Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/128

108 Therefore I stayed my feet to make him out,

And with me the sweet Guide came to a stand,

And to my going somewhat back assented;

And he, the scourged one, thought to hide himself,

Lowering his face, but little it availed him;

For said I: "Thou that castest down thine eyes,

If false are not the features which thou bearest,

Thou art Venedico Caccianimico;

But what doth bring thee to such pungent sauces?"

And he to me: "Unwillingly I tell it;

But forces me thine utterance distinct,

Which makes me recollect the ancient world.

I was the one who the fair Ghisola

Induced to grant the wishes of the Marquis,

Howe'er the shameless story may be told.

Not the sole Bolognese am I who weeps here;

Nay, rather is this place so full of them,

That not so many tongues to-day are taught

'Twixt Reno and Savena to say sipa;

And if thereof thou wishest pledge or proof,

Bring to thy mind our avaricious heart."

While speaking in this manner, with his scourge

A demon smote him, and said: "Get thee gone,

Pander, there are no women here for coin."