Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/115

Rh As soon as we stood still, they recommenced

The old refrain, and when they overtook us,

Formed of themselves a wheel, all three of them.

As champions stripped and oiled are wont to do,

Watching for their advantage and their hold,

Before they come to blows and thrusts between them,

Thus, wheeling round, did every one his visage

Direct to me, so that in opposite wise

His neck and feet continual journey made.

And, "If the misery of this soft place

Bring in disdain ourselves and our entreaties,"

Began one, "and our aspect black and blistered,

Let the renown of us thy mind incline

To tell us who thou art, who thus securely

Thy living feet dost move along through Hell.

He in whose footprints thou dost see me treading,

Naked and skinless though he now may go,

Was of a greater rank than thou dost think;

He was the grandson of the good Gualdrada;

His name was Guidoguerra, and in life

Much did he with his wisdom and his sword.

The other, who close by me treads the sand,

Tegghiaio Aldobrandi is, whose fame

Above there in the world should welcome be.