WhereuponI, whoknewnotbywhatroad,
Turnedroundabout, andcloselydrewmyself,
Utterlyfrozen, tothefaithfulshoulders.
AndonceagainSordello: "Nowdescendwe
'Midthegrandshades, andwewillspeaktothem;
Rightpleasantwillitbeforthemtoseeyou."
OnlythreestepsIthinkthatIdescended,
Andwasbelow, andsawonewhowaslooking
Onlyatme, asifhefainwouldknowme.
Alreadynowtheairwasgrowingdark,
Butnotsothatbetweenhiseyesandmine
Itdidnotshowwhatitbeforelockedup.
Tow'rdsmehemoved, andItow'rdshimdidmove;
NobleJudgeNino! howitmedelighted,
WhenIbeheldtheenotamongthedamned!
Nogreetingfairwasleftunsaidbetweenus;
Thenaskedhe: "Howlongisitsincethoucamest
O'erthefarwaterstothemountain'sfoot?"
"Oh!" saidItohim, "throughthedismalplaces
Icamethismorn; andaminthefirstlife,
Albeittheother, goingthus, Igain."
Andontheinstantmyreplywasheard,
HeandSordellobothshrankbackfromme,
Likepeoplewhoaresuddenlybewildered.
OnetoVirgilius, andtheotherturned
Toonewhosatthere, crying, "Up, Currado!
ComeandbeholdwhatGodingracehaswilled!"
Then, turnedtome: "Bythatespecialgrace
ThouowestuntoHim, whosoconceals
Hisownfirstwherefore, thatithasnoford,
Whenthoushaltbebeyondthewaterswide,
TellmyGiovannathatsheprayforme,
Whereanswertotheinnocentismade.
AngelsputtingtheserpenttoflightintheValleyoftheRulers
Idonotthinkhermotherlovesmemore,
Sinceshehaslaidasideherwimplewhite,
Whichshe, unhappy, needsmustwishagain.
Throughherfulleasilyiscomprehended
Howlonginwomanlaststhefireoflove,
Ifeyeortouchdonotrelightitoften.
