Authors: Dante
I will not ever think it strange,
for there, where appetite is never warped—
6
in, I mean, the heavens themselves—I gloried in you too.
You are indeed a cloak that quickly shrinks,
→
so that, if we do not add to it day by day,
9
time trims the edges with its shears.
With that
You
which had its origin in Rome
→
and which her offspring least preserve by use,
12
I once again began to speak,
and Beatrice, who stood somewhat apart,
→
smiled, like the lady who discreetly coughed
15
at the first fault inscribed of Guinevere.
I began: ‘You are my father,
→
→
You prompt me to speak with bold assurance.
→
18
You raise me up, so I am more than I.
‘My mind is flooded by such rivers of delight
→
that it exults it has not burst
21
with so much happiness and joy.
‘Tell me then, belovèd stock from which I spring,
→
who were Your ancestors, and say what were the years
24
written in the record of Your childhood.
‘Tell me of the sheepfold of Saint John,
how many people lived there and who among them
27
were worthy of its highest offices.’
As embers leap to flame on a puff of wind,
→
I watched that light become resplendent
30
at my respectful and persuasive words.
And as it became more pleasing to my sight,
so, with a voice more sweet and gentle,
he said: ‘From the day
Ave
was first spoken
→
until the birthpangs by which my mother,
36
now blessed, was lightened of me, her burden,
‘this fiery star came to its Lion
→
five hundred fifty times and thirty more
39
to be rekindled underneath its paw.
‘My ancestors and I were born just where
→
the horsemen in your yearly race
‘Let that be enough for you about my forebears.
→
As to who they were and where they came from,
45
it is more modest to be silent than to speak.
‘All who lived there then, fit to bear arms,
→
and who dwelt between Mars and the Baptist,
→
48
amounted to a fifth of those who live there now,
‘but the city’s bloodline, now mixed
with that of Campi, of Certaldo, and Figline,
→
‘Ah, how much better would it be
→
had those cities which I name remained but neighbors,
54
had you kept your borders at Galluzzo and Trespiano,
‘than to have them in your midst and bear the stench
of the lout from Aguglion and of him from Signa
57
who already has so sharp an eye for graft!
‘If that tribe, which is the most degenerate
→
in all the world, had not been like a stepmother
→
60
to Caesar, but kind as a mother to her son,
‘there is one, become a Florentine, who is in trade
→
and changes money, who would be sent straight back
63
to Semifonte, where his granddad scoured the country.
‘Montemurlo would still owe fealty to the Conti,
→
the Cerchi would be in the parish of Acone,
66
and the Buondelmonti might remain in Valdigreve.
‘Intermingling of peoples has ever been
→
the source of all the city’s ills,
69
as eating in excess is to the body.
‘A blind bull is more prone to fall
than a blind lamb, and frequently a single sword
72
cuts deeper and more sharp than five.
‘If you consider Luni, Urbisaglia—
→
how they’ve ceased to be—and how Chiusi
75
and Senigallia soon will join them,
‘then to hear how families come to nothing
will not seem strange or difficult to grasp,
78
since even cities cease to be.
‘All your concerns are mortal, even as are you,
but in some things that are more lasting
81
this lies hidden, because all lives are brief.
‘And, as the turning of the lunar sphere covers
→
and endlessly uncovers the edges of the shore,
84
thus does fortune deal with Florence.
‘Then it should not seem strange or marvelous to you
to hear me talk of noble Florentines,
87
whose fame is buried in the depth of time.
‘I saw the Ughi, I saw the Catellini,
→
Filippi, Greci, Ormanni and Alberichi,
90
illustrious citizens already in decline,
‘and I saw, as great as they were ancient,
dell’Arca alongside della Sannella,
93
and Soldanieri and Ardinghi and Bostichi.
‘Over the gate, which today is weighed down
→
with such burden of new and unspeakable treachery
96
that some cargo soon shall be hurled from the ship,
‘lived the Ravignani, from whom Count Guido
and all those who since have taken their name
99
from the noble Bellincione are descended.
‘The Della Pressa already knew the way to rule,
and in their house the Galigaio already had
→
102
the gilded hilt and pommel.
‘Great already was the stripe of fur,
→
great were the Sacchetti, Giuochi, Fifanti, Barucci,
‘The stock from which the Calfucci sprang
was already great, and already called
108
to the seats of power were Sizii and Arrigucci.
‘Ah, in what glory I saw those,
→
now quite undone by pride! And the golden balls
111
made Florence flower with all their glorious deeds.
‘Thus did the fathers of those who now,
→
whenever your church needs to fill the bishop’s seat,
114
fatten themselves by sitting long in council.
‘The proud and insolent race, playing the dragon
→
at the back of him who flees, but mild as a lamb
117
to him who shows his teeth—or else his purse,
‘was already on the rise, but of mean stock,
so that it gave no joy to Ubertin Donato
120
when his father-in-law made him their kinsman.
‘The Caponsacchi had already made their way
from Fiesole to the marketplace, and both Giuda
123
and Infangato were already citizens of note.
‘I will tell a thing incredible but true:
→
The old city walls were entered through a gate
126
that took its name from the della Pera.
‘Everyone bearing the noble coat of arms
→
of the great baron whose name and praise
129
are celebrated at the feast of Thomas
‘had from him their knighthood and their privilege,
although he that decks it with a golden fringe
132
today takes the side of the common folk.
‘Gualterotti and Importuni were already there,
→
and the Borgo would even now be more at peace
135
had they been left hungry for new neighbors.
‘The house that is the wellspring of your tears,
→
→
whose just disdain brought death among you
138
and put an end to your lighthearted life,