"Not quite so ready was it," he rejoin'd, "When to the flames they bore you tightly bound, Though still more ready was it when you coin'd." He with the dropsy: "Now your speech is true;— But not so true a witness were you found, When of the truth at Troy they question'd you." "If I spake false, you falsely coin'd,” replied Sinon," and here for but one fault am I, While you for more than any fiend beside." "Remember, perjured one, the horse at Troy ;" Answer'd the spirit of the stomach high; "That thou art guilty knows each puny boy." "Proof of thy guilt thy gaping mouth supplies," The Greek retorted, "and that ample fount Rear'd by thy tumid paunch before thine eyes." The coiner then: "So runs your tongue-the same To utter evil as 'twas ever wont ; And if I thirst, and moisture swells my frame, Nor pressing invitation would you need, To quarrel with thee am I much inclined," 109 115 121 127 When I perceived him speak in angry strain, My mind for aye the impression will retain. 133 Which, as he dreams, he hopes may prove a dream, Een by the wish to palliate what I'd done, My master said: "Less shame would wash away If e'er again thou happen to be placed Where, in like strife, each other, men deride:The wish to hear them shows a vulgar taste." NOTES. 139 145 Page 261. (Line 4.) Of Athamas, see Ovid, Met. iv. 511. Page 262. (Line 28.) Capocchio is the alchymist of Siena, mentioned in the last canto, line 136. (31.) The Aretine is Griffolino, the alchymist. See last canto, line 109. (32.) Gianni Schicchi was a Florentine gentleman of the family of Cavalcanti, so great a master in the art of counterfeiting, that when Buoso Donati died, Gianni was requested by the son, Simon Donati, his intimate friend, to personate the deceased, and write a will in his favour; for which important service he received a most beautiful mare. See line 43. (34.) The "other" is presently stated to be Myrrha.-Ovid. Met. x. 318. Page 264. (Line 61.) Adamo was a Brescian, burnt for counterfeiting the coin of Florence, at the instigation of Guido Alessandro, and Aghinolfo, counts of Romena. (70.) “Justice in hell rules alone, without the allay and sweet abatements of mercy. They shall have pure and unvarying misery-no pleasant thoughts to refresh them-no comfort in another accident, to alleviate their pressures-no water to cool their flames."-Jeremy Taylor. Sermon xix. 2nd part. (78.)" We were obliged to put up at a solitary inn called Uomo Morto, an object as woful in aspect as in name. This it derives from the execution of a coiner whom Dante has packed among the damned as an accomplice to the three counts of Romena. The castle of Romena mentioned there, line 73, is a fine Gothic ruin, standing on a precipice about a mile from our inn; near it is a spring called Fonte Branda. Now might I presume to differ from his commentators, Dante, in my opinion, does not mean the great fountain of Siena, but rather this obscure spring."-Forsyth. Italy, p. 92. Page 266. (Line 114.) From Virgil. Æn. ii. 149. 66 'Mihique hæc edissere vera roganti : Quo molem hanc immanis equi statuere? quis auctor ? Quidve petunt? quæ religio, aut quæ machina belli?" (129.) Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in water. Page 267. (Line 148.) "Nihil viro bono et quieto magis convenit quam abesse a controversiis."-Cicero. CANTO XXXI. ARGUMENT. APPROACHING the ninth circle, divided into four rounds, Dante fancies he sees it surrounded by lofty towers. Virgil undeceives him, and informs him they are giants. Nimrod, Ephialtes, Briareus. Antæus takes both the poets in his arms, and places them at the bottom of the circle. THE very tongue whose sharp rebuke had dyed Thus have I heard Achilles' lance possest A charmed power, as erst his father's too, Inflicting wounds it presently redrest. Turning our backs upon the vale of woe, Mounted we then the circumambient height, In silence leaving the abyss below. Here less than day, and less than night we found; But through the gloom I heard a horn resound, 1 7 Such as would make the loudest thunder hoarse : Wherefore I turn'd mine eyes to whence it came, Not that destructive day of carnage past, When Charlemagne had lost his sacred aim- 13 Then towards the place I somewhat raised my head; 19 And many a lofty tower I seem'd to view: "O master, what new land is this?" I said. "Athwart the dusky air so long the way, Thy sight," he answer'd, "well may be untrue; But thou wilt see, if there thou should arrive, How much deceived by distance is the sense; Wherefore to gain a nearer prospect strive.” Then tenderly he took me by the hand, 25 And said: “Ere we pursue our journey hence As when a mist dispersing-melts away, |