INFERNO CANTO 27 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	Notes	Ann.
The flame already was erect and silent- it had no more to say. Now it had left us with the permission of the gentle poet, ALREADY was the flame erect and quiet, To speak no more, and now departed from us With the permission of the gentle Poet;	27.001 27.003
when, just behind it, came another flame that drew our eyes to watch its tip because of the perplexing sound that it sent forth. When yet another, which behind it came, Caused us to turn our eyes upon its top By a confused sound that issued from it.	27.006
Even as the Sicilian bull (that first had bellowed with the cry-and this was just- of him who shaped it with his instruments) As the Sicilian bull (that bellowed first With the lament of him, and that was right, Who with his file had modulated it)	27.007 27.009
would always bellow with its victim's voice, so that, although that bull was only brass, it seemed as if it were pierced through by pain; Bellowed so with the voice of the afflicted, That, notwithstanding it was made of brass, Still it appeared with agony transfixed;	27.012
so were the helpless words that, from the first, had found no path or exit from the flame, transformed into the language of the fire. Thus, by not having any way or issue At first from out the fire, to its own language Converted were the melancholy words.	27.015
But after they had found their way up toward the tip, and given it that movement which the tongue had given them along their passage, But afterwards, when they had gathered way Up through the point, giving it that vibration The tongue had given them in their passage out,	27.018
we heard: "O you to whom I turn my voice, who only now were talking Lombard, saying, 'Now you may leave-I'll not provoke more speech,' We heard it said: "O thou, at whom I aim My voice, and who but now wast speaking Lombard, Saying, ' Now go thy way, no more I urge thee,'	27.021
though I have come perhaps a little late, may it not trouble you to stop and speak with me; see how I stay-and I am burning! Because I come perchance a little late, To stay and speak with me let it not irk thee; Thou seest it irks not me, and I am burning.	27.024
If you have fallen into this blind world but recently, out of the sweet Italian country from which I carry all my guilt, If thou but lately into this blind world Hast fallen down from that sweet Latian land, Wherefrom I bring the whole of my transgression,	27.027
do tell me if the Romagnoles have peace or war; I was from there-the hills between Urbino and the ridge where Tiber springs." Say, if the Romagnuols have peace or war, For I was from the mountains there between Urbino and the yoke whence Tiber bursts."	27.028 27.029 27.030
I still was bent, attentive, over him, when my guide nudged me lightly at the side and said: "You speak; he is Italian." I still was downward bent and listening, When my Conductor touched me on the side, Saying: "Speak thou: this one a Latian is."	27.033
And I, who had my answer set already, without delay began to speak to him: "O soul that is concealed below in flame, And I, who had beforehand my reply In readiness, forthwith began to speak: "O soul, that down below there art concealed,	27.036
Romagna is not now and never was quite free of war inside its tyrants' hearts; but when I left her, none had broken out. Romagna thine is not and never has been Without war in the bosom of its tyrants; But open war I none have left there now.	27.039
Ravenna stands as it has stood for years; the eagle of Polenta shelters it and also covers Cervia with his wings. Ravenna stands as it long years has stood; The Eagle of Polenta there is brooding, So that she covers Cervia with her vans.	27.040 27.041 27.042
The city that already stood long trial and made a bloody heap out of the French, now finds itself again beneath green paws. The city which once made the long resistance, And of the French a sanguinary heap, Beneath the Green Paws finds itself again;	27.043 27.045
Both mastiffs of Verruchio, old and new, who dealt so badly with Montagna, use thier teeth to bore where they have always gnawed. Verrucchio's ancient Mastiff and the new, Who made such bad disposal of Montagna, Where they are wont make wimbles of their teeth.	27.046 27.048
The cities on Lamone and Santerno are led by the young lion of the white lair; from summer unto winter, he shifts factions. The cities of Lamone and Santerno Governs the Lioncel of the white lair, Who changes sides 'twixt summer-time and winter;	27.049 27.051
That city with its side bathed by the Savio, just as it lies between the plain and mountain, lives somewhere between tyranny and freedom. And that of which the Savio bathes the flank, Even as it lies between the plain and mountain, Lives between tyranny and a free state.	27.052 27.054
And now, I pray you, tell me who you are: do not be harder than I've been with you, that in the world your name may still endure." Now I entreat thee tell us who thou art; Be not more stubborn than the rest have been, So may thy name hold front there in the world."	27.057
After the flame, in customary fashion, had roared awhile, it moved its pointed tip this side and that and then set free this breath: After the fire a little more had roared In its own fashion, the sharp point it moved This way and that, and then gave forth such breath:	27.060
"If I thought my reply were meant for one who ever could return into the world, this flame would stir no more; and yet, since none- "If I believed that my reply were made To one who to the world would e'er return, This flame without more flickering would stand still;	27.063
if what I hear is true-ever returned alive from this abyss, then without fear of facing infamy, I answer you. But inasmuch as never from this depth Did any one return, if I hear true, Without the fear of infamy I answer,	27.066
