Assheepcomeissuingforthfromoutthefold
Byonesandtwosandthrees, andtheothersstand
Timidly, holdingdowntheireyesandnostrils,
Andwhattheforemostdoestheothersdo,
Huddlingthemselvesagainsther, ifshestop,
Simpleandquietandthewhereforeknownot;
Somovingtoapproachusthereupon
Isawtheleaderofthatfortunateflock,
Modestinfaceanddignifiedingait.
Assoonasthoseintheadvancesawbroken
Thelightuponthegroundatmyrightside,
Sothatfrommetheshadowreachedtherock,
Theystopped, andbackwarddrewthemselvessomewhat;
Andalltheothers, whocameafterthem,
Notknowingwhynorwherefore, didthesame.
"Withoutyourasking, Iconfesstoyou
Thisisahumanbodywhichyousee,
Wherebythesunshineonthegroundiscleft.
Marvelyenotthereat, butbepersuaded
ThatnotwithoutapowerwhichcomesfromHeaven
Dothheendeavourtosurmountthiswall."
TheMasterthus; andsaidthoseworthypeople:
"Returnyethen, andenterinbeforeus,"
Makingasignalwiththebacko' thehand
Andoneofthembegan: "Whoe'erthouart,
Thusgoingturnthineeyes, considerwell
Ife'erthousawmeintheotherworld."
Iturnedmetow'rdshim, andlookedathimclosely;
Blondwashe, beautiful, andofnobleaspect,
Butoneofhiseyebrowshadablowdivided.
WhenwithhumilityIhaddisclaimed
E'erhavingseenhim, "Nowbehold!" hesaid,
Andshowedmehighuponhisbreastawound.
Thensaidhewithasmile: "IamManfredi,
ThegrandsonoftheEmpressCostanza;
Therefore, whenthoureturnest, Ibeseechthee
Gotomydaughterbeautiful, themother
OfSicily'shonourandofAragon's,
Andthetruthtellher, ifaughtelsebetold.
AfterIhadmybodylacerated