Canto XXIV
CANTO XXIV
As Dante continues walking and talking with Forese, he learns that the latter’s sister, Piccarda, rejoices in Heaven. Forese then points out several of the gluttonous: Bonagiunta Orbicciani da Lucca, a provincial poet; Pope Martin V of Tours; Ubaldino della Pila, a Ghibelline nobleman; Bonifazio de’ Fieschi, archbishop of Ravenna; and Messer Marchese degli Argogliosi, chief magistrate of Faenza (1–32). Eager to speak with the Pilgrim, Bonagiunta steps forth and prophesies that a woman named Gentucca will befriend the Traveler in his exile, thus rendering the city of Lucca dear to him. Bonagiunta then asks Dante if he composed the canzone, “O maids who have intelligence of love.” The Author responds that he did write it, inspired by love itself, and Bonagiunta recognizes that inspiration and the expression of true feeling resulting from it as the factors that distinguish Dante from his predecessors (33–63). When the discussion of the Poet’s “sweet new style” has concluded, the flock of gluttonous souls turns away and speeds off in single file. Forese takes advantage of the opportunity to ask Dante when he will see him again. The Pilgrim replies that he does not know but that he will return sooner in desire than in fact, owing to the corruption of his native city (64–81). Anxious about further delay, Forese takes leave of the Poet with the prophecy that the one most to blame for Florence’s ills, his brother Corso, will soon meet a shameful end (82–99). As Dante watches him striding off, he makes the bend and suddenly notices another tree beneath which the famished souls vainly beg for food. As the Poets draw near, a voice calls out the examples of punished gluttony and drunkenness: Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge; the drunken centaurs, who attempted to ravish the bride of Pirithous; and the Hebrews whom Gideon rejected for lapping up the water like a dog (100–126). The three Wayfarers then pass on in silence, each one lost in thought, when the voice of the fiery angel of temperance startles them. He points out the upward stair and wipes another P from the Pilgrim’s brow, as he pronounces those blest who hunger for righteousness (127–154).
1 Stride did not slow our speech nor speech our stride,
But, talking still, we quickly moved ahead
Like ships that, driven by good breezes, glide.
4 And all the shades, who seemed like things twice dead,
Drew wonder from me through their cavern eyes,
On seeing that I lived, at which I said,
7 Continuing my speech with this surmise:
“Perhaps that shade is rising up more slow
Because of him than he would otherwise.[403]
10 But where’s Piccarda? Tell me, if you know;[404]
And tell me if some shade of note I see
Among these people gazing at me so.”
13 “My sister—though I know not whether she
Was once more fair or good—exults on high
Olympus in her crown now, joyously,”[405]
16 He said at first, then added in reply:
“And none forbids my naming each of those
Because the fast has milked our features dry.
19 Now there,” he pointed, “Bonagiunta goes,
Yes, Bonagiunta, he of Lucca’s line;[406]
Beyond him some, the face more drawn arose
22 To hold within his arms the Church divine;[407]
He was from Tours and purges by his fast
Bolsena’s eels and the Vernaccian wine.”
25 And one by one, through many names he passed;
All seemed content when named on my behalf,
So that I saw no faces overcast.
28 With teeth, from hunger, biting airy chaff,
Both Ubaldin’ and Boniface were spied,[408]
Who’d pastured many people with his staff.
31 I saw Messér Marchese, who, less dried,[409]
Had leisure once for drinking at Forlì,
Though such a thirst was never satisfied.
34 As one who looks notes someone more than he
Does others, at that Luccan did I stare
For he appeared to know the most of me.
37 He murmured something like “Gentucca” there,[410]
Which I could hear from where he felt what’s due
To pangs of justice that so strip them bare.
40 “O soul,” I said, “who seem so eager to
Converse with me; speak so I’ll understand,
For speech may satisfy both me and you.”
43 “A maid is born who wears no wimple band[411]
For whom,” he said, “you’ll hold my city dear,
Which men, however, still may reprimand.
46 With such a prophecy you’ll go from here;
If you mistake my murmur while above,
The real events below will make them clear.
49 But tell me if I see the author of
The rhymes brought newly forth that thus begin:
O maids who have intelligence of love?”[412]
52 I said : “When Love has breathed in me, I’ve been
A man who notes it well and, at his lead,
Goes setting forth what he dictates within.”
