第十篇现在在城墙和坟墓之间的一条狭路上，我跟着老师问前去。我开始说：“大德的诗人呀！你自己欢喜引导我经历这些悲惨的圈子，请你对我说明，并满足我的要求：装在这些棺材里的，我可以看到他们么？棺材盖是开着，旁边没有看守的人。”他回答我道：“他们从约沙法回来以后，带了他们留在地上的皮囊，那时棺材都要盖上了。这里是伊壁鸠鲁和他门徒的坟墓，他们的肉体和灵魂都死了。你的问题，马上有人从里面出来回答你，并且同时满足你没有说明的愿望。”我说：“和善的引路人，我的心事并不想瞒过你，只是要节省些话句，像你以前曾经关照过我的那样罢了。”
忽然从一个棺材里发出一种声音：“哦，托斯卡那人！你活着走进了火城，说话多么柔和；你也许愿意在这里停一回罢？听你的口音，看出你是那个高贵国度里的人，我为着他或者太烦恼了。”我吃了一惊，急忙走近我的引路人，他却对我说：“你掉转脸去；你伯什么？看那里的法利那塔！他自己站起来了，从腰部以上都看得见呢。”我已经注视着他了；他昂首挺胸，对于地狱的威权似乎表示一种轻蔑。当时我引路人勇敢的手，竟已把我推到法利那塔前面，说：“说话简单些。”
我立在他坟墓之前，他略微看我一眼，于是很不在意地问我道：“你的先祖是谁？”我不反对，我不隐藏，全然说给他听了。那时他的眉毛稍微杨起一点，于是他说：“他门非常剧烈地反对我，反对我的先人，反对我的同党；于是我把他们两次放逐出去。”我回答道：“虽然两次给你赶出去，他们却两次马上又回国了；至于你的同党呢，却没有学得回国的本事。”
我们正在对话的时候，他旁边突然又露出一个影子，他是跪在棺材里面，把头露在外面呢。他在我的四周看看，似乎在找陪着我的某人，但是失望了。他挥泪说：“假使你能够经历黑暗的牢狱，是因为你崇高的天才，那末我的儿子在那里呢？他为什么不陪着你呢？”我回答他道：“这个并非是我自己的力量；是他，等着在那里的他，是他引导我经历这里的；或者你的圭多对于他已经是太轻蔑了。”因为他的说话和他的刑罚，使我预先知道这个影子的名字，所以我的回答可以这样明确肯定。即刻这个影子站了起来，叫道：“你怎么说：他已经是？他不在了么？温和的阳光不射着他的眼睛了么？”他看见我的回答迟慢了一点，便倒了下去，不再露面了。
但是那一个高傲的、叫我在那里停一回的影子，他的姿势却没有变，头也没有转，腰也没有弯。继续着前面的对话，他说：“不错，他们没有学好这付本领，这使我比躺在此地火坑里还要痛苦呢，但是，在这里女主的脸发亮五十次以前，你将要知道这付本领确是难学的。你是可以回到甜美世界的人，请你告诉我：在各种法律方面，为什么那些人民这样强烈地反对我的亲族呢？”对这一点，我回答他道：“惨败和屠杀，使阿尔比亚河的波浪染成红色，因此在我们的寺里回响着这样的演说。”他叹了一口气摇着头，于是说：“这件事情不是我一个人做的；我的附和他们也不是没有理由的；但是他们主张毁灭佛罗伦萨，只有我铁面无私地挺身出来保护他。”我对他说：“我希望你的后代得着和平！我还有一个结没有解开，要请你解一下：假使我相信你说的话，似乎你们知道将来但是对于目前的事情就不明白，”他说：“像一个远视眼的人，近的东西看不见，远的反而能看清楚：这个总算是最高统治者给我们的恩惠了。靠近的或是正在进行的事情，我们的智力及不到；除非有人来告诉我们，现在地面上的情况我们是不知道的。由此你可以推想到，在将来之门关闭了以后，我门的知识就要完全熄灭了。”听了这番话以后，我懊悔我方才的错处，对他说：“现在请你对那个倒下去的说他的儿子还活在人间呢；方才我的回答迟慢，是因为我心里面的怀疑，现在已经给你说明了。”那时我的老师喊我了，于是我请求这个灵魂快些把他的伴侣告诉我。他对我说：“和我躺在这里的很多，腓特烈第二也在这里，还有那红衣主教；其余的我不说了。”说罢，他也倒在棺材里了。
于是我移步向着古诗人，回味着我听见的预言，这个预言对于我似乎不利。他向前走了；我们走着的时候，他对我说：“为什么你这样的惆怅迷？”我把理由告诉他，他接着说：“你暂且把你听见的记着，现在注视这里！他伸起他的指头。当你站在那位有慈光的女人之前，她的慧眼能够洞察一切，你可以从她那里知道你全部的生之旅程。”
我们离开城墙，转向左边；在一条小路上，望着中心走去；我们降到深渊的边缘，闻到下面的腐臭之味。
Between the walls, that hem the region round,
And the tormented souls: my master first,
I close behind his steps. "Virtue supreme!"
I thus began; "who through these ample orbs
In circuit lead'st me, even as thou will'st,
Speak thou, and satisfy my wish. May those,
Who lie within these sepulchres, be seen?
