He who to reach a further grace is bent, Sees not the chasm which parteth style from style." Pass on, while we to follow after strive. "So swift but that my wish will first arrive; Because the place where I on earth reside, 70 From day to day more stripp'd of goodness grows, 80 And for some dismal ruin qualified." "Now go," he said, "since he from whom arose These ills, dragg'd at a horse's tail I see,3 He who writes or speaks from his own experience, other things being equal, will express himself in a style far more vivid and impressive, than learning and study, without experience, can command. 2 See Inferno, v. 40-47; and Paradiso, xviii. 73–75. 3 Corso Donati, who so influenced Pope Boniface VIII. that he induced him to call Charles of Valois into Italy to fight against the Bianchi. Charles entered Florence in 1301; by his favour the Neri were restored, and tumult and violence from them followed. In the beginning of 1304, Corso, thinking to raise himself to greater importance, gave occasion to new troubles. The Towards that sad vale which no forgiveness knows. Each step the steed bounds on more furiously, Increasing ever, till at length its heels Crush him, and leave the corpse torn woefully. So precious is our time, that on my way The cavalier forth from a troop of horse, That him no more my straining eyes could see Its branches fresh and green with ripe fruit bow'd, With lifted hands beneath it, lo, a crowd, 90 100 Who towards the leaves cried out I know not what, As eager children vainly beg aloud, When he whom they solicit answers not; But to increase their longing holds in view 110 result was at length fatal to himself. Suspected of aiming at the sovereignty in Florence, he was attacked by the citizens: flying on horseback from their fury, he fell, was overtaken, and slain, A.D. 1308. He was a man of great talents, courage, and sagacity, but ambitious and intriguing. He had framed many conspiracies in Florence, in the hope of reigning. His character is forcibly drawn by contemporary historians. What they desire, nor hides what he has got. Then they, as undeceived, their way pursue: To the great tree we also now drew near, Which with such prayers and tears in vain they woo. "Pass on beyond, and of this tree keep clear; Still higher grows what bore that bite of Eve's, Thus close to one side of the road we go, A sudden voice cried, whence I shook with dread, As doth a frighten'd and a dastard steed. To see what this might be I raised my head, 130 'In consequence of our first parents' sin, the pleasures of sense are too apt to prove a snare, and to draw us into evil. 2 The Centaurs. See Inferno, xii. 57, 72, and notes. Also OVID. Melam. 210-535. 3 Judges vii. 4-8. Metal or glass appear so bright and red,1 As one I saw, who said, "If you desire To ascend above, here must you mount on high. 140 This way they go who after peace aspire."2 His face my vision dazzled so that I Had backwards to my teachers quick withdrawn, And as the annunciatress of the dawn, The breeze of May, comes on with sweetest smell, And moving pinions heard, which onward press'd, 150 And I heard cry aloud; "The men how blest 1 "And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace."-Rev. i. 15. 2 The perfect peace and bliss of Paradise. 3 Virgil thus concludes the interview between Venus and her son Eneas: "She said, and turning away, her beautiful neck shone refulgent, And the ambrosial hair of her head breathed a Divine fragrance." Eneid. i. 402. 4 Matthew v. 6. CANTO XXV. THE ARGUMENT. As the three poets ascend, Virgil in reply to Dante's inquiry, explains how the shades become so meagre, and refers him for further satisfaction to Statius. The latter expounds the genesis of the human body, the infusion of the soul, and how the disembodied spirit is reinvested with an aërial substance that answers the purpose of a body. They arrive in the seventh round, in which the licentious are punished in fire, where they sing Summa Deus clementia, and cite examples of Chastity. FOR our ascent the hour brook'd no delay, Since now to Taurus noon-day's arch the Sun Had left, and midnight unto Scorpio's ray.1 Hence, like a man who does not pause but run Right on, whatever may to him appear, The one before the other, for no twain And as the storkling when it would sustain 10 The Sun being in Aries, and Taurus on the meridian, it was about 2 p.m.; and Scorpio being opposite to Taurus, it was 2 a.m. on the opposite meridian. |