Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/185



LREADY was the flame erect and quiet,

To speak no more, and now departed from us

With the permission of the gentle Poet;

When yet another, which behind it came,

Caused us to turn our eyes upon its top

By a confused sound that issued from it.

As the Sicilian bull (that bellowed first

With the lament of him, and that was right,

Who with his file had modulated it)

Bellowed so with the voice of the afflicted,

That, notwithstanding it was made of brass,

Still it appeared with agony transfixed;

Thus, by not having any way or issue

At first from out the fire, to its own language

Converted were the melancholy words.

But afterwards, when they had gathered way

Up through the point, giving it that vibration

The tongue had given them in their passage out,