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The folk that comes not with us have offended
In that for which once Caesar； triumphing；
Heard himself called in contumely； 'Queen。'
Therefore they separate； exclaiming； 'Sodom！'
Themselves reproving； even as thou hast heard；
And add unto their burning by their shame。
Our own transgression was hermaphrodite；
But because we observed not human law；
Following like unto beasts our appetite；
In our opprobrium by us is read；
When we part company； the name of her
Who bestialized herself in bestial wood。
Now knowest thou our acts； and what our crime was；
Wouldst thou perchance by name know who we are；
There is not time to tell； nor could I do it。
Thy wish to know me shall in sooth be granted；
I'm Guido Guinicelli； and now purge me；
Having repented ere the hour extreme。〃
The same that in the sadness of Lycurgus
Two sons became； their mother re…beholding；
Such I became； but rise not to such height；
The moment I heard name himself the father
Of me and of my betters； who had ever
Practised the sweet and gracious rhymes of love；
And without speech and hearing thoughtfully
For a long time I went； beholding him；
Nor for the fire did I approach him nearer。
When I was fed with looking； utterly
Myself I offered ready for his service；
With affirmation that compels belief。
And he to me： 〃Thou leavest footprints such
In me； from what I hear； and so distinct；
Lethe cannot efface them； nor make dim。
But if thy words just now the truth have sworn；
Tell me what is the cause why thou displayest
In word and look that dear thou holdest me？〃
And I to him： 〃Those dulcet lays of yours
Which； long as shall endure our modern fashion；
Shall make for ever dear their very ink！〃
〃O brother；〃 said he； 〃he whom I point out；〃
And here he pointed at a spirit in front；
〃Was of the mother tongue a better smith。
Verses of love and proses of romance；
He mastered all； and let the idiots talk；
Who think the Lemosin surpasses him。
To clamour more than truth they turn their faces；
And in this way establish their opinion；
Ere art or reason has by them been heard。
Thus many ancients with Guittone did；
From cry to cry still giving him applause；
Until the truth has conquered with most persons。
Now； if thou hast such ample privilege
'Tis granted thee to go unto the cloister
Wherein is Christ the abbot of the college；
To him repeat for me a Paternoster；
So far as needful to us of this world；
Where power of sinning is no longer ours。〃
Then； to give place perchance to one behind；
Whom he had near； he vanished in the fire
As fish in water going to the bottom。
I moved a little tow'rds him pointed out；
And said that to his name my own desire
An honourable place was making ready。
He of his own free will began to say：
'Tan m' abellis vostre cortes deman；
Que jeu nom' puesc ni vueill a vos cobrire；
Jeu sui Arnaut； que plor e vai chantan；
Consiros vei la passada folor；
E vei jauzen lo jorn qu' esper denan。
Ara vus prec per aquella valor；
Que vus condus al som de la scalina；
Sovenga vus a temprar ma dolor。'*
Then hid him in the fire that purifies them。
* So pleases me your courteous demand；
I cannot and I will not hide me from you。
I am Arnaut； who weep and singing go；
Contrite I see the folly of the past；
And joyous see the hoped…for day before me。
Therefore do I implore you； by that power
Which guides you to the summit of the stairs；
Be mindful to assuage my suffering！
Purgatorio： Canto XXVII
As when he vibrates forth his earliest rays；
In regions where his Maker shed his blood；
（The Ebro falling under lofty Libra；
And waters in the Ganges burnt with noon；）
So stood the Sun； hence was the day departing；
When the glad Angel of God appeared to us。
Outside the flame he stood upon the verge；
And chanted forth； 〃Beati mundo corde；〃
In voice by far more living than our own。
Then： 〃No one farther goes； souls sanctified；
If first the fire bite not； within it enter；
And be not deaf unto the song beyond。〃
When we were close beside him thus he said；
Wherefore e'en such became I； when I heard him；
As he is who is put into the grave。
Upon my clasped hands I straightened me；
Scanning the fire； and vividly recalling
The human bodies I had once seen burned。
Towards me turned themselves my good Conductors；
And unto me Virgilius said： 〃My son；
Here may indeed be torment； but not death。
Remember thee； remember！ and if I
On Geryon have safely guided thee；
What shall I do now I am nearer God？
Believe for certain； shouldst thou stand a full
Millennium in the bosom of this flame；
It could not make thee bald a single hair。
And if perchance thou think that I deceive thee；
Draw near to it； and put it to the proof
With thine own hands upon thy garment's hem。
Now lay aside； now lay aside all fear；
Turn hitherward； and onward come securely；〃
And I still motionless； and 'gainst my conscience！
Seeing me stand still motionless and stubborn；
Somewhat disturbed he said： 〃Now look thou； Son；
'Twixt Beatrice and thee there is this wall。〃
As at the name of Thisbe oped his lids
The dying Pyramus； and gazed upon her；
What time the mulberry became vermilion；
Even thus； my obduracy being softened；
I turned to my wise Guide； hearing the name
That in my memory evermore is welling。
Whereat he wagged his head； and said： 〃How now？
Shall we stay on this side？〃 then smiled as one
Does at a child who's vanquished by an apple。
Then into the fire in front of me he entered；
Beseeching Statius to come after me；
Who a long way before divided us。
When I was in it； into molten glass
I would have cast me to refresh myself；
So without measure was the burning there！
And my sweet Father； to encourage me；
Discoursing still of Beatrice went on；
Saying： 〃Her eyes I seem to see already！〃
A voice； that on the other side was singing；
Directed us； and we； attent alone
On that； came forth where the ascent began。
〃Venite； benedicti Patris mei；〃
Sounded within a splendour； which was there
Such it o'ercame me； and I could not look。
〃The sun departs；〃 it added； 〃and night cometh；
Tarry ye not； but onward urge your steps；
So long as yet the west becomes not dark。〃
Straight forward through the rock the path ascended
In such a way that I cut off the rays
Before me of the sun； that now was low。
And of few stairs we yet had made assay；
Ere by the vanished shadow the sun's setting
Behind us we perceived； I and my Sages。
And ere in all its parts immeasurable
The horizon of one aspect had become；
And Night her boundless dispensation held；
Each of us of a stair had made his bed；
Because the nature of the mount took from us
The power of climbing； more than the delight。
Even as in ruminating passive grow
The goats； who have been swift and venturesome
Upon the mountain…tops ere they were fed；
Hushed in the shadow； while the sun is hot；
Watched by the herdsman； who upon his staff
Is leaning； a