Page 99. (Line 88.) Dante puts together the Prodigals and Usurers-" Quid enim differt, barathroni Dones quicquid habes, an nunquam utare paratis?" Horace, Sat. ii. 3, 166— From these, who are guilty through wilfulness, are removed to a lesser punishment, those who have been led astray by their passions. (91.) This invocation is made to Virgil. (98.) Aristotle, Physics, ii. 2. (105.) "Because Art being the daughter of Nature, and Nature of God, Art becomes in a certain manner the grand-daughter of the same God." Aless. Guarini. Il Farnatico Savio. Opere di Tasso, 4to. vol. xii. (106.) i. e. If you consider that God, in the Book of Genesis, enjoins man to work for his daily bread."

Page 100. (Line 110.) This is the solution of the question, line 96. (114.) Caurus is the north-west wind: Charles's Wain-the constellation Bootes, or the Great Bear. Judging from the hours which were past, Virgil concludes it must be near morning in this world, and therefore time to proceed.

CANTO XII.

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Be

ARGUMENT.

DESCENT into the seventh circle, guarded by the Minotaur. The Violent are punished in a river of blood. Three Centaurs oppose the progress of the poets across it, but are appeased by Virgil, who prevails upon Nessus to carry Dante

over.

ROUGH was the stair we came to; and there lay

Upon the brink such object terrible

As every eye

would shudder to survey.

Like to the cliff, which, or by earthquake riven,
Or wanting prop, on this side Trento fell
Into the Adice, with such ruin driven,

That from the summit of the mountain, down

E'en to the plain, might scarce be found a way
For travellers standing on that rocky crown;

So rough and rugged was this broken stair:
And on the precipice's margin lay
The infamy of Crete, extended there,

E

Who in the fictious heifer was conceived:

And seeing us, he bit himself in spleen, Like one whose breast with inward rage is heaved. Him in these words my sapient guide address'd: "The Duke of Athens here thou think'st, I ween, Who erst on earth thy violence laid to rest : Begone, foul beast-for he before thy sight

Doth to thy sister no instruction'owe,

But hither wends to view thy wretched plight."
E'en as a bull springs up in wild despair

The instant he receives the mortal blow,—
Nor yet moves on, but staggers here and there;
So did the Minotaur impetuous leap.

My guide aware, cried: "To the pass retreat;
And while he storms, do thou descend the steep."
Thus we proceeded down the rocks that lay

In broken fragments, and beneath my feet
At such unwonted burden oft gave way.
Musing I went; then said he: "Haply thou

Art pondering on the steep and broken road,
Guarded by that brute fury vanquished now.
Know, that when heretofore I made descent
Hence downward to hell's more profound abode,
This rock was not from its foundation rent.

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31

An

Th

But look where through the vale beneath doth run
Yon stream of blood, in which those spirits boil T
Who harm to others have by violence done."
O blind desire! O foolish wrath, that so49
Dost spur us onward in our short-lived race,
And then for ever plungest us in woe!

An ample trench before me I descried,

Curved, as though all the plain it would embrace,Thus answering the description of my guide. Betwixt the bank and it (a narrow space)

Ran Centaurs, one by one, with shafts in hand, As erst on earth they issued to the chase. Perceiving us, they all their course restrain'd, While three advanced, dividing from the band, With bows and winged arrows first obtain'd.

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And one cried out from far: "Ye who descend- 61
What penance come ye hither to receive?

Tell me,—but stir not, or the bow I bend.”
My master said: "The answer you desire,

From whence we are, to Chiron will we give :

Your mind was ever ready to take fire.”

Then touching me :

"See Nessus there below,

Who for the fair Deianira died,

And in his death took vengeance on his foe.

He in the centre, looking on his breast,

Is Chiron, of Achilles' youth the guide:
The other Pholus, by such wrath possess'd.
Thousands by thousands round the foss they flit,
And dart their arrows at each soul they watch
Emerging higher than his crimes admit."
When to those rapid beasts we nearer drew,

Chiron an arrow took, and with the notch

His shaggy beard behind the cheekbone threw :
And opening his enormous mouth, anon

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"Are ye aware," his comrades he address'd,

"That he behind, moves what he treads upon?
Not this the case, I ween, with spirit's feet."
Then said my faithful guide (who at his breast
Was standing now, where both the natures meet) :