PARADISO CANTO 16 Mandelbaum Tr. and Longfellow Tr.	Notes	Ann.
If here below, where sentiment is far too weak to withstand error, I should see men glorying in you, nobility O THOU our poor nobility of blood, If thou dost make the people glory in thee Down here where our affection languishes,	16.003
of blood-a meager thing!-I should not wonder, for even where desire is not awry, I mean in Heaven, I too felt such pride. A marvellous thing it ne'er will be to me; For there where appetite is not perverted, I say in Heaven, of thee I made a boast!	16.006
You are indeed a cloak that soon wears out, so that if, day by day, we add no patch, then circling time will trim you with its shears. Truly thou art a cloak that quickly shortens, So that unless we piece thee day by day Time goeth round about thee with his shears!	16.009
My speech began again with you, the word that Rome was the first city to allow, although her people seldom speak it now; With You, which Rome was first to tolerate, (Wherein her family less perseveres,) Yet once again my words beginning made;	16.012
at this word, Beatrice, somewhat apart, smiling, seemed like the woman who had coughed- so goes the tale-at Guinevere's first fault. Whence Beatrice, who stood somewhat apart, Smiling, appeared like unto her who coughed At the first failing writ of Guenever.	16.015
So did my speech begin: "You are my father; you hearten me to speak with confidence; you raise me so that I am more than I. And I began: "You are my ancestor, You give to me all hardihood to speak, You lift me so that I am more than I.	16.018
So many streams have filled my mind with gladness- so many, and such gladness, that mind must rejoice that it can bear this and not burst. So many rivulets with gladness fill My mind, that of itself it makes a joy Because it can endure this and not burst.	16.021
Then tell me, founder of my family, who were your ancestors and, in your boyhood, what were the years the records registered; 'Then tell me, my beloved root ancestral, Who were your ancestors, and what the years That in your boyhood chronicled themselves ?	16.024
and tell me of the sheepfold of St. John- how numerous it was, who in that flock were worthy of the highest offices." Tell me about the sheepfold of Saint John, How large it was, and who the people were Within it worthy of the highest seats."	16.027
As at the breathing of the winds, a coal will quicken into flame, so I saw that light glow at words that were affectionate; As at the blowing of the winds a coal Quickens to flame, so I beheld that light Become resplendent at my blandishments.	16.030
and as, before my eyes, it grew more fair, so, with a voice more gentle and more sweet- not in our modern speech-it said to me: And as unto mine eyes it grew more fair, With voice more sweet and tender, but not in 'This modern dialect, it said to me:	16.033
"Down from that day when Ave was pronounced, until my mother (blessed now), by giving birth, eased the burden borne in bearing me, "From uttering of the Ave, till the birth In which my mother, who is now a saint, Of me was lightened who had been her burden,	16.036
this fire of Mars had come five-hundred-fifty and thirty more times to its Lion-there to be rekindled underneath its paw. Unto its Lion had this fire returned Five hundred fifty times and thirty more, To reinflame itself beneath his paw.	16.039
My ancestors and I were born just where the runner in your yearly games first comes upon the boundary of the final ward. My ancestors and I our birthplace had Where first is found the last ward of the city By him who runneth in your annual game.	16.042
That is enough concerning my forebears: what were their names, from where they came-of that, silence, not speech, is more appropriate. Suffice it of my elders to hear this; But who they were, and whence they thither came, Silence is more considerate than speech.	16.045
All those who, at that time, between the Baptist and Mars, were capable of bearing arms, numbered one fifth of those who live there now. All those who at that time were there between Mars and the Baptist, fit for bearing arms, Were a fifth part of those who now are living;	16.048
But then the citizens, now mixed with Campi, with the Certaldo, and with the Figline, were pure down to the humblest artisan. But the community, that now is mixed With Campi and Certaldo and Figghine, Pure in the lowest artisan was seen.	16.051
Oh, it would be far better if you had those whom I mention as your neighbors (and your boundaries at Galuzzo and Trespiano), O how much better 'twere to have as neighbours The folk of whom I speak, and at Galluzzo And at Trespiano have your boundary,	16.054
than to have them within, to bear the stench of Aguglione's wretch and Signa's wretch, whose sharp eyes now on barratry are set. Than have them in the town, and bear the stench Of Aguglione's churl, and him of Signa Who has sharp eyes for trickery already.	16.057
If those who, in the world, go most astray had not seen Caesar with stepmothers' eyes, but, like a mother to her son, been kind, Had not the folk, which most of all the world Degenerates, been a step-dame unto Caesar, But as a mother to her son benignant,	16.060
then one who has become a Florentine trader and money changer would have stayed in Semifonte, where his fathers peddled, Some who turn Florentines, and trade and discount, Would have gone back again to Simifonte There where their grandsires went about as beggars.	16.063
the Counts would still be lords of Montemurlo, the Cerchi would be in Acone's parish, perhaps the Buondelmonti in Valdigreve. At Montemurlo still would be the Counts, The Cerchi in the parish of Acone, Perhaps in Valdigrieve the Buondelmonti.	16.066
The mingling of the populations led to evil in the city, even as food piled on food destroys the body's health; Ever the intermingling of the people Has been the source of malady in cities, As in the body food it surfeits on;	16.069
the blind bull falls more quickly, more headlong, than does the blind lamb; and the one blade can often cut more and better than five swords. And a blind bull more headlong plunges down Than a blind lamb; and very often cuts Better and more a single sword than five.	16.072
Consider Luni, Urbisaglia, how they went to ruin (Sinigaglia follows, and Chiusi, too, will soon have vanished); then, If Luni thou regard, and Urbisaglia, How they have passed away, and how are passing Chiusi and Sinigaglia after them,	16.075
if you should hear of families undone, you will find nothing strange or difficult in that-since even cities meet their end. To hear how races waste themselves away Will seem to thee no novel thing nor hard Seeing that even cities have an end.	16.078