55 “O friend, I see what knot would once impede
The Notary and me, Guittone too,[413]
In coming to the sweet new style I heed,”[414]
58 He said; “I see how close your quills pursue
All that to which dictating love gives vent,
Which surely was not so with those we knew.
61 One set on searching further sees, intent,
No more between the one and other style,”
And he fell silent as if quite content.
64 As birds that winter down along the Nile
At times will form a flock up in the air
Then fly in greater haste and go in file,
67 So too the people who were present there
All turned away and hurried up their pace,
Those whom desire and leanness lightly bear.
70 And as a man who wearies in his race
Lets his companions go and, walking then,
Will ease his heaving chest for but a space,
73 Forese let that flock of holy men
All pass him by, then came behind once more
And said: “When will I see you once again?”
76 “I do not know how long I’ll live,” I swore,
“But though I come back quickly, sooner yet
Shall I in my desires be at the shore[415]
79 Because the place in which my life is set
Is daily stripping goodness from its frame,
Disposed for dismal ruin to be met.”
82 “Now go,” he said, “I see him most to blame
Soon dragged behind a horse’s tail—that one!—[416]
Down to the vale that never pardons shame.
85 More quickly at each step that beast will run,
Increasing ever, till it throws him where
It leaves his body shamefully undone.
88 Those wheels,” and to the sky he turned his stare,[417]
“Need not turn far till you have clearly spied
What further words of mine can not declare.
91 Now stay behind for time is dear inside
This realm of ours, and I too much delay
By coming thus with you in equal stride.”
94 As from a squadron riding in array
A horseman, galloping, is sometimes hurled
To win the honor of the first affray,
97 So too, with greater strides, away he whirled,
While on the way I lingered with those two
Who were such mighty marshals of the world.
100 And when he’d gone ahead so far from view
My eyesight strained to follow to the end
As with his words my mind would have to do,
103 Another tree appeared there to extend[418]
Its laden, verdant boughs, not far away,
For I just now had turned around the bend.
106 Beneath I saw some lift their hands as they
Made towards the leaves I know not what loud cry,
Like eager children, in a vain essay,
109 Who beg though he who’s begged makes no reply
And, that their longing be more keenly grieved,
Hides not what they desire but holds it high.
112 They then departed as if undeceived;
And we came where that mighty tree and fruit
Reject so many tears and prayers received.
115 “Pass on, do not draw near; above, your route
Will show a tree whose sampled fruit was Eve’s,[419]
And this same plant has risen as its shoot.”
118 I do not know who spoke among the leaves;
So Virgil, Statius, and I progressed,
Drawn closer, on the side that upward weaves.[420]
121 “Recall those cursèd ones,” we were addressed,
“Formed in the clouds, who, when they’d had their fill,
Fought Theseus, and each with double breast.[421]
124 Recall soft Hebrews drinking at the rill,
Those comrades Gideon refused that day
When unto Midian he rode downhill.”[422]
127 Thus, keeping to one edge along the way,
We passed as sins of gluttony were heard,
On which there follows such a wretched pay.
130 Then, by at least a thousand paces spurred,
Spread out upon the lonely roadway, we
Went contemplating, each without a word,
133 When suddenly a voice so startled me
Just like a wild and frightened beast; it said:
“Why do you go alone in thought, you three?”
136 To look at who it was, I raised my head;
And never in a furnace was there seen
A glass or metal of such glowing red
139 As one I saw who spoke: “If you should mean
To mount on upwards, you must turn in here:
This way goes he whose will for peace is keen.”
142 His aspect robbed me of my sight, I fear,
And thus behind my Teachers I was drawn,
Like one who goes by that which he can hear.
145 And as when they are heralding the dawn,
May breezes stir and waft a fragrant smell,
All pregnant with the herbs and flowers’ spawn,
148 I felt wind strike mid-forehead and could tell
There clearly was a movement of the plumes
That made me sense ambrosial breath as well.
151 “How blest are they,” I heard, “whom grace illumes
So that the love of taste will not excite
Too much within their breasts their craving fumes,
154 Those always hungering for what is right!”[423]