Defectwasnotamendedbyaprayer,
BecausetheprayerfromGodwasseparate.
Verily, insodeepaquestioning
Donotdecide, unlessshetellitthee,
Wholight 'twixttruthandintellectshallbe.
Iknownotifthouunderstand; Ispeak
OfBeatrice; hershaltthouseeabove,
Smilingandhappy, onthismountain'stop."
AndI: "GoodLeader, letusmakemorehaste,
ForInolongertiremeasbefore;
Andsee, e'ennowthehillashadowcasts."
"Wewillgoforwardwiththisday" heanswered,
"Asfarasnowispossibleforus;
Butotherwisethefactisthanthouthinkest.
Erethouartupthere, thoushaltseereturn
Him, whonowhideshimselfbehindthehill,
Sothatthoudostnotinterrupthisrays.
Butyondertherebehold! asoulthatstationed
All, allaloneislookinghitherward;
Itwillpointouttousthequickestway."
Wecameupuntoit; OLombardsoul,
Howloftyanddisdainfulthoudidstbearthee,
Andgrandandslowinmovingofthineeyes!
Nothingwhateverdiditsaytous,
Butletusgoourway, eyingusonly
Afterthemannerofacouchantlion;
StillneartoitVirgiliusdrew, entreating
Thatitwouldpointusoutthebestascent;
Anditrepliednotuntohisdemand,
Butofournativelandandofourlife
Itquestionedus; andthesweetGuidebegan:
"Mantua,"—andtheshade, allinitselfrecluse,
Rosetow'rdshimfromtheplacewherefirstitwas,
Saying: "OMantuan, IamSordello
Ofthineownland!" andoneembracedtheother.
Ah! servileItaly, grief'shostelry!
Ashipwithoutapilotingreattempest!
NoLadythouofProvinces, butbrothel!
Thatnoblesoulwassoimpatient, only
Atthesweetsoundofhisownnativeland,
