Canto 26

While we were going on thus along the edge, one before the other, and the good Master was often saying, “Take heed! let it avail that I warn thee,” the sun was striking me on the right shoulder, and now, raying out, was changing all the west from azure to a white aspect; and with my shadow I was making the flame appear more ruddy, and only at such an indication⁴⁰⁰ I saw many shades, as they went on, give attention. This was the occasion which gave them a beginning to speak of me, and they began to say, “He seems not a fictitious body;” then toward me, so far as they could do so, certain of them canine, always with regard not to come out where they would not be burned.

We continued along the edge, walking one behind the other. The good Master often said, “Be careful! Take my warning to heart.” The sun struck my right shoulder, and its spreading rays were turning the entire western sky from blue to white. My shadow made the flame appear redder, and I saw many shades notice it as they went along. Only this sign⁴⁰⁰ drew their attention. It gave them reason to speak about me, and they began to say, “He does not seem to be a phantom.” Then some of them came toward me as far as they could, always taking care not to leave the flames.

“O thou! who goest, not from being slower, but perhaps from reverence, behind the others, reply to me who in thirst and fire am burning. Nor to me only is thy reply of need, for all these have a greater thirst for it than Indian or Ethiop of cold water. Tell us how it is that thou makest of thyself a wall to the sun, as if thou hadst not yet entered within the net of death.” Thus spoke to me one of them; and I should now have disclosed myself, if I had not been intent on another new thing which then appeared; for through the middle of the burning road were coming people with their faces opposite to these, who made me gaze in suspense. There I see, on every side, all the shades making haste and kissing each other, without stopping, content with brief greeting. Thus within their brown band one ant touches muzzle with another, perchance to enquire their way and their fortune.

“You there! You walk behind the others, not because you are slower, but perhaps out of reverence. Answer me, for I am burning with thirst and fire. I am not the only one who needs your answer. All these others thirst for it more than an Indian or Ethiopian thirsts for cold water. Tell us how you block the sunlight with your body, as if you had not yet fallen into death’s net.” One of them said this to me. I would have revealed who I was, but another new sight caught my attention. People were coming along the middle of the burning road, facing those I had seen. I stared at them in suspense. On every side, I saw all the shades hurrying to kiss one another. They did not stop, but were content with a brief greeting. In the same way, ants in their dark brown line touch muzzles. Perhaps they do so to ask about each other’s path and fortune.

Soon as they end the friendly salutation, before the first step runs on beyond, each strives to outcry the other; the new-come folk: “Sodom and Gomorrah,” and the other, “Into the cow enters Pasiphae, that the bull may run to her lust.” Then like cranes, of whom part should fly to the Riphaean mountains,⁴⁰¹ and part toward the sands,⁴⁰² these shunning the frost and those the sun, one folk goes, the other comes on, and weeping they return to their first chants, and to the cry which most befits them.

As soon as they finish their friendly greeting, before taking another step, each group tries to shout louder than the other. The newcomers cry, “Sodom and Gomorrah,” and the others cry, “Pasiphae enters the cow so that the bull may satisfy her lust.” Then the two groups pass each other like cranes, some flying toward the Riphaean mountains,⁴⁰¹ others toward the sands,⁴⁰² some avoiding the frost and others the sun. One group goes on, while the other approaches. Weeping, they return to their earlier chants and to the cry that best fits each group.

And those same who had prayed me drew near to me as before, intent in their looks to listen. I, who twice had seen their desire, began, “O souls secure of having, whenever it may he, a state of peace, neither unripe nor mature have my limbs remained yonder, but they are here with me with their blood, and with their joints. I go up in order to be no longer blind. A Lady is on high who winneth grace for us, whereby I bring my mortal part through your world. But so may your greater will soon become satisfied, in such wise that the heaven may harbor you which is full of love, and most amply spreads, tell me, in order that I may yet rule the paper for it, who are ye, and who are that crowd which goes its way behind your backs.”

The same souls who had spoken to me came near again, looking eager to listen. I had seen their desire twice, so I began, “O souls certain of finding peace, whenever it may come, my body has not remained behind, whether young or old. My limbs are here with me, with their blood and joints. I am climbing so that I may no longer be blind. A Lady in heaven wins grace for us, allowing me to bring my mortal body through your world. May your greatest wish soon be fulfilled, and may heaven welcome you. It is full of love and spreads wider than all the others. But tell me who you are, so that I may write about you. And who is that crowd moving along behind you?”

Not otherwise stupefied, the mountaineer is confused, and gazing round is dumb, when rough and savage he enters the town, than each shade became in his appearance; but, after they were unburdened of their bewilderment, which in high hearts is quickly assuaged, “Blessed thou,” began again that one who first had asked me, “who of our regions dost ship experience for dying better. The people who do not come with us offended in that for which once Caesar in his triumph heard ‘Queen’ cried out against him; therefore they go off shouting ‘Sodom,’ reproving themselves as thou hast heard, and aid the burning by their shame. Our sin was hermaphrodite; but because we observed not human law, following our appetite like beasts, when we part from them, the name of her who bestialized herself in the beast-shaped planks is uttered by us, in opprobrium of ourselves. Now thou knowest our deeds, and of what we were guilty; if, perchance, thou wishest to know by name who we are, there is not time to tell, and I could not do it. I will indeed make thee short of wish about myself; I am Guido Guinicelli;⁴⁰³ and now I purify myself, because I truly repented before my last hour.”

