Page:Divine Comedy (Longfellow 1867) v1.djvu/95

Rh Thou comest out upon the horrible sand;

Therefore look well around, and thou shalt see

Things that will credence give unto my speech."

I heard on all sides lamentations uttered,

And person none beheld I who might make them,

Whence, utterly bewildered, I stood still.

I think he thought that I perhaps might think

So many voices issued through those trunks

From people who concealed themselves for us;

Therefore the Master said: "If thou break off

Some little spray from any of these trees,

The thoughts thou hast will wholly be made vain."

Then stretched I forth my hand a little forward,

And plucked a branchlet off from a great thorn;

And the trunk cried, "Why dost thou mangle me?"

After it had become embrowned with blood,

It recommenced its cry: "Why dost thou rend me?

Hast thou no spirit of pity whatsoever?

Men once we were, and now are changed to trees;

Indeed, thy hand should be more pitiful,

Even if the souls of serpents we had been."

As out of a green brand, that is on fire

At one of the ends, and from the other drips

And hisses with the wind that is escaping;