Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/142

122 They built their city over those dead bones,

And, after her who first the place selected,

Mantua named it, without other omen.

Its people once within more crowded were,

Ere the stupidity of Casalodi

From Pinamonte had received deceit.

Therefore I caution thee, if e'er thou hearest

Originate my city otherwise,

No falsehood may the verity defraud."

And I: "My master, thy discourses are

To me so certain, and so take my faith,

That unto me the rest would be spent coals.

But tell me of the people who are passing,

If any one note-worthy thou beholdest,

For only unto that my mind reverts."

Then said he to me: "He who from the cheek

Thrusts out his beard upon his swarthy shoulders

Was, at the time when Greece was void of males,

So that there scarce remained one in the cradle,

An augur, and with Calchas gave the moment,

In Aulis, when to sever the first cable.

Eryphylus his name was, and so sings

My lofty Tragedy in some part or other;

That knowest thou well, who knowest the whole of it.