1 While my good master still called out to me,
“Take care! Beware!” we walked in single file
along the precipice’s outer rim.
4 The sinking sun made bright the Western sky
and being at our altitude it cast
my shadow on the flames we travelled past,
7 so yellow flames appeared to burn more red.
As all the shades were journeying our way
the nearest ones attended to that sight.
10 A pair on whom I eavesdropped near me said,
“That man lives in the flesh.” “Yes, I agree,”
whereupon both came close to me although
13 carefully keeping in the fire because
escaping it was not their main desire.
One questioned me, “O you who walk behind
16 the other two, tell me (burning with thirst
in dreadful heat) what others want to know.
How come you here without having to die?”
19 A strange sight silenced me before I spoke.
From far ahead I saw a running crowd
come down that blazing road, and rushing past
they kissed the crowd advancing on my side 22
so fast that no delay was caused, like ants
exchanging nose-rubs to convey good will.
Not stopping all tried to out-shout the rest. 25
“Sodom! Gomorrah!” those departing yelled.
Those going my way bawled, “The Cretan queen
in wooden cow got fucked by bull!” 28
As cranes divide, one flight departing north
to Arctic snows, one south to Egypt’s sands,
both sides went different ways, singing hymns, 31
chanting scripture, with tears confessing sins,
and thus in pain obtaining holiness.
Those who had first approached me came again, 34
and I, respecting their desire began,
“O souls whose thirst for righteousness will be
as Jesus said, fulfilled at last one day, 37
in Paradise a saint has ordered me
to look at what God made for humankind
from the world’s centre to the outmost stars. 40
But say (for I will write it in a book)
who were those folk going the other way?
And also, who are you?” The couple gaped 43
like Highlanders bemused by city streets
but soon resumed civility again.
The first shade said, “Your soul is truly blest. 46
It will learn how to die better than most.
Those you saw run the other way have sinned
49 as Caesar did, whose soldiers called him ‘queen’.
They shout ‘Sodom’ in self-reproach. We too
enjoyed unlawful feasts of lust. My crowd
52 shout the disgraceful name of Pasiphaë
who in lust turned into beast. I do not know
all who are here. Guido Guinicelli
55 is my name. I so sorrowed for my sins
death sent me quickly here. I’ll soon be free.”
In King Lycurgus’ time two orphan boys
58 found that their mother lived. I partly felt
their joy on hearing Guido’s name for he
wrote best the earliest Italian verse,
61 in sweet and graceful songs of love. I gazed
speechlessly ’til, after my sight was fed,
I offered my respect in humble words
64 he could not doubt, and said, “Thank you but why
with words and looks you value me so high,
I cannot think.” Said I, “Your noble verse
67 in common speech of shop and street enrich
our talk and thought. Thus, sacred is the ink
you wrote them in.” “Brother,” said he, “look there!”
70 He pointed to a shade ahead. “In verse
and prose romance he had more craftsmanship.
Fools deny this, misguided by the cry
73 of other fools who set mere fashion high
above good rules of reason and of art.
Let me be selfish, if you will be kind.
When you ascend to Paradise and find 76
that monastery where the abbot is
our Lord Christ Jesus, there please pray for me.
He sank back into flames like fish in sea. 79