I was a man of arms, then wore the cord, believing that, so girt, I made amends; and surely what I thought would have been true I was a man of arms, then Cordelier, Believing thus begirt to make amends; And truly my belief had been fulfilled	27.067 27.069
had not the Highest Priest-may he be damned!- made me fall back into my former sins; and how and why, I'd have you hear from me. But for the High Priest, whom may ill betide, Who put me back into my former sins; And how and wherefore I will have thee hear.	27.070 27.072
While I still had the form of bones and flesh my mother gave to me, my deeds were not those of the lion but those of the fox. While I was still the form of bone and pulp My mother gave to me, the deeds I did Were not those of a lion, but a fox.	27.075
The wiles and secret ways-I knew them all and so employed their arts that my renown had reached the very boundaries of earth. The machinations and the covert ways I knew them all, and practised so their craft, That to the ends of earth the sound went forth.	27.078
But when I saw myself come to that part of life when it is fitting for all men to lower sails and gather in their ropes, When now unto that portion of mine age I saw myself arrived, when each one ought To lower the sails, and coil away the ropes,	27.081
what once had been my joy was now dejection; repenting and confessing, I became a friar; and- poor me-it would have helped. That which before had pleased me then displeased me; And penitent and confessing I surrendered, Ah woe is me ! and it would have bestead me;	27.084
The prince of the new Pharisees, who then was waging war so near the Lateran- and not against the Jews or Saracens, The Leader of the modern Pharisees Having a war near unto Lateran, And not with Saracens nor with the Jews,	27.086 27.087
for every enemy of his was Christian, and none of them had gone to conquer Acre or been a trader in the Sultan's lands- For each one of his enemies was Christian, And none of them had been to conquer Acre, Nor merchandising in the Sultan's land,	27.090
took no care for the highest office or the holy orders that were his, or for my cord, which used to make its wearers leaner. Nor the high office, nor the sacred orders, In him regarded, nor in me that cord Which used to make those girt with it more meagre;	27.093
But just as Constantine, on Mount Soracte, to cure his leprosy, sought out Sylvester, so this one sought me out as his instructor, But even as Constantine sought out Sylvester To cure his leprosy, within Soracte, So this one sought me out as an adept	27.094 27.096
to ease the fever of his arrogance. He asked me to give counsel. I was silent- his words had seemed to me delirious. To cure him of the fever of his pride. Counsel he asked of me, and I was silent, Because his words appeared inebriate.	27.099
And then he said: 'Your heart must not mistrust: I now absolve you in advance-teach me to batter Penestrino to the ground. And then he said: ' Be not thy heart afraid; Henceforth I thee absolve; and thou instruct me How to raze Palestrina to the ground.	27.102
You surely know that I possess the power to lock and unlock Heaven; for the keys my predecessor did not prize are two.' Heaven have I power to lock and to unlock, As thou dost know; therefore the keys are two, The which my predecessor held not dear.'	27.105
Then his grave arguments compelled me so, my silence seemed a worse offense than speech, and I said: 'Since you cleanse me of the sin Then urged me on his weighty arguments There, where my silence was the worst advice; And said I: ' Father, since thou washest me	27.108
that I must now fall into, Father, know: long promises and very brief fulfillments will bring a victory to your high throne.' Of that sin into which I now must fall, The promise long with the fulfilment short Will make thee triumph in thy lofty seat.'	27.111
Then Francis came, as soon as I was dead, for me; but one of the black cherubim told him: 'Don't bear him off; do not cheat me. Francis came afterward, when I was dead, For me; but one of the black Cherubim Said to him: ' Take him not; do me no wrong;	27.114
He must come down among my menials; the counsel that he gave was fraudulent; since then, I've kept close track, to snatch his scalp; He must come down among my servitors, Because he gave the fraudulent advice From which time forth I have been at his hair;	27.117
one can't absolve a man who's not repented, and no one can repent and will at once; the law of contradiction won't allow it.' For who repents not cannot be absolved, Nor can one both repent and will at once, Because of the contradiction which consents not.	27.118 27.120
O miserable me, for how I started when he took hold of me and said: 'Perhaps you did not think that I was a logician!' O miserable me ! how I did shudder When he seized on me, saying: ' Peradventure Thou didst not think that I was a logician ! '	27.123
He carried me to Minos; and that monster twisted his tail eight times around his hide and then, when he had bit it in great anger, He bore me unto Minos, who entwined Eight times his tail about his stubborn back, And after he had bitten it in great rage,	27.126
announced: 'This one is for the thieving fire'; for which-and where, you see-I now am lost, and in this garb I move in bitterness." Said: ' Of the thievish fire a culprit this ;' Wherefore, here where thou seest, am I lost, And vested thus in going I bemoan me."	27.129
And when, with this, his words were at an end, the flame departed, sorrowing and writhing and tossing its sharp horn. We moved beyond; When it had thus completed its recital, The flame departed uttering lamentations, Writhing and flapping its sharp-pointed horn.	27.132
I went together with my guide, along the ridge until the other arch that bridges the ditch where payment is imposed on those Onward we passed, both I and my Conductor, Up o'er the crag above another arch, Which the moat covers, where is paid the fee	27.135
who, since they brought such discord, bear such loads. By those who, sowing discord, win their burden.	27.136

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