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love。 Soon they o'ertook us； with such swiftness mov'd The mighty
crowd。 Two spirits at their head Cried weeping； 〃Blessed Mary sought
with haste The hilly region。 Caesar to subdue Ilerda； darted in Marseilles
his sting； And flew to Spain。〃〃Oh tarry not： away；〃 The others shouted；
〃let not time be lost Through slackness of affection。 Hearty zeal To serve
reanimates celestial grace。〃 〃O ye； in whom intenser fervency Haply
supplies； where lukewarm erst ye fail'd； Slow or neglectful； to absolve
your part Of good and virtuous； this man； who yet lives； （Credit my tale；
though strange） desires t' ascend； So morning rise to light us。 Therefore
say Which hand leads nearest to the rifted rock？〃 So spake my guide； to
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whom a shade return'd： 〃Come after us； and thou shalt find the cleft。 We
may not linger： such resistless will Speeds our unwearied course。
Vouchsafe us then Thy pardon； if our duty seem to thee Discourteous
rudeness。 In Verona I Was abbot of San Zeno； when the hand Of
Barbarossa grasp'd Imperial sway； That name； ne'er utter'd without tears in
Milan。 And there is he； hath one foot in his grave； Who for that monastery
ere long shall weep； Ruing his power misus'd： for that his son； Of body ill
compact； and worse in mind； And born in evil； he hath set in place Of its
true pastor。〃 Whether more he spake； Or here was mute； I know not： he
had sped E'en now so far beyond us。 Yet thus much I heard； and in
rememb'rance treasur'd it。 He then； who never fail'd me at my need；
Cried； 〃Hither turn。 Lo！ two with sharp remorse Chiding their sin！〃
In rear of all the troop These shouted： 〃First they died； to whom the sea
Open'd； or ever Jordan saw his heirs： And they； who with Aeneas to the
end Endur'd not suffering； for their portion chose Life without glory。〃
Soon as they had fled Past reach of sight； new thought within me rose By
others follow'd fast； and each unlike Its fellow： till led on from thought to
thought； And pleasur'd with the fleeting train； mine eye Was clos'd； and
meditation chang'd to dream。
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CANTO XIX
It was the hour； when of diurnal heat No reliques chafe the cold beams
of the moon； O'erpower'd by earth； or planetary sway Of Saturn； and the
geomancer sees His Greater Fortune up the east ascend； Where gray dawn
checkers first the shadowy cone； When 'fore me in my dream a woman's
shape There came； with lips that stammer'd； eyes aslant； Distorted feet；
hands maim'd； and colour pale。 I look'd upon her； and as sunshine
cheers Limbs numb'd by nightly cold； e'en thus my look Unloos'd her
tongue； next in brief space her form Decrepit rais'd erect； and faded face
With love's own hue illum'd。 Recov'ring speech She forthwith warbling
such a strain began； That I； how loth soe'er； could scarce have held
Attention from the song。 〃I；〃 thus she sang； 〃I am the Siren； she； whom
mariners On the wide sea are wilder'd when they hear： Such fulness of
delight the list'ner feels。 I from his course Ulysses by my lay Enchanted
drew。 Whoe'er frequents me once Parts seldom； so I charm him； and his
heart Contented knows no void。〃 Or ere her mouth Was clos'd； to shame
her at her side appear'd A dame of semblance holy。 With stern voice She
utter'd； 〃Say； O Virgil； who is this？〃 Which hearing； he approach'd； with
eyes still bent Toward that goodly presence： th' other seiz'd her； And； her
robes tearing； open'd her before； And show'd the belly to me； whence a
smell； Exhaling loathsome； wak'd me。 Round I turn'd Mine eyes； and
thus the teacher： 〃At the least Three times my voice hath call'd thee。
Rise； begone。 Let us the opening find where thou mayst pass。〃 I
straightway rose。 Now day； pour'd down from high； Fill'd all the circuits
of the sacred mount； And； as we journey'd； on our shoulder smote The
early ray。 I follow'd； stooping low My forehead； as a man； o'ercharg'd
with thought； Who bends him to the likeness of an arch； That midway
spans the flood； when thus I heard； 〃Come； enter here；〃 in tone so soft and
mild； As never met the ear on mortal strand。 With swan…like wings
dispread and pointing up； Who thus had spoken marshal'd us along； Where
each side of the solid masonry The sloping； walls retir'd； then mov'd his
plumes； And fanning us； affirm'd that those； who mourn； Are blessed； for
that comfort shall be theirs。 〃What aileth thee； that still thou look'st to
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earth？〃 Began my leader； while th' angelic shape A little over us his station
took。 〃New vision；〃 I replied； 〃hath rais'd in me 8urmisings strange and
anxious doubts； whereon My soul intent allows no other thought Or room
or entrance。〃Hast thou seen；〃 said he； 〃That old enchantress； her； whose
wiles alone The spirits o'er us weep for？ Hast thou seen How man may
free him of her bonds？ Enough。 Let thy heels spurn the earth； and thy
rais'd ken Fix on the lure； which heav'n's eternal King Whirls in the rolling
spheres。〃 As on his feet The falcon first looks down； then to the sky
Turns； and forth stretches eager for the food； That woos him thither； so the
call I heard； So onward； far as the dividing rock Gave way； I journey'd； till
the plain was reach'd。 On the fifth circle when I stood at large； A race
appear'd before me； on the ground All downward lying prone and weeping
sore。 〃My soul hath cleaved to the dust；〃 I heard With sighs so deep； they
well nigh choak'd the words。 〃O ye elect of God； whose penal woes Both
hope and justice mitigate； direct Tow'rds the steep rising our uncertain
way。〃 〃If ye approach secure from this our doom； Prostrationand
would urge your course with speed； See that ye still to rightward keep the
brink。〃 So them the bard besought； and such the words； Beyond us
some short space； in