Paradiso (23 page)

Read Paradiso Online

Authors: Dante

BOOK: Paradiso
8.24Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub

               
I will not ever think it strange,

               
for there, where appetite is never warped—

6
             
in, I mean, the heavens themselves—I gloried in you too.

               
You are indeed a cloak that quickly shrinks,   

               
so that, if we do not add to it day by day,

9
             
time trims the edges with its shears.

               
With that
You
which had its origin in Rome   

               
and which her offspring least preserve by use,

12
           
I once again began to speak,

               
and Beatrice, who stood somewhat apart,   

               
smiled, like the lady who discreetly coughed

15
           
at the first fault inscribed of Guinevere.

               
I began: ‘You are my father,   

   

               
You prompt me to speak with bold assurance.   

18
           
You raise me up, so I am more than I.

               
‘My mind is flooded by such rivers of delight   

               
that it exults it has not burst

21
           
with so much happiness and joy.

               
‘Tell me then, belovèd stock from which I spring,   

               
who were Your ancestors, and say what were the years

24
           
written in the record of Your childhood.

               
‘Tell me of the sheepfold of Saint John,

               
how many people lived there and who among them

27
           
were worthy of its highest offices.’

               
As embers leap to flame on a puff of wind,   

               
I watched that light become resplendent

30
           
at my respectful and persuasive words.

               
And as it became more pleasing to my sight,

               
so, with a voice more sweet and gentle,

33
           
but not in this our modern tongue,   

               
he said: ‘From the day
Ave
was first spoken   

               
until the birthpangs by which my mother,

36
           
now blessed, was lightened of me, her burden,

               
‘this fiery star came to its Lion   

               
five hundred fifty times and thirty more

39
           
to be rekindled underneath its paw.

               
‘My ancestors and I were born just where   

               
the horsemen in your yearly race

42
           
first come upon the farthest district.   

               
‘Let that be enough for you about my forebears.   

               
As to who they were and where they came from,

45
           
it is more modest to be silent than to speak.

               
‘All who lived there then, fit to bear arms,   

               
and who dwelt between Mars and the Baptist,   

48
           
amounted to a fifth of those who live there now,

               
‘but the city’s bloodline, now mixed

               
with that of Campi, of Certaldo, and Figline,   

51
           
was then found pure in the humblest artisan.   

               
‘Ah, how much better would it be   

               
had those cities which I name remained but neighbors,

54
           
had you kept your borders at Galluzzo and Trespiano,

               
‘than to have them in your midst and bear the stench

               
of the lout from Aguglion and of him from Signa

57
           
who already has so sharp an eye for graft!

               
‘If that tribe, which is the most degenerate   

               
in all the world, had not been like a stepmother   

60
           
to Caesar, but kind as a mother to her son,

               
‘there is one, become a Florentine, who is in trade   

               
and changes money, who would be sent straight back

63
           
to Semifonte, where his granddad scoured the country.

               
‘Montemurlo would still owe fealty to the Conti,   

               
the Cerchi would be in the parish of Acone,

66
           
and the Buondelmonti might remain in Valdigreve.

               
‘Intermingling of peoples has ever been   

               
the source of all the city’s ills,

69
           
as eating in excess is to the body.

               
‘A blind bull is more prone to fall

               
than a blind lamb, and frequently a single sword

72
           
cuts deeper and more sharp than five.

               
‘If you consider Luni, Urbisaglia—   

               
how they’ve ceased to be—and how Chiusi

75
           
and Senigallia soon will join them,

               
‘then to hear how families come to nothing

               
will not seem strange or difficult to grasp,

78
           
since even cities cease to be.

               
‘All your concerns are mortal, even as are you,

               
but in some things that are more lasting

81
           
this lies hidden, because all lives are brief.

               
‘And, as the turning of the lunar sphere covers   

               
and endlessly uncovers the edges of the shore,

84
           
thus does fortune deal with Florence.

               
‘Then it should not seem strange or marvelous to you

               
to hear me talk of noble Florentines,

87
           
whose fame is buried in the depth of time.

               
‘I saw the Ughi, I saw the Catellini,   

               
Filippi, Greci, Ormanni and Alberichi,

90
           
illustrious citizens already in decline,

               
‘and I saw, as great as they were ancient,

               
dell’Arca alongside della Sannella,

93
           
and Soldanieri and Ardinghi and Bostichi.

               
‘Over the gate, which today is weighed down   

               
with such burden of new and unspeakable treachery

96
           
that some cargo soon shall be hurled from the ship,

               
‘lived the Ravignani, from whom Count Guido

               
and all those who since have taken their name

99
           
from the noble Bellincione are descended.

               
‘The Della Pressa already knew the way to rule,

               
and in their house the Galigaio already had   

102
         
the gilded hilt and pommel.

               
‘Great already was the stripe of fur,   

               
great were the Sacchetti, Giuochi, Fifanti, Barucci,

105
         
Galli, and those who blush because of the bushel.   

               
‘The stock from which the Calfucci sprang

               
was already great, and already called

108
         
to the seats of power were Sizii and Arrigucci.

               
‘Ah, in what glory I saw those,   

               
now quite undone by pride! And the golden balls

111
         
made Florence flower with all their glorious deeds.

               
‘Thus did the fathers of those who now,   

               
whenever your church needs to fill the bishop’s seat,

114
         
fatten themselves by sitting long in council.

               
‘The proud and insolent race, playing the dragon   

               
at the back of him who flees, but mild as a lamb

117
         
to him who shows his teeth—or else his purse,

               
‘was already on the rise, but of mean stock,

               
so that it gave no joy to Ubertin Donato

120
         
when his father-in-law made him their kinsman.

               
‘The Caponsacchi had already made their way

               
from Fiesole to the marketplace, and both Giuda

123
         
and Infangato were already citizens of note.

               
‘I will tell a thing incredible but true:   

               
The old city walls were entered through a gate

126
         
that took its name from the della Pera.

               
‘Everyone bearing the noble coat of arms   

               
of the great baron whose name and praise

129
         
are celebrated at the feast of Thomas

               
‘had from him their knighthood and their privilege,

               
although he that decks it with a golden fringe

132
         
today takes the side of the common folk.

               
‘Gualterotti and Importuni were already there,   

               
and the Borgo would even now be more at peace

135
         
had they been left hungry for new neighbors.

               
‘The house that is the wellspring of your tears,   

   

               
whose just disdain brought death among you

138
         
and put an end to your lighthearted life,

               
‘was honored then, both it and its allies.   

               
O Buondelmonte, how ill-fated that you fled

141
         
those nuptials at another’s urging!

               
‘Many would be happy who now grieve

               
if God had let the river Ema take you

144
         
the first time that you came into our town.

Other books

Dead Letters Anthology by Conrad Williams
The Great Influenza by John M Barry
The Twilight War by Simon Higgins
The Milliner's Secret by Natalie Meg Evans
Silver Phoenix by Pon, Cindy.
Jubilee by Patricia Reilly Giff
The Devil's Third by Ford, Rebekkah
Habit by Susan Morse