Then unto them I turned me, and I spake, And I began: "Thine agonies, Francesca, Sad and compassionate to weeping make me. But tell me, at the time of those sweet sighs, By what and in what manner Love conceded, Than to be mindful of the happy time But, if to recognize the earliest root Of love in us thou hast so great desire, I will do even as he who weeps and speaks. One day we reading were for our delight Of Launcelot, how Love did him enthrall. Full many a time our eyes together drew That reading, and drove the color from our faces; But one point only was it that o'ercame us. Whenas we read of the much longed-for smile Being by such a noble lover kissed, This one, who ne'er from me shall be divided, Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating. Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it. That day no farther did we read therein." 115 120 125 130 135 And all the while one spirit uttered this, I swooned away as if I had been dying, 140 5 CANTO VI. T the return of consciousness, that closed AT Before the pity of those two relations, Which utterly with sadness had confused me, New torments I behold, and new tormented Around me, whichsoever way I move, And whichsoever way I turn, and gaze. In the third circle am I of the rain Eternal, maledict, and cold, and heavy; Athwart the tenebrous air pour down amain; Cerberus, monster cruel and uncouth, Red With his three gullets like a dog is barking 5 10 15 Howl the rain maketh them like unto dogs; And His mouths he opened, and displayed his tusks; my Conductor, with his spans extended, And quiet grows soon as his food he gnaws, Of Cerberus the demon, who so thunders The heavy rain-storm, and we placed our feet He said to me, "recall me, if thou canst; 20 25 30 35 40 And I to him: "The anguish which thou hast Perhaps doth draw thee out of my remembrance, A place art put, and in such punishment, If some are greater, none is so displeasing." And he to me: "Thy city, which is full envy so that now the sack runs over, Of Held me within it in the life serene. You citizens were wont to call me Ciacco; For the pernicious sin of gluttony I, as thou seest, am battered by this rain. And I, sad soul, am not the only one, For all these suffer the like penalty For the like sin"; and word no more spake he. I answered him: "Ciacco, thy wretchedness Weighs on me so that it to weep invites me ; But tell me, if thou knowest, to what shall come The citizens of the divided city; If any there be just; and the occasion Tell me why so much discord has assailed it.” Will come to bloodshed; and the rustic party 45 50 55 60 65 |