the state in which she was left by the Goths, unless his statue were restored. And Villani adds, as a curious fact, "that the year before the unhappy division of the Guelf party into the Neri and Bianchi took place, the new house for the Priors was built at the foot of the Ponte Vecchio, in doing which they removed the statue of Mars, so as to change the front of it. Hence, alluding to the ancient legend relative to this statue, it was said, Please God that our city may not undergo great changes.'"-Book viii. c. 37. (149.) Dante, contrary to the opinion of historians, says that Attila destroyed Florence. He certainly destroyed many Italian cities, and is punished for his violence, canto xii. 134, where he is called the scourge of earth. Villani, however, says it was Totila who destroyed Florence. The Florentines are here satirized for having offended both their protectors, by their evil practices, and rendered themselves unworthy the guardianship of St. John the Baptist.

CANTO XIV.

ARGUMENT.

B

O

Of

DANTE enters upon the third division of the seventh circle-a plain of burning sand, in which are punished those who have committed violence against God. Capaneus. An enumeration of the infernal rivers.

Son

1

Mo

I gather'd up the leaves before us strown,
And render'd back to him, who now was hoarse.

Then came we to a boundary, which parts

O'er

The third and second circles, where are shown

As A

Know that we reach'd a wide and desert ground,
That spurns each plant from its ungenial breast:
This plain is compass'd by the mournful wood;
And that is circled by the foss profound:
Here on the very edge of both we stood.

Of

De

And

Th

Les

Before us lay a thick and arid sand,
Resembling in appearance that of old

Trodden by Cato and his martial band.

O heavenly Vengeance! how should'st thou be fear'd
By every one who reads what I unfold,--
As to mine eyes distinctly it appear'd.
Of naked spirits many a flock I saw,

Who all most wretchedly bewail'd their fate;
And each seem'd govern'd by a different law.
Some lay supine upon the heated plain;

And some, their limbs all drawn together, sate;
While others never ceased to pace amain.

13

19

More numerous far were these who moved around, 25
And fewer those who prostrate met their woe;
But their lament burst forth with louder sound.

O'er all the sandy desert, falling slow,

Were shower'd dilated flakes of fire, like snow On Alpine summits, when the wind is low. As Alexander in the glowing lands

Of Eastern Ind, saw solid balls of fire Descend in showers upon his warrior bands; And order'd straight, with provident command, That each should trample on the vapours dire, Lest they unite and spread o'er all the sand; ;

31

Fell thus eternally the fiery rain :

Whence, like to tinder under flint and steel, The soil was kindled to augment their pain. In ceaseless motion and perpetual play

Their wretched hands on either side they wheel,

The still descending flames to drive away.

Then I "O Master, thou who vanquishest

:

All foes, except the demons I descried

Fierce at the gate our entrance to contestWhat giant that-on whom the fire flakes fall As if he reck'd not ;-scoffing in his pride, As though no tempest could his soul appal ?" Lo, at my words he raised his voice on high,

(For that of him I spake he knew full well,) "Such as in life I was, in death am I. Though angry Jove his hardy workman tire,

From whom, that fatal day whereon I fell,

He took the bolt that pierced me in his ire;

Or though the rest he at the forge upbraid

In Mongibello, wearied all in turn,

Exclaiming: Haste thee;-aid! good Vulcan, aid!

As once he cried in the Phlegræan fight

And though his fiercest shafts my bosom burn,

S

Its b

W

W

7

With greater vehemence then spake my guide
Than hitherto had e'er been heard by me :

“O Capaneus, in that thy impious pride

61

Thou dost not quench, more pangs doth Heaven assign;
For, save thy rage, no punishment could be

Fit retribution for a wrath like thine."

Turning to me, a milder look he gave ;

67

"Lo one," he cried, "of those seven kings, who erst

Beleaguer'd Thebes; and had, and seems to have, Little respect for his Almighty Lord;

But, as I told him-his own rage accurst

Is to his bosom a deserved reward.

Now come behind me, and beware," he said,

"Thy feet thou set not on the burning sand,

But close along the forest ever tread."

Silent we came to where a little rill,

Gushing from out the wood, runs through the land,
So red-its waters make me shudder still:
E'en as the stream from Bulicame, divided
Among the sinners, doth its course pursue,-
So through the arid sand this river glided.
Its bed and sloping sides along the way
Were petrified, and both the margins too,
Whereon I straight perceived our passage lay.

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