Canto XXVI
CANTO XXVI
As the sun sinks low in the West, its rays turning the blue sky around it to white, Dante’s shadow upon the flames makes them look even redder. His blockage of the sun’s light causes the lustful to talk of him, and one of those who approach the fire’s edge asks him for an explanation (1–27). Before the Pilgrim can reply, a second group of shades comes towards them counterclockwise and, like ants nuzzling each other, greets the first with kisses, alternates with them cries of unnatural and excessive lust, and then leaves, like a flock of cranes flying in the opposite direction, to continue chanting their penitential hymn and shouting the examples of vice (28–48). The first troupe then draws near expectantly, and the Poet details for them the purpose of his journey and requests information about the two bands of souls (49–66). Overcoming his amazement, one of them steps forth and explains that they, who shouted out the example of Pasiphae’s lust for the bull, had made themselves brutish through an excessive though natural passion, whereas the second crew, who had cried out “Sodom and Gomorrah,” had committed the unnatural sin of sodomy (67–90). The speaker identifies himself as the amatory poet, Guido Guinizzelli, and Dante feels a filial affection for him like that of Thoas and Euneus on rescuing their mother, Hypsipyle, though he does not dare embrace him because of the flames. When our Author expresses his admiration for the sweet style of Guido’s poetry, the latter humbly points out a better craftsman of amorous verse and then implores the Pilgrim’s prayers, disappearing into the flames like a fish through water (91–135). Drawing near to the indicated soul, the Poet delicately asks his name. The spirit in question makes himself known as Arnaut Daniel, who looks back with remorse upon his past folly and forward with hope to his future bliss. Having entreated Dante’s prayers as well, he then hides within the purging fire (136–148).
1 We moved along the bank in single file;
My Master often told me on that height:
“See that my warning profits you.” And while
4 The sun had struck my shoulder on the right,
The west had all, because of rays it shed,
Transformed its bluish aspect into white.[442]
7 My shadow made the flames appear more red,
And at so slight a trace I saw a lot
Of shades pay heed as they went on ahead.
10 This too was the occasion that begot
Their talk of me; and they began to say:
“A fictive body his, it seems, is not.”
13 And certain ones approached as far as they
Were able to, though always taking care
They did not exit from the burning way.
16 “O you who go behind the others there,
From reverence, perhaps, not being slow,
Respond to one who burns with thirst, aflare.
19 I’m not alone in needing answer, though:
No Indian or Ethiope has yet
So thirsted for cold streams as they to know.
22 So, tell us how it is that you have set
Yourself against the sun to make a wall
As if you had not entered in death’s net,”
25 One begged of me. I would have told him all
About myself, had I, intent, not slowed
To watch a another novelty befall.
28 For through the middle of the burning road
Came people, facing opposite, in stride,
So in suspense I watched an episode
31 In which the shadows met from either side,
Each hastening to kiss another and,
Not pausing, with brief greetings satisfied.
34 (In just this manner, in their swarthy band,
Each ant will nose the rest, perhaps to spy
What is their way and how their fortunes stand.)
37 With friendly greetings ended, each will try,
Before one footstep takes a forward thrust,
To shout above the rest; so, these will cry:
40 “O Sodom and Gomorrah!”; those then must[443]
Exclaim: “Pasíphaë lies in a cow
So that the bull goes running to her lust!”[444]
43 Next, just as cranes may fly, some to the brow
Of the high Riphaeans, some to the sands,[445]
These shy of frost and those of sun, so now
46 One comes, another goes, of those two bands;
They turn to their first singing with a tear
And to the cry their penance most demands.
49 And as they did before, there now drew near
Those very ones who had entreated me
And, by their faces, seemed intent to hear.
52 I, having seen two times their eager plea,
Began to speak: “O spirits who are sure
Of having peace, whenever that might be,
55 My limbs, be they unripened or mature,
Have not on earth below been left behind;
They’re here with me, with blood and joints secure.
58 I go on high to be no longer blind:
A Lady stands above who gains me grace;[446]
So, through your world I bear my mortal rind.
61 But may your greatest wish be filled apace,
And may that heaven come to lodge your crew
Which, full of love, is amplest in its space;[447]
64 That I may set this down on paper too,
Say who you are and who the crowd of late
That goes away from us in back of you.”
67 The hillman’s face is in no other state
Than that to which each shadow’s looks had come,
When, rough and rude, he’s passed the city’s gate
70 To gape about, confused and dazed, struck dumb;
When they were freed of stupor, though, once more
(And lofty hearts are soon relieved therefrom),
73 That one began who’d questioned me before:
“O blest one, who, that you may better die,
Will ship your proving of our lands to shore!
76 Those coming not with us offended by
The sin for which triumphal Caesar came
To hear himself called ‘Queen’; and that is why[448]
79 They bellow at their parting Sodom’s blame
And, as you’ve heard, rebuke themselves, contrite,
That they may help the burning with their shame.
82 Our sinful action was hermaphrodite,[449]
Observing not what human reason deems;
For we, like beasts, had followed appetite.
85 Thus, when we part from them, each shadow screams,
To our disgrace, the name of her who fell
And made herself a beast in beasthke beams.
88 And now you know our deeds and guilt as well;
If you desire to learn our names, then I’d
Not know them all, nor is there time to tell.
91 Of mine, indeed, you shall be satisfied:
I’m Guido Guinizzell’, who here make purge[450]
Since I felt full remorse before I died.”
94 As when Lycurgus sang his sorry dirge,[451]
Two sons rejoiced to see their mother, so
Did I; and yet, so high I did not surge[452]
97 To hear that spirit name himself, aglow,
Who fathered me and all my betters too,
Whose gracious rhymes of love so sweetly flow.
100 I did not speak or hear a long time through;
I went in thought and gazed on him, while just
Maintaining distance from the fiery view.
103 When he had fed my sight, I found I must
Yet offer him my service every way,
With affirmations that would make one trust.
106 He said to me: “From what I hear you say,
You leave a trace in me and one so clear
As Lethe cannot dim or take away.[453]
109 However, if your words swore truly here,
Say why in looks and gaze you did not shrink
From showing me just how you hold me dear.”
112 “As long as modern use shall last, I think[454]
The verses that you wrote, so sweetly sung,
Will render dear,” I said, “their very ink.”
115 “O brother, I can show you on this rung,”
While pointing out a soul beyond, he said,
“A better craftsman of the mother tongue.[455]
118 For he transcends all am’rous verses read
And romance tales—whatever fools may plead[456]
Who think Limoges’s bard excels instead.[457]
121 To rumor, not to truth, such ones give heed
And settle their opinions thus before
They’ve listened first to art or reason’s lead.
124 So with Guittone many did of yore,[458]
Who, cry to cry, prized nothing but his wits
Until, with most, the truth would win the floor.
127 Now if your ample privilege permits
Your journeying up to that cloister in
Which Christ as abbot of the college sits,
130 A paternoster there for me begin,[459]
And pray as far as this world needs such aid[460]
For we have no more power here to sin.”
133 Perhaps, then, ceding to another shade
Who followed near, he vanished through the flame,
The way fish seeking deeper waters fade.
136 So, to the one just pointed out I came
And told him my desire prepared inside
A gracious place of welcome for his name.
139 He took his start and willingly replied:
“Now your polite request has pleased me so
That thus I neither can nor wish to hide.
142 I am Arnaut; in tears and song I go.
Contrite, I see my former folly’s bane
And see with joy the day I hope to know.
145 And now I pray you by the Power’s reign
That guides you to the summit of the stair,
While there is time, be heedful of my pain.”[461]
148 And then he hid within the purging flare.