Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/103

Rh "Master," began I, "thou who overcomest

All things except the demons dire, that issued

Against us at the entrance of the gate,

Who is that mighty one who seems to heed not

The fire, and lieth lowering and disdainful,

So that the rain seems not to ripen him?"

And he himself, who had become aware

That I was questioning my Guide about him,

Cried: "Such as I was living, am I, dead!

If Jove should weary out his smith, from whom

He seized in anger the sharp thunderbolt,

Wherewith upon the last day I was smitten,

And if he wearied out by turns the others

In Mongibello at the swarthy forge,

Vociferating, 'Help, good Vulcan, help!'

Even as he did there at the fight of Phlegra,

And shot his bolts at me with all his might,

He would not have thereby a joyous vengeance."

Then did my Leader speak with such great force,

That I had never heard him speak so loud:

"O Capaneus, in that is not extinguished

Thine arrogance, thou punished art the more;

Not any torment, saving thine own rage,

Would be unto thy fury pain complete."