feel them." And he: "If I were made of leaded glass, Thine outward image I should not attract Sooner to me than I imprint the inner. So that of both one counsel sole I made. Not That we to the next Bolgia can descend, When I beheld them come with outstretched wings, My Leader on a sudden seized me up, Even as a mother who by noise is wakened, And close beside her sees the enkindled flames, 20 25 30 40 And downward from the top of the hard bank Supine he gave him to the pendent rock, That one side of the other Bolgia walls. Ne'er ran so swiftly water through a sluice To turn the wheel of any land-built mill, When nearest to the paddles it approaches, As did my Master down along that border, Bearing me with him on his breast away, As his own son, and not as a companion. Hardly the bed of the ravine below His feet had reached, ere they had reached the hill For the high Providence, which had ordained The power of thence departing took from all. A painted people there below we found, 45 50 55 Who went about with footsteps very slow, 59 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 That in Cologne they for the monks are made. Without, they gilded are so that it dazzles; But inwardly all leaden and so heavy That Frederick used to put them on of straw. 65 O everlastingly fatiguing mantle ! Again we turned us, still to the left hand Along with them, intent on their sad plaint; But owing to the weight, that weary folk In company at each motion of the haunch. Whence I unto my Leader: "See thou find Some one who may by deed or name be known, And one, who understood the Tuscan speech, Cried to us from behind: "Stay ye your feet, Ye, who so run athwart the dusky air! 70 75 Perhaps thou 'lt have from me what thou demandest." Whereat the Leader turned him, and said: “Wait, 80 And then according to his pace proceed." I stopped, and two beheld I show great haste Of spirit, in their faces, to be with me; But the burden and the narrow way delayed them. When they came up, long with an eye askance 85 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 90 Then said to me: "Tuscan, who to the college Do not disdain to tell us who thou art." In the great town on the fair river of Arno, 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 That still it is apparent round Gardingo." "O Friars," began I, "your iniquitous . . ." But said no more; for to mine eyes there rushed Blowing into his beard with suspirations; |