按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Said： 〃Master； what is this which now I hear？
What folk is this； which seems by pain so vanquished？〃
And he to me： 〃This miserable mode
Maintain the melancholy souls of those
Who lived withouten infamy or praise。
Commingled are they with that caitiff choir
Of Angels； who have not rebellious been；
Nor faithful were to God； but were for self。
The heavens expelled them； not to be less fair；
Nor them the nethermore abyss receives；
For glory none the damned would have from them。〃
And I： 〃O Master； what so grievous is
To these； that maketh them lament so sore？〃
He answered： 〃I will tell thee very briefly。
These have no longer any hope of death；
And this blind life of theirs is so debased；
They envious are of every other fate。
No fame of them the world permits to be；
Misericord and Justice both disdain them。
Let us not speak of them； but look； and pass。〃
And I； who looked again； beheld a banner；
Which； whirling round； ran on so rapidly；
That of all pause it seemed to me indignant；
And after it there came so long a train
Of people； that I ne'er would have believed
That ever Death so many had undone。
When some among them I had recognised；
I looked； and I beheld the shade of him
Who made through cowardice the great refusal。
Forthwith I comprehended； and was certain；
That this the sect was of the caitiff wretches
Hateful to God and to his enemies。
These miscreants； who never were alive；
Were naked； and were stung exceedingly
By gadflies and by hornets that were there。
These did their faces irrigate with blood；
Which； with their tears commingled； at their feet
By the disgusting worms was gathered up。
And when to gazing farther I betook me。
People I saw on a great river's bank；
Whence said I： 〃Master； now vouchsafe to me；
That I may know who these are； and what law
Makes them appear so ready to pass over；
As I discern athwart the dusky light。〃
And he to me： 〃These things shall all be known
To thee； as soon as we our footsteps stay
Upon the dismal shore of Acheron。〃
Then with mine eyes ashamed and downward cast；
Fearing my words might irksome be to him；
From speech refrained I till we reached the river。
And lo！ towards us coming in a boat
An old man； hoary with the hair of eld；
Crying： 〃Woe unto you； ye souls depraved！
Hope nevermore to look upon the heavens；
I come to lead you to the other shore；
To the eternal shades in heat and frost。
And thou； that yonder standest； living soul；
Withdraw thee from these people； who are dead！〃
But when he saw that I did not withdraw；
He said： 〃By other ways； by other ports
Thou to the shore shalt come； not here； for passage；
A lighter vessel needs must carry thee。〃
And unto him the Guide： 〃Vex thee not； Charon；
It is so willed there where is power to do
That which is willed； and farther question not。〃
Thereat were quieted the fleecy cheeks
Of him the ferryman of the livid fen；
Who round about his eyes had wheels of flame。
But all those souls who weary were and naked
Their colour changed and gnashed their teeth together；
As soon as they had heard those cruel words。
God they blasphemed and their progenitors；
The human race； the place； the time； the seed
Of their engendering and of their birth！
Thereafter all together they drew back；
Bitterly weeping； to the accursed shore；
Which waiteth every man who fears not God。
Charon the demon； with the eyes of glede；
Beckoning to them； collects them all together；
Beats with his oar whoever lags behind。
As in the autumn…time the leaves fall off；
First one and then another； till the branch
Unto the earth surrenders all its spoils；
In similar wise the evil seed of Adam
Throw themselves from that margin one by one；
At signals； as a bird unto its lure。
So they depart across the dusky wave；
And ere upon the other side they land；
Again on this side a new troop assembles。
〃My son；〃 the courteous Master said to me；
〃All those who perish in the wrath of God
Here meet together out of every land；
And ready are they to pass o'er the river；
Because celestial Justice spurs them on；
So that their fear is turned into desire。
This way there never passes a good soul；
And hence if Charon doth complain of thee；
Well mayst thou know now what his speech imports。〃
This being finished； all the dusk champaign
Trembled so violently； that of that terror
The recollection bathes me still with sweat。
The land of tears gave forth a blast of wind；
And fulminated a vermilion light；
Which overmastered in me every sense；
And as a man whom sleep hath seized I fell。
Inferno： Canto IV
Broke the deep lethargy within my head
A heavy thunder； so that I upstarted；
Like to a person who by force is wakened；
And round about I moved my rested eyes；
Uprisen erect； and steadfastly I gazed；
To recognise the place wherein I was。
True is it； that upon the verge I found me
Of the abysmal valley dolorous；
That gathers thunder of infinite ululations。
Obscure； profound it was； and nebulous；
So that by fixing on its depths my sight
Nothing whatever I discerned therein。
〃Let us descend now into the blind world；〃
Began the Poet； pallid utterly；
〃I will be first； and thou shalt second be。〃
And I； who of his colour was aware；
Said： 〃How shall I come； if thou art afraid；
Who'rt wont to be a comfort to my fears？〃
And he to me： 〃The anguish of the people
Who are below here in my face depicts
That pity which for terror thou hast taken。
Let us go on； for the long way impels us。〃
Thus he went in； and thus he made me enter
The foremost circle that surrounds the abyss。
There； as it seemed to me from listening；
Were lamentations none； but only sighs；
That tremble made the everlasting air。
And this arose from sorrow without torment；
Which the crowds had； that many were and great；
Of infants and of women and of men。
To me the Master good： 〃Thou dost not ask
What spirits these； which thou beholdest； are？
Now will I have thee know； ere thou go farther；
That they sinned not； and if they merit had；
'Tis not enough； because they had not baptism
Which is the portal of the Faith thou holdest；
And if they were before Christianity；
In the right manner they adored not God；
And among such as these am I myself。
For such defects； and not for other guilt；
Lost are we and are only so far punished；
That without hope we live on in desire。〃
Great grief seized on my heart when this I heard；
Because some people of much worthiness
I knew； who in that Limbo were suspended。
〃Tell me； my Master； tell me； thou my Lord；〃
Began I； with desire of being certain
Of that Faith which o'ercometh every error；
〃Came any one by his own merit hence；
Or by another's； who was blessed thereafter？〃
And he； who understood my covert speech；
Replied： 〃I was a novice in this state；
When I saw hither come a Mighty One；
With sign of victory incoronate。
Hence he drew forth the shade of the First Parent；
And