Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/92

72 But by that virtue through which I am moving

My steps along this savage thoroughfare,

Give us some one of thine, to be with us,

And who may show us where to pass the ford,

And who may carry this one on his back;

For 't is no spirit that can walk the air."

Upon his right breast Chiron wheeled about,

And said to Nessus: "Turn and do thou guide them,

And warn aside, if other band may meet you."

We with our faithful escort onward moved,

Along the brink of the vermilion boiling,

Wherein the boiled were uttering loud laments.

People I saw within up to the eyebrows,

And the great Centaur said: "Tyrants are these,

Who dealt in bloodshed and in pillaging.

Here they lament their pitiless mischiefs; here

Is Alexander, and fierce Dionysius

Who upon Sicily brought dolorous years.

That forehead there which has the hair so black

Is Azzolin; and the other who is blond,

Obizzo is of Esti, who, in truth,

Up in the world was by his step-son slain."

Then turned I to the Poet; and he said,

"Now he be first to thee, and second I."