Canto XVI

English Edition, translated by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

1	O THOU our poor nobility of blood,
2	If thou dost make the people glory in thee
3	Down here where our affection languishes,

4	A marvellous thing it ne'er will be to me;
5	For there where appetite is not perverted,
6	I say in Heaven, of thee I made a boast !

7	Truly thou art a cloak that quickly shortens,
8	So that unless we piece thee day by day
9	Time goeth round about thee with his shears!

10	With You, which Rome was first to tolerate,
11	(Wherein her family less perseveres,)
12	Yet once again my words beginning made;

13	Whence Beatrice, who stood somewhat apart,
14	Smiling, appeared like unto her who coughed
15	At the first failing writ of Guenever.

16	And I began: You are my ancestor,
17	You give to me all hardihood to speak,
18	You lift me so that I am more than I.

19	So many rivulets with gladness fill
20	My mind, that of itself it makes a joy
21	Because it can endure this and not burst.

22	'Then tell me, my beloved root ancestral,
23	Who were your ancestors, and what the years
24	That in your boyhood chronicled themselves?

25	Tell me about the sheepfold of Saint John,
26	low large it was, and who the people were
27	Within it worthy of the highest seats.

28	lt the blowing of the winds a coal
29	Quickens to flame, so I beheld that light
30	Become resplendent at my blandishments.

31	And as unto mine eyes it grew more fair,
32	With voice more sweet an(l tender, but not in
33	This modern dialect, it said to me:

34	From uttering of the Ave, till the birth
35	In which my mother, who is now a saint,
36	Of me was lightened who had been her burden,

37	Unto its Lion had this fire returned
38	Five hundred fifty times and thirty more,
39	To reinflame itself beneath his paw.

40	My ancestors and I our birthplace had
41	Where first is found the last ward of the city
42	By him who runneth in your annual game.

43	Suffice it of my elders to hear this;
44	But who they were, and whence they thither came,
45	Silence is more considerate than speech.

46	All those who at that time were there between
47	Mars and the Baptist, fit for bearing arms,
48	Were a fifth part of those who now are living;

49	But the community, that now is mixed
50	With Campi and Certaldo and Figghine,
51	Pure in the lowest artisan was seen.

52	O how much better 'twere to have as neighbours
53	The folk of whom I speak, and at Galluzzo
54	And at Trespiano have your boundary,

55	Than have them in the town, and bear the stench
56	Of Aguglione's churl, and him of Signa
57	Who has sharp eyes for trickery already.

58	Had not the folk, which most of all the world
59	Degenerates, been a step-dame unto Caesar,
60	But as a mother to her son benignant,

61	Some who turn Florentines, and trade and discount,
62	Would have gone back again to Simifonte
63	There where their grandsires went about as beggars.

64	At Montemurlo still would be the Counts,
65	The Cerchi in the parish of Acone,
66	Perhaps in Valdigrieve the Buondelmonti.

67	Ever the intermingling of the people
68	Has been the source of malady in cities,
69	As in the body food it surfeits on;

70	And a blind bull more headlong plunges down
71	Than a blind lamb; and very often cuts
72	Better and more a single sword than five.

73	If Luni thou regard, and Urbisaglia,
74	How they have passed away, and how are passing
75	Chiusi and Sinigaglia after them,

76	To hear how races waste themselves away
77	Will seem to thee no novel thing nor hard
78	Seeing that even cities have an end.

79	All things of yours have their mortality,
80	Even as yourselves; but it is hidden in some
81	That a long while endure, and lives are short;

82	And as the turning of the lunar heaven
83	Covers and bares the shores without a pause,
84	In the like manner fortune does with Florence.

85	Therefore should not appear a marvellous thing
86	What I shall say of the great Florentines
87	Of whom the fame is hidden in the Past.

88	I saw the Ughi, saw the Catellini,
89	Filippi, Greci, Ormanni, and Alberichi,
90	Even in their fall illustrious citizens;

91	And saw, as mighty as they ancient were,
92	With him of I,a Sannella him of Arca,
93	And Soldanier, Ardinghi, and Bostichi.

94	Near to the gate that is at present laden
95	With a ne felony of so much weight
96	That soon it shall be jetsam from the bark,

97	The Ravignani were, from whom descended
98	The County Guido, and whoe'er the name
99	Of the great Bellincione since hath taken.

100	He of a Pressa knew the art of ruling
101	Already, and already Galigajo
102	Had hilt and pommel gilded in his house.

103	Mighty already was the Column Vair,
104	Sacchetti, Giuochi, Fifant, and Barucci,
105	And Galli, and they who for the bushel blush.

106	The stock from which were the Calfucci born
107	Was great already, and already chosen
108	To curule chairs the Sizii and Arrigucci.

109	O how beheld I those who are undone
110	By their own pride ! and how the Balls of Gold
111	Florence enflowered in all their mighty deeds!

112	So likewise did the ancestors of those
113	Who evermore, when vacant is your church,
114	Fatten by staying in consistory.

115	The insolent race, that like a dragon follows
116	Whoever flees, and unto him that shows
117	His teeth or purse is gentle as a lamb,

118	Already rising was, but from low people;
119	So that it pleased not Ubertin Donato
120	That his wife's father should make him their kin.

121	Already had Caponsacco to the Market
122	From Fesole descended, and already
123	Giuda and Infangato were good burghers.

124	I'll tell a thing incredible, but true;
125	One entered the small circuit by a gate
126	Which from the Della Pera took its name!

127	Each one that bears the beautiful escutcheon
128	Of the great baron whose renown and name
129	The festival of Thomas keepeth fresh,

130	Knighthood and privilege from him received;
131	Though with the populace unites himself
132	To-day the man who binds it with a border.

133	Already were Gualterotti and Importuni;
134	And still more quiet would the Borgo be
135	If with new neighbours it remained unfed.

136	The house from which is born your lamentation,
137	Through just disdain that death among you
138	And put an end unto your joyous life,

139	Was honoured in itself and its companions.
140	O Buondelmonte, how in evil hour
141	Thou fled'st the bridal at another's promptings!

142	Many would be rejoicing who are sad,
143	If God had thee surrendered to the Ema
144	The first time that thou camest to the city.

145	But it behoved the mutilated stone
146	Which guards the bridge, that Florence should provide
147	A victim in her latest hour of peace.

148	With all these families, and others with them,
149	Florence beheld I in so great repose,
150	That no occasion had she whence to weep

151	With all these families beheld so just
152	And glorious her people, that the lily
153	Never upon the spear was placed reversed,

154	Nor by division was vermilion made.

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Canto XVI