And I: "Good Leader, I but keep concealed
From thee my heart, that I may speak the less, 20
Nor only now hast thou thereto disposed me."
"O Tuscan, thou who through the city of fire
Goest alive, thus speaking modestly,
Be pleased to stay thy footsteps in this place.
Thy mode of speaking makes thee manifest 25
A native of that noble fatherland,
To which perhaps I too molestful was."
Upon a sudden issued forth this sound
From out one of the tombs; wherefore I pressed,
Fearing, a little nearer to my Leader. 30
And unto me he said: "Turn thee; what dost thou?
Behold there Farinata who has risen;
From the waist upwards wholly shalt thou see him."
I had already fixed mine eyes on his,
And he uprose erect with breast and front 35
E'en as if Hell he had in great despite.
And with courageous hands and prompt my Leader
Thrust me between the sepulchres towards him,
Exclaiming, "Let thy words explicit be."
As soon as I was at the foot of his tomb, 40
Somewhat he eyed me, and, as if disdainful,
Then asked of me, "Who were thine ancestors?"
Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/78
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58
The Divine Comedy