Each shade looked as stunned as a rough, uncivilized mountaineer entering a town, staring around in speechless confusion. But their bewilderment soon passed, as it quickly does in noble hearts. Then the one who had first questioned me spoke again. “Blessed are you, who carry away experience of our realms so that you may die better. The people who do not go with us sinned in the way that once made a crowd shout ‘Queen’ at Caesar during his triumph. That is why they go away shouting ‘Sodom,’ condemning themselves as you have heard. Their shame adds to the burning. Our sin was hermaphrodite, but we broke human law by following our appetites like beasts. So, when we part from them, we condemn ourselves by calling out the name of the woman who became like a beast inside the beast-shaped planks. Now you know what we did and what we were guilty of. If you wish to know who we are by name, there is no time to tell you, and I could not do it. But I will satisfy your desire to know about me. I am Guido Guinicelli;⁴⁰³ now I am purifying myself because I truly repented before my final hour.”

Such as in the sorrow of Lycurgus her two sons became at seeing again their mother,⁴⁰⁴ such I became, but I rise not so far,⁴⁰⁵ when I heard name himself the father of me, and of my betters who ever used sweet and gracious rhymes of love; and without hearing or speaking, full of thought I went on, gazing a long time upon him; nor, for the fire, did I draw nearer to him. After I was fed with looking, I offered myself wholly ready for his service, with the affirmation that makes another believe. And he to me, “By what I hear thou leavest such trace in me, and so bright, that Lethe cannot take it away nor make it dim. But if thy words have now sworn truth, tell me what is time cause why in speech and look thou showest that thou dost hold me dear?” And I to him, “The sweet ditties of yours, which, so long as the modern fashion shall endure, will still make dear their ink.” “O brother,” said he, “this one whom I distinguish for thee with my finger,” and he pointed to a spirit in advance,⁴⁰⁶ “was a better smith of the maternal speech. In verses of love, and prose of romances, he excelled all, and let the foolish talk who think that he of Limoges⁴⁰⁷ surpasses him; to rumor more than to truth they turn their faces, and thus confirm their own opinion, before art or reason is listened to by them. Thus did many of old concerning Guittone,⁴⁰⁸ from cry to cry only to him giving the prize, until the truth has prevailed with more persons. Now if thou hast such ample privilege that it he permitted thee to go unto the cloister in which Christ is abbot of the college, say for me to him one paternoster, so far as needs for us in this world where power to sin is no longer ours.”⁴⁰⁹

In Lycurgus’s sorrow, his two sons were overjoyed to see their mother again.⁴⁰⁴ I felt much the same, though not to the same degree,⁴⁰⁵ when I heard the man name himself. He was the father of me and of my betters, who had always written sweet and gracious love poems. Lost in thought, I walked on without listening or speaking. I gazed at him for a long time, but the fire kept me from drawing nearer. Once I had looked my fill, I offered myself wholly at his service. I spoke with a sincerity that inspires belief. And he said to me, “From what I hear, you are leaving such a bright mark on me that Lethe cannot erase or dim it. But if your words just now were a true pledge, tell me why your speech and expression show that you hold me dear?” And I said to him, “Your sweet songs will make their ink precious for as long as the modern fashion lasts.” “O brother,” he said, “the one I am pointing out to you,” and he pointed to a spirit ahead,⁴⁰⁶ “was a better craftsman of our mother tongue. He excelled all others in love poems and prose romances. Let the fools talk who think that he of Limoges⁴⁰⁷ surpasses him. They heed rumor more than truth. They settle on their own opinion before listening to art or reason. In the past, many did the same with Guittone.⁴⁰⁸ Following one cry after another, they gave the prize to him alone, until more people came to see the truth. Now, if you have the great privilege of entering the cloister where Christ is abbot of the college, say a paternoster to him for me. Say only as much as we need in this world, where we no longer have the power to sin.”⁴⁰⁹

Then, perhaps to give place to the other who was near behind him, he disappeared through the fire, even as through the water a fish going to the bottom. I moved forward a little to him who had been pointed out to me, and said, that for his name my desire was making ready a gracious place. He began graciously to say,⁴¹⁰ “So pleaseth me your courteous demand that I cannot, and I will not, hide me from you. I am Arnaut who weep and go singing; contrite I see my past folly, and joyful I see before me the day I hope for. Now I pray you by that virtue which guides you to the summit of the stair, at times be mindful of my pain.” Then he hid himself in the fire that refines them.

Then, perhaps to make room for the other who was close behind him, he disappeared into the fire. He went like a fish diving to the bottom of the water. I moved a little closer to the one who had been pointed out to me. I told him I was eager to hear his name and would receive it gladly. He graciously began to speak:⁴¹⁰ “Your courteous request pleases me so much that I cannot and will not hide myself from you. I am Arnaut, who weeps and goes on singing. With regret, I see my past folly. With joy, I look forward to the day I hope for. Now I ask you, by the virtue that guides you to the top of the stair, to remember my pain from time to time.” Then he hid himself in the fire that purifies them.