Soon as my answer fell upon their ear,
Sordello and the spirit backward drew,
Like persons suddenly assail'd by fear.
One turn'd to Virgil ;- one address'd a shade
Who sat there, crying: "Conrad, up, and view
The grace of God here signally display'd."
Accosting me:-' 'By that great debt you owe
To Him who hides from all his secret way,
Unfordable to mortal man below-

66

When you have cross'd again the swelling main,
Bid my Giovanna that for me she pray

To Him from whom the pure an answer gain.
The love that erst to me her mother bare,

61

67

73

Was quench'd, the day she doff'd her widow's dress, Which, in affliction now, she fain would wear.

This instance doth enable us to see

How long in woman lasts love's flame, unless
The sight and touch relume it frequently.

So fair a sepulture will ne'er confer

The viper, which the field of Milan shows,
As would Gallura's bird have granted her."
As thus he spoke, his countenance exprest
The stamp of that indignant zeal, which glows
With well attemper'd ardour in the breast.

79

On heaven meanwhile was fix'd my eager eye,

Where move the stars with slower impulse roll'd,
Like to those spokes which near the axle lie.

My son, why look'st thou up?" the guide enquired.
I answer'd: "Those three torches to behold,

With which the pole above throughout is fired."
Then he to me: "The four bright stars survey'd

This morn by thee, have yonder sunk below,
And these thou seest have now risen up instead.”
Him, as he spoke, Sordello nearer drew,
Exclaiming: "There behold our dreaded foe,"
Pointing the finger to direct his view.
On that side of the little vale where stood

No fence, a serpent lay,—perhaps the same
Which tempted Eve to pluck the bitter food.
Among the herbs and flowers his wily track
The snake pursued, oft turning as he came

His head, and licking, like a beast, his back. I saw not, and I therefore cannot tell

When moved those hawks celestial-but that they

Had left their station, I discern'd full well. Hearing their verdant pinions cleave the air, The serpent flies :-the Angels turn away, And to their posts with equal flight repair.

85

91

97

103

That shade, which to the Judge, when call'd, drew nigh,

Throughout the whole of this affray, had still
Ne'er ceased to fix on me his stedfast eye.
He then began: "Sufficient wax so may

The lamp that guides thee find in thy free will,
Far as the flowery height to speed thy way,
As any certain news thou may'st relate

Of Valdimagra, or that country near,

Where I, in days now pass'd away, was great : Conrado Malaspina was my name—

Sprung from the elder one :—the love I bare To mine own race, here burns with purer flame." “Oh, never have I seen thy land,” I said;

110

115

121

"But where throughout all Europe may be found The spot to which thy glory hath not spread? The fame that o'er your house such lustre throws Makes both its nobles and the land renown'd; E'en he who ne'er was there, their greatness knows.

I swear by all my hopes to mount on high

The name your offspring won, both by the sword
And generous deeds, they do not now belie.
Habit and nature have such grace bestow'd,
That though the world pursues a vicious Lord,
Upright alone, they spurn the evil road."

127

"Wherefore proceed, for in that couch,” he said, "Which Aries doth with his four feet impress, Sev'n times shall not the sun repose his head, Ere the kind sentiment thou dost profess

Shall in thy head be fix'd with firmer nail Than by the force of others' speech, unless The unerring course of heavenly Justice fail."

133

NOTES.

66

Page 68. (Line 1.) "The poet describes the hour of evening; but the circumstances which accompany the principal idea, render this description so divine, that how often soever one reads it, the same feelings that touched the heart of the poet are constantly renewed.”—Biagioli, By digressions similar to this, introduced without apparent art or effort, Dante interests us for all mankind, whilst Petrarch, being interested only about himself, alludes to men at sea at eventide, only to excite greater compassion for his own sufferings."-Ugo Foscolo. Parallel between Dante and Petrarch. See Lord Byron's translation of this celebrated passage. Don Juan, c. iii. st. 108. The imitation of the fifth line by Gray, in his Elegy, is well known. "The curfew tolls the knell of parting day." (11.) "This is according to the custom of the ancient Christians, who, praying by night, recognized in the rising sun a representation of Jesus Christ.”— Venturi. "Not even the pencil of Raphael himself could have

given a more perfect picture of a supplicating soul, wholly absorbed in heavenly contemplation, than Dante has done in these three lines."-Lombardi.

Page 69. (Line 13.) "Te lucis ante terminum," are the first words of a hymn of the church, imploring protection during the night against evil spirits. It refers here to the serpent, who, line 98, every night infested the valley. (17.) The wheels aloft mean the heavenly spheres. (19.) Lombardi, with high praise from Mr. Cary, interprets the passage thus-that the song "Te lucis ante," having a reference to corporeal beings, the spirits offered up this petition, not on their own account, but on ours. See canto xi. 22. Lombardi adds: "As, therefore, if we look through a very fine veil, the sight easily passes on without perceiving it, to objects that lie on the other side; so here the poet fears that our mind's eye may insensibly pass on to contemplate these spirits, as if they were praying for the relief of their own wants; without discovering the veil of our wants, with which they invest themselves in the act of offering up their prayer." (26.) "The two swords with broken points and blunted edges represent justice, mingled with mercy."— Landino. (28.) "The green garments and wings of the Angels are intended to inspire these spirits with hope."-Lombardi. (36.) Thus Milton,

"As with an object that excels the sense

Dazzled and spent."

Par. Lost. viii. 456.

Page 70. (Line 39.) "Mary's bosom," means that part of heaven where Mary dwells. (53.) Nino di Gallura was a powerful chief of Pisa, and Lord or Judge of Gallura in Sardinia. See note, line 73.

Page 71. (Line 65.) The moment that Dante had said he was alive, line 59, Sordello and Nino drew back in astonish