Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/101



ECAUSE the charity of my native place

Constrained me, gathered I the scattered leaves,

And gave them back to him, who now was hoarse.

Then came we to the confine, where disparted

The second round is from the third, and where

A horrible form of Justice is beheld.

Clearly to manifest these novel things,

I say that we arrived upon a plain,

Which from its bed rejecteth every plant;

The dolorous forest is a garland to it

All round about, as the sad moat to that;

There close upon the edge we stayed our feet.

The soil was of an arid and thick sand,

Not of another fashion made than that

Which by the feet of Cato once was pressed.

Vengeance of God, O how much oughtest thou

By each one to be dreaded, who doth read

That which was manifest unto mine eyes!