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, 115 120 125 130 This one, who ne'er from me shall be divided, 135 Kissed me upon the mouth all palpitating. Galeotto was the book and he who wrote it. That day no farther did we read therein." And all the while one spirit uttered this, The other one did weep so, that, for pity, I swooned away as if I had been dying, And fell, even as a dead body falls. 140 5 CANTO VI. AT the return of consciousness, that closed Which utterly with sadness had confused me, 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; His mouths he opened, and displayed his tusks; And my Conductor, with his spans extended, Took of the earth, and with his fists well filled, 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, So that it seems not I have ever seen thee. Of envy so that now the sack runs over, You citizens were wont to call me Ciacco; 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 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 |