Already all the lids are rais'd, and none
O'er them keeps watch." He thus in answer spake
"They shall be closed all, what-time they here
From Josaphat return'd shall come, and bring
Their bodies, which above they now have left.
The cemetery on this part obtain
With Epicurus all his followers,
Who with the body make the spirit die.
Here therefore satisfaction shall be soon
Both to the question ask'd, and to the wish,
Which thou conceal'st in silence." I replied:
"I keep not, guide belov'd! from thee my heart
Secreted, but to shun vain length of words,
A lesson erewhile taught me by thyself."
"O Tuscan! thou who through the city of fire
Alive art passing, so discreet of speech!
Here please thee stay awhile. Thy utterance
Declares the place of thy nativity
To be that noble land, with which perchance
I too severely dealt." Sudden that sound
Forth issu'd from a vault, whereat in fear
I somewhat closer to my leader's side
Approaching, he thus spake: "What dost thou? Turn.
Lo, Farinata, there! who hath himself
Uplifted: from his girdle upwards all
Expos'd behold him." On his face was mine
Already fix'd; his breast and forehead there
Erecting, seem'd as in high scorn he held
E'en hell. Between the sepulchres to him
My guide thrust me with fearless hands and prompt,
This warning added: "See thy words be clear!"
He, soon as there I stood at the tomb's foot,
Ey'd me a space, then in disdainful mood
Address'd me: "Say, what ancestors were thine?"
I, willing to obey him, straight reveal'd
The whole, nor kept back aught: whence he, his brow
Somewhat uplifting, cried: "Fiercely were they
Adverse to me, my party, and the blood
From whence I sprang: twice therefore I abroad
Scatter'd them." "Though driv'n out, yet they each time
From all parts," answer'd I, "return'd; an art
Which yours have shown, they are not skill'd to learn."
Then, peering forth from the unclosed jaw,
Rose from his side a shade, high as the chin,
Leaning, methought, upon its knees uprais'd.
It look'd around, as eager to explore
If there were other with me; but perceiving
That fond imagination quench'd, with tears
Thus spake: "If thou through this blind prison go'st.
Led by thy lofty genius and profound,
Where is my son? and wherefore not with thee?"
I straight replied: "Not of myself I come,
By him, who there expects me, through this clime
Conducted, whom perchance Guido thy son
Had in contempt." Already had his words
And mode of punishment read me his name,
Whence I so fully answer'd. He at once
Exclaim'd, up starting, "How! said'st thou he HAD?
No longer lives he? Strikes not on his eye
The blessed daylight?" Then of some delay
I made ere my reply aware, down fell
Supine, not after forth appear'd he more.
Meanwhile the other, great of soul, near whom
I yet was station'd, chang'd not count'nance stern,
Nor mov'd the neck, nor bent his ribbed side.
"And if," continuing the first discourse,
"They in this art," he cried, "small skill have shown,
That doth torment me more e'en than this bed.
But not yet fifty times shall be relum'd
Her aspect, who reigns here Queen of this realm,
Ere thou shalt know the full weight of that art.
So to the pleasant world mayst thou return,
As thou shalt tell me, why in all their laws,
Against my kin this people is so fell?"
"The slaughter and great havoc," I replied,
"That colour'd Arbia's flood with crimson stain—
To these impute, that in our hallow'd dome
Such orisons ascend." Sighing he shook
The head, then thus resum'd: "In that affray
I stood not singly, nor without just cause
Assuredly should with the rest have stirr'd;
But singly there I stood, when by consent
Of all, Florence had to the ground been raz'd,
The one who openly forbad the deed."
"So may thy lineage find at last repose,"
I thus adjur'd him, "as thou solve this knot,
Which now involves my mind. If right I hear,
Ye seem to view beforehand, that which time
Leads with him, of the present uninform'd."
"We view, as one who hath an evil sight,"
He answer'd, "plainly, objects far remote:
So much of his large spendour yet imparts
The' Almighty Ruler; but when they approach
Or actually exist, our intellect
Then wholly fails, nor of your human state
Except what others bring us know we aught.
Hence therefore mayst thou understand, that all
Our knowledge in that instant shall expire,
When on futurity the portals close."
Then conscious of my fault, and by remorse
Smitten, I added thus: "Now shalt thou say
To him there fallen, that his offspring still
Is to the living join'd; and bid him know,
That if from answer silent I abstain'd,
'Twas that my thought was occupied intent
Upon that error, which thy help hath solv'd."
But now my master summoning me back
I heard, and with more eager haste besought
The spirit to inform me, who with him
Partook his lot. He answer thus return'd:
"More than a thousand with me here are laid
Within is Frederick, second of that name,
And the Lord Cardinal, and of the rest
I speak not." He, this said, from sight withdrew.
But I my steps towards the ancient bard
Reverting, ruminated on the words
Betokening me such ill. Onward he mov'd,
And thus in going question'd: "Whence the' amaze
That holds thy senses wrapt?" I satisfied
The' inquiry, and the sage enjoin'd me straight:
"Let thy safe memory store what thou hast heard
To thee importing harm; and note thou this,"
With his rais'd finger bidding me take heed,
"When thou shalt stand before her gracious beam,
Whose bright eye all surveys, she of thy life
The future tenour will to thee unfold."
Forthwith he to the left hand turn'd his feet:
We left the wall, and tow'rds the middle space
Went by a path, that to a valley strikes;
Which e'en thus high exhal'd its noisome steam.