All things that you possess, possess their death, just as you do; but in some things that last long, death can hide from you whose lives are short. All things of yours have their mortality, Even as yourselves; but it is hidden in some That a long while endure, and lives are short;	16.081
And even as the heaven of the moon, revolving, respiteless, conceals and then reveals the shores, so Fortune does with Florence; And as the turning of the lunar heaven Covers and bares the shores without a pause, In the like manner fortune does with Florence.	16.084
therefore, there is no cause for wonder in what I shall tell of noble Florentines, of those whose reputations time has hidden. Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing What I shall say of the great Florentines Of whom the fame is hidden in the Past.	16.087
I saw the Ughi, saw the Catellini, Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, Alberichi, famed citizens already in decline, I saw the Ughi, saw the Catellini, Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi, Even in their fall illustrious citizens;	16.090
and saw, as great as they were venerable, dell'Arca with della Sannella, and Ardinghi, Soldanieri, and Bostichi. And saw, as mighty as they ancient were, With him of La Sannella him of Arca, And Soldanier, Ardinghi, and Bostichi.	16.093
Nearby the gate that now is burdened with new treachery that weighs so heavily that it will bring the vessel to shipwreck, Near to the gate that is at present laden With a ne felony of so much weight That soon it shall be jetsam from the bark,	16.096
there were the Ravignani, from whose line Count Guido comes and all who-since-derive their name from the illustrious Bellincione. The Ravignani were, from whom descended The County Guido, and whoe'er the name Of the great Bellincione since hath taken.	16.099
And della Pressa knew already how to rule; and Galigaio, in his house, already had the gilded hilt and pommel. He of La Pressa knew the art of ruling Already, and already Galigajo Had hilt and pommel gilded in his house.	16.102
The stripe of Vair had mightiness already, as did the Giuochi, Galli, and Barucci, Fifanti, and Sacchetti, and those who Mighty already was the Column Vair, Sacchetti, Giuochi, Fifant, and Barucci, And Galli, and they who for the bushel blush.	16.105
blush for the bushel; and the stock from which spring the Calfucci was already mighty, and Sizzi and Arrigucci were already The stock from which were the Calfucci born Was great already, and already chosen To curule chairs the Sizii and Arrigucci.	16.108
raised to high office. Oh, how great were those I saw-whom pride laid low! And the gold balls, in all of her great actions, flowered Florence. O how beheld I those who are undone By their own pride! and how the Balls of Gold Florence enflowered in all their mighty deeds!	16.111
Such were the ancestors of those who now, whenever bishops' sees are vacant, grow fat as they sit in church consistories. So likewise did the ancestors of those Who evermore, when vacant is your church, Fatten by staying in consistory.	16.114
The breed-so arrogant and dragonlike in chasing him who flees, but lamblike, meek to him who shows his teeth or else his purse- The insolent race, that like a dragon follows Whoever flees, and unto him that shows His teeth or purse is gentle as a lamb,	16.117
was on the rise already, but of stock so mean that Ubertin Donato, when his father-in-law made him kin to them, Already rising was, but from low people; So that it pleased not Ubertin Donato That his wife's father should make him their kin.	16.120
was scarcely pleased. Already Caponsacco had come from Fiesole down to the market; already citizens of note were Giuda Already had Caponsacco to the Market From Fesole descended, and already Giuda and Infangato were good burghers.	16.123
and Infangato. I shall tell a thing incredible and true: the gateway through the inner walls was named for the della Pera. I'll tell a thing incredible, but true; One entered the small circuit by a gate Which from the Della Pera took its name!	16.126
All those whose arms bear part of the fair ensign of the great baron-he whose memory and worth are honored on the feast of Thomas- Each one that bears the beautiful escutcheon Of the great baron whose renown and name The festival of Thomas keepeth fresh,	16.129
received knighthood and privilege from him, though he whose coat of arms has fringed that ensign has taken sides now with the populace. Knighthood and privilege from him received; Though with the populace unites himself To-day the man who binds it with a border.	16.132
The Gualterotti and the Importuni were there already; were the Borgo spared new neighbors, it would still be tranquil there. Already were Gualterotti and Importuni; And still more quiet would the Borgo be If with new neighbours it remained unfed.	16.135
The house of Amidei, with which your sorrows began-by reason of its just resentment, which ruined you and ended years of gladness- The house from which is born your lamentation, Through just disdain that death among you brought And put an end unto your joyous life,	16.138
was honored then, as were its close companions. O Buondelmonte, through another's counsel, you fled your wedding pledge, and brought such evil! Was honoured in itself and its companions. O Buondelmonte, how in evil hour Thou fled'st the bridal at another's promptings!	16.141
Many would now rejoice, who still lament, if when you first approached the city, God had given you unto the river Ema! Many would be rejoicing who are sad, If God had thee surrendered to the Ema The first time that thou camest to the city.	16.144
But Florence, in her final peace, was fated to offer up-unto that mutilated stone guardian upon her bridge-a victim. But it behoved the mutilated stone Which guards the bridge, that Florence should provide A victim in her latest hour of peace.	16.147
These were the families, and others with them: the Florence that I saw-in such repose that there was nothing to have caused her sorrow. With all these families, and others with them, Florence beheld I in so great repose, That no occasion had she whence to weep;	16.150
These were the families: with them I saw her people so acclaimed and just, that on her staff the lily never was reversed, With all these families beheld so just And glorious her people, that the lily Never upon the spear was placed reversed,	16.153
nor was it made bloodred by factious hatred." Nor by division was vermilion made."	16.154

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