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Purgatory Canto 24

Canto XXIV
Argument

Forese points out several others by name who are here, like himself, purifying themselves from the vice of gluttony; and amongst the rest, Buonaggiunta of Lucca, with whom our Poet converses. Forese then predicts the violent end of Dante's political enemy, Corso, Donati; and when he has quitted them, the Poet, in company with Statius and Virgil, arrives at another tree, from whence issue voices that record ancient examples of gluttony; and proceeding forward, they are directed by an Angel which way to ascend to the next cornice of the mountain.

Our journey was not slacken'd by our talk, Nor yet our talk by journeying. Still we spake, And urged our travel stoutly, like a ship When the wind sits astern. The shadowy forms, That seem'd things dead and dead again, drew in At their deep - delved orbs rare wonder of me, Perceiving I had life; and I my words Continued, and thus spake: "He journeys up Perhaps more tardily than else he would, For others' sake. But tell me, if thou know'st, Where is Piccarda? Tell me, if I see Any of mark, among this multitude Who eye me thus." - "My sister (she for whom,
'Twixt beautiful and good, I cannot say Which name was fitter
) wears e'en now her crown, And triumphs in Olympus.
" Saying this, He added: Since spare diet hath so worn Our semblance out, 'tis lawful here to name Each one. This," and his finger then he raised,
'Is Buonaggiunta, - Buonaggiunta, he Of Lucca: and that face beyond him, pierced Unto a leaner fineness than the rest, Had keeping of the Church; he was of Tours, And purges by wan abstinence away Bolsena's eels and cups of muscadel."

[1: "Buonaggiunta." Buonaggiunta Urbiciani, of Lucca.]

[2:
\"He was of Tours." Simon of Tours became Pope with the title of Martin IV in 1281, and died in 1285.]


He show'd me many others one by one: And all, as they were named, seem'd well content;
For no dark gesture I discern'd in any.
I saw, through hunger, Ubaldino grind

[3: "Ubaldino degli Ubaldini, of Pila, in the Florentine territory.]

His teeth on emptiness; and Boniface, That waved the crozier o'er a numerous flock.
I saw the Marquis, who had time erewhile To swill at Forli with less drought; yet so, Was one ne'er stated. I howe'er, like him That, gazing 'midst a crowd, singles out one, So singled him of Lucca; for methought Was none amongst them took such note of me.
Somewhat I heard him whisper of Gentucca: The sound was indistinct and murmur'd there, Where justice, that so strips them, fix'd her sting.

[4: "Boniface," Archbishop of Ravenna. By Venturi he is called Bonifazio de' Fieschi, a Genoese; by Vellutello, the son of the above - mentioned Ubaldini; and by Landino, Francioso, a Frenchman.]

"Spirit!" said I, "it seems as thou wouldst fain Speak with me. Let me hear thee. Mutual wish To converse prompts, which let us both indulge."

He, answering, straight began: "Woman is born, Whose brow no wimple shades yet, that shall make My city please thee, blame it as they may.
Go then with this forewarning. If aught false My whisper too implied, the event shall tell.
But say, if of a truth I see the man Of that new lay the inventor, which begins With "Ladies, ye that con the lore of love.'"

To whom I thus: "Count of me but as one, Who am the scribe of love; that, when he breathes, Take up my pen, and, as he dictates, write."

"Brother!" said he, "the hindrance, which once held The notary, with Guittone and myself, Short of that new and sweeter style I hear, Is now disclosed: I see how ye your plumes Stretch, as the inditer guides them; which, no question, Ours did not. He that seeks a grace beyond, Sees not the distance parts one style from other."
And, as contented, here he held his peace.

Like as the birds, that winter near the Nile, In squared regiment direct their course, Then stretch themselves in file for speedier flight;
Thus all the tribe of spirits, as they turn'd

Their visage, faster fled, nimble alike Through leanness and desire. And as a man, Tired with the motion of a trotting steed, Slacks pace, and stays behind his company, Till his o'erbreathed lungs keep temperate time;
E'en so Forese let that holy crew Proceed, behind them lingering at my side, And saying: "When shall I again behold thee?"

"How long my life may last," said I, "I know not: This know, how soon soever I return, My wishes will before me have arrived: Sithence the place, where I am set to live, Is, day by day, more scoop'd of all its good;
And dismal ruin seems to threaten it,
".

[5: "The place." Florence.]

"Go now," he cried: "lo! he, whose guilt is most, Passes before my vision, dragg'd at heels Of an infuriate beast. Toward the vale, Where guilt hath no redemption, on its speeds, Each step increasing swiftness on the last;
Until a blow it strikes, that leaveth him A corse most vilely shatter'd. No long space Those wheels have yet to roll," (therewith his eyes Look'd up to Heaven,) "ere thou shalt plainly see That which my words may not more plainly tell.
I quit thee: time is precious here: I lose Too much, thus measuring my pace with thine."

[6: "He." Corso Donati was suspected of aiming at the sovereignty of Florence. To escape the fury of his fellow - citizens, he fled away on horseback, but falling, was overtaken and slain, A.d. 1308. The contemporary annalist, after relating at length the circumstances of his fate, adds, "that he was one of the wisest and most valorous knights, the best speaker, the most expert statesman, the most renowned and enterprising man of his age in Italy, a comely knight and of graceful carriage, but very worldly, and in his time had formed many conspiracies in Florence, and entered into many scandalous practices for the sake of attaining state and lordship." G. Villani, lib. v.]

As from a troop of well - rank'd chivalry, One knight, more enterprising than the rest, Pricks forth at gallop, eager to display His prowess in the first encounter proved;
So parted he from us, with lengthen'd strides;
And left me on the way with those twain spirits, Who were such mighty marshals of the world.

When he beyond us had so fled, mine eyes No nearer reach'd him, than my thoughts his words, The branches of another fruit, thick hung, And blooming fresh, appear'd. E'en as our steps Turn'd thither; not far off, it rose to view.
Beneath it were a multitude, that raised Their hands, and shouted forth I know not what Unto the boughs; like greedy and fond brats, That beg, and answer none obtain from him, Of whom they beg; but more to draw them on, He, at arm's length, the object of their wish Above them holds aloft, and hides it not.

At length, as undeceived, they went their way: And we approach the tree, whom vows and tears Sue to in vain; the mighty tree. "Pass on, And come not near. Stands higher up the wood, Wher Eve tasted: and from it was ta'en This plant." Such sounds from midst the thickets came Whence I, with either bard, close to the side That rose, pass'd forth beyond. "Remember," next We heard, "those unblest creatures of the clouds, How they their twofold bosoms, overgorged, Opposed on fight to Theseus: call to mind The Hebrews, how, effeminate, they stoop'd To ease their thirst; whence Gideon's ranks were thinn'd, As he to Midian march'd adown the hills."

[7: The Centaurs.]

[8: Judges, vii.]

Thus near one border coasting, still we heard The sins of gluttony, with woe erewhile Reguerdon'd. Then along the lonely path, Once more at large, full thousand paces on We travel'd, each contemplative and mute.

"Why pensive journey so ye three alone?"
thus suddenly a voice exclaim'd: whereat I shook, as doth a scared and paltry beast;
Then raised my head, to look from whence it came.

Was ne'er, in furnace, glass, or metal, seen So bright and glowing red, as was the shape I now beheld. "If ye desire to mount,"
He cried; "here must ye turn. This way he goes,

Who goes in quest of peace.
" His countenance Had dazzled me; and to my guides I faced Backward, like one who walks as sound directs.

As when, to harbinger the dawn, springs up On Freshen'd wing the air of May, and breathes Of fragrance, all impregn'd with herb and flowers;
E'en such a wind I felt upon my front Blow gently, and the moving of a wing Perceived, that, moving, shed ambrosial smell;
And then a voice: "Blessed are they, whom grace Doth so illume, that appetite in them Exhaleth no inordinate desire, Still hungering as the rule of temperance wills."
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