And one, who understood the Tuscan speech, Cried to us from behind: "Stay ye your feet, Ye, who so run athwart the dusky air!

Perhaps thou'lt have from me what thou demandest."

Whereat the Leader turned him, and said: "Wait, And then according to his pace proceed."

I stopped, and two beheld I show great haste Of spirit, in their faces, to be with me;

But the burden and the narrow way delayed them.

When they came up, long with an eye askance They scanned me without uttering a word.

Then to each other turned, and said together:

"He by the action of his throat seems living;

And if they dead are, by what privilege Go they uncovered by the heavy stole?"

Then said to me: "Tuscan, who to the college Of miserable hypocrites art come, Do not disdain to tell us who thou art."

And I to them: "Born was I, and grew up In the great town on the fair river of Arno, And with the body am I've always had.

But who are ye, in whom there trickles down Along your cheeks such grief as I behold?

And what pain is upon you, that so sparkles?"

And one replied to me: "These orange cloaks Are made of lead so heavy, that the weights Cause in this way their balances to creak.

Frati Gaudenti were we, and Bolognese;

I Catalano, and he Loderingo Named, and together taken by thy city, As the wont is to take one man alone, For maintenance of its peace; and we were such That still it is apparent round Gardingo."

"O Friars," began I, "your iniquitous. . ."

But said no more; for to mine eyes there rushed One crucified with three stakes on the ground.

When me he saw, he writhed himself all over, Blowing into his beard with suspirations;

And the Friar Catalan, who noticed this, Said to me: "This transfixed one, whom thou seest, Counselled the Pharisees that it was meet To put one man to torture for the people.

Crosswise and naked is he on the path, As thou perceivest; and he needs must feel, Whoever passes, first how much he weighs;

And in like mode his father-in-law is punished Within this moat, and the others of the council, Which for the Jews was a malignant seed."

And thereupon I saw Virgilius marvel O'er him who was extended on the cross So vilely in eternal banishment.

Then he directed to the Friar this voice:

"Be not displeased, if granted thee, to tell us If to the right hand any pass slope down By which we two may issue forth from here, Without constraining some of the black angels To come and extricate us from this deep."

Then he made answer: "Nearer than thou hopest There is a rock, that forth from the great circle Proceeds, and crosses all the cruel valleys, Save that at this 'tis broken, and does not bridge it;

You will be able to mount up the ruin, That sidelong slopes and at the bottom rises."

The Leader stood awhile with head bowed down;

Then said: "The business badly he recounted Who grapples with his hook the sinners yonder."

And the Friar: "Many of the Devil's vices Once heard I at Bologna, and among them, That he's a liar and the father of lies."

Thereat my Leader with great strides went on, Somewhat disturbed with anger in his looks;

Whence from the heavy-laden I departed After the prints of his beloved